Things To Do This Week In London: 2-8 January 2023

All week

BEATRIX POTTER: It's the last week of The V&A's major exhibition dedicated to children's author Beatrix Potter, her work as a scientist and activist, and how that inspired her famous anthropomorphic characters. Until 8 January

STRANGE CLAY: Focusing on artists who work in ceramics, Strange Clay brings together a fantastic selection at Hayward Gallery at Southbank Centre. This is your last week to see it. Until 8 January

ICE RINKS: Christmas may be over, but several of London's seasonal ice rinks are open until at least the end of this week. Canary Wharf, Somerset House, Battersea Power Station and Hampton Court are still available for a twirl or two.

CHRISTMAS AT KEW: Final week to catch one of London's most popular seasonal events, Christmas at Kew. The twinkling light trail winds through the botanical garden after dark, and features a fire garden, light tunnel and laser show among other attractions — here's a look at what to expect. Tickets are selling out fast — mid-week slots are your best option. Until 8 January

ILLUMINATURE: The London Wetlands Centre in Barnes offers another light trail in the form of Illuminature. Wander around the nature reserve after dark spotting illuminated, animal-themed sculptures. 6-8 January

LIGHT FANTASTIC: Alternatively, hop on board a steam train covered in fairy lights and enjoy a ride through the Essex countryside. Light Fantastic at the Epping Ongar Railway runs for a couple more weeks, with illuminated line-side displays visible only to passengers on the train. Until 15 January

Monday 2 January

PLAGUE YEAR: Meet Rob Smith at Aldgate tube station for A Journal of the Plague Year — a guided walk themed around Daniel Defoe's classic account of the plague of 1665. Though Defoe's book was written years after the horrific chapter in London history, it captures the emotions of Londoners at the time — and here's a chance to visit some of the sites mentioned. 2pm-4pm

NEON LIFE DRAWING: New year, new hobby? Try your hand at Neon Naked Life Drawing at the Old Queen's Head in Islington. The regular art class features naked or near-naked models posing covered in neon paint, while you use reactive art materials to sketch them. 6pm/8pm

JON CLEARY: Grammy Award-winning musician Jon Cleary is at The Jazz Cafe in Camden for a solo performance, showcasing tunes from his eight albums. Hailing from New Orleans, his music is a blend of blues, rnb and funk. Choose between standing or restaurant tickets. 7pm

NEW YEAR CONCERT: The last of the New Year's Day Parade spin-off concerts takes place at Cadogan Hall in Chelsea, featuring performances by four high school concert bands and orchestras from the USA, who are still in town after taking part in yesterday's parade. 7.30pm

Tuesday 3 January

CLAPTON WALKING TOUR: Go on a two-hour walking tour around the Clapton area, focusing on its waterways. Start at Springfield Park and follow the River Lea past former timber yards for the furniture making industry. Pass locks which divide the Lea into Canal and River, then visit the Middlesex Filter Beds — the remains of a Victorian water works which are now hidden away beneath a nature reserve — finishing up at Clapton Pond. 11am-1pm

CAMDEN CLOG: Anyone from complete beginner to advanced dancer is welcome at the Camden Clog, an evening of Clog dancing, a street dance originating from the cobbled pavements of Lancashire. Clogs are supplied, and it takes place at Cecil Sharp House in Camden. 6.45pm-8pm

FRANK ZAPPA: The Real Frank Zappa is in fact, not the real Frank Zappa (he passed away in 1993), but a tribute act by eight-piece south London band The Lovers of Invention. They celebrate the life and music of the cult musician at a show in Camden's Jazz Cafe. 7pm-8.30pm

LIVE JAZZ: There's more great live music at Chelsea's 606 Club, where award-winning jazz singer and pianist Liane Carroll is playing. She's worked with Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Paul McCartney, and performed at Glastonbury, and it should be quite the show. 8pm

SAVING PRIVATE RUSSELL: Dulwich-based charity The Bell House offers a talk about a local wartime tragedy, a real-life story similar to that of Hollywood film Saving Private Ryan. Local man Mr Russell had five sons, and it was thought that four had already been killed when the youngest was about to be called up for service. The talk also covers local rates of enlistment, and how the wounded were cared for at Southwark Military Hospital. 8pm-9pm

