Going Out: Your Guide To What’s On In London This Weekend
By
7 days ago
Here's how to make the most of it
It’s finally the weekend. How will you be spending it? Whether you’re in the mood for secret bars, exclusive pizzas or new exhibitions, there is always plenty going on in London to accommodate your desires. That’s why we’re here to cut through the noise and share the very best things do in London this weekend. Here’s our pick for Saturday 31 January and Sunday 1 February 2026.
This page is refreshed every week with the coolest new pop-ups, deals, events and more to enjoy on the forthcoming weekend. Most of the entries in this list have been tried and tested by the C&TH team, but it is not always possible to visit limited-time entries. In those cases, we include highly rated events, pop-ups and special menus from C&TH-approved brands and businesses.
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Best Things To Do In London This Weekend: 31 Jan–1 Feb
The Tempest At The Globe
You may already be a fan of Shakespeare’s Globe on Bankside, but did you know the magic doesn’t end with summer? A smaller indoor theatre keeps the season going year-round – the candlelit Sam Wanamaker, with room for just 340 guests (compared to the open air theatre’s 1,500). Experimental theatre maker Tim Crouch’s new version of The Tempest is now playing in the director’s Globe debut. Crouch also stars, taking on the role of the mystical and domineering Prospero, joined by Faizal Abdullah as Caliban, Sophie Steer as Miranda and Naomi Wirthner as Ariel. It’s a classic tale of power and freedom (and one of Shakespeare’s most meta-theatrical by the end) as these four lost souls are stranded on an island with no hope of escape. And Crouch brings his own daring flair to the production, with these four characters collectively telling the play’s plot over and over again, believing this could be their salvation. ‘The sharing is their act of hope,’ Crouch says. ‘A ritual role play. When Caliban calls for Freedom, it is for a freedom they all yearn for. They treat each other and help each other in the telling. They pick up when things are left off. They tell the story of the storm each time in the hope of finding a new ending.’
Details: The Tempest runs until 14 April at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse (The Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London SE1 9DT). Tickets from £5pp.
Try A New Workout
Is this London’s prettiest fitness studio? There’s stiff competition, but we think The Method – an intimate new studio on Westbourne Grove – is pretty as a picture. But don’t be deceived by the artful lighting and tactile equipment: you’ve got a tough workout ahead, whether it’s a fiery HIIT-style ‘Blast’ or the dance-aerobic style ‘Beat Power’. If toned arms and abs are the aim of the game, the mat Pilates-style ‘Glide & Sculpt’ is the class to choose. Think sweat-inducing, high intensity muscle challenges without jumping or feeling overly breathless, using hand and ankle weights, sliders, balls and, of course, your own bodyweight. Nearby enjoy one of Notting Hill’s lovely restaurants and cafes – trust us, you’ve earned it.
Details: Find The Method at 235 Westbourne Grove (London W112SE) before its new flagship opens in March.
Visit The Claridge’s Bakery
‘When you’re buying bread, you should buy it from someone who makes it with their heart.’ By name and nature, there’s no better man to buy it from, then, than Richard Hart, who we spoke to at the preview of his newest venture as Executive Baker and Creative Director of the Claridge’s Bakery. The concept is simple; expect all the nostalgic English favourites that have fallen out of favour as French-style patisseries take over. ‘I want to eat a bloomer and a french fancy, an iced finger and a jammy dodger tart,’ he told us, while also sharing that he was a little nervous because British baked goods, while arguably the tastiest, might not appeal to the Insta-crowd because ‘they look… not so great’. We’re inclined to disagree; everything looks and tastes absolutely delicious.
