The ianVisits guide to January's unusual events, tours, lectures and exhibitions happening around London.
Friday 1st January
Free
Explore the life and work of acclaimed botanical artists Franz and Ferdinand Bauer.
11:30am to 12pm
South Kensington
Annual 'usa-style' parade with floats and dancers in central London.
12pm to 3:30pm
Hardly used for 15 years, a chance to see inside on of the great buildings of 1930s modernism.
2pm to 3pm
Hornsey
More London events on Friday 1st January
Saturday 2nd January
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Saturday 2nd January
Sunday 3rd January
Watch a parade by the Green Man, Father Christmas and the hobby horse around Bankside singing Mummer plays and wassailing the apple tree.
Starts at 2pm
Southwark
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Monday 4th January
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Monday 4th January
Tuesday 5th January
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Tuesday 5th January
Wednesday 6th January
The Geffrye's own tradition of burning the holly and ivy with carol singing, Epiphany stories and a taste of mulled wine.
3:30pm to 5pm
Bethnal Green
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Thursday 7th January
Bryony Millan, Archivist at the National Portrait Gallery, explores the institution during wartime, from the evacuation of portraits and occupation of the premises by the War Office,
1:15pm to 2:30pm
Soho
Free
This talk, Doug Millard looks at what was sent and why, with particular focus on the Soviet and Russian space programmes.
Starts at 2pm
Facilitated by Piers Plowright, he will touch on all aspects of his life and career and will take questions.
Starts at 7:30pm
Hampstead
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Friday 8th January
Paul Maltby, Director of Data at the Government Digital Service, will outline the new programme of work to improve the availability, quality and use of government data.
1pm to 2pm
Shoreditch
Free
Take a look back at this historic occasion, to learn about the biology of these majestic giants, and to hear about another of London's famous whales, soon to take up residency in the main hall of the museum.
2:30pm to 3pm
South Kensington
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Saturday 9th January
£5.00
Tour the remains of the western gate of London’s Roman military fort, located beneath the streets next to the museum.
2pm to 2:30pm
Join the all-star cast of dashing dames & buxom boys as they improvise a brand new Jane Austen work, based on an audience suggestion.
Starts at 7pm
Soho
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Sunday 10th January
Two high profile figures Tehamina Kazi and Boyd Sleator will discuss issues impacting our society today.
11am to 1pm
A collection of Fairground Organs on display and performing for the audience.
11am to 5pm
Amersham
Gather on London Bridge for the Annual Ceremony of the Blessing of the River and those who use it.
Starts at 12:30pm
Raise a glass of port to the Immortal Memory of Admiral Lord Nelson in the Painted Hall, where his body lay in state after the Battle of Trafalgar.
3pm to 4pm
Bless the Orchard for the New Year with the cider made from the apples on Apple Day.
3pm to 4pm
Streatham
Annual event where several hundred people ride on the tube train, sans their trousers.
Starts at 3pm
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Monday 11th January
A Heritage Evening lecture by Rear Admiral David Snelson CB, HMS Ark Royal's Commanding Officer from May 2001 to July 2002.
Starts at 6:30pm
Strand
Kim Wilkie will present his redesign of the Museum’s grounds.
Starts at 7pm
A talk about he radical idea that dark matter might ultimately have been responsible for the dinosaurs’ extinction.
7pm to 8:30pm
Hanover Square
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Tuesday 12th January
A talk about the history of computing.
Starts at 6pm
Barbican
This lecture will explain why there is a demand for immigration into the UK, and what the effects of it has been.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
Professor Ghabra discusses the changes the Arab world has undergone since 2011: shifts, sectarianism, youth groups and the challenges of reform in the region.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
Buster Keaton overcomes dinosaurs, chariot races and the roaring 20s in his pursuit of love.
6:30pm to 9pm
More London events on Tuesday 12th January
Wednesday 13th January
Grayson Perry CBE will deliver the inaugural Donaldson Lecture, launching a programme of special events celebrating 175 years of architectural education at The Bartlett School of Architecture,
6pm to 8pm
Free
In these lectures meet the rich diversity of parasites, and their fascinating lives.
