Unmissable Things To Do in London in 2016
It’s looking to be a sensational year for things to do in London in 2016. From bearded circus through to a subterranean festival check out these picks from us and let us know if we missed a gem.
Big Spectacle
Barbu | London Wonderground, South Bank | 15 June – 25 Sept | From £26
Hilarious & jaw dropping bearded circus from the extremely talented Cirque Alfonse. We gave it ★★★★★ here.
Magical Lantern Festival | Chiswick House & Gardens | 3 Feb – 6 March | From £10
A 66 metre long dragon and many more epic lanterns await at this debut of a new festival for London.
Lumiere London | West End & Kings Cross | 14-17 Jan | Free
London lights up for an incredible short festival of outdoor light art. Discover the full programme here.
1.8 London by Janet Echelman / Studio Echelman
The Hunger Games | Wembley Theatre | Summer 2016
The Hunger Games is opening Wembley’s new theatre designed by Flanagan Lawrence architects. This should be a must see but details are scarce. Read the press release here for more.
Comedy
Artificial Hip Hop: Ida Barr | Wilton’s Music Hall | 11-13 Feb | £15-5
Chris Green’s hilarious OAP music hall star turned hip hop sensation makes her homecoming to the 1858 gem, Wilton’s Music Hall.
Shit-Faced Shakespeare | Leicester Square Theatre | 26 April-11 June | £20.50-18.50
The rowdiest Bard bonanza around, we can’t wait to see this EdFringe hit take over London.
Shows
1972: The Future of Sex | Shoreditch Town Hall | 13-23 April | £12.50
A 2015 fringe hit from the awesome young company The Wardrobe Ensemble.
Funny Girl | Savoy Theatre | From 9 April | Tickets from £25
Sheridan is on to a winner with this long awaited revival. Laugh, cry & feel the power of Smith’s epic performance.
Harry Potter – The Play | Palace Theatre | May 2016 | From £15
The stage is set 18 years later from the last book. The cast is a coup and we’re hoping this is the hit we all want it to be.
Light by Theatre Ad Infinitum | Battersea Arts Centre | 1-13 Feb | £15-9
This eye popping dystopian tale is a delight to behold, we loved it at the fringe.
Mark Bruce Company: The Odyssey | Wilton’s Music Hall | 23 Feb-19 Mar | £25/20
After a stonking Dracula in 2014, Mark Bruce company are back with a breathtaking dance-theatre version of Homer’s classic greek tragedy.
Miss Revolutionary Idol Berserker | Barbican | 22 June-2 July | £18
“Part pop concert, part controlled chaos, orchestrated by a rigorous director – this is Japanese subculture conveyed in all its multi-coloured, cacophonous, frenetic glory.”
Whose London is it Anyway | Camden People’s Theatre | 9-31 Jan | From £7
Artist pop ups, interventions & shows exploring London’s housing crisis, the impact of “regeneration”, the privatising of public space, and the experience of living in Europe’s only megacity.
Film
gal-dem Winter Film Festival | Art Nouveau Brixton | 17 Jan
A chance to get to see new films from female directors and producers of colour from all over the world, showcasing established filmmakers and fresh, young talent.
London Short Film Festival | Various venues including ICA | 8-17 Jan | Various Prices
Confrontational, eclectic & eye opening festival of short films. This year the festival includes CATS&CATS&CATS a night dedicated to feline films.
Sundance London | Picturehouse Central
Sundance London is back after a rather shaky start at the O2 to a perfect new home of Picturehouse Central.
White Horse – Films from Georgia | Deptford Cinema | 3-17 Jan | £5/3.50
Discover Georgia’s fascinating culture and history at the awesome community run Deptford Cinema.
Exhibitions
Design Museum Kensington | 2016
The Design Museum will be closing at its current site on Thursday 30 June and opening the impressive new space in Kensington later in 2016.
Electronic Superhighway (2016-1966) | Whitechapel Gallery | 29 Jan-15 May | Tickets from £11.95
100 works to show the impact of computer and Internet technologies on artists from the mid-1960s to the present day.
UTOPIA 2016: A Year of Imagination and Possibility | Somerset House | 25 Jan-2 Oct
Events, exhibitions and new commissions celebrating the idea of Utopia to mark the 500th anniversary of Thomas More’s influential text at the beautiful Somerset House.
Festivals
Changing Minds | Southbank Centre | 6-7 Feb
Looking closer into mental health, this first weekend festival brings top talks and shows including the legendary Brigitte Aphrodite.
Convergence | Various Locations | 10-18 March | Various Prices
Music, art & technology combine to make a future fest full of great artists including Of Montreal & The Correspondents.
Circus Fest | Roundhouse | 4-24 April | Various Price
Circus Fest is back with 3 weeks of thrills including from the Finnish Race Horse Company & the UK’s Barely Methodical Troupe.
DIY Pop Fest | The Shacklewell Arms | 29 April-1 May | From £12
Over 20 bands prove that twee & DIY pop is the sound of 2016.
Field Day Festival | Victoria Park | 11-12 June | From £49.50
The revolutionary indie icon PJ Harvey is headlining the uber-hip festival in East London.
Vault Festival | The Vaults, Waterloo | 27 Jan-4 March | Various
London’s closest equivalent to Edinburgh Fringe, the subterranean Vault festival announces its programme on 4 January so keep your eyes peeled.
Out of London
Mighty Hoop-la Weekender | Butlin’s Bognor Regis | 26-29 Feb | £100+ including accomodation
Poptastic powerhouses: Guilty Pleasures, Friday I’m in Love, Sink The Pink and many more come together for a giant pop weekender in the kitsch seaside Butlin’s resort.
Root 1066 International Festival | Sept-Oct
An arts festival to celebrate 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings including an innovative immersive show on the seafront.