Details: Open 9am–4pm every Saturday and Sunday, as well as throughout the week. Find out more at claridges.co.uk
Canary Wharf Winter Lights
It might be January, but London’s spectacular spread of winter lights has yet to go out. Take the trip to East London this weekend to see Canary Wharf’s award-winning Winter Lights festival in action. Marking a decade of dazzling displays, this year’s trail is packed with 16 installations that follow the theme DREAMSCAPE. Some of this year’s highlights include a giant hand by Patrice LaCroix, formed from floating light voxels, a solar system rendered by Artistic and Janis Petersons, and water-screen projection by Limbic Cinema. You’ll also be able to make pit stops along the trail for a quick bite or tipple, thanks to Canary Wharf’s roster of pop-up food stalls and local restaurants. ‘Our tenth edition of Winter Lights marks a milestone moment,’ says Pippa Dale, Associate-Director Arts & Events at Canary Wharf Group. ‘This year’s artists have created an extraordinary world of illusion, reflection and playfulness, transforming the dark nights of January into a celebration of creativity.’ The festival runs throughout the evening, and is free to attend.
Details: Until31 January 2026 around Canary Wharf. Find out more at canarywharf.com
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Sunday Service At Acre
Even if you’re reluctant to love this industry bad boy, there’s no denying Tom Straker can cook. And just a stone’s throw from his packed-to-the-rafters debut restaurant Straker’s, in May he opened the doors of a new, ever-so-slightly quieter joint in which to gobble up his seasonal dishes. And gobble you will: from focaccia and whipped ricotta drizzled with hot honey and bite-sized, sesame-covered prawn toasts to pleasingly pickly beef tartare scooped onto salty crisps, with Head Chef James Freeman at the helm, every seasonal bite is flavour-packed and fresh yet somehow comforting, nostalgic. Visit between midday and 8pm on a Sunday to enjoy Sunday Service, which invites guest DJs to spin groove and soul, transforming a lazy lunch into a long and lively evening. There’s also a £10 Martini Menu and plenty of cocktails to order from the steel half moon bar, spanning classics to Acre originals.
Details: Every Sunday at Acre (60 Golborne Rd, London W10 5PR). Book ahead to secure your table, though walk-ins are welcome.
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(© Nic Crilly-Hargrave)
Late Nights At Junsei
We’ve found the vibiest way to brighten up a gloomy month, whether it’s dry, damp or a firmly wet January. Junsei, Aman Lakhiani’s yakitori restaurant and listening bar inspired by Tokyo’s izakayas, has launched a slate of late night listening sessions on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings for a mellow dose of partying without the sore feet in the morning. Sample sake sourced from the snowy mountains of Japan or thoughtfully crafted cocktails like Heat (a Japanese twist on the spicy marg), Clear (Suntory Chita Whisky, passion fruit, cacao, citric) or Air (Suntory Haku Vodka, honeycomb, ginger, jasmine tea), with no-alcohol options available too. Accompany the body-bopping beats of leading London DJs with small bites like fried chicken with tartare mayonnaise, crab croquettes and chicken skin chips with togarashi salt and freshly flame grilled skewers flipped over the centuries old Binchō-tan. The wing, thigh with skin and aorta (be brave) are the tastiest.
Details: From 9.30pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at Junsei (132 Seymour Pl, London W1H 1NS).
(© Tate Photography/Yili Liu)
Turner & Constable Exhibition
Ever pitted head-to-head by contemporaneous art critics for their radically different painting techniques and personalities, in 1831 the iconoclastic JMW Turner leaned in. He placed his sunsoaked Caligula’s Palace and Bridge beside and John Constable’s damply British Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows at the Royal Academy exhibition, prompting a flurry of comparisons and fabricating a rivalry that would almost outlive their own legacies. The Tate Britain is inviting art lovers to relive the contrast almost two centuries later at its new Turner & Constable: Rivals & Originals exhibition, which details how these very different (yet equally celebrated) landscape painters emerged from contrasting backgrounds to develop equally distinct artistic identities within the competitive world of art. Staged across their 250th birth years (Turner was born in 1775, Constable in 1776), it’s open now until 12 April 2026.
Details: Turner & Constable: Rivals & Originals runs until 12 April 2026 at the Tate Britain (Millbank, London SW1P 4RG). Tickets are £24pp.