Starts at 6pm
Holborn
Caroline Webb will demonstrate how easy it is to use science-based strategies to boost effectiveness, happiness and productivity.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
Maia Elliot from the University of Surrey will be explaining how a lack of cake can technically kill you
7pm to 10pm
Shoreditch
More London events on Wednesday 13th January
Thursday 14th January
20 illuminated works of art will be scattered around London for its first major festival of light.
Starts at 4pm
Professor Al-Rasheed challenges the stereotype of Saudi divine politics as monolithic, and much of the scholarly received wisdom on Islamism.
6pm to 7:30pm
Holborn
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Friday 15th January
A walk with a Clerkenwell & Islington Guide around Clerkenwell historically a place of gin and beer production.
11am to 1pm
Clerkenwell
Cut marks found on the surface of human remains housed in the Museum collection give us clues as to how some of our early ancestors died. But what else can they tell us?
2:30pm to 3pm
South Kensington
20 illuminated works of art will be scattered around London for its first major festival of light.
Starts at 4pm
£22.90
A musical adventure unrivalled by any other that truly celebrates the career of a music legend, Johnny Cash.
7:30pm to 4pm
Richmond
A selection of short films from the silent era including both factual and fictional explorations of what the future might bring.
Starts at 7:30pm
Southwark
This debate on the relative values of crewed and uncrewed space exploration is presented in partnership with the Royal Society.
Starts at 7:30pm
More London events on Friday 15th January
Saturday 16th January
£10.50
Annual opening of the Physic Gardens to see the snowdrops in their spring bloom.
10am to 4pm
Free
A day of activities and talks exploring Tibetan medicine and healing.
Starts at 10:30am
20 illuminated works of art will be scattered around London for its first major festival of light.
Starts at 4pm
£5.00
A last chance to use the Brunel Museum's famously tiny entrance to its underground chamber.
Starts at 6:30pm
Rotherhithe
More London events on Saturday 16th January
Sunday 17th January
£10.50
Annual opening of the Physic Gardens to see the snowdrops in their spring bloom.
10am to 4pm
20 illuminated works of art will be scattered around London for its first major festival of light.
Starts at 4pm
More London events on Sunday 17th January
Monday 18th January
2pm to 3pm
Clerkenwell
More London events on Monday 18th January
Tuesday 19th January
Free
A talk about the relationship between the father of computing Charles Babbage and the mother of programming, Ada, Countess of Lovelace.
Starts at 1pm
Barbican
A panel debate the merits or otherwise of the HS2 rail project.
6pm to 7pm
Join Grayson Perry in conversation with FAT architect Charles Holland and explore his House for Essex.
6:30pm to 7:30pm
South Kensington
Free
A talk by the co-founders of controversial craft-beer brewery, BrewDog.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
Free
Jeremy Taylor reveals compelling insights from the rapidly developing field of Darwinian medicine.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
More London events on Tuesday 19th January
Wednesday 20th January
The Chair of Impress, Walter Merricks, will outline the role and ambitions of his organisation, which has been established as a Leveson-compliant regulator.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
Join Iain Sinclair for an account of his London adventure - where he explores the city through a day’s tramp around the circuit of the Overground.
Starts at 7pm
More London events on Wednesday 20th January
Thursday 21st January
This lecture will trace liberalism’s ordeal from its early ideals to its deep involvement in the First World War, and discuss its continuing relevance in the contemporary world.
Starts at 1pm
Holborn
How should teachers respond in science lessons and religious education lessons?
1:15pm to 1:55pm
A march and celebration of the 'Thames Whale' which swam up the Thames 10 years ago.
Starts at 5:30pm
What would happen – to London and to the UK – if we cut loose?
6pm to 7pm
Camden
6pm to 6:30pm
Clerkenwell
Join Carolyne Larrington to discover the medieval history, myths and legends which inspired George R.R. Martin’s book and TV series, Game of Thrones.
Starts at 7pm
Picadilly
More London events on Thursday 21st January
Friday 22nd January
Free
Join planetary scientist Sara Russell to find out what this asteroid could reveal about the history of the sun and planets,
2:30pm to 3pm
South Kensington
More London events on Friday 22nd January
Saturday 23rd January
Have you ever wanted to know how to protect yourself from vampires, whether mummified cats keep witches away or how safe armour really is?
All Day
A series of free guided walks lead across the city.
All Day
£10.50
Annual opening of the Physic Gardens to see the snowdrops in their spring bloom.
