London


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-exhibitions">New exhibitions </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="680" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Goldin_121_114_cc1-1024x680.jpg" alt="Nan Goldin exhibition " class="wp-image-17469" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Goldin_121_114_cc1-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Goldin_121_114_cc1-300x199.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Goldin_121_114_cc1-768x510.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Goldin_121_114_cc1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Nan Goldin </figcaption></figure>



<p>Spice up dull January with a spin around the <em><a href="https://gagosian.com/exhibitions/2026/nan-goldin-the-ballad-of-sexual-dependency/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nan Goldin: The Ballad of Sexual Dependency</a></em> (<strong>13 Jan &#8211; 21 Mar</strong>; <strong>free</strong>) exhibition at the Gagosian Gallery on Davies Street. It&#8217;s the first time all 126 photographs from Goldin’s genre-defining photobook&nbsp;shot in New York in the 70s and 80s are being shown in the UK and they&#8217;re utterly compelling &#8211; go see. </p>



<p>Also opening this month is <a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/hawaii-kingdom-crossing-oceans" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Hawai&#8217;i: A kingdom Crossing Oceans</em> </a>(<strong>15 Jan &#8211; 25 May; £14)</strong> at the British Museum. In honour of an Hawaiian King and Queen who sailed to the UK 200 years ago to forge an alliance with the crown, the exhibition showcases more than 150 objects spanning a 1000 years of Hawaiian history including feathered cloaks worn by chiefs, carved deities, shark-toothed weapons and bold contemporary works by Kānaka&nbsp;ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiian) artists. </p>



<p>Squeezing in right at the end of the month is <a href="https://www.southlondongallery.org/exhibitions/new-contemporaries-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Contemporaries 2026</a> (<strong>30 Jan &#8211; 12 April; free</strong>) at South London Gallery, an annual exhibit featuring 26 emerging artists covering such uplifting topics as, ahem, dystopian futures, critical responses to the climate crisis, gentrification, experiences of displacement and systems of power. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stage-amp-screen">Stage &amp; Screen </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="759" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-3-1024x759.jpeg" alt="Ian Mckellan " class="wp-image-17468" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-3-1024x759.jpeg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-3-300x222.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-3-768x569.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-3.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sir Ian MacKellen</figcaption></figure>



<p>Plenty to get excited about in theatre land this month, particularly the world premier of <a href="https://muddystilettos.tixculture.com/london/shows/45757-jo-the-little-women-musical-in-concert" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Jo: The Little Women Musical</em> </a>(<strong>25 Jan; tickets £56</strong>) at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Bringing the Louisa May Alcott coming-of-age classic to life with a banging score, anyone who&#8217;s a fan of Jo March, the original literary heroine, and her sisters is going to LOVE this. </p>



<p>Up the tempo in Jan with Cirque du Soleil&#8217;s soaring show <a href="https://muddystilettos.tixculture.com/london/shows/8175-cirque-du-soleil---ovo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>OVO</em></a> (<strong>9 Jan &#8211; 1 Mar; tickets from £62</strong>) at the Albert Hall. While the insect-inspired extravaganza&#8217;s plot line based around a blue fly who falls in love with a Ladybird might not sound strong, the performers sure are with their&nbsp;amazing aerial acts, high-flying trapeze stunts and gravity-defying acrobatics. A great one for all ages. </p>



<p>More big news is the opening of <em><a href="https://muddystilettos.tixculture.com/london/shows/45695-arcadia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arcadia</a></em> (<strong>24 Jan-21 March; from £13</strong>) at the Old Vic. This clever new production of Tom Stoppard&#8217;s masterpiece is a fitting tribute to the playwright who passed away in Nov, and links smoothly between 1809 and present day via maths, history, truth and sex &#8211; the attraction Newton left out. </p>



<p>Also unmissable is a rare stage appearance from Gandalf (aka Sir Ian MacKellen) in <em><a href="https://www.westendtheatre.com/328485/shows/ian-mckellen-stories-stage-shakespeare-tickets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ian McKellen: Stories, Stage &amp; Shakespeare</a> </em>(<strong>10-11 Jan; tickets £49 </strong>) at the Richmond Theatre. Insights, stories and laughs from a national treasure, what&#8217;s not to love? </p>



<p>Movie-wise, check out the <a href="https://www.shortfilms.org.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">London Short Film Festival </a>(<strong>23 Jan &#8211; 1 Feb</strong>) this month, which is always a good way to keep yourself entertained as the dark January evenings roll endlessly on. Showing 200 shorts in great venues like BFI Southbank, the fest includes an opening ceremony at Curzon Soho featuring new work by renowned filmmakers like Andrea Luka Zimmerman. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-burns-night">Burns night </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Down at the Ceilidh Club with Licence To Ceilidh" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KykPqEIGEi4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<p>Shake off the January blues by celebrating Burns Night on <strong>25 Jan</strong> &#8211; though tbh there&#8217;s usually a whole weekend of whisky-swigging and haggis scoffing in the capital to celebrate Scottish national poet Rabbie Burns. </p>



<p>Dance a reel (a caller talks you through the steps, don&#8217;t panic) at <a href="https://ceilidhclub.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoocabmn0l-VSdc_LmpgtUI2ffBYiUmIAMQCEMG8WTcB8vk57JcS" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ceilidh Club Burns Night</a> in Bayswater, or enjoy a jig at <a href="https://bigpennysocial.co.uk/whats-on/burns-night-party" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Burns Night at Big Penny Social</a>, which is spreading the love (and Haggis) over five days in London&#8217;s largest beer hall. </p>



