Explore the experiences of Londoners during the Second World War and the effect it had on the city they knew.
Welcome to 2026! This January, the City of London is bursting with vibrant experiences to kick off the new year in style.
Will you dive into Roman history, dance your shoes off, learn pottery? Whether you're a history buff, a foodie, or a culture seeker, here’s our guide to some of the best activities in the City of London this month.
1. Attend Vibrance, a free festival of light and sound (Thursday 29 and Friday 30 January)
For two nights only, Vibrance will transform the City of London, creating unforgettable encounters with light, sound and live performance. Historic landmarks, hidden gardens and striking façades are reimagined with colour, music and storytelling.
The free event will take place at Guildhall Yard, St Alphage London Wall & Garden, Salters’ Garden, St Giles’ Cripplegate and Milton Court.
Promotional poster for Vibrance, a new free festival of light and sound, coming to the City of London in January 2026
2. Get active and curious on Fridays in the City
Start the year with some good resolutions: visit the City of London on Fridays to be active, learn a new skill, immerse yourself in music, or join a walking tour.
Whether you’re up for an architecture talk, a cookery class, or ballroom dancing, discover a world of opportunities in the Square Mile.
3. Put on your dancing shoes at Bishopsgate Institute
Let January be the time for dancing at Bishopsgate Institute! With an eclectic selection of dance courses and social dance events, from Swing Den to Queer Tango classes, there is something to suit every style and preference.
The programme includes:
- Swing Den (Friday 9 January, 7pm)
- Pink Jukebox (Sunday 11 January, 2pm)
- Queer Tango (Friday 16 January, 6.30pm)
- Swing Live! (Friday 16 January, 7pm)
- Charle’s Jukebox (Saturday 24 January, 7pm)
- Dance in a Day – Lindy Hop (Sunday 25 January, 2pm)
4. Walk around to uncover the City’s fascinating history
Travel through 2,000 years with a City of London walking tour. Wander through medieval alleys, marvel at Roman ruins, and explore historic churches, pubs, and green spaces.
For a self-guided adventure, pick up a free City Visitor Trail map from the City Information Centre or have a look at our Great Fire of London self-guided walk or Literary Walking Trail.
Prefer a guide? Join a daily walking tour led by City of London experts to hear the fascinating stories of the City.
City of London Guides Walking Tour. Credit: Patrick Honey
5. Start your pottery journey with Set Ceramics (Mondays, Wednesdays, Sundays)
Tucked inside a former cobbler’s shop near Fenchurch Street Station, the Set Ceramics studio is a space for making, experimenting, and having fun with clay. Courses available starting this January include:
- Hand Building with ceramicist Lauren McNicoll (from Sunday 11 January). An 8-week course for beginners and intermediate to learn hand-building techniques from traditional to experimental. On Sundays, 10 am to 12.30pm.
- Introduction to Wheel Throwing with ceramicist Lewis Hayes (from Wednesday 14 January). An 8-week beginner course to learn wheel throwing from the ground up. Every Wednesday, 8 to 10.30pm.
- Hand Building: Surface and Substance with artist Francisco Zhan (from Monday 12 January). An 8-week course to explore hand building with an emphasis on surface decoration and experimentation. Suitable for all levels. Every Monday, 7.30 to 10pm.
6. Attend one of the Guildhall School Masterclasses (9, 13 and 26 January)
The Guildhall School Masterclasses are free, open to all, without booking required. Join for a unique opportunity to witness exceptional Guildhall performers being coached by renowned visiting musicians.
This January, the programme includes a Viola Masterclass with Caroline Henbest (Friday 9 January), a Vocal Masterclass with Sumi Jo (Tuesday 13 January) and a Piano Masterclass with Katsunori Ishii (Monday 26 January).
Photo Credit: Paul Cochrane
7. Pick up a new hobby: bouldering
Are you looking for a fun, active challenge? Head to City Bouldering Aldgate. With over 100 climbs, a fully equipped gym, and a welcoming community, it’s the perfect spot to try your hand at bouldering and meet fellow climbing enthusiasts.
You’ll kickstart your climbing journey with a 1-hour coach-led session, which will equip you with all the essential skills to climb efficiently and confidently.
8. Try one of the many historic pubs in the City
The City of London is home to some fascinating pubs.
From one of London’s oldest pubs (Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street) to an Art Nouveau Grade II listed masterpiece (The Blackfriar), and The Lamb Tavern within Leadenhall Market, or the Hoop and Grapes in Aldgate, some of the City’s oldest taverns have survived plague, fire, war and modernisation, and are still serving today.
Fun fact: the Old Doctor Butler’s Head, in Moorgate, is named after Dr William Butler, a 16th and 17th century physician whose methods would be seen as unusual nowadays – plunging patients in the Thames as an example.
Old Doctor Butler’s Head
9. Visit Tower Bridge midweek for 20% off tickets (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays)
Avoid the weekend crowds with the Tower Bridge midweek offer, and explore the stunning views from the historic and iconic bridge.
From Tuesday 6 January to Thursday 12 February 2026, visitors to Tower Bridge can enjoy 20% off tickets for visits on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. It’s the perfect opportunity to experience London's defining landmark for less.
Pre-booking your tickets is recommended.
10. Shake off the January blues with fizz or tea at Dr Johnson’s House (Thursday 22 and 29 January)
Explore famous writer Samuel Johnson’s historic home, with a short talk and a glass of fizz, during a late at Dr Johnson's House this Thursday 22 January from 5.30pm.
You’re more of a morning person? Then join on Thursday 29 January (10am) for Tea with Samuel Johnson, an exclusive visit with tea, coffee and pastries before Dr Johnson's house opens to the public.