10am to 4pm
Kentish Town Lock is being drained for maintencance, so a chance to venture down into the depths of the lock while it's empty.
10am to 4pm
Camden
Explore the Art Deco history of the Strand and discover some hidden streets you didn’t even suspect to exist.
2pm to 4pm
Strand
An immersive wine-tasting tour led by acclaimed historian and broadcaster Dr Matthew Green and brought to life by actors and minstrels hidden en route
2:30pm to 4:15pm
£180.00
Spend a night at the Science Museum with exclusive access to galleries after hours and the chance to sleep among our incredible objects.
Starts at 7pm
More London events on Saturday 23rd January
Sunday 24th January
A series of free guided walks lead across the city.
All Day
£10.50
Annual opening of the Physic Gardens to see the snowdrops in their spring bloom.
10am to 4pm
Kentish Town Lock is being drained for maintencance, so a chance to venture down into the depths of the lock while it's empty.
10am to 4pm
Camden
More London events on Sunday 24th January
Monday 25th January
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Monday 25th January
Tuesday 26th January
Free
This talk will tell the story of Heathrow airport using photographs and original documents.
2pm to 3pm
Clerkenwell
£6.00
With cabinets full of (not so alive) life models from across the animal kingdom, an evening of drawing.
6:30pm to 9pm
Free
Ben Judah, foreign correspondent, turns his reporter’s eye to home to expose the fossilized myths of our capital city.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
More London events on Tuesday 26th January
Wednesday 27th January
This original document display - held as part of Holocaust Memorial Day - will shed light on the atrocities committed during this dark period of history and the millions of victims who were persecuted by the Nazis’ fascist ideology.
3pm to 4:30pm
Richmond
More and more of the London we consider public – the streets, the spaces, the services – is becoming private.
6pm to 7pm
Camden
Rooms evocatively lit with an array of candles will transport guests back into the Victorian era at these evening openings.
Starts at 6:20pm
More London events on Wednesday 27th January
Thursday 28th January
An evening exploring ideas of beauty and the role of Nefertiti as a black icon.
6pm to 8pm
A talk by Professor Storchi Bergmann about these stellar phenomena.
Starts at 7pm
Free
A unique opportunity to meet experts in the field, have your say and help to shape the future of drone policy.
Starts at 7pm
This talk will explore and contextualise the mounting racial tensions that sparked one of the most important show trials of the 20th century.
7pm to 8pm
Richmond
A talk by Simon Majaro to explain how a violin is constructed and with plenty of examples of work at various stages
Starts at 7:30pm
Hampstead
Rat invites you to view this new evidence with him, discuss its content and try to shed some light on the numerous challenges these enigmatic new documents present.
Starts at 7:45pm
Whitechapel
More London events on Thursday 28th January
Friday 29th January
This event will look at what we need from London’s streets, the challenges to their use, design and management in the future.
8:30am to 9:30am
10am to 4:30pm
Clerkenwell
This workshop will explore the effects of conscription and debate a selection of diverse cases.
2pm to 4pm
Richmond
A giant, inflatable planetarium for a starlit show exploring the evolution of our solar system.
6:30pm to 7:15pm
South Kensington
£15.00
A private tour of the galleries, as one of our scientists guides you through the specimens using a personal noise-cancelling headset.
6:30pm to 7:15pm
South Kensington
Explore the science behind iconic space films with the help of our experts.
7pm to 8pm
South Kensington
£30.00
Enjoy three activities - explore the night sky, experience cosmic history, and speak to a NASA scientist.
7pm to 9pm
South Kensington
More London events on Friday 29th January
Saturday 30th January
Screening of a new documentary 'What remains, the ruined subway at Crystal Palace'
11am to 12pm
East Dulwich
£20.00
Guided walk around London's West End, to discover the London Gin Craze of the 18th century.
4pm to 5pm
More London events on Saturday 30th January
Sunday 31st January
Just a reminder to send in your applications for the ticket ballot to attend the Trooping the Colour
All Day
Watch the Civil War Society march down the Mall to Horseguards in memory of the execution of King Charles I
10:30am to 12:30pm
Whitehall
Liz Lutgendorff will give an overview on how accessibility and digital inclusion means the internet is for everyone.
Starts at 11am
This literary workshop run by Dr Naomi Lightman of City Lit will explore blood-related themes and images in English literature.
2pm to 4pm