…And More Landscape Painting
Landscape painting is a distinctly British medium, something that is being explored at another exhibition, this time at the Courtauld – and this time told through our oft-forgotten women artists. A View of One’s Own showcases landscape drawings and watercolours by British women working between 1760 and 1860, from accomplished amateurs to those ambitious for recognition. It was a heavily male-dominated era, with painters like JMW Turner and John Constable dominating the limelight. But, as always, women ploughed on, some achieving acclaim in their lifetimes, others working in private and discovered only later. Painters exhibited include Harriet Lister and Lady Mary Lowther, two of the very first artists to depict the Lake District; plus Amelia Long, Lady Farnborough, one of the very first British artists to travel to France after the Napoleonic wars.
Details: A View of One’s Own runs until 20 May at the Courtauld (Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN).
(© Kate Shanasy)
Live Music In Queen’s Park
For a cosy weekend wind down and to wave away the Sunday scaries, head to Queen’s Park where neighbourhood pub The Salusbury is hosting free live music nights, kicking off at the sensible time of 7.30pm. Helmed by two music industry folks (including the founder of Printworks), expect an ad-hoc night of brilliant, eclectic performances featuring local talent and collaborators from the Institute of Contemporary Music. Start with a roast (served until 5pm) and stay for the music, snacking on top-tier bar snacks like fried parmesan churros as the night unfolds.
Details: Every Sunday from 7.30pm at The Salusbury (50-52 Salusbury Rd, London NW6 6NN). Find out more at thesalusbury.co.uk
Twilight Tea at The Savoy
Twilight Tea At The Savoy
One of London’s most storied hotels has a new tale to tell. Shifting the city’s afternoon tea fixation a few hours later, The Savoy is now hosting Twilight Tea in the evening. Think Nyetimber fizz and elegant bites under the soft glow of all-day dining spot Gallery’s stained glass dome. There’s also a special installation to celebrate harvest season, inspired by Nyetimber’s West Sussex, Hampshire and Kent vineyards.
Details: Available from 7pm to 9pm at The Savoy (Strand, London WC2R 0EZ). The menu is £49pp including a glass of Nyetimber.
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London & Yak
Beloved colourful brand Lucy & Yak has launched its very first London pop-up in the heart of historic shopping area Spitalfields. Spread over two floors with changing rooms and recycle and repair facilities, visitors can shop the brand’s latest consciously designed collections, which utilise ethically sourced, eco-friendly materials, including the recently launched L&Y arm which offers more muted, tranquil tones.
Details: London & Yak is open now at 14 Lamb Street (London E1 6EA), and is expected to remain open for six months.
TEN Lounge at Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane.
Luxurious Morning Rituals
Looking to elevate your morning routine? Here’s how: zoom up to Four Seasons Park Lane’s 10th floor penthouse spa and indulge in one of the two new spa packages: Rise and Relax or Rise and Recharge. The former is all about tranquility, starting with an indulgent breakfast: think avocado, smoked salmon and poached egg tartine, sliced fruit, a fruit smoothie and a hot beverage of your choice, all enjoyed with a marvellous view of the city’s skyline from the tranquil TEN Lounge. Then you’ll have time in the spa with its mesmerising vitality pool, soothing steam room, cocooning relaxation pods and wood-clad sauna with its window peering over Hyde Park, before indulging in a 60 minute massage or deep cleansing facial. The latter meanwhile makes the most of the Four Seasons’ fully equipped state-of-the-art gym with its breathtaking views across London (including the London Eye and The Shard) with the help of an expert personal trainer who is all yours for a 50 minute session. Then refuel with a breakfast wrap, banana bread, a peanut butter and banana smoothie and more, before soothing sore muscles in the spa. Then get ready to face the weekend in the spa’s pleasingly comprehensive changing rooms, with all the hair tools, lotions and potions you could need at your disposal.
Details: Rise and Relax (from £270pp) and Rise and Recharge (from £190) are available everyday from 9–11 am at Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane (Hamilton Pl, Park Ln, London W1J 7DR).
