January the month of cold weather, dark mornings, and where the bridge between Christmas break and February half term collides to create ‘January Blues’, but not this year! There are plenty of events in London and Kent to fill your diary. Here are 31 places to explore in January and beyond! We have FREE stuff, cheap stuff, fun stuff, cultural stuff, and plenty of light to brighten your days.
1. LONDON NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE (LNYDP) AND FESTIVAL
Watch the spectacular New Year’s Day Parade and cheer on the marching brass bands, colourful performers and elaborate floats. 1 Jan
Piccadilly, Regents Street, St James’s, Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall. LONDON
FREE
2. THIS IS CROYDON – LONDON BOROUGH OF CULTURE 2023
Discover Croydon: The Mayor’s London Borough of Culture 2023: Enjoy cultural events and activities in the south London neighbourhood. 01 Jan – 03 Dec
Croydon. LONDON
3. TODAY AT APPLE
Discover FREE creative sessions at your local Apple Store at Today at Apple:
- Participate in Video Lab for Kids: Adventures in Moviemaking session (ages 8 – 12). 07 Jan
- Create a theme song for your favourite TV programme, book or game using GarageBand on iPad in Music Lab for Kids: Making a Theme Song (ages 8 – 12). 07 – 10 Jan
- Experiment with code and design an app using the About Me playground in Coding Lab for Kids: Code Your First App (ages 10+). 08 Jan
- Create your own emoji at Art Lab for Kids. 07 Jan
Your local Apple Store
FREE
4. LITTLE FLAMINGOS: SONGS, DANCE AND STORIES
Join these playful sessions for rhymes, action songs, and interactive stories for babies and toddlers. 6 Jan, 3 Feb and 3 Mar
Gunnersbury Park Museum, South Ealing, LONDON
Paid
5. UNDER 5S WORKSHOP: MOVING BODIES. MOVING IMAGES
Take part in a drop-in workshop led by artist Rosie Gibbens to collaborate and play using unusual objects and materials inspired by Rosie’s art practice and the Moving Bodies, Moving Images exhibition. 07 Jan
Whitechapel Gallery, LONDON
FREE, booking required
Under 5’s Workshop with Jasmin Bhanji 2021, Photo by Manuel Vason
6. VOLCANO DAY
Explore the explosive world of volcano science. Meet Museum scientists and researchers from the Volcano and Magmatic Studies Group (VMSG) to learn how they study volcanoes and get hands-on with some specimens and activities. 07 Jan
Natural History Museum, South Kensington LONDON
FREE admission booking required
7. HOT WHEELS MONSTER TRUCKS LIVE GLOW PARTY
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party is coming to London for the first time ever! Don’t miss the only opportunity to watch your favourite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks – Mega Wrex™, Tiger Shark™, Boneshaker™, Bigfoot®, and more, plus the all-new Gunkster™ – light up the floor in outrageous monster trucks competitions and battles. Event performances will also feature a dazzling dance party, spectacular laser light shows, and Hot Wheels toy giveaways. Special kid’s pricing is available for all shows providing great value for the whole family! 07 & 08 Jan
The O2, Greenwich LONDON
Paid
8. FAMILY FUN WEEKENDS
Spend a spectacular day at Cutty Sark with workshops and activities for all ages. 07 & 08 Jan
Cutty Sark, Greenwich LONDON
FREE, with admission
9. THE BRITISH MUSEUM
Enjoy a range of family services, including museum trails, a varied family events schedule, family facilities and learn about the free interactive workshops. Join a family activity for ages 5+ at the British Museum to learn more about the collection and create something spectacular using Samsung technology:
- Create a Japan-themed family photo with a little green-screen magic in the Impossible images: JapanFREE drop-in event. 07 Jan – 11 Mar
- Design a mask inspired by objects from ancient Egypt and Aztecs in Making masks: ancient Egypt. 14 Jan – 17 Feb and Making masks: Aztecs. 07 Jan – 11 Mar
- Explore history through Minecraft masterpieces: ancient Egypt. 21 Jan – 17 Feb
Get ready – it’s time to explore. Become an exhibition explorer in this unique Little Feet session in the Hieroglyphs: unlocking ancient Egypt exhibition, specifically for those under 5. 19 Jan
The British Museum, Bloomsbury LONDON
10. SOLDIER STORIES
