16 Things to do in London this February 2023
Our guide to art exhibitions, festivals and events to explore in London in February 2023 in London.
It's hard to believe that we are now in the second month of 2023. February has already arrived, and though it may be the shortest and darkest month of the year, there are still lots of exciting things happening in London. From the orchid festival at Kew Gardens, stand-up comedy shows, Fashion Week, LGBTQ+ history month and the romance of Valentine's Day, to Pancake Day and a plethora of new fantastic art exhibitions opening in London, including an exhibition dedicated to the works of American artist Alice Neel, an immersive art exhibition on Oxford Street, and a brand new light festival in Battersea. Check out our guide to some of the best things happening in London in February 2023.
Kew Gardens Orchid Festival
Image: Orchids 2022. Henck Röling at Kew Gardens. ©RBG Kew
#FLODown: Inspired by the beauty and diversity of Cameroon, the Orchid Festival returns to Kew Gardens' Princess of Wales Conservatory in a vibrant celebration of colour. This marks the first time that the festival will honour an African nation. The festival features a series of breathtaking horticultural displays and living sculptures, spanning across the ten different climatic zones within the state-of-the-art Princess of Wales Conservatory, replicating a range of fascinating global ecosystems all under one roof.
Date: Saturday 4 February to Sunday 5 March 2023. Location: Kew Gardens, Kew, Richmond, London, TW9 3AE. Price: from £16.50. Concessions available.
Immersive experience at Twist Museum
Image: Twist Museum, January 2023, © MTotoe
#FLODown: Visit Twist Museum and immerse yourself in their interactive, multi-sensory playground filled with optical illusions and mind-altering exhibits. Location: 248 Oxford Street, London W1C 1DH. Price: from £16.50/£19.50 Child/Adult. Click here to discover more immersive exhibitions to see in London.
Celebrate LGBT+ History
Image: © Raphael Renter
#FLODown:Throughout February, LGBT+ History Month is celebrated across the UK as an opportunity to connect, reflect and celebrate the past and present of the LGBT+ community. Click here to discover events happening throughout London that celebrate LGBT+ histories, cultures, and communities. Date: 1-28 February 2023
Superdrug Presents 2023
Image: Superdrug Presents
#FLODown: Superdrug has announced the return of its health and beauty festival, taking place at The Truman Brewery in London. Dubbed "Superdrug Presents," the event will be larger than ever before, giving consumers the opportunity to learn more about different brands and enjoy complimentary treatments at the retailer's "Beauty Studio." Additionally, industry experts will be in attendance, offering masterclasses and workshops to attendees. Location: The Truman Brewery 83 Brick Lane London E1 6QR.Date: 24 -26 February 2023 Price: £30 for Health & Beauty card members and £40 for non-Health & Beauty cardholders, the cost includes entrance to the event.
Bernie Sanders at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall
Image: Senator Bernie Sanders, © Vidar Nordli Mathisen
#FLODown: The Southbank Centre in collaboration with Penguin Press presents Bernie Sanders: It’s OK To Be Angry About Capitalism, which will see Senator Bernie Sanders in conversation about his highly anticipated new book of the same name. Date: Thursday 23 February, 8pm. Location: Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. Price: Starting from £15 - £52.
London Fashion Week
Image: © Gbenga Onalaja
#FLODown: London Fashion Week (LFW) will take place this February. The provisional schedule for February 2023 features both menswear and womenswear designers, including iconic British luxury brand Burberry, who will showcase their first collection under the new creative direction of Daniel Lee. Other designers featured include Christopher Kane, Erdem, and Roksanda. While most shows are invite-only, keep an eye out for other events, parties, talks, and shows surrounding Fashion Week. Click here to learn more about what's in store for the week. Date: 17 – 21 February 2023.
Watch Romeo and Julie at the National Theatre
Image: National Theatre, London, © Simone Hutsch
#FLODown: Celebrate the month of romance by visiting the National Theatre to see "Romeo and Julie," a modern love story inspired by Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." The story follows two Welsh teens who grew up a few streets apart, but from entirely different worlds, as they find love. However, at the crossroads of their lives, Julie's family fears the worst in a world of unequal opportunities. What better time to relive the ultimate love story. Location: Dorfman Theatre,National Theatre, Upper Ground, South Bank, London SE1 9PX. Price: from £20 - £56
Pancake Day
Image: © Duncan Kidd
#FLODown: This year, Pancake Day is on 21 February 2023. Also referred to as Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday, it marks the day before Lent begins, a period of 40 days and nights during which people abstain from some of their favorite things. During this period of abstinence, many people follow the tradition of cleaning out their cupboards and getting rid of ingredients such as eggs, butter, and fat, which are commonly used to make pancakes! Londoners can indulge in delicious pancakes at places like Where the Pancakes Are, The Breakfast Club, or Farmacy for tasty vegan pancakes. There are also lots of great traditions surrounding Pancake Day in London, such as pancake races, which are unique and fun to observe, even if you're not participating. Some of the best pancake races include those at Greenwich Market and Leadenhall Market. Date: 21 Feburary 2023.