Five Points Brewery Tours
One of East London’s most beloved independent breweries is now inviting fans behind the scenes. Beer lovers and curious Londoners alike can step inside Five Points’ working brewhouse, learning the craft and character that make the brand a local institution, before tasting the goods with a expert guide. Complete your visit with discounted food and drinks, and you’ll be a craft beer convert for good.
Details: Tours take place on Saturdays at Five Points (61 Mare St, London E8 4RG), lasting about 90 minutes. Tickets are £20pp.
The Grill at The Hero, Maida Vale
The Grill At The Hero
For a long wine-fuelled lunch that bleeds into dinner, The Grill at The Hero is our top pick this weekend, perched above the buzzy Maida Vale pub (where the elevated pub grub is also a big draw). Helmed by Public House (the same team behind dazzlingly successful joints The Bull in Charlbury and The Pelican in Notting Hill), The Grill is all white tablecloths and candles dancing in the wind, with speciality cuts of meat and fish cooked over an open fire and served with seasonal accompaniments collected from Public House’s Cotswolds farm. (The raw tuna with fresh cherries is delicately divine, while rich meats like beef short rib are elevated with revelatory freshness from green pickled cucumber.) Downstairs in the pub, the dishes are more British-nostalgic; think ham egg and chips, cheese and onion pie, steak and chips and more. Come Sunday indulgent roasts are served upstairs in The Loft.
Details: The Hero is open midday to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and midday to 10pm on Sundays at 55 Shirland Road, London W9 2JD.
Humble Grape Crouch End
Saturday Lunch Deal
Wine lover with a penchant for a bargain? London’s loveliest group of wine bars, Humble Grape (the only wine bar in London that imports its own wines, with a portfolio exceeding 500 across 26 countries), has launched a special Saturday lunchtime deal, offering a burger and Bordeaux for just £20. Tuck into a delicious lamb burger with harissa aioli, cabernet sauvignon pickled red onion, rocket, and chunky hand-cut chips, while sipping on a fresh and full-bodied Bordeaux – as chosen by Humble Grape’s expert sommeliers.
Details: Available every Saturday from midday to 4pm at Humble Grape’s Battersea, Canary Wharf, Crouch End and Islington wine bars.
“NEST (II)” by Gabriele Beveridge at ‘Glassed in Dreams’ (© Isabel Infantes/PA Media Assignments)
Visit A Dreamy Art Installation
Brookfield Properties and The Association of Women in the Arts have teamed up to present a free-to-view installation in the heart of the city. Glassed in Dreams transforms the light-filled atrium of skyscraper 100 Bishopsgate with the dreamlike glass sculptures by conceptual artist Gabriele Beveridge, curated by Vassiliki Tzanakou. Blurring the boundaries between inside and out, the work explores perception, presence and collective experience.
Details: Glassed in Dreams is on display at 100 Bishopsgate until February 2026.
London’s Musical Theatre Bar
What is theatreland missing? A Broadway-worthy musical theatre bar – and our prayers have finally been answered. The Room Where It Happens blends old-world elegance in a transformed townhouse on Greek Street with the reckless, late night abandon of show tune lovers. Guests will sing and dance the night away from Thursday to Saturday, with professional actors as singing servers and a resident pianist igniting a singalong from 9pm.
Details: The Room Where It Happens is open Thursday to Saturday from 5pm to 2am at 5 Greek St, London W1D 4DD. Bottomless Brunch is served on Saturdays from midday.
Royal Gemmology Workshop
Fan of the Royals? This is the workshop for you. Hosted by the opulent Peninsula London, which opened just last year, the Crown Jewels Tour and Gemmology experience commences with a private guided tour of the magnificent crown jewels at their home, the Tower of London, where they have been guarded since 1661. Then return to the hotel and immerse yourself in the wonders of Garrard, the Royal family’s first Crown Jeweller. The Peninsula is home to a glimmering Garrard boutique brimming with beautiful gems, and guests can learn all about them in a masterclass led by the in-house gemmologist. After a chance to don replica Royal tiaras for yourself, end the experience with a delicious signature Peninsula Afternoon Tea to feel like royalty yourself.