Meet real and imagined characters from the Army’s past and hear their amazing stories in the galleries. Meet Tommy Roper, a soldier from 2 Commando; Sister Evelyn Morgan, a nurse who newly arrived in France as part of the 1944 Normandy Landings; and Walter Tull, a professional footballer and one of the British Army’s first infantry officers of black heritage. 08, 15, 22 & 29 Jan
National Army Museum (NAM), Chelsea LONDON
Suitable for ages 7+
FREE admission, booking required
11. SOUTHBANK CENTRE
Get musical at the largest arts centre in the UK, the Southbank Centre:
- Join Southbank Centre Youth Voices (ages 11- 18) to discover the joy of singing with Nathan Devonte and Osnat Schmool. 11 Jan – 22 Mar
- Enjoy nursery rhymes, poems and rhyming stories at the Rug Rhymes session (ages 0 – 5). 13 & 27 Jan, 3 Feb, 3 & 17 Mar, 21 Apr, 5 & 19 May
- join the LPO to help untangle the FUNharmonics: The Colour Monster’s (ages 5+) messy emotions through the wonder of orchestral music. 29 Jan
- Take your little one for a colour-inspired interactive music workshop with the musicians from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, OAE TOTS: LPO FUNharmonics – Musical Colours (ages 2-5).29 Jan
Southbank Centre, LONDON
Paid
12. RIBA BABY: SING-A-LONG
Join a morning of songs, play, and discovery for babies. 11 Jan
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Fitzrovia LONDON
Suitable for ages 0 – 3
FREE, booking required
13. ROYAL ALBERT HALL
Enjoy a wide range of shows and events for children and families:
- Discover a world of wonders at Cirque du Soleil’s European Premiere of Kurios: Cabinet of Curiosities. 13 Jan – 05 Mar
- Listen to seasoned storytellers Paul Rubinstein and Becky Dixon deliver a series of Storytelling and Music Sessions for babies and toddlers (0 – 4), aiming to engage and encourage interaction between parents/carers and their little ones using musical instruments, singing, movement and stories. 25 Jan –16 Mar
Royal Albert Hall (RAH), South Kensington LONDON
Paid
14. NATIONAL TRUST
Find inspiration for your next family day out in Kent National Trust Sites with nature-themed activities ranging from meeting the residents of Chickenham Palace, to letting off some steam in the natural play areas, to browsing the children’s area of the bookshop at Knole:
- Discover the nature of Morden Hall Park through led activities and stories at Park Explorers for under 5s. 09 Jan – 03 Apr
- Learn more about the life of Winston Churchill through depictions of him as a cherub, a man of many hats, a winged bulldog, and Winnie the Pooh in the Churchill in Punch: ‘A Cartoon Biography’ at Chartwell. 14 Jan – 05 Mar
- Explore, create and play with your 2-5-year-olds at the Knole Fawns – toddler group. 20 Jan
- Discover a wealth of wetland bird life at Morden Hall Park this January. Join expert volunteers and help identify the feathered friends that call this urban oasis home at the Big Wetland Birdwatch. 21 Jan
National Trust Sites LONDON and KENT
Paid
15. HALF MOON YOUNG PEOPLE’S THEATRE
Experience a Half Moon production at value-for-money prices; all tickets are only £7:
- Rapunzel and the Tower of Doom (ages 3+). 14 Jan
- Enjoy the award-winning folk duo Megson blend their infectious mix of heavenly vocals and lush harmonies into a gentle, entertaining concert, Family Folk Show Nature Special (ages 0-8). 21 Jan
- Watch this classic fairy tale, Jack and the Beanstalk (ages 3 – 8). 28 Jan
Half Moon Theatre, Whitechapel LONDON
Paid
16. WINTER LIGHTS
Enjoy the spectacular award-winning Winter Lights Festival returning for its seventh year. See over 20 stunning light installations with illuminated art and interactive displays. 18 – 28 Jan
Throughout the Estate Canary Wharf LONDON
FREE
17. DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY
Visit Dulwich Picture Gallery for a host of family activities for all ages:
- Join the Under 5s Explore: Mini Masterpieces exploratory sessions. 19 Jan
- Get inspired to make art together as a family with Art Sundays FREE creative activities (ages 7 -12). 22 Jan
Dulwich Picture Gallery, LONDON
FREE / Paid
18. UNICORN THEATRE
Discover a host of family-friendly shows at the Unicorn Theatre:
- Watch the greatest tales ever spun, Anansi the Spider (ages 3 – 7). We watched this back in the summer of 2021, and it was AMAZING! 20 Jan – 25 Feb
