The ianVisits guide to January's unusual events, tours, lectures and exhibitions happening around London.
Tuesday 1st January
Over 1,000 vehicles expected, live music and a winter barbeque and other additional food outlets.
9am to 4pm
Weybridge
Celebrate the New Year with a birding walk at Woodberry Wetlands.
10am to 12pm
Stoke Newington
£11.25
All available engines will be in steam, including unlimited rides on the Waterworks Railway and the chance to see the Victorian Shand Mason steam fire engine in action.
10am to 4pm
Brentford
Start the New Year in Classic style, with a special event from Mean OldTimers and Greenwich Market.
2pm to 6pm
Greenwich
More London events on Tuesday 1st January
Wednesday 2nd January
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Wednesday 2nd January
Thursday 3rd January
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Thursday 3rd January
Friday 4th January
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Friday 4th January
Saturday 5th January
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Saturday 5th January
Sunday 6th January
A monthly opening of the Victorian museum of industrial testing equipment.
11am to 5pm
Southwark
Bless the Orchard for the New Year with the cider made from the apples on Apple Day.
Starts at 12pm
Streatham
A celebration of the New Year, mixing ancient seasonal customs with contemporary festivity.
Starts at 2pm
Southwark
More London events on Sunday 6th January
Monday 7th January
Medieval historian Michelle Brown explores the making, meaning and enduring cultural significance of these two legendary and beautiful manuscripts from the North of England.
7pm to 8:30pm
Camden
More London events on Monday 7th January
Tuesday 8th January
This talk will show how mathematics has played a vital role in making navigation as accurate as it is today and the impact that this has had on us all.
1pm to 2pm
Barbican
More London events on Tuesday 8th January
Wednesday 9th January
This lecture will explore the history of the galleries, key considerations in the re-displaying of historic copies for 21st century audiences.
1pm to 1:45pm
South Kensington
More London events on Wednesday 9th January
Thursday 10th January
In this debate we bring together a range of perspectives to mull over the question of how to develop pupils who are wise – knowledgeable, but also empathetic, thoughtful, reflective, self-aware and able to show good judgement.
5:45pm to 7pm
£15.00
From the mummies of Ancient Egypt to the lab-blended fibres that have allowed astronauts to moonwalk – fabrics, manmade and natural, have changed and shaped the world we live in.
6pm to 8pm
Southwark
£2.50
This talk will discuss Bowie’s musical & magical life & whether or not he is a god.
8pm to 10pm
Southwark
More London events on Thursday 10th January
Friday 11th January
In this special lecture, Irving Finkel, British Museum, gives an overview of how the library would have functioned, with reference to a few highlight texts from the Museum's collection.
Starts at 12am
Russell Square
Historian David Olusoga delves into the series of race related riots of 1919
7pm to 8:30pm
Camden
More London events on Friday 11th January
Saturday 12th January
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Saturday 12th January
Sunday 13th January
Gather on London Bridge for the Annual Celebration of the Blessing of the River and those who use it.
Starts at 12:30pm
Southwark
Music from Cunning Folk and Morrigan, Greenwich Morris Men dancing with Sticks, local choirs, and old rituals of song and dance.
12:30pm to 3pm
Greenwich
The comedy website, Chortle, presents a funny day of sessions as comedians talk about their books, from memoirs to TV tie-ins to their astute social observations.
1:30pm to 8:30pm
Camden
More London events on Sunday 13th January
Monday 14th January
Discover the roots of English and trace its journey from the earliest days, through the Middle Ages, and into the language this blurb is written in today, with Britain's most distinguished linguistic expert, David Crystal.
7pm to 8:15pm
Camden
More London events on Monday 14th January
Tuesday 15th January
Professor Wilks will describe the Semantic Web and its origin in annotation methods from the humanities and will argue the need for this form of AI to manage a lifetime’s information on the web.
1pm to 2pm
Barbican
This talk by Professor Laura Gowing will examine the part women played as mistresses to apprentices in the late 17th century guilds
6pm to 8pm
City of London
This lecture examines the deep-sea discoveries that have transformed our understanding of our planet, and the history of exploring the deep ocean that covers most of it.
