Posted 1 day ago
Wed 07 Jan, 2026 12:01 AM
❄️ 5 Free Things to Do in London This January
With exam season underway and long dark nights, make sure you take some time to try something new this January. London (as always) is playing host to a bunch of events, lots of them for FREE! Take a look at some of my faves.
✨ 1. Canary Wharf Winter Lights
🗓 20–31 January 2026 London’s biggest free light festival transforms Canary Wharf into an open-air gallery of glowing installations and interactive art. Perfect for dark January evenings!
Best time to go: After 5:00 pm
Tip: Weekday evenings = fewer crowds + better photos.
🌿 2. Barbican Conservatory
🗓 Open year-round (limited weekly opening days) A hidden tropical jungle inside the Barbican Centre. It is warm, green, and ideal for escaping winter.
Good to know:
- Free, but timed tickets required
- Tickets released daily at 9:30 am for same-day entry
🛍️ 3. Hackney Flea Market
🗓 Selected weekends (dates announced online, be sure to look up their Instagram!)
A creative flea market with vintage clothes, art, accessories, and quirky finds. It's great to walk by with friends while having a fun conversation.
🔗https://www.instagram.com/hackneyfleamarket/
🥐 4. Marylebone Farmers’ Market
🗓 Every Sunday.
A relaxed street market featuring British producers, baked goods, cheeses, and comfort food. Afterwards you can stroll through Reagents Park!
Best time to go: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Student tip: Treat it as a slow Sunday wander rather than a shopping trip.
🌸 5. Columbia Road Flower Market
🗓 Every Sunday.
One of London’s most iconic markets, filling East London with flowers, plants, and colour.
Best time to go: 9:00–10:00 am to avoid crowds
Why January: Instant mood boost during grey winter weeks.