- Join the Trial of Josie K as she finds herself caught up in an absurd situation and needs her best mate Becca and all her courage to find her way out (ages 9 – 13). 26 Jan – 19 Feb
Unicorn Theatre, Bermondsey LONDON
Paid
19. MOONSEED WITH ANNA BRAITHWAITE AND HELEN LINDON
Explore the landscapes of your imagination with Anna Braithwaite and Helen Lindon, using modelling, drawing, photography, film and experimenting with sound and scale. 21 Jan
Block 67, Folkestone KENT
FREE
20. FROZEN THAMES
Join Tower Bridge’s wintry-themed family craft session and learn about the time when parts of the Thames froze over in the winters of 1895 and 1963: Families with 6 -10-year-olds are invited to make a snowflake windmill to commemorate the snow, ice and freezing winds that brought the Thames around Tower Bridge to a standstill. 21 Jan
Tower Bridge, LONDON
Suitable for ages 6 – 10
FREE, with admission
Jayne Lloyd Photography Tower Bridge Family Activities
21. MINISTRY OF SCIENCE LIVE
Join the presenters as they dive deep into the world of science and look at how science shapes the modern world with a few loud bangs along the way! 21 Jan – 28 Oct
UK Tour
Paid
22. CHINESE NEW YEAR WITH THE YEAR
Celebrate the Chinese New Year with the Year of the Rabbit in 2023:
- Join the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich for a fantastic Lunar New Year. 21 Jan
- Take the whole family to the Museum of London Docklands to celebrate Lunar New Year. 21 & 22 Jan
- Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit and the Festival of Spring at Family Festival Day at the National Gallery. 22 Jan
- Renew your energy for the year ahead with the Green Lunar New Year celebration at the Museum of Home in collaboration with ESEA community group Green Lions. 28 Jan
- Join Yuyu Rau from New Earth Theatre for an interactive storytelling of the Chinese folk story at Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, Open Sunday: Lunar New Year. 29 Jan
- Join the Family Event: Lunar New Year Celebration with an exciting day full of colour, creativity, and music at the British Library. 29 Jan
Various locations, LONDON
FREE
23. FANTASTICAL JOURNEYS
Discover opera, ballet and the Royal Opera House with fun-packed creative activities for all the family. All tickets are sold out, but please check back later for returns. 22 Jan
Royal Opera House (ROH), Covent Garden LONDON
Suitable for ages 3 – 10
FREE, with admission
24. BURGLAR BILL
Join The Pied Piper Theatre Company this autumn and winter as they bring this classic tale to life! 22 Jan
artsdepot, North Finchley LONDON
Suitable for ages 3+
Paid
25. FAMILY STUDIO: OBJECT STORIES
Design an artefact that represents you. 22 Jan
The Royal Academy, Piccadilly LONDON
Suitable for all ages
FREE, booking recommended
26. DAVID HOCKNEY: BIGGER & CLOSER
Take a personal journey through sixty years of David Hockney’s art, using large-scale projection in a remarkable NEW space. 25 Jan – 23 Apr
Lightroom, King’s Cross LONDON
Paid
27. CHAMBER TOTS: ENCHANTED WORLDS
Enjoy Chamber Tots, an interactive music-making workshop. 26 Jan
Wigmore Hall, Marylebone LONDON
Suitable for ages 3 – 5
Paid
28. BRITISH LIBRARY
Enjoy monthly onsite workshops and large-scale family days, as well as the British Library’s exciting NEW Family Station: Explore and Play, which is a free creative base for all the family on the last Sunday of every month:
- Join Alexander for a sensory adventure for Under 5s. 27 Jan
- Get creative at the Family Station: Explore and Play. 29 Jan
British Library, St Pancras LONDON
FREE
29. OUR PRECIOUS PLANET
Marvel at the beauty and fragility of our world in a family concert of sound and storytelling, with Grégoire Pont’s drawings projected live alongside thrilling music from the BBC Symphony Orchestra. 28 Jan
Barbican Centre, The City LONDON
Suitable for ages 7 – 11
Paid
30. MAKE-IT: COSTUME ILLUSTRATION
Take part in this family workshop to learn more about costume design and experiment with illustration techniques. 28 Jan – 04 Feb
Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), South Kensington LONDON
Suitable for ages 7 – 13
Paid
31. CREATIVE CLUB SPRING 2023
Get creative on the weekend at a series of workshops. 28 Jan – 22 Apr
Gulbenkian Arts Centre, Canterbury KENT
Suitable for 12 and under
Paid
