10 Fun Things To Do In London This Month

Brrr – it’s certainly chilly, but there’s still plenty of good reasons to get outside. Here’s a few. From dating events to whisky experiences, the best new exhibitions to the restaurant you really must try, here are the best things to do in London in February 2025.

Best Things To Do In London February 2025

(© Kuba Nowak)

Hear Extraordinary Stories Of Love

Join the heart-warming changemakers Asylum Speakers at Inhabit Southwick Street in London to hear extraordinary stories in the library throughout the year, co-hosted by Jaz O’Hara and Juliet Kinsman. This month, hear first-hand from Halimot who, after being trafficked from Nigeria aged nine, overcame modern-day slavery and FGM to become a social entrepreneur and advocate. Expect a powerful evening on survival, empowerment and creating safe spaces for trauma survivors, plus the chance to connect with a community and spread love in the face of hate and xenophobia.

Details: Hear Halimot’s Story 6.30–8pm Wednesday 19 February 2025 at the Library at Inhabit Hotel (61 Southwick Street, London W2 2PP). Tickets are £25pp, including refreshments, with all proceeds supporting Asylum Speakers. For more information and to book future events in the series (2 April, 11 June, 5 November), click here.

A Diversity of Forms Image created by Dr Tim Cockerill, bacterial colonies isolated and cultured by Dr Elze Hesse

SOIL: The World At Our Feet

We might walk all over it, but the ground beneath our feet has much more to say for itself than we think. Teeming with life (and its mocha colour very on-trend, as far as Pantone is concerned), our dirt’s health is a valuable indicator of the state of everything around us. As human activity chips away at our ecosystems, our soil is screaming out for some love – and we are finally paying attention. This is the subject of Somerset House’s landmark exhibition SOIL: The World At Our Feet, showing now in its Embankment Galleries. Drawing together thinkers, filmmakers, scientists, activists and local and global artists, SOIL weaves beauty and wonder through topics spanning waste, climate change, land and justice. Masterminded by Somerset House’s senior curator Claire Catterall along with writer May Rosenthal Sloan and The Land Gardeners Henrietta Courtauld and Bridget Elworthy, the exhibition illuminates and responds to soil’s pivotal role across three sections: Life Below Ground, Life Above Ground and Hope. Cutting-edge Dutch artist Wim van Egmond, for example, has collaborated with musician Michael Prime to present a journey into the underworld, blending spectacular sound and micro-photography in a double-height space. Elsewhere, art collective Marshmallow Laser Feast explores the spongy fungi and mycelium networks passing messages underfoot; France Bourély showcases the microscopic beings that thrive unseen all around us; and Fernando Laposse showcases nature’s ability to find solutions to the material waste issues we throw at it. Soil health, climate change, human wellbeing and nutrition are all delicately connected. And as the very real threat of food insecurity rears its ugly head, soil is finally inching its way to the top of the eco-agenda.

Details: SOIL: The World At Our Feet runs until 13 April at Embankment Galleries, Somerset House (Strand, London WC2R 1LA). somersethouse.org.uk

Singles’ Run In Regent Park

Are running clubs the new dating apps? The Big Valentine’s Singles’ Run in Regent’s Park is an annual speed-dating event where the speed part largely depends on how quickly you can dash 1.5km, encouraging you to match pace with a meet-cute (or three – expect to run three laps, each with a different person). Hopefully we won’t see you there next year.

Details: Saturday 15 February in Regent’s Park. Tickets are £6.13 including a free drink and can be booked at eventbrite.co.uk

Harmony Rose-Bremner, Gina McKee, Deborah Findlay, Anjli Mohindra and Romola Garai in The Years. (Ali Wright)

The Years, Harold Pinter Theatre

Five actors paint a visceral portrait of one woman in Eline Arbo’s adaptation of Annie Ernaux’s The Years, which has transferred to the West End after a sold out run at the Almeida. Catch it while you can.

Details: The Years runs 24 January to 19 April at The Harold Pinter Theatre (Panton St, London SW1Y 4DN). haroldpintertheatre.co.uk

Robot Zoo

Familiar machinery takes on strange, bestial form at the Horniman Museum’s Robot Zoo. This interactive exhibition allows you to get stuck in: fire a chameleon’s ‘tongue-gun’, or have a go at squid-racing.

