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.
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.
Did we miss the perfect 2016 event or opening? Let us know in a comment below and we’ll do our best to add it in.
About Rupert Dannreuther
I am Joint Editor at To Do List. I like free, cheap & offbeat London, especially: cabaret, art, theatre, pop-ups, eating out, quirky films, museums, day trips, social enterprise & much more.