United Kingdom, Europe

London in January

The cheapest London of the year. January sales, empty museums, and theatre tickets at their softest.

Quiet valueCold and damp, highs near 47F (8C), dark by 4:30pm

Tower Bridge over the Thames, London — LondonPhoto: Bob Collowan, CC BY-SA 3.0

The straight answer

January is a quiet, good-value month to visit London. The cheapest London of the year. January sales, empty museums, and theatre tickets at their softest.

Weather: Cold and damp, highs near 47F (8C), dark by 4:30pm
Crowds: 1 of 5
Prices: 1 of 5

What January is like in London

January is London at its quietest and cheapest. Expect cold, damp days with highs near 47F (8C) and darkness by about 4:30pm. The Christmas lights and skating rinks hang on into the first days of the month, then the city settles into sales season, empty museum galleries and the softest theatre prices of the year.

This month suits indoor people: museum lovers, theatre fans and anyone hunting a bargain. The free museums, pubs and West End are all at full strength. If you want long walks in green parks and light past dinner, wait for May or June instead.

Make the most of January

What is especially good about London this month.

January sales

Oxford Street, Regent Street and the big department stores run their deepest markdowns right after New Year. Weekday mornings are the calm window.

Empty museum galleries

The British Museum and National Gallery feel almost private on a weekday in January. You can stand at the Rosetta Stone without a crowd.

Cheap theatre

West End ticket prices are at their softest, and same-week seats for most shows are easy to find. The TKTS booth in Leicester Square is worth a look.

Last of the Christmas season

The skating rinks and festive lights run into early January, so the first week still has a holiday feel at lower prices.

What to pack for January

A warm waterproof coat with a hood
Waterproof walking shoes that handle wet pavements
A hat, scarf and light gloves
Layers you can shed inside warm museums and pubs

Our timing tip

Plan outdoor sights like the South Bank walk for late morning to early afternoon, since the light is gone by mid afternoon.

Book London for January.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in London
Opens a hotel search for London in January, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for January
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Vacation rentals in London
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
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Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in London
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in London for January. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in January

Christmas season

Mid November through early January

Lights on the shopping streets, Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, and skating rinks at Somerset House and the Natural History Museum.

Things to do in London

Full guide

Tower of London

Book online and arrive at opening; go straight to the Crown Jewels before the queue builds. Yeoman Warder tours are free with entry and worth planning around.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

British Museum

Free entry, but book a timed slot in busy months. The Rosetta Stone room is calmest in the first hour.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Westminster Abbey

Closed to tourists on Sundays for services. Verger-led tours are the sleeper upgrade.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Borough Market

Full market runs Wednesday through Saturday; Saturdays are a crush by 11am. Go hungry, early, midweek.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

The South Bank walk

Tate Modern to Tower Bridge along the river is the best free afternoon in London, in any weather.

Tickets and tours →

West End show

The TKTS booth in Leicester Square sells legitimate same-day discounts. Midweek matinees are easiest.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Do the Tower of London at opening or after 3pm; the cruise-excursion and coach-tour wave hits between 10am and 2pm.
The free museums are busiest on weekends and rainy afternoons. A sunny weekday morning at the British Museum feels like a different institution.
Book Westminster Abbey's first entry and you will have the Poets' Corner nearly alone; by late morning it is a slow shuffle.
Ride the London Eye in the last daylight hour instead of midday: shorter lines and better light.

Know before you go

London has no off-season shutdown. Museums, theatre, and restaurants run at full speed all twelve months; winter changes the light and the price, not the access.
December 25 is the one true closure day: nearly everything shuts, including the entire Tube network. December 26 (Boxing Day) still runs reduced hours and transit.
Buckingham Palace's state rooms open to the public only in summer, generally July into September. The rest of the year you are looking at the outside.
Westminster Abbey closes to sightseers on Sundays, and state occasions can close it or the surrounding streets with little notice.

London in January, quick answers

Is January a good time to visit London?

January is a quiet, good-value month to visit London. The cheapest London of the year. January sales, empty museums, and theatre tickets at their softest.

What is the weather like in London in January?

Cold and damp, highs near 47F (8C), dark by 4:30pm.

Is London crowded in January?

January is one of the quieter months in London; most sights can be done without long waits.

What is happening in London in January?

Christmas season (mid november through early january).