11 Ways To Brighten Up This Winter Weekend

16th January 2025 | By Andrea Pinto

It’s the weekend before Blue Monday – allegedly the most depressing day of the year. And if you’re feeling a bit low this month, why not get out there, sign up for a new fitness class, visit a new London opening, or just unwind with one of the best films of 2025? If you need some cheering up this weekend, we’ve got a great list of things to do this weekend. Read on:

Sign up for a fitness festival

British actress, presenter and activist Jameela Jamil is hosting the #MoveForYourMind Festival – a fitness festival which celebrates body positivity. The two-day event promises to flip the script based on Jameela’s personal experience with eating disorders and focuses on the positive mental health benefits of movement, not just aesthetics.

When: 17th and 18th january
where: big penny social, 1 Priestley Way, London E17 6AL
Website: www.mfymcommunity.com

Catch some winter lights

To chase away those January blues, head to the lovely Southbank Centre to explore a free light exhibition featuring work by artists like Sophia Al-Maria, David Batchelor, Mat Collishaw, Aoife Dunne, Jakob Kvist and Nathaniel Rackowe. Each artist uses light and colour in playful ways while exploring topics like individual and collective identity, the environment and technology.

When: 8th january to 2nd february
Where: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX
Website: www.southbankcentre.co.uk

Indulge in a Japanese foodie takeover

We love a great foodie pop-up and this caught our eye. Ivan Orkin, from the TV series Chef’s Table, will debut an exclusive ramen menu, available daily for two months at Kaia at The Ned. Look out for star dishes on the menu like the Iberico pork collar tsukemen, tori shoyu wonton men and lobster mazemen.

when: 21st January onwards
where: 27 Poultry, City of London, London EC2R 8AJ
website: www.thened.com

Visit the new Louis Vuitton pop-up in Soho

An immersive Louis Vuitton pop-up store has landed in Soho in collaboration with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. It’s quite cool and includes a vending machine with collectable gifts, and a ‘care and repair’ station, plus you can treat yourself to coffee and cake at the LV café.

An immersive Louis Vuitton pop-up store has landed in Soho.

when: till 9th February
where: 39 – 43 Brewer St, W1F 9UD London
website: www.louisvuitton.com

Attend a panel discussion with some legendary speakers

Hear from some of the most prominent educators and historians of our time, set in a beautiful London location. The Conversation is a series of weekly events discussing highly relevant topics like conflict, inequality, power, climate crisis and more. With speakers like Hanif Kureishi, Tom Holland, Lindsey Hilsum and more, it’s a great place to be to learn a little more about the world.

when: Tuesdays at 6.30 pm, till 14th January to 6th may
where: St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, WC2N4JJ
website: www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org

Try a Japanese menu (with 30% off)

If you love a good Japanese restaurant, this one’s for you. This January, Chotto Matte Soho is offering 30% off on all à la carte dishes, the perfect time to make your bookings and brighten up your weekend. We love the baby back ribs, sea bass ceviche and the egg fried rice is one of our favourites in London – run, don’t walk.

when: till 30th. january
where: 1, 13 Frith St, London W1D 4RB
Website: www.sevn.ly/xMuuhtoh

Order a seriously good salad

If you’ve set some fitness resolutions for yourself this year, why not try out a delicious new salad? One of London’s best salad spots, atis has collaborated with DIRTEA to create a chilli crisp which you can get a taste of in the new DIRTEA Bowl—a nutrient-packed, winter special featuring lion’s mane mushroom, renowned for supporting cognitive function, memory, and mental clarity, paired with atis’ seasonal ingredients like miso mushrooms, edamame, peas, shredded carrots, pink slaw, rice, spinach and miso ponzu dressing.

website: www.atisfood.com

Watch Timothee Chalamet’s new film

Timothee Chalamet iconically rolled up to the London premiere on a Lime bike earlier this week, and after months of press about it, the film is finally out. The Bob Dylan biopic, titled A Complete Unknown, sees Chalamet plan the titular role and take on the personality and sound of the music legend. Can he do justice to the role? We can’t wait to find out.

When: releasing on friday
Where: across london
Website: www.odeon.co.uk

Explore a new exhibition

A new Mail Art exhibit has opened at The Postal Museum which features works from Gilbert & George, visual artist Lolly Batty and the late German performance artist Joseph Beuys. You can explore a variety of mail art and postal-based works showing the different ways in which artists are inspired by the post and communication, with some pieces having already travelled through the postal system.

A new Mail Art exhibit has opened at The Postal Museum.

when: till 4th april 
Where: 15-20 Phoenix Place, London, WC1X 0DA
website: www.postalmuseum.org

Book this fireside brunch

Warm up this winter with a warming winter brunch at TH@51, held every Saturday and Sunday until 2nd February 2025. Expect a menu which includes a Robata grilled sirloin steak, pistachio herb-crusted roasted lamb racks and burrata and kale chaat. To drink, there’s Cobra beer, bellinis, and the restaurant’s signature wine.

When: every weekend UNTIL 2ND FEBRUARY
Where: TH@51
Website: www.th51.co.uk

One to travel for:

Relax at this wellness retreat near London

The recently renovated Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate is launching a series of wellness retreats that make the ideal weekend getaway. This weekend is the Wellness Sound Bath Weekend, complete with expert-guided workshops, woodland walks and culinary experiences- the perfect idyllic break to switch off, reset and unwind. For more wellness retreats explore our guide to the best spas outside London.

Where: Down Hall Hotel, Spa and Estate, Matching Road, Hatfield Heath, Bishop’s Stortford, CM22 7AS
website: www.downhall.co.uk


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