A look ahead at the best of what’s on in London during January 2015.
1st January
Annual event that sees around 10,000 performers parade through central London in a free festival. Now in its 29th year, so quite a young tradition, by London standards.
4th January
A glorious festival at Bankside laid on for free by a troupe of actors. Expect to see the Green Man arrive by boat, followed by a host of characters including a traditional Father Christmas, hobby horses and musicians. After greetings, a mummers play is laid on, followed by a parade to Borough Market.
An evening with The Bletchley Girls and Tessa Dunlop
8th January
Marking the publication of her new book, Tessa Dunlop will be in conversation with some of the women who worked at the government code breaking base, Bletchley Park during WW2.
10th January
An exhibition that is open most days of the week, but rarely at weekends, so a chance for more of us to see this display of manuscripts and documents.
The Cold War and the Culture of Secrecy
13th January
A lecture by Professor Matthew Connelly on how the culture of secrecy during the Cold War was also used as cover for political aims, and social repression.
14th January
Political cartoonist Martin Rowson (The Guardian, The Independent) will explore the life, death and afterlife of William Hogarth – the grandfather of cartooning. The lecture ties in with an exhibition at the museum at the moment.
18th January
Head to the Painted Hall at Greenwich where you can raise a glass of port to the memory of Admiral Lord Nelson. A tradition that can either be looked at as something serious, or a quirky bit of fun.
5×15: Viktor Wynd, The Gentle Author, Lisa Hannigan, Mike Figgis & Franny Armstrong
21st January
Hear from five people in a fast moving event where each person is required to talk on a topic for 15 minutes without notes.
Alexandra Palace History Tours
24th January
A fairly rare chance to go behind the scenes at the North London venue and have a look around some parts that are no longer in use.
Civil War Society Remembers the ‘Horrid Murder’ of King Charles I
25th January
Around 500 people dressed in English Civil War attire are allowed to march down the Mall to Horseguards Parade. Anyone who likes pomp and ceremony will love it.
The Grant Museum’s Living Library
28th January
Hear from UCL researchers and they tell tales about their work and discoveries and the collection at one of London’s more unusual museums.
Lasdun late: Modernism at the medical museum
29th January
Spend the evening in this modernist masterpiece of a building, as part of a late-opening, and chance to view an exhibition about its architect.
31st January
Spend the day learning a skill you will probably never need to use, unless you move to the country, but at least you’ll sound knowledgeable when discussing BBC’s Countryfile on Sunday evenings.
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For the full list of everything happening in London, click here.
Sadly, I’m not convinced that the Hogarth talk is free – the museum website says £10. http://www.cartoonmuseum.org/events/events/hogarth-events