Things To Do This Weekend In London: 25-26 January 2025

All weekend

LIGHT FESTIVALS: Three free light trails are in progress this weekend. Head east for Canary Wharf Winter Lights, with 11 glowing artworks dotted around the docks and among the skyscrapers. Our guide to eating and drinking in Canary Wharf has plenty of ideas for treating yourself to dinner or drinks while you're there. FREE, 21 January-1 February. Meanwhile out west, the inaugural Here We Glow has taken over Westfield London in Shepherd's Bush. FREE, 23 January-2 March. South of the river, Battersea Power Station Light Festival is in progress with eight fun light installations inside and outside the power station building. FREE, 23 January-23 February. Find out about other light festivals taking place in London over the remainder of this winter.

LONDON ART FAIR: The capital's art scene swings into action for the year at the London Art Fair at the Business Design Centre in Islington this weekend. Focus is on modern and contemporary pieces, with galleries from all over London and beyond exhibiting, as well as talks and tours on subjects including ceramics and modern British art. 22-26 January

ALL-FEMALE SHAKESPEARE: This all-female rendition of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Cockpit Theatre combines traditional elements with a festive twist. The performance explores themes of chaos and love amidst a wild, wintry setting where fairies wreak havoc on the lives of four lovers. 24-26 January

SHORT FILM FESTIVAL: Cinemas all over the capital host screenings for the London Short Film Festival this week, showcasing independent, boundary-pushing short films and new voices in cinema from around the globe. Highlights this weekend include the Vintage Mobile Cinema parking up in Walthamstow, and the family-friendly How To Make A Friend compilation at the Garden Cinema. Until 26 January

HELIOS: A 1:200 million scale sculpture of the Sun arrives in the Old Royal Naval College's Painted Hall on Saturday. Helios is a work by artist Luke Jerram — who has previously installed his Moon and Mars sculptures in various buildings around London — and can be viewed in these beautiful surroundings, with various tie-in events going on too. 25 January-25 March

LIVES LESS ORDINARY: The magnificent Two Temple Place — worth a visit in its own right — opens new exhibition Lives Less Ordinary: Working-Class Britain Re-seen on Saturday. One of our art critic's picks of must-see exhibitions this month, it takes a deep dive into working-class representation in British art through more than 150 works by working-class artists, spanning painting, photography, film, sculpture and ceramics. It challenges the notion that art is the domain of the middle and upper classes. FREE, 25 January-20 April

SOIL: New exhibition SOIL: The World at Our Feet at Somerset House explores the wonder of soil, its links to all life, and the vital role it plays in our planet's future. Works by more than 50 artists, writers and scientists are on display, including a 13ft-high photo by National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson. 23 January-13 April

LOOKING FOR LEONARDO: Last chance to visit Dulwich Picture Gallery's current exhibition, Looking for Leonardo which explores the quest for a Renaissance masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci, via fakes and mistakes. This display is part of the Unlocking Paintings series, which provides new insights into how the gallery's collection was assembled. Until 26 January

THE RIVER: Immerse yourself in the depths of the River Thames at the Natural History Museum's audio installation The River. Sit back on a bench or beanbag and listen to recordings from underwater habitats in London's main waterway, and hear how human-made noises can contribute to sound pollution. FREE, until 26 January

RAGNAR AXELSSON: Last chance to view a solo exhibition by Icelandic photographer, Ragnar Axelsson, at the Photographers' Gallery. Axelsson's work captures the northernmost reaches of the globe, telling stories from the Arctic before they disappear completely. FREE, until 26 January

BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH: Help the RSPB keep an eye on the numbers of wild birds in London by taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch. If you're lucky enough to have a garden or outside space, spend an hour counting and recording the numbers and types of birds that visit it, then report back to the RPSB. The charity uses the data to spot any patterns, anomalies or any species that may be in danger. No garden of your own? Head to your local park instead. FREE, 24-26 January

Saturday 25 January

BURNS NIGHT EVENTS: Saturday (25 January) is Burns Night, a Scottish celebration of the birthday of poet Robert Burns. Plenty of venues in London join in the fun with events spanning meals, live entertainment and ceilidhs — take a look at our picks, and get booking (and maybe swot up on the words of Address to a Haggis).

WAR OF THE ROSES: Settle in at Southwark Cathedral for a day of short talks about the powerful women of the Wars of the Roses. Historians and authors discuss the stories of women from the period including Tudor matriarch Marguerite of Anjou, and Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII, and how their lives were affected by the conflict. 9.30am-4pm

SNOWDROP SALE: January is snowdrop season with plenty of places to see the flowers in and around London. One venue that does snowdrops particularly well is Myddelton House Gardens in Enfield, which holds a snowdrop sale with local nurseries and garden centres selling their wares, including rare and unusual varieties. This year, there's also a lecture by renowned plantsman "Mr Snowdrop" Joe Sharman, one of the UK's leading breeders of snowdrops. 10.30am

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ROMAN LONDON WALK: Primary school age children and their parents can join a Roman London themed family walk, led by a London Museum guide. Visit the remains of a London wall, and the site of a hidden amphitheatre. 10.30am-11.30am

