Find out the team's highlights from December and plan your own London adventures this month with our guide to what's on in January.
Hannah: Feeling festive at Phantom Peak
I loved returning to Phantom Peak, as the wild west-themed immersive experience was given a "Wintermas" takeover. It was my second time there and the festive takeover was just as fun as the Halloween one. We completed two immersive adventure missions, spoke to the townsfolk, explored the themed town and tucked into a winter feast of loaded mac 'n' cheese, fries and festive loaded wedges. It was a super fun evening at the immersive open-world adventure and I can't wait to see what they have in store for the next takeover!
Wintermas at Phantom Peak is available to book until 19 January. Or discover more immersive experiences in London.
Charlotte: Marvelling at Mars in the Painted Hall
It was so exciting to go to the Mars exhibition in the Painted Hall at Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich. After seeing Luke Jerram’s giant Earth and Moon installations online, I couldn’t wait to see his epic artwork of Mars in person. Set against the spectacular backdrop of the Painted Hall, the wonder of the red planet up close didn’t disappoint! It runs until 20 January so don't miss out – it’s definitely worth a visit.
If you can't make it by then, you can book general entry tickets to visit the Painted Hall or see Jerram's next celestial installation, Helios, from 25 January.
Carole: Hunting for the Cheshire Cat with Hidden City
Before diving into the festive feasting back home, I decided to squeeze in one last London adventure of the year – because why not embrace a little extra holiday magic before the mince pies take over?
Hidden City are known for their real-world adventure games. This time around, we were tracking the mischievous Cheshire Cat through the side streets of Covent Garden. Starting from The Coal Hole pub, our journey began under the cryptic guidance of none other than the White Rabbit. A mysterious text had us asking bartenders "Is it the right time?" We were then handed a pocket watch – our first clue – and so the race was on to rescue the Cheshire Cat! The Queen of Hearts and Keeper of Creatures had plenty of riddles and cryptic instructions to throw at us. Each solved clue revealed more of the Queen’s dark agenda, with hints of a vendetta against the city’s creatures.
Kirstine: Munching around Maltby Street Market
Nestled beneath the railway arches in Bermondsey, Maltby Street Market is a sensory overload of the best kind, where the buzz of the crowd mingles with the mouthwatering smells of street food.
Ethiopian food has long been a favourite of mine, so when we reached Amen's vibrant stand offering a selection of traditional dishes, it was an easy choice. I picked a concoction of fragrant meat and vegetable stews and sides – there were plenty of punchy flavours, and the soft, sour Injera flatbread was perfect for mopping up every last bit. Next, we couldn’t resist crispy chicken dumplings from Mr Dumpling after nabbing a free sample at the entrance: crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside and packed with flavour. Don’t skip the chilli oil – it adds a nice kick that perfectly complements the savoury filling.
Discover more street food markets in London.
Jonny: Exploring hidden art gems in Mayfair
Between taking in the Christmas lights and last-minute gift shopping in London’s West End, I popped in to some of the many small-scale galleries in Mayfair. First up was John Martin Gallery (38 Albemarle Street) for Richard Cartwright’s now-finished solo show Let Mystery Be, full of his atmospheric and intriguing works (they have a great lineup of artists, so keep an eye out for upcoming exhibitions). I also loved seeing some David Hockney works I’d not seen before (and that’s saying something, being a bit of a super fan!) at the eye-catching Living in Colour exhibition at Halcyon Gallery (148 New Bond Street), which is on until 23 February. It was great to take the time to see these works in a smaller space, away from any crowds.
There are always plenty of exhibitions and collections to see at galleries in Mayfair and neighbouring St James’s and what’s more, these are generally free to enter.
Check out more arty things to do in London and the latest exhibitions.
Learn more about our team and stay tuned for our highlights from January this time next month.