<p>Prefer posh nosh? The Galvin Brothers&#8217; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DSDTv_XDzg_/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Galvin La Chapelle</a> restaurant is celebrating Burn&#8217;s Night for the first time this year with super tasty Scottish food (Harris gin-cured salmon, anyone?) served with a side of bagpipes, while <a href="https://juliesrestaurant.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Julie&#8217;s</a> in Holland Park is also serving Scottish-inspired fare on the 25th, think haggis, neeps and tatties. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scoff-amp-quaff">Scoff &amp; quaff </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="593" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-09-at-18.22.09-1024x593.png" alt="Hawksmoor St Pancras " class="wp-image-16902" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-09-at-18.22.09-1024x593.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-09-at-18.22.09-300x174.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-09-at-18.22.09-768x444.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-09-at-18.22.09.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>New restaurants and bars to have on your radar this month include <a href="https://thehawksmoor.com/locations/st-pancras/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hawksmoor</a> at St Pancras&nbsp;International station. Not only has the upmarket steak and seafood brand opened in one of the classiest dining rooms in the city, but it&#8217;s also opened a gorgeous martini bar &#8211; the ideal place to end Dry Jan before hopping on a Eurostar to Paris. J&#8217;adore. </p>



<p>Leave room for a meal at just-opened <a href="https://chargal.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chargal</a> in Mayfair, a three-storey Turkish eaterie created by Serdar Demir where the mouth-watering menu includes red bream ceviche, pistachio lamb cutlets and chocolate-aged wagyu.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-light-trails">Light trails </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="881" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-06-at-13.45.29-1024x881.png" alt="Sol by Artistic Latvia " class="wp-image-17475" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-06-at-13.45.29-1024x881.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-06-at-13.45.29-300x258.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-06-at-13.45.29-768x661.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-06-at-13.45.29.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sol Artistic Latvia / Janis Petersons </figcaption></figure>



<p>The lack of fairylights everywhere post-Christmas can make Jan feel drab in comparison, so if you&#8217;re missing the Xmas twinkle enjoy the FREE <a href="https://canarywharf.com/winter-lights/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Canary Wharf Winter Lights trail </a>(<strong>20-31 Jan</strong>).  It&#8217;s the 10th anniversary and includes 16 dazzling exhibits based around the theme Dreamscape. </p>



<p>You can also walk the light fantastic at <a href="https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/events/winter/?view=all-events" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Winter Light Trail at Southbank Centre </a>(6-<strong>18 Jan</strong>) featuring neon-lit outdoor installations by artists including Samia Halaby, David Batchelor, Rafaël Rozendaal and Tavares Strachan. See a digital map <a href="https://bynder.southbankcentre.co.uk/m/20ba1c508d777153/original/WNF25-1896-Winter-2025-Light-map-A5-4pp-Flyer-v5-0_DIGI.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-get-arty">Get arty </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-4-1024x683.jpeg" alt="London Art Fair " class="wp-image-17476" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-4-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-4-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-4-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-4.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Want to brighten up the walls of your home this winter? Book tickets to the <a href="https://londonartfair.seetickets.com/content/ticket-options" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">London Art Fair</a> (<strong>21-25 Jan</strong>) at the Business Design Centre in Islington, where you can browse and buy art work from more than 120 contemporary galleries across the globe &#8211; it&#8217;s worth stopping by for the workshops and talks too. </p>



<p>Alternatively, why not channel your inner Picasso and put brush to canvas yourself by enrolling on a <a href="https://www.city-academy.com/painting-classes-london" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How To Paint Beginners Class</a> <strong>(11 &amp; 31 Jan; 10.30-4.30pm; £110</strong>) at City Academy in Central London. You&#8217;ll learn how to mix paints, capture still life objects and get to take your masterpiece home. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wellbeing">Wellbeing </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="711" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-06-at-12.06.46-1024x711.png" alt="Tri Yoga " class="wp-image-17470" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-06-at-12.06.46-1024x711.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-06-at-12.06.46-300x208.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-06-at-12.06.46-768x533.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-06-at-12.06.46-1536x1067.png 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-06-at-12.06.46-2048x1422.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Take a load off at Triyoga </figcaption></figure>



<p>If you partied.a little too hard over Xmas or you simply want to up your health game in 2026, take note of these restorative dates for your diary. </p>



<p>Give yoga a go in 2026 at Triyoga’s <a href="https://triyoga.co.uk/schedule-workshop-detail-2/?classdescid=12545" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">6 Week Beginner Yoga Course</a> (<strong>starts 7 Jan; £95</strong>) run by Susannah Hoffman (one of Muddy’s favourite yoga teachers in London). It&#8217;s taking place in Camden (there are also studios in Chelsea, Ealing, and Shoreditch) and builds the foundations you&#8217;ll need to launch a life-long love of the practice. &nbsp;Or, if you’ve always wanted to try Pilates, (or just want to get back into it),&nbsp;<a href="https://eastlondonpilates.co.uk/freebie" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">East London Pilates</a>&nbsp;is offering a 12-week course (£206; first taster class is free!) this January.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Get your chakra&#8217;s aligned for the year ahead with celeb energy healer Amy Russell Taylor who is running a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thelondoner.com/londoner-life/amy-russell-taylor" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Signature Session</a>&nbsp;at The Londoner on&nbsp;<strong>27 Jan</strong>&nbsp;(£595; 75 minutes), including energy alignment, crystal sound bath, intuitive energy reading, and a complimentary, bespoke piece of clear quartz jewellery plus follow-up guidance.</p>


Jump into January! 30+ things to do in London this month

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