Spain and the Hispanic World at the Royal Academy of Arts
Image: Section of ,Vision of Spain (sketch) (detail), 1912-1913. Joaquín Sorolla, Gouache on kraft paper. 107 x 191 cm. On loan from The Hispanic Society of America, New York, NY. © MTotoe
#FLODown: The Royal Academy of Arts present Spain and the Hispanic World, an exhibition celebrating the unrivalled collection of the Hispanic Society Museum & Library in New York. The landmark exhibition presents a visual narrative of the history of Spanish culture, bringing together outstanding works from Spain and colonial Latin America, reflecting on the diversity of cultural and religious influences, from Celtic, Islamic, Christian and Jewish to American, African and Asian, that have shaped and enriched Spanish culture across four millennia. The selection of over 150 works will include paintings, sculptures, silk textiles, ceramics, lustreware, silverwork, precious jewellery, maps, drawings and illuminated manuscripts.Location: Main Galleries, Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, London, W1J 0BD. Date: 21 January — 10 April 2023, Price: from £22/concessions available.
Click here to discuss more art exhibition to see in London in February 2023.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day at a London Restaurant
Image: © Eric Mcnew
#FLODown: Valentine's Day is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a romantic meal, whether it's with a significant other, close friends, or family. Treat yourself to a special dining experience by exploring our selection of restaurants. From a cosy hidden gem in East London to a luxurious Japanese restaurant in Mayfair, we have something for everyone. Click here to discover your options for Valentine's Day dining.
Cowpuncher My Ass at the Southbank Centre
#FLODown: Cowpuncher My Ass will be presented at the Royal Festival Hall on Wednesday 15 February 2023. This one-night-only show delves into the complex themes of the Wild West genre, examining issues of gender, identity, and sexual politics through the lens of cowboys. The production features bold, unisex costumes that blend elements of high fashion with a modern, punk aesthetic.Date: Wed 15 February 2023, 7.30pm, Price: £22.50 – £40, Location: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
Alice Neel exhibition at the Barbican Centre
Image: AliceNeel. The Spanish Family, 1943. © The Estate of Alice Neel. Courtesy The Estate of Alice Neel.
#FLODown:The Barbican will present Alice Neel: Hot Off The Griddle, an exhibition dedicated to American visual artist Alice Neel, known for her portraits depicting friends, family, lovers and those that were not typically the subjects of painting at the time – pregnant women, labour leaders, Black and Puerto Rican children, Greenwich Village eccentrics, civil rights activists, queer performers. Location: Barbican Art Gallery, Barbican Centre,Silk Street, London,EC2Y 8DS. Date:16 February – 21 May 2023. Price: from £18. Concessions available.
The Imagine Children's Festival at Southbank Centre
Image: Rug Rhymes, Southbank Centre, © India Roper Evans
#FLODown: Imagine Children’s Festival is London’s leading arts festival for children aged 0-11 years, with a programme bursting with music, storytelling, comedy, poetry, dance, visual arts and plenty of interactive activities.There will be over 100 events packed into eleven days and 50% of the festival completely free, making world-class artistic experiences accessible for everyone. Location: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX. Date: 8 -18 February 2023
Lunch time recital at the Royal Opera House
Image: © Josue Michel
#FLODown: Experience an exciting programme of free lunchtime performances inspired by the heritage of the Royal Opera House and its operas and ballets. Artists from The Royal Opera, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, The Royal Ballet and a range of guest artists perform in the newly opened-up spaces of the Royal Opera House. Admittance is free, subject to capacity and seating is unreserved. Click here to discover dates for February lunchtime performances. Location: Paul Hamlyn Hall, Royal Opera House, Bow St, London WC2E 9DD.
Laugh your way through February at Vauxhall Comedy Club
Image: © Kane Reinholdtsen
#FLODown: Enjoy a night of stand-up comedy at Vauxhall Comedy Club. With great food and comedy available for all budgets, from a Saturday bottomless brunch comedy session to weekday stand-up shows. Vauxhall Comedy Club has a packed schedule that will keep you laughing throughout February. Location: 6 S Lambeth Pl, London SW8 1SP. Click here to discover the line-up for February.
Naked Neon Life drawing at Prince of Peckham
#FLODown: Experience creativity and innovation at the Prince of Peckham's Neon Naked Life Drawing workshop. Explore unique image-making techniques, such as continuous line drawing and pointillism, while moving away from traditional, perfectionist teachings. Unleash your artistic potential and create something new in this exciting class. Date: 5 Febuary 2023, once a month after. Location: Prince of Peckham , 1 Clayton Rd, London SE15 5JA. Price: from £15.
