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What's on in London, January

Our guide to what’s on in London this January. Welcome the new year with our pick of the best things going on in the capital, from dazzling circus shows to international festivals, live music, special celebrations and more! Highlights of events taking place in London this January 2020 include Cirque du Soleil at the Royal Albert Hall, Chinese New Year Celebrations in Central London, a major Picasso exhibition opening at the Royal Academy of Arts and more!

Events on in London, January

Cirque du Soleil returns this January
  • From 12 Jan to 16 Feb – Cirque du Soleil returns to London for a set of dazzling performances at the Royal Albert Hall. Shows are available in the afternoon and evening until 16th February 2020.
  • Until 26 Jan – last chance to catch Hogwarts in the Snow, the Christmas themed installations at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour- the Making of Harry Potter
  • January sales – take advantage of the traditional January sales and head to the major shopping streets include Regent Street, Oxford Street, Bond Street
  • 8 Jan to 2 Feb – the International Mime Festival returns to London, celebrating the best of contemporary visual theatre
  • 10-19 Jan – a 10-day London Short Film Festival showcasing the best short films from around the world
  • 16-25 Jan – see the Winter Lights in Canary Wharf, with 25 spectacular installations and lots of pop-up food & drink stalls
  • 21-26 Jan – an Arts & Textiles fair takes place at Battersea Park, perfect for lovers of antiques
  • From Jan 22 – Lightopia, a spectacular winter light trail opens at Chiswick House and runs until March
  • Jan 22-26 – The annual London art fair takes place in Islington
  • Jan 22-26 – it’s Scotch Whisky Festival week, with special offers across bars all over London
  • 25 Jan – Celebrate Chinese New Year, with lots of events taking place in Central London, focusing around Chinatown
  • 25 Jan – Celebrate Burns Night, where Scots come together to celebrate their national with lots of food, drink and dancing!
  • From 28 Jan – VAULT Festival, an 8-week entertainment event with lots of theatre, comedy, cabaret and more taking place in Waterloo
  • 29 Jan to 27 Feb – See the opera Carmen at the London Coliseum, performed by the English National Opera

New Shows & Theatre on in January

Our pick of the new shows and theatre productions heading to the West End this January 2020:

  • 3-18 Jan – A contemporary circus production from NoFit State premieres Lexicon at the Roundhouse
  • 8-14 Jan – The English National Ballet performs Le Corsaire for 1-week only at the Coliseum
  • From 8 Jan – Catch Shackleton and his Stowaway at the Stolen Elephant Theatre, following its smashing success at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
  • From 13 Jan – Dear Evan Hansen, the Tony award-winning best musical, transfers from Broadway to London. Exploring life and the way we live it, the musical is on at the Noel Coward Theatre
  • From 16 Jan – The Sunset Limited, a new play by Cormac McCarthy comes to London’s Boulevard Theatre
  • From 24 Jan – Kunene and the King is a highly acclaimed play marking the 25th anniversary of the end of apartheid in South Africa
  • From 25 Jan – Leopoldstadt, a play by Tom Stoppard set in Vienna in the year 1900 makes its world premiere
  • From 30 Jan – Poet in da Corner, a coming of age story, returns following its premier in 2018

*** See our complete list of all the new musicals heading to London this January 2020 ***

Last Chance to Catch:

  • Ending 18 Jan – don’t miss Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, on show at the Barbican. A reimagined production by the Royal Shakespeare Company
  • Ending 26 Jan – the 30th anniversary production of Fame the Musical, on show at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre

Christmas Events on in January

Last few days of Hyde Park Winter Wonderland!

Catch the end of London’s Christmas events during the first few days of January. Some of the most popular events of the season come to an end, including:

New Year’s Day

Welcome 1st January 2020 in style with lots of things to do in London

  • New Years Day Parade – thousands of spectators turn out to watch this spectacular event in the heart of Central London
  • New Years Day Tours – take a trip out of the city on New Year’s Day with visits to Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, Oxford and more!