Wednesday 4 January

GUILTY FEMINIST: Head to Soho Theatre for a live version of The Guilty Feminist, hosted by Deborah Frances-White. It started as a podcast examining the goals and hypocrisies of 21st century feminists — think part comedy, part deep dive discussion, and part activism. 4-7 January

JONNY WOO: Also starting at Soho Theatre tonight is Le Gateau Chocolat and Jonny Woo's new show, A Night At The Musicals - 90 Years of Drag. They celebrate Jonny’s 50th and Gateau’s 40th birthdays by performing musical hits from the past 90 years, with big wigs, crazy costumes and questionable choreography thrown in. 4-21 January

LUNAR YOGA: With Luke Jerram's Museum of the Moon installed in the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College, Kindred Yoga Studio is offering morning yoga classes beneath the ethereal sculpture on selected days. Early risers can enjoy a 45-minute Vinyasa Flow session, open to both beginners and more advanced levels. A fresh juice is included after the class. 7.15am/8.30am

RELAXED ICE SKATING: The pop-up ice rink at Queen's House Greenwich offers a relaxed skating session this evening. It's aimed at neurodiverse skaters, those with sensory processing difficulties or disabilities, or anyone who would benefit from a calmer and more relaxed environment. There's lowered lighting and music levels, and reduced capacity compared to other skating sessions. 6pm

CLIMATE AND REFUGEES: Islington's Union Chapel offers a free evening of music and discussion about climate change refugees. Many people worldwide are already being displaced by the effects of climate change, but seeking refuge due to the climate is not yet protected under international law. Climate researchers Dr Jin-ho Chung and Dr Bernardo Bolaños Guerra discuss the situation in Ethiopia in particular. FREE, 6.30pm

Thursday 5 January

UTOPIA: St John's Waterloo — that's the church on the roundabout by the IMAX — opens a new exhibition in which students from Accumulate, the Art School for the Homeless, explore their personal ideas of an ideal world. The artists are people living in hostels and temporary accommodation, who have taken part in a series of workshops in order to create the artworks. FREE, 5-11 January

NEWS FROM NOWHERE: BFI Southbank screens News From Nowhere, a 1978 dramatised film about the life and work of English socialist artist and writer William Morris. It's introduced by Rowan Bain, Principle Curator at Walthamstow's William Morris Gallery. 6.20pm

THE SELFISH ROMANTIC: Life coach and author Michelle Elman is at Waterstones in Bromley to celebrate the launch of her new book, The Selfish Romantic. She discusses navigating the modern dating world and how to empower your love life. 6.30pm

COMEDY CLUB: Michael Brunström, Colleen Cheetham-Gerrard, Cecilia Delatore, Mica Hall, Nicole Harris and Kuan-wen Huang are the six comedians on the bill for this month's Catford Mews Comedy Club, with Chris Douce as MC. 8pm

PAINTING AND PROSECCO: Try your hand at recreating Gordon Bruce‘s Snowy London painting at tonight's Painting & Prosecco session at London Art Bar in Holborn. Under the guidance of a professional artist, try out techniques for creating your own version of the artwork. All materials are provided and your ticket includes a free drink to get your creative juices flowing. 7pm-9.30pm

Friday 6 January

SERVING IN DISGUISE: Documentary producer Vivien Morgan is at the National Army Museum to talk about young women who disguised themselves so they could enlist and fight in the armed forces between the 17th and 20th centuries. Find out why women chose to do this, and hear the lesser-known parts of their stories. FREE, 12pm

EVENING WITH THE STARS: Head to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich for An Evening with the Stars, a chance to look at the night sky through the facility's telescopes at a late-night museum opening. It begins with a planetarium show to familiarise you with what you'll (hopefully) see throughout the evening. 5.25pm

