London in January is quieter than December, but there's still plenty to do. Visitor numbers drop after the December peak and queues at the big attractions get shorter. The trade is cold, often damp weather and short daylight hours. Permanent museums, galleries and West End theatres run normal winter hours; Hyde Park Winter Wonderland closes in the first days of January, and most outdoor ice rinks follow within a week or two. Pack a waterproof coat, and plan outdoor stops for the middle of the day, as the sun sets before 5pm all month.

Families do well in January too. Wet days suit the dinosaur galleries at the Natural History Museum; dry spells suit Hyde Park or Regent's Park; and rinks like Queens Skate Dine Bowl cover an afternoon. Most major national museums and galleries are also free to enter.

Here's what to do, starting with the events tied to the calendar.

Watch the New Year's Day Parade

London's New Year's Day Parade runs from Piccadilly to Parliament Square every 1 January, starting around 1pm, with marching bands, dance troupes and vintage vehicles working their way along the route.

Watching from the pavement is free. Arrive well before the start for a clear view, and expect crowded Tube stations before and after. Paid grandstand seats are sold along the route.

Good to know: Free. Nearest stations are Green Park, Piccadilly Circus and Westminster. Plenty of shops, attractions and restaurants run reduced hours or stay shut on 1 January, and TfL runs a reduced service, so check before you build a full day around the parade.

Catch the last of Christmas

Some Christmas markets and light trails keep going into the first week of January before packing up, so an early-January trip can still catch a bit of December. Christmas at Kew, an after-dark illuminated trail through the gardens that is ticketed separately from daytime entry, runs until 3 January 2027, and Hyde Park Winter Wonderland has closed in the first days of January in recent years.

Good to know: Closing dates shift year to year, so check the venue's own listings before you travel for one specifically.

Walk through Winter Lights at Canary Wharf

Winter Lights at Canary Wharf is the main January light festival, returning for its 11th edition in 2027. The 2027 dates are still to be announced, but recent editions have run for around 12 evenings in the second half of the month, from 5pm to 10pm, and it's free.

Good to know: Free. Nearest station is Canary Wharf (Jubilee line, Elizabeth line and DLR). Check the official Canary Wharf site for the 2027 dates.

Celebrate Burns Night

Haggis, whisky and a piper turn up across London on 25 January, the anniversary of Robert Burns's birth in 1759.

Boisdale in Belgravia and Canary Wharf runs piped Burns Night suppers, and Scottish-themed restaurants, bars and clubs across London mark the night with haggis suppers, readings of Burns's poetry and ceilidhs. In 2027 the 25th falls on a Monday, so some venues run the event on the nearest Friday or Saturday instead.

Good to know: These are usually fixed sittings with a set menu, and the good ones fill early. Book a week or two ahead.

See a major exhibition

January is a turning point for big shows. Some autumn exhibitions hit their final weeks, and new ones open once the Christmas rush clears.

The British Museum, Tate Modern, National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery all regularly run major temporary exhibitions across the winter months. General admission to these venues is free; the headline exhibitions are ticketed separately.

In January 2027, the British Museum's Korea exhibition runs until 31 January and Tate Modern's Ana Mendieta show runs until 17 January. Somerset House's free Through our Eyes: Sámi Art and Culture runs until 7 February.

Closing weekends are the busiest slots of the whole run, so a Tuesday morning is worth more than a Sunday afternoon. Check each venue's own site, such as the British Museum's exhibitions listings, for current titles and end dates before you commit.

Good to know: If a show is ending, book rather than turning up, because timed slots sell out even in a quiet month.

Spend a wet day in a free museum

Short days and wet pavements make indoor options the backbone of a January itinerary. The British Museum, Natural History Museum, V&A and Tate Modern all offer free general admission, and any one of them will absorb several hours, so an unexpected downpour costs you nothing.

The Natural History Museum is the obvious choice with children. Its dinosaur and wildlife galleries work for most ages, and you can stay as long as the weather demands.

The National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery sit a minute apart off Trafalgar Square, both free, which makes them a sensible pairing on a wet afternoon.

Good to know: Temporary exhibitions at these museums are usually ticketed. At the Natural History Museum, a free timed entry slot is recommended at weekends.

Climb for a view over the city

Tower Bridge is free to walk across, but the high-level walkways with their glass floor need a paid ticket, and the view down onto the deck is the reason people buy one. St Paul's Cathedral sells tickets too, and the climb to the dome galleries, included in a standard ticket Monday to Saturday, is the best paid view in the City on a clear winter morning.