Details: The Crown Jewels Tour and Gemmology experience is available for a maximum of three guests at a time, priced at £605 for groups of one to three.
Build A Terrarium
Bring some brightness to your living space with your very own beautiful (and low maintenance) terrarium. If you fancy making your own, join Katie and Lucas in Tottenham for guidance and all the materials you need to craft your very own oasis.
Details: Sessions take place on Saturdays in Tottenham, priced at £70 per person. Find out more at wecandoo.uk
Marceline’s Champagne Cellar Raid brunch (Harriet Langford)
Waterside Champagne Brunch
Another weekend, another brunch – and this one is brand spanking new. Head over to Marceline in Canary Wharf this weekend to enjoy its delicious Champagne Cellar Brunch. Tuck into tasty treats (think croque monsieur, steak tartare, French toast and more) served alongside cellar price sparkling wines. Many bottles are reduced to less than half their usual list price, spanning a £35 Channing Daughters Bianco Pet Nat to £148 Dom Perignon and everything in between.
Details: Every Saturday and Sunday at Marceline (10 Water St, London, E14 5GX).
Visit The Lush Perfume Library
A trip to Lush is always a sensory experience. Even before stepping across the threshold, the heady scent of bath bombs, jellies and creams trickles out onto the pavement – drawing in shoppers by the nose. But the British label is expanding its fragrance empire with the arrival of the Lush Perfume Library, which has now officially opened its doors in Soho. Read more about the new concept store here.
Details: Lush is open 11am–6pm from Monday to Saturday, and 12pm–6pm on Sundays (67-71 Beak St, Soho, London W1F 9SW). Find out more at lush.com
© Rusne Draz
INKO NITO DJ Nights
Fancy starting the weekend with a bang? Every Friday, tucked away on Soho’s Broadwick Street, INKO NITO hosts vibrant and bustling DJ nights offering a mix of funk, soul, hip hop and deep house music alongside the unconventional Japanese robatayaki and sushi dishes that the restaurant is known for. Special dishes bespoke for DJ Nights will also be available, including portobello mushrooms with smoked butter, sea bream with salsa rosa, salmon teriyaki, and kimchi rice.
Details: Every Friday at INKO NITO (55 Broadwick St, Carnaby, London W1F 9QS).
West London’s Best Roast
Big words, but the Sunday roast at Chelsea’s No. 50 Cheyne is (rightly) the stuff of legend. Tucked away on Cheyne Walk – a stone’s throw from the River Thames and Albert Bridge with the King’s Road to the north – this light-filled brasserie is brimming with pretty flowers, bright interiors, and a buzzy atmosphere. Begin with a glass of fizz or treat yourself to a cocktail, before tucking into the legendary roast, choosing between 40 Day Aged Beef Sirloin, Roasted Cauliflower Heritage, Cumbrian Chicken or the restaurant’s prized 100 Day-Aged Belted Galloway Beef Rib Roast, with a limited quantity available. With Executive Chef Iain Smith inspired by a desire to first find and then cook London’s best roast, you’ll find all accompanied with perfectly roasted classic sides: roast potatoes (super crispy yet buttery soft in the middle, just as they should be), Yorkshire pudding (with a surprise stuffing ball nestled inside), huge glazed carrots and hispi cabbage, with a generous serving of gravy to boot. Divine. Best of all, this well-priced, in-demand roast is available on Saturdays as well as Sundays – but you’ll still need to be quick to cinch your table.
Details: Roasts are available every Saturday and Sunday at No. Fifty Cheyne (50 Cheyne Walk, London SW3 5LR), with prices starting at £25 on Saturdays and £28.30 on Sundays.