6pm to 7pm
Barbican
Free
A historian and a cultural evolutionist discuss the past, present and future of war and ask what, if anything, can be done to make war less likely.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
Dan Lyons, bestselling author of Disrupted and writer on the HBO series Silicon Valley, deliciously roasts the new work climate, while asking what can be done to recoup some sanity and dignity for the expanding class of middle-class serfs.
7:30pm to 9pm
Holborn
More London events on Tuesday 15th January
Wednesday 16th January
£10.00
Join a panel of industry experts as they discuss how designers are responding to the decline in home ownership in ‘generation rent ’.
6:30pm to 8pm
Kensington
Nerd Nite London aims to teach you details about subjects which you didn’t even know you were curious about, while you drink beer and learn things you didn’t know you didn’t know.
Starts at 7:30pm
Bethnal Green
More London events on Wednesday 16th January
Thursday 17th January
Celebrate the New Year with a walking tour through Stanfords London from 1853 to 2019.
11am to 12:30pm
Soho
Join Susan Bishop for a nostalgic look at Barkers of Kensington’s 1920s fashions.
6pm to 7:30pm
Kensington
In this lecture John Mearsheimer explains why US foreign policy so often backfires and what can be done to set it straight.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
The discussion will consider the ways in which the Commonwealth and other legacies of Empire featured in the debate about Brexit and Britain’s broader place in the world.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
Poet and professor of English Mark Ford leads an informal, interactive evening of discussion about T S Eliot’s classic collection of cat poems.
7pm to 8:30pm
Camden
More London events on Thursday 17th January
Friday 18th January
£3.00
This documentary introduces the street art pioneers Futura, Rammellzee and Blek le Rat.
Starts at 12am
Russell Square
Come along and see the full spectrum of modelling from traditional model engineering, steam locomotives and traction engines through to modern gadgets.
10am to 5pm
Wood Green
£5.00
The talk will focus on the contemporary record of the trial that was produced by the clerks of the high court of justice and is now held by The National Archives, which will also be on display.
2pm to 3pm
Richmond
Join Lieutenant General Sir Cedric Delves and Helen Parr in conversation with Major General Arthur Denaro as they look at the Falklands War through the experiences of those who fought there.
6pm to 8pm
Chelsea
To mark the publication of their new book, David Cannadine and Jeremy Musson will explore how the identity and image of country houses has changed over the past forty years,
7pm to 8:45pm
South Kensington
More London events on Friday 18th January
Saturday 19th January
Come along and see the full spectrum of modelling from traditional model engineering, steam locomotives and traction engines through to modern gadgets.
10am to 5pm
Wood Green
This winter, warm up round an open fire that you built.
Starts at 10am
Paddington
More London events on Saturday 19th January
Sunday 20th January
Come along and see the full spectrum of modelling from traditional model engineering, steam locomotives and traction engines through to modern gadgets.
10am to 4:30pm
Wood Green
A talk on the history of council housing and the place of post-war prefabs within it.
5pm to 8pm
Catford
More London events on Sunday 20th January
Monday 21st January
In this illustrated lecture, Miles Taylor talks about the significant effects India had on the Queen as well as the pivotal role she played in India.
7pm to 8:45pm
South Kensington
More London events on Monday 21st January
Tuesday 22nd January
£12.00
Joanne Harris, Fiona Mozley and Irenosen Okojie come together to discuss how myth, legend, fable and folklore have influenced their work, and how great works of literature from the roots of our cultures can be reimagined for the modern reader.
7pm to 8:30pm
Camden
Henry Eliot takes a dive into a world-famous list covering 4,000 years of literary creations
7:15pm to 8:30pm
Camden
Jane talks about her role as Keeper of the collection and its evolution from a research resource for her work as a costume designer.
7:30pm to 9pm
Highgate
More London events on Tuesday 22nd January
Wednesday 23rd January
Dimitris Avramopoulos will explore how Europe has reacted to the challenges brought about by migration in a globalised Europe.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
What can cats teach us about how to live? And why we should celebrate the solitary hunters among us?
7pm to 8:30pm
Camden
More London events on Wednesday 23rd January
Thursday 24th January
To acknowledge the contribution of black and minority ethnic seafarers during the First World War and some of their stories just after the war had ended.
