Things to Do in London: Exhibitions, Monster Trucks, and Winter Fun

Welcome listeners to Things to do in London with your globetrotting sport nut pal, Oly Bennet. London today is in full-on crisp-winter mode: chilly, grey, but with that electric January buzz as everyone pretends their New Year’s resolutions are still alive and well. Perfect conditions for turbo-charging your Saturday. Here’s the city’s vibe right now. Londonist reports the Adventure Travel Show has landed at the Business Design Centre in Islington, bringing over 100 travel organisations, talks, and off-the-beaten-track inspiration for your next big escape. Over at The O2, AXS lists Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live roaring into town this morning, so if you like your family fun loud, large, and slightly ridiculous, that’s your arena. For culture-hungry listeners, IanVisits highlights a stack of exhibitions closing soon, including “Emily Kam Kngwarray” at Tate Modern and “Gilbert & George: 21st Century Pictures,” so today’s a prime day for those last-chance art bragging rights. Comedy fans can duck into the Garden Cinema for the Factual Animation Film Festival, or catch multi-award-winning comedian and marine biologist Robyn Perkins live, according to Events for London, mixing science, laughs, and probably at least one joke about plankton. Family crew in tow? London Theatreland has family favourites still going strong, including The Lion King and Wicked, plus other kid-pleasers across the West End, perfect for a matinee before an early dinner. And if you want pure nostalgia with engines, Hot Wheels Monster Trucks at The O2 is basically a toy box come to life. On the city news and updates front, Time Out recently spotlighted the Strand as one of the UK’s best places to visit in 2026, thanks to heavy-hitting neighbours like Somerset House, The Courtauld Gallery, and the Savoy Theatre hosting Paddington the Musical. That whole stretch is becoming a must-wander cultural corridor, with exhibitions on everything from marine ecosystems to music fandoms lined up at Somerset House. For must-do activities today, here’s your Oly-approved game plan. Start with a stroll along the South Bank: grab a coffee by the river, snap the London Eye, and, if you’re feeling brave, hop one of the city’s remaining seasonal ice rinks like Somerset House’s Skate, highlighted by Secret London as one of the coolest winter experiences. Then dive indoors: pick an exhibition from IanVisits’ “closing soon” list for that smug “I caught it before it ended” feeling. Evening? Head to the West End for a show like Just For One Day at the Shaftesbury Theatre, a musical love letter to Live Aid listed by London Theatreland, then cap the night with cocktails around Soho or Covent Garden. Local tip of the day: if you’re bouncing between big venues like The O2, the West End, and Islington, stick to the Tube and tap in with a contactless card or phone—daily capping means you never pay more than a travelcard, but without doing any maths. And if a carriage is packed, walk to the far end of the This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.