Exhibition on in London, January

Your last chance to see some of the major London exhibitions of last year’s season, as well as some exciting new exhibitions opening in London this January 2020.

  • Opening 14 Jan – Living with Art – an exhibition at the British Museum exploring 20th Century artists, including works by Picasso, Matisse and Hockney
  • Opening 25 Jan – a major Picasso exhibition opens at The Royal Academy of Arts, celebrating the great artists use of paper.
  • Every day: The Tutankhamun Exhibition is on display at the Saatchi Gallery. Your last ever chance to see these magnificent treasures outside of Egypt!
  • Until 12 Jan 2020: Last chance to catch The Leonardo Exhibition at the National Gallery
  • Every day: George IV Exhibition at Buckingham Palace examining the life of the King
  • Until 26 Jan: Last chance to see The Gaugin Exhibition at the National Gallery – featuring around 50 works and dedicated to the artists’ portraits
  • Until 26 Jan – the Pre-Raphaelite Sisters exhibition comes to a close at the National Portrait Gallery, as well as the Lucian Freud exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery
  • Every day: The Rembrandt Exhibition showcases 35 works at the Dulwich Picture Gallery
  • Every day: The Troy Exhibition at the British Museum explores the ancient legends of Troy, with art, archaeology and more!
  • Every day: The Dora Maar Exhibition at the Tate Modern – exploring one of the most important Surrealist photographers
  • Other ongoing exhibitions include – Mary Quant exhibition and Tim Walker exhibition at the V&A; Innovation Exhibition at the Science Museum;  and  Beasts of London exhibition at the Museum of London; Buddhism Exhibition at The British Library

Football Matches in London, January

Major football matches taking place in London this January 2020, including Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League and Europa League. Tickets can be found on the official club websites, and resale tickets can be found here.

  • Chelsea vs. Nott’m Forest (5 Jan); Crystal Palace vs. Derby (5 Jan); Arsenal vs Leeds (6 Jan); Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal (11 Jan); Spurs vs. Liverpool (11 Jan); Chelsea vs. Burnley (11 Jan); Arsenal vs. Sheffield (18 Jan); West Ham vs. Everton (18 Jan); Chelsea vs. Arsenal (21 Jan); Crystal Palace vs. Southampton (21 Jan); Spurs vs. Norwich (22 Jan); West Ham vs. Liverpool (29 Jan)

Concerts in London, January 2020

Our pick of the top concerts & festivals happening in London this January

  • Pop concerts: Lou Sanders (5 Jan); Theo Von (10-11 Jan); Hatsune Miku (11 Jan); PJ Morton (12 Jan); Sidhu Moose Black Midi Wala (17 Jan); Chase Rice (18 Jan); Caravan Palace (20 Jan); Tyler Childers (21 Jan); The Teskey Brothers (23 Jan); Slipnot (25 Jan); Madonna (27 Jan to 15 Feb); Five Finger Death Punch (31 Jan)
  • Classical Music: National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain (5 Jan); Beethoven & Berg with London Symphony Orchestra (15, 16 & 19 Jan) Faure’s Requiem with London Philharmonic Orchestra (18 Jan); Nash Ensemble at Wigmore Hall (18 Jan); Jerusalem Quartet at Wigmore Hall (20 & 21 Jan); Igor Levit plays Shostakovich at the Barbican (26 Jan); Beethoven 250 at Wigmore Hall (26 Jan); Beethoven with Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (28 Jan); Borodin Quartet at Wigmore Hall (30 Jan)

What’s Closed in London, January 2020

Planned closures include:

  • Transport is limited on New Year’s Day, with lots of roads closed because of the New Year’s day parade. There will also be reduced service on the tube. It’s recommended to check the Transport for London website for updates.
  • Kensington Palace will be closed to the public 6-17 January 2020

Find out what’s on in London in February, March & April with our monthly guides.

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