Advertisement

Things to do in London this weekend

Things to do in London this weekend

Another weekend is here and London has once again stepped up to the plate.

This weekend there's everything from an art fair to flamingos flying over Chinatown, via blues in Brixton and plenty of martinis over in Hackney.

Don't miss the new pub everyone's talking about either which, being entirely vegan, is very on trend.

Finally, if that Blue Monday feeling is hanging around, cheer yourself up at the Winter Happiness Festival.

Friday January 19

Don’t miss Lumiere London, on all weekend. This glittering spectacle of marvels is entirely free and will feature over 50 artworks all across the capital, from Seven Dials to the West End. Don’t miss the gorgeous pink flamingos taking over Chinatown or the light-up seesaws on South Molton street.

Across London, from the West End to the Southbank, visitlondon.com

Son of the legendary Muddy Waters, Mud Morganfield, is following up his gigs at the Blues Kitchens in Camden (Wed 17) and Shoreditch (Thurs 18) with a finale at Brixton that promises a night of dirty Chicago blues that’ll have you hollering along and up out of your seat dancing inside of the first 12 bars.

Blues Kitchen Brixton, 40 Acre Lane, SW2 5SP, theblueskitchen.com

The 30th London Art Fair has splashed into town, and will be on at the until Sunday at the Business Design Centre in Islington. Go for world class modern and contemporary art, insights into collecting and a look at names to watch.

Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, N1 0QH, londonartfair.co.uk

Saturday January 20

Payday feels an age away, all that Christmas weight is showing no sign of budging and it’s still mostly wet and cold. Help arrives today in the form of the Winter Happiness Festival at Arlington House in Camden, which is on until Feb 4. For a fiver, the festival is offering up gloriously childish fun: among other things, there’s the likes of laughter yoga, ‘gratitude bingo’, a happiness ball pit and even a ukulele workshops. It’s also about keeping your mental health in good shape: there are happiness and mindfulness workshops too.

Museum of Happiness, 220 Arlington Road, NW1 7HE, museumofhappiness.org

Head to Sea Life London for the first of their lates this year. Things start off on the shark walk, where you’ll wander along the Pacific Reef display, inches from the sharks below. Then it’s onto the giant green sea turtles, jellyfish, clown fish and even a Cuban crocodile. Better yet, there’s free prosecco.

County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7PB, visitsealife.com

Don't forget that is National Cheese Lover’s Day, too: read our round-up of five exceptionally cheesy places that serve the best fondue in London.

Sunday January 21

Try the new pub everyone’s talking about, The Spread Eagle over in Homerton. Why is everyone talking about it? Well, it’s vegan. Completely vegan, in fact, from the beer to the bar menu. The best thing about Meriel Armitage and Luke McLaughlin’s new place, though, is that it’s not even remotely worthy: they’ve still got plenty of DJs, an art club, quiz nights, parties and plenty of dirty, indulgent food.

224 Homerton High St, E9 6AS, thespreadeaglelondon.co.uk

Head over to the Subculture Archives on Carnaby Street for their arcade pop-up, The History of Video Games. They’ll have more than 50 games to play, and something like a small museum dedicated to retro consoles, including the likes of the Sega Genesis, the original Playstation and the N64. Time to have another go at getting that Donkey Kong high score.

The Subculture Archives, 3 Carnaby St, W1F 9PB, thesubculturearchives.com