ALIEN: Leicester Square's legendary Prince Charles Cinema screens an Alien double feature, pairing up the theatrical version of 1970 film Alien and the director's cut of the 1986 sequel Aliens, starring Sigourney Weaver and John Hurt. 6pm

QUEER TANGO: Head to Bishopsgate Institute for a night of authentic Argentinian Tango in a safe queer space. Dancers of all abilities are welcome to take part in the dance class followed by social dancing, with queer sensibilities: think same sex couples, women leading, men following — all combinations are possible. 6.30pm-10.30pm

GIRLS OF GRIME: Tonight's Skate Late at Somerset House features Girls of Grime on the decks. Take to the ice as DJ Kaylee Kay and DJ SHAXX play Grime, UK Garage, UK Rap and Afro sounds. The Skate Lounge alongside the rink is open all evening for drinks. 8pm

Saturday 7 January

TRACK PLAY: Take the kids along to Walthamstow's Big Penny Social for Track Play, with giant toy train tracks laid out on the floor, waiting to be played with. Tunnels, stations, bridges and garages all feature in the set-up. Age 18 months+. 9.30am-3.30pm

CURATOR TOUR: The William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow offers a special curator-led tour of current exhibition, The Legend of King Arthur: A Pre-Raphaelite Love Story. Get an insight into how the Victorians perceived the legend of King Arthur, through artworks produced during this period. FREE, 12pm-12.45pm

FAMILY FUN: Holland Park's Leighton House Museum hosts a family fun session, in partnership with The Royal Society. There's a music theme, with musician and composer, Maya Youssef, artist and geometer Samira Mian, and science specialist Karen Hodgetts leading the activities, which are aimed at children aged 5-11. 2pm-3.30pm

ITALIAN CLERKENWELL: Rob Smith leads a walking tour around Clerkenwell — the area known to Italian residents at Il Quartiere between the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries. Hear about love, bravery, crime and friendship in the Italian community among Clerkenwell's side streets and viaducts. 2pm-4pm

GABRIELLE APLIN: English singer-songwriter Gabrielle Aplin plays a gig at Islington's Union Chapel, to celebrate yesterday's release of her new studio album, Phosphorescent. Doors 7pm

HIP HOP HOUSE PARTY: Head to The Book Club in Shoreditch to dance the night away at a Hip Hop House Party. It's a night of hip-hop anthems and old school jams — think 2Pac, 50 Cent, Aitch, A$AP Rocky, Beyoncé, Lil Wayne, Post Malone and Skepta. 8pm

Sunday 8 January

AUTOJUMBLE: Though the excellent Whitewebbs Museum isn't open today, it does host its annual new year Autojumble. It's chance to browse and buy all manner of car and bike related items, including parts and memorabilia, and the cafe is open all day. 9am-2pm

WREN REMNANTS: St Paul's Cathedral is Christopher Wren's best-known legacy, but he was responsible for plenty of other buildings too (we've mapped them). Take a guided walking tour around the City of London to see the remnants of some of his other churches, many of which were partially destroyed in the Blitz, and how their ruins have been incorporated into the modern cityscape. 11am-12.30pm

TWELFTH NIGHT: London's annual Twelfth Night celebrations mix ancient customs with modern festivities, making for a bizarre and eclectic event. Head to the riverside near Shakespeare's Globe to witness wassailing, The Holly Man (or Green Man) being paraded across the river, dramatic performances, and a chance to be crowned King or Queen for the day by finding a bean or a pea in a cake. Like we said, an odd (but fascinating) one. FREE, 2pm

PINK JUKEBOX: A Ballroom and Latin dance club for members of the LGBTQ+ community and their friends, Pink Jukebox returns to Bishopsgate Institute. It's open to beginner and more experienced dancers, starting with an introductory class, followed by an evening of social dancing. 2pm-7pm

MERCHANT OF VENICE: Actor Tracy Ann Oberman is in conversation with author Howard Jacobson and director Brigid Larmour about play The Merchant of Venice 1936. The actor plays Shylock in the new production, and today's panel discusses what the play can teach us about antisemitism in the 20th century and today. Watch in person at JW3 in North Finchley, or online. 8pm

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