Details: Open from Friday 14 February, at the Horniman Museum (100 London Rd, London SE23 3PQ). Book your tickets at horniman.ac.uk

Spin Me A Yarn at Battersea Power Station (James Parsons)

Winter Light Festival

Battersea Power Station’s fifth annual winter light festival is cutting through the brisk gloomy evenings this month, with eight light installations from British and international artists to explore inside and outside the iconic art deco building.

Details: Until 23 February at Battersea Power Station (Circus Rd W, Nine Elms, London SW11 8DD).

The New Season At Phantom Peak

If you’ve ever fancied playing a video game in real life, you really, really need to visit Phantom Peak, London’s open-world adventure destination. Expect to explore this town, unlock its mysteries, try food and drink and be thoroughly entertained. It has a new season beginning this month, meaning an all-new experience for returners: the enigmatic founder of JONACO has arrived in town to showcase their latest innovations… But all is not as it seems. Uncover secret plots and seek clues…

Details: The new season begins on 14 February at Phantom Peak (Surrey Quays Rd, London SE16 7PJ). Adult tickets start at £44 (£21 for children), and can be booked at phantompeak.com

The Conversation

A new series of weekly talks has launched at St Martin in the Fields in 2025, and February is jam-packed with big names. Astronomer Maggie Aderin-Pocock, writer Hanif Kureishi, author Ahdaf Soueif and social philosopher Roman Krznaric will all invite guests to enjoy insightful talks this month, spanning the biggest topics of the day to the most intricate of conversations. Uniquely, the first half of the evening is an interview with the leading thinker, before the audience splits into groups around tables to continue the conversation for another hour, with the guest speaker jumping between groups to prompt and probe the ideas on the table.

Details: In person tickets cost £15, or stream the talk live for £10. All talks take place on a Tuesday, starting at 6.30pm at St Martin in the Fields (Trafalgar Sq, London WC2N 4JJ). Find the full list of talks and sign up at stmartin-in-the-fields.org/the-conversation

A Multi-Sensory Exhibition In Peckham

Principal Royal Ballet dancer Matthew Ball has collaborated with fashion photographer Rhys Frampton and musician Guy Chambers to retell the story of the Fall of Icarus – like you’ve never seen it before. A haunting score sits underneath a multi-disciplinary display and promises to enchant you (and maybe lure you ever closer to the sun).

Details: Displayed 7-9 February at the Copeland Gallery (Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Rd, London SE15 3SN), copelandpark.com.

Drink Whisky, Play Chess

If your perfect night out is somewhat inspired by The Queen’s Gambit, then The Balvenie (of whisky-renown) and London artisan Ellie Mercer have brought you a treat. From 4 February, you’re invited to The Guards Bar & Lounge at Raffles to slow down, enjoy a dram, and engage in a game of chess. Expect to play on a one-of-a-kind whisky trolley – usually used to serve The Balvenie Rare Marriages Collection – while enjoying an immersive aromatic experience that tells The Balvenie’s story.

Details: The Balvenie x Ellie Mercer ‘Makers & Gamers’ Experience at The Guards Bar, Raffles London, from 4th February 2025. Tickets from £60 for the sensory experience and £110 for the chess experience, thebalvenie.com.

Image by Ben Carpenter

Eat At This New Italian Restaurant In Knightsbridge

A new opening on Brompton Road might just give you a much-needed dose of winter sun: ALBA is a hotly anticipated mediterranean restaurant opening this month in Knightsbridge. Head chef Marco Bianco promises a menu that does the best of Italy – mouthwatering seafood (there’s an open display from the kitchen, and much of the furniture is provided by luxury yacht designers Exteta) as well as the sorts of meat, cheeses and sweet courses that’d make any Nonna proud. Amalfi staples like the Risotto con Gambero – served with saffron – are a must-try.

Details: ALBA is open this month (70 Brompton Road, London, SW3 1ER), alba-ldn.uk

Support The Lionesses

England take on Spain at Wembley Stadium this month, as the team continues to fine tune ahead of the Euros. It’s the first time the reigning European Champions will take on the current UEFA Women’s Nations League holders and World Champions since Spain lifted the World Cup in Australia in 2023; not to be missed.

Details: Wednesday 26 February at Wembley Stadium (Wembley HA9 0WS). Tickets start from £15 (£5 for concessions) and can be booked at wembleystadium.com