Good to know: Both views are ticketed. Go on a clear morning.

Take a winter walk

Walking still works in January if you keep it short. The South Bank between Westminster and Tower Bridge is paved, flat and passes Tate Modern, so you can duck inside when the rain starts.

Hyde Park and Regent's Park are free, and a short outdoor break between two indoor stops helps pace the day. Regent's Park connects to Primrose Hill; Hyde Park links Kensington to Mayfair on foot. Both parks have playgrounds, and a cold half hour outdoors makes the next indoor stop easier for everyone. The City's alleys and churchyards are good for a short, unhurried walk, and guided walking tours run through the winter.

Good to know: Free. Aim for late morning to mid-afternoon, and plan an indoor stop at each end.

Take one last skate

Ice skating is a December pleasure that only just carries into January. The seasonal rinks close in the first week or two of the month, so the permanent ones are the ones to rely on after that.

Somerset House's courtyard rink runs until 10 January 2027, while the rinks at Hampton Court Palace and the Queen's House in Greenwich run until 3 January. Check each rink's listings before planning a trip around them.

If you want certainty, Queens Skate Dine Bowl in Queensway and Alexandra Palace both have permanent indoor rinks running public sessions year-round. Queens has a bowling alley and diner attached, useful when skating alone won't fill an afternoon.

If Canary Wharf's rink is usually your go-to, it's sadly taking a break this winter and won't be open.

Good to know: Queens hires out skate aids for beginners. Book ahead wherever you go.

Catch a West End show

The long-running musicals play through January, with matinees midweek and at weekends. Some shows add Sunday matinees while others take Sundays off, so check the days for the show you want.

Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre and Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre are both on sale until 2 October 2027.

January is one of the better months for ticket prices. Producers know demand dips after Christmas, so January offers and discounted midweek seats are common, particularly for shows that have been running for years.

Good to know: Day seats and same-day releases are worth a look if you're flexible: join the queue at the box office when it opens, or check the theatre's own website in the morning.

Step inside Frameless

Frameless in Marble Arch is a permanent digital art venue built around large-scale reinterpretations of classic artworks, projected across floors and walls in multiple galleries. It's ticketed, indoors and takes around 90 minutes.

Immersive digital art venues run year-round, which makes them reliable when a seasonal event has already closed. Older children and teenagers tend to get more out of immersive exhibitions than traditional galleries, and Frameless is built for that.

Good to know: Book a slot in advance, since capacity is limited per entry time.

Sit in on a talk or masterclass

Smaller institutions are the underrated part of the month. Bishopsgate Institute runs public talks, courses and classes, from history talks to creative writing and dance. Guildhall School of Music & Drama holds public masterclasses where you sit in and watch professional musicians being coached by a visiting artist. There are also free lunchtime talks on London's history and development every Friday at The London Centre in Guildhall.

Good to know: Guildhall School masterclasses are free and open to all with no booking required, typically last around three hours, and you can drop in at any time. The Friday talks at The London Centre are free, but booking is required. Check dates before you go.

Try something new

City Bouldering Aldgate welcomes complete beginners and runs courses to get you started, so you can try climbing for the first time. Set Ceramics, tucked into a former cobbler's shop near Fenchurch Street, teaches courses in hand-building and wheel throwing for complete beginners, in small classes of four to six people.

For something noisier, F1 Arcade pairs racing simulators with food and drink.

Go underground for some hidden history

For history without a ticket price, London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE shows the remains of a Roman temple uncovered during construction in the City, free of charge and a genuine surprise on a lunch break.

Good to know: The Mithraeum is free to visit, but book a timed slot in advance. It's entirely underground.

Shelter in a historic pub or market

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street is one of London's oldest pubs, rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666, with cellars and several small interconnecting rooms. The Blackfriar, nearby, has an Arts and Crafts interior. Leadenhall Market puts shopping, food and ornate Victorian architecture together in the City.

Good to know: The Blackfriar is near Blackfriars station.

Where to stay in London in January

January is a great month to base yourself in London, with quieter attractions and plenty to fill the short days. Whether you're coming for Burns Night, the Winter Lights or a few unhurried days in the museums, Veeve offers short term holiday rentals in London, including luxury apartment rentals, so you've got a proper home to come back to.