1pm to 2pm
Richmond
£8.14
In this talk Simon Elliott launches his most recent book, Roman Legionaries, which tells the story of every aspect of the lives of these elite warriors of the ancient world.
6pm to 8pm
City of London
This lecture will explore how the sixteenth century found ways of distancing itself from religion – like Christopher Marlowe, who raged against its moral constraints.
6pm to 7pm
Barbican
The government says it wants to make new developments more beautiful – but beautiful to whom?
Starts at 6:30pm
Kings Cross
Paul Dolan launches his new book, Happy Ever After, exploring the narratives society installs in us, using good evidence to debunk bad stories.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
This illustrated lecture by Jo Story (Professor at the University of Leicester) explores the deep-rooted connectivity between England and the Continent in the centuries before the Norman Conquest
7pm to 8:30pm
Camden
Comic Robin Ince uses the life of the stand-up as a way of exploring some of the biggest questions we all face
7:30pm to 9pm
Holborn
More London events on Thursday 24th January
Friday 25th January
Learn the history of the oldest and smallest Royal Park and its resident pelicans! You
Starts at 1:15pm
Whitehall
Enjoy a brief tour of Scottish whiskies and an introduction to flavour pairings whilst you enjoy your complimentary cocktail.
7pm to 10pm
Stoke Newington
More London events on Friday 25th January
Saturday 26th January
Free
There will be a select range of nurseries selling both common and rare Snowdrops.
10:30am to 12pm
Enfield Town
Explore how Burton came to write his great work – the task of most of his adult life.
2pm to 3pm
Beckenham
More London events on Saturday 26th January
Sunday 27th January
A monthly open day at a quirky transport museum housed in an old water pumping building.
10am to 4pm
Enfield Town
A stunning parade by around 500 civil war reenactors to mark the execution of King Charles I.
Starts at 11am
Whitehall
Wade in a wild river and experience a different perspective of London history and urban wildlife.
11am to 1pm
Deptford
Discover the history of the building and climb the 135 stairs for the best view of Hackney.
2pm to 4:30pm
Hackney
More London events on Sunday 27th January
Monday 28th January
How and why does class background still affect those in elite occupations? In this book launch the speakers look at barriers to upward mobility.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
Grab your magnifying glass and discover a land of tiny treasures
7pm to 8pm
Camden
More London events on Monday 28th January
Tuesday 29th January
Covering sustainability, terrorism, geopolitics, gender, religion, education and philosophy – what are the key issues and how can we prepare for the changes and challenges that lie ahead?
6pm to 9:30pm
Holborn
Free
In celebrating 500 years since the birth of Sir Thomas Gresham, Professor Jones will examine how changes since the sixteenth century have affected the evolution of human beings and that of the animals and plants around us.
6pm to 7pm
Barbican
The panel will discuss past and present controversies around public memorializing, from Ground Zero to Confederate monuments, from Rhodes Must Fall to Trafalgar Square.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
7pm to 8:30pm
Camden
More London events on Tuesday 29th January
Wednesday 30th January
Wreath laying and prayers near the place of the martyrdom.
Starts at 11:40am
Whitehall
Professor Silk will describe the history of lunar exploration since 1969 and future plans for the Moon.
1pm to 2pm
Barbican
Free
Celebrate Chinese New Year at the Science Museum's monthly late night opening.
6:45pm to 10pm
South Kensington
More London events on Wednesday 30th January
Thursday 31st January
An exhaustive documentary exploring the life and work of Salvador Dalí, and that of his muse Gala.
Starts at 2pm
Barbican
In this talk, Professor Stephen King (University of Leicester) will delve into the rich primary source material of pauper letters held at The National Archives.
2pm to 3pm
Richmond
From the history of lighting starting in the 1900’s to today’s practices.
6pm to 8pm
Whitechapel
Has the Act done right by children since 1989? Has it adapted to the challenges of childhood and society?
6pm to 7pm
Barbican
Antony Clayton presents an illustrated talk that will uncover some of the colourful folklore of underground London.
6:30pm to 7:30pm
Kensington
A talk by Professor Ryan with a particular focus on the interwar home and the Ideal Home Show.
Starts at 7pm
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