MORE: London’s Very Best Roasts
© Emma Pharaoh
Eat Viral Pancakes
Apple Butter is a buzzy all-day dining spot and home to some viral pancakes that are worth going out of your way for. There’s the original branch in Seven Dials, or head to the newly opened venue on Langham Place – a stone’s throw away from Oxford Circus – for all the goodness in a slightly more tranquil spot. There’s a full menu of delicious, middle eastern inspired plates, plus an extensive menu of hot and cold coffees and speciality lattes; the cinnamon roll latte is a real treat. But the moment we’ve all been waiting for: the pancakes. There’s a daily special flavour of uber fluffy pancakes, spanning the likes of strawberry cheesecake, lotus and white chocolate, hazelnut praline and, if you’re lucky, sticky toffee pudding – a rich, gooey marvel with dates and a sprinkling of sesame seeds. Divine.
Details: Find Apple Butter in Seven Dials (32-34 Monmouth St, London WC2H 9HA) and Langham Place (4-5 Langham Pl, London W1B 3DG). Tables are walk-in only. Good luck! applebuttercafe.com
Islington Square Saturday Market
Every Saturday, Islington Square is overtaken by a carefully curated weekly market in partnership with Urban Food Fest. Visit for mouth watering street food, unforgettable desserts and artisanal products alongside creative crafts for all the family.
Details: Every Saturday from 11am–5pm at Islington Square (116 Upper St, London N1 1AB).
Learn To Make Gelato
Say hello to warmer days with a gelato making session. Join Elisa and Fabiano in Wandsworth to learn all about the art of gelato and sorbet making, before tucking into your creation – 500g of it, no less.
Details: Sessions take place on Wednesdays and Sundays in Wandsworth, priced at £65 per person. See all of the details at wecandoo.uk
The Leo Green Experience
Live music and jazz fans should flock to QT this weekend, where The Leo Green Experience celebrates the best sax solos centre stage, putting a high-energy sax twist on the biggest hits of the last 30 years. Featuring table service which delivers an array of small plates and cocktails, there’s an old school vibe with an easy breezy air: think drinking, dancing and eating while Leo and his band raise the roof.
Details: Every Friday and Saturday evening from 7.30–9.15pm and 9.45pm–1am at QT (Middle Eight Hotel, 66 Great Queen St, London WC2B 5BX). Tickets are £25 for general admission, or £35 for seated table service.
Sound Healing At The Mandrake
Seeking some serenity? Experience the transformative combination of Reiki and Sound Healing every Saturday at The Mandrake Hotel, guided by skilled sound healer Maria Lodetoft. Expect Reiki healing amid the soothing soundscape of alchemy crystal singing bowls, producing tones and frequencies thought to align the chakras, calm the mind, and open the heart.
Details: Every Saturday at 11am at The Mandrake Hotel (20-21 Newman St, London W1T 1PG). Places cost £40pp.
Columbia Road Flower Market
Brighten the gloomy winter days with a trip to London’s premiere flower market this weekend: Columbia Road. Taking place every Sunday between Bethnal Green and Hoxton, it attracts people from far and wide in droves and for good reason, offering a glorious slice of unchanging London life, with reasonable prices across flowers and bulbs, succulents and houseplants. With a rainbow of vibrant colours, it’s hard to resist succumbing to the classic Instagram shots. Afterwards, head into Shoreditch, or grab a bagel on the ever-popular Brick Lane.
Details: Sundays, 8am–2pm at Columbia Road, Bethnal Green E2 7RG. Find out more at columbiaroad.info
Go Bowling
OK, OK, a generic weekend suggestion – but London’s bowling alleys are some of the nation’s best. Whether you’re looking to host a big birthday blowout, make plans with friends or you’re in need of new date ideas, you’ll bowl everyone over with these spots.
Learn To Make Pasta
Wondering what to do in London next weekend? Try your hand at the Italian art of pasta making at Pasta Evangelists’ Pasta Academy in Farringdon. Expect to learn all about the best ingredients and techniques, and eat your creation at the end, too. Read our review of the Beginners’ Class here.
Details: Pasta Evangelists’ Pasta Academy (62-63 Long Lane, Barbican, London EC1A 9EJ). These classes are extremely high-demand, so your weekend activity will inevitably be booking ahead for a future weekend.
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