Things to Do in London: Post-Holiday Vibes and Quirky Discoveries

Welcome to Things to Do in London, listeners! I'm Ollie Bennet, your globe-trotting sports nut diving into the city's quirkiest vibes today, Friday, January 2nd, 2026. London's buzzing with that post-holiday crisp chill—think brisk 5°C winds perfect for bundling up and chasing adventures, as the festive lights linger and New Year's energy sparks the streets. Kick off with these top picks today: Catch the glitchy glamour of Jens Hesse's solo art exhibition at Cris Contini Contemporary, free and full of imperfect perfection for culture lovers. Families, hit Ally Pally's Festive Skate under twinkling trees with mulled wine—last days before it melts away. Music fans, groove to London Sacred Harp at Cafe OTO for soul-stirring harmonies, or punk out at The 100 Club's Resolution festival with Discharge headlining raw energy. Theatre junkies, snag seats for Elf the Musical's holiday hilarity or Back to the Future's time-twisting thrills, both running strong. Local buzz: Camden's Odeon Cinema screens its final films before closing February 26th—90 years of Art Deco magic turning into student flats, so go now! Christmas tree recycling kicks off with 22 drop-off points borough-wide from today—chop yours and drop by 6am on the 10th or 17th. North London's Waterlow Park just got step-free access—huge win for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Must-dos: Glide the Thames past Big Ben on a charity walk prep vibe, devour gingerbread architecture at Coal Drops Yard's Playful City exhibit (ends soon), or uncover resistance stories at The Postal Museum. Hidden gem: Stroll Highgate for that new accessible path and dodgy-knee dreams. Local tip: Londoners navigate like pros by hopping free comedy at Brewhouse & Kitchen tomorrow—arrive early for seats, just like I'd crash a ferret-legged race! Tomorrow? Ice rinks at Hyde Park and Battersea, plus Ali Woods' raw storytelling at Camden Comedy. Tune in for more epic discoveries! Thanks for listening, please subscribe, and remember—this episode was brought to you by Quiet Please podcast networks. For more content like this, please go to Quiet Please dot Ai. For more check out https://www.quietperiodplease.com/ and make sure to jump on these great deals https://amzn.to/3V0gjPt For more on Oly check out https://www.instagram.com/olybennet/ This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.