Promotional Image for Museum Lates at Dr Johnson's House
11. Family and children-friendly things to do in the City of London this January
This January, keep the whole family entertained with a mix of thrilling activities, cultural delights, and creative workshops:
Snoopy Trail (until Friday 16 January): the Fleet Street Quarter is welcome a very special guest: Snoopy! The world-famous character has taken over the streets of the Quarter in the form of twelve unique sculptures, each artist-designed to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Charles M. Schulz’s beloved comic strip, Peanuts™. Pick up your map at the City Information Centre or download it online.
Bring your baby to Guildhall Art Gallery (Friday 9 January). The Bring Your Baby Guided London Walks are sensitively devised to suit parents and carers of even the tiniest babies to enjoy London’s history. Alternatively, choose a walk in the footsteps of Women in the City of London (Friday 30 January), guided by City of London guide and co-author of 'Women from Hackney's History', Sue Doe.
Second Saturday at Guildhall Art Gallery (10 January): on the second Saturday of every month, Guildhall Art Gallery hosts fun and free family days. Expect a craft activity and story times during the day, from 11am to 4pm.
Sculpture in the City Family Trail: embark on a free sculpture hunt across the City! With 11 sculptures waiting to be discovered, this vibrant trail combines art and adventure. Pick up a map at the City Information Centre or download a digital version online.
F1 Arcade: feel the adrenaline of the Formula 1 track at this immersive racing experience. Located in One New Change, the F1 Arcade offers simulators designed for drivers aged 7 and up, with multiple skill levels to suit everyone from beginners to pros. When you’re ready to refuel, the menu has something for everyone, from burgers to family-style sharing plates.
Barbican Family Film Club: enjoy Saturday mornings filled with family-friendly films at the Barbican Cinema. Tickets sell out fast! This month with:
- Wolfwalkers (PG), an uplifting and stunning animation about friendship and loyalty set in a remote town in 17th century Ireland. Takes place on Saturday 17 January.
- A special Labyrinth 40th Anniversary Screening (U): the 40th anniversary screening of the iconic family fave alongside a pre-film craft and design activity Amazing Mazes with RIBA – The Royal Institute of British Architects. Saturday 31 January. ‘Dance Magic, Dance!’
Monster Art Club: get creative at the Barbican Children’s Library every Saturday from 2 to 3.30pm. This free event provides all the materials for drawing, colouring, and imaginative crafting - perfect for budding artists of all ages.
Rhyme Time at Artizan Library: every Thursday from 10 to 10.30am, bring your little ones (under 5s) to a free lively session filled with action songs, musical instruments, and puppets.
Sculpture in the City 14th Edition walking tour.
12. Immerse yourself into intense operatic drama with The Makropulos Affair (Tuesday 13 and Thursday 15 January)
A 300-year-old woman confronts mortality, identity and lost love in this concert performance of Janáček’s intense operatic drama: The Makropulos Affair. This is the fourth Janáček opera performed by Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra.
This year’s cast is as exceptional as ever, with soprano Marlis Petersen as the emotionally complex Emilia, and tenor Aleš Briscein – a veteran of Janáček’s distinctive musical style – as Albert Gregor, the young lawyer enamoured with Emilia.
Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra. Photography by Mark Allan.
13. Explore these free exhibitions before they close soon
Here is your last chance to enjoy these exhibitions in the City of London.
Jane and Louise Wilson: Performance of Entrapment (until 17 January at London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE): inspired by the Roman temple of Mithras, and artefacts discovered on the site, Performance of Entrapment offers a powerful reflection on ancient shrines, time and renewal in an immersive installation which weaves together film, archaeology, and contemporary art.
The following exhibitions at Hypha Galleries at No.1 Poultry (until Saturday 17 January):
- Cheapside, curated by Rachel Mortlock & India Stanbra, to unfold through uncanny, surreal works – stretched, fleshy and strange – that draw on the area’s commercial past. Open Thursday to Sunday, 12 to 6pm.
- Betts, curated by Sam Jacob, a nomadic gallery dedicated to curating exhibitions around architecture, supporting both young and established practices.
- Processing Process – No EnD In SiTe, curated by Raisa Desypri & Korina Pavlidou, bringing together a transdisciplinary group of artists exploring relationality, transformation, and the dynamics of process. Open Wednesday to Friday (2 to 6pm) and Saturday (12 to 6pm).
Dirty Looks (until 25 January 2026 at Barbican Art Gallery): from ruined romantic evening gowns to faux-stained jeans, mud-splashed dresses and upcycled outfits, the fashion world has never been dirtier. Featuring icons like Hussein Chalayan, Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Miguel Adrover and Maison Margiela, alongside emerging designers such as Elena Velez, Yuima Nakazato and IAMISIGO, this exhibition at the Barbican explores fashion's past and present, possible future.).
Jane and Louise Wilson: Performance of Entrapment. Photo by Marcus Leith
14. Join a free architecture talk at The London Centre (every Friday lunchtime)
Every Friday, from 12.30 to 1pm, head to the London Centre, in the West Wing of Guildhall, for a free architecture talk. You will explore London from new perspectives, around the impressive NLA London Model: a large-scale, detailed representation of central London.
The short 30-minute talk will explore the history of London from Romans to now, how London came to be shaped like it is, how the city is being shaped today and for the future, and much more.
Free lunchtime talks take place every Friday at the London Centre.
15. Explore the 2,000-year-old remains of Roman Londinium
Discover the remnants of Roman London, scattered throughout the City like pieces of a fascinating historical puzzle.
Visit the Roman Wall, the Amphitheatre, and other well-preserved sites to uncover how the Romans lived 2,000 years ago. Walk through history as you stroll the streets or delve into indoor exhibitions for a closer look at this era.
© The City Wall at Vine Street