KENSUKE'S KINGDOM: By popular demand, Barbican Cinema's Family Film Club holds another screening of animated film Kensuke's Kingdom. Adapted from Michael Morpurgo's novel, it's the story of a young boy who is swept away in a storm and ends up on a Pacific island. 11am

CORALS: Virtual Worlds: Corals at the Grant Museum of Zoology is a virtual reality experience, immersing you in a coral reef environment by using audio and visual elements from the Pacific Ocean. It's an insight into the significance of coral ecosystems in terms of biodiversity and climate awareness, but today's your last chance to experience it. FREE, 11am-5pm

MEET MISS NIGHTINGALE: Hear from 'Florence Nightingale herself' at the museum dedicated to the Lady with the Lamp. Three performances take place throughout the day, included in the price of admission, in which she talks about her life as a nurse and her work improving conditions in Crimea. 11.30am/1.30pm/3.30pm

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: Watch the whole film on the big screens at the High School Musical brunch at the Clapham Grand. Ticket includes an hour of bottomless booze, mass sing-alongs and a Disney Channel themed after party. 11.30am-4.30pm

WASSAIL: Morris dancers The Belles of London City are the focus of the Brunel Museum's wassailing event, performing both on the museum's piazza and in the tunnel shaft. It's not often you get to watch Morris dancing taking place underground, and if you like what you see, there's a chance to learn a few of the steps yourself. 1.30pm-3pm

ADAM KAY: Though better known for his medical memoir This Is Going To Hurt, author and former doctor Adam Kay has moved into children's books, launching his new mystery series Dexter Procter, The 10-Year-Old Doctor in a special event at the Haymarket Hotel. Take your children along to hear about the new book, take part in a Q&A, and get their copies signed. Age 7+. 2pm-3.30pm

CLASSIC ROCK SHOW: Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Pink Floyd, ELO, Deep Purple, Free, AC/DC, The Eagles and Jimi Hendrix are all represented at the Classic Rock Show, an evening of covers combined with groovy light and projection, at Fairfield Halls in Croydon. 7.15pm

SIR LENNY HENRY: The Bush Theatre in Shepherd's Bush hosts fundraising event An Evening with Sir Lenny Henry. Henry offers extracts from his play August in England, first performed at Bush Theatre, and takes part in a Q&A led by culture writer and podcaster Nancy Durrant. 8pm

CELYA AB: Comedian Celya AB brings her most personal show yet, Of All People, to Soho Theatre. Hear about hitting rock bottom, via hot takes on judges, toothpaste and the sexiest thing anyone can do on a date. 9.30pm

Sunday 26 January

ANTIQUES FAIR: The first Adams Antiques Fair of the year takes place at the Royal Horticultural Halls in Westminster, with over 130 exhibitors selling antique jewellery, silver, decorative pieces and collectables. If you're keen to be first in, get there early as a queue usually forms before opening. 10am-4.30pm

OUT OF THE BOX: Family-friendly comedy show Out of the Box is at Jacksons Lane in Highgate, bringing a mysterious box to the stage, accompanied by a performance of non-verbal clowning. Every time the box opens, something exciting happens in the way of mini performances. 11am/2pm

CIVIL WAR REENACTMENT: Head down to the Mall/Horse Guards Parade this morning and you might end up feeling like you've travelled back in time, as scores of volunteers in royalist costumes with mounted troops and weapons remember the final journey of King Charles I on his way to death by execution at Banqueting House. The annual event by The King's Army, a royalist branch of the English Civil War Society, is free to watch. FREE, 11.15am

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CHILDREN'S DISCO: Regular club night How Does It Feel To Be Loved? goes family-friendly for a daytime children's disco at The Phoenix in Cavendish Square. Dance as a family to the usual mixture of indie pop and soul (think Belle & Sebastian, Allo Darlin', the Ramones, the Pixies...) at a volume level that's safe for younger ears. 12pm-4pm

ALCOHOL-FREE COMEDY: One for Dry January-ers or anyone else looking for a booze-free afternoon out. The London Alcohol-Free Comedy Club is back at Backyard Comedy Club in Bethnal Green for pre-show social followed by four comedians performing live. Doors 1.30pm, show 3pm

PAINT VAN GOGH: Try your hand at creating your own version of Van Gogh’s Winter Peach Tree in London. At the Pop-Up Painting session at the London Art Bar in Holborn, all art supplies are provided, and an artist is on hand to provide guidance if needed. 3pm-5.30pm

CRAFT AND CHILL: Colour expert and Londonist contributor Momtaz Begum-Hossain runs one of her regular crafting afternoons for adults at Well Bean Co Cafe in the Royal Docks. All art and crafts materials are provided, no artistic experience is necessary, and the session runs on a pay-what-you-can basis, with a different project each month — this time, there's a Lunar New Year theme. 4pm

COLLYWOBBLERS COMEDY: Finish your week with a laugh, as comedians Paul Tonkinson, Carwyn Blayney, Twayna Mayne, Dru Cripps, Maclarry and Oriana Buckland perform live at The Railway in Streatham. If you fancy eating in the pub too, get there early as ticket holders get 30% off food orders before 7pm. Show 7.30pm