The temptation to hibernate during winter can be overwhelming at times and is something we all need to fight. The pursuit of fun should be at the top of everyone's to-do list, countering the feeling of gloom that comes when we turn the clocks back, something the novelist Ian McEwan so poetically yet depressingly described as “tightening the lid of darkness over our afternoons and lowering the nation’s mood”. To ensure you keep your spirits high, here are some ideas from our Inspectors on how to battle the winter blues, with things to do and where to eat afterwards.
1. Take Comfort in Puddings and Pies
Is there anything more heartwarming than a pie? From mince to cottage, fish to apple, steak & kidney to chicken & mushroom, there’s always a pie out there somewhere with your name on it and winter is the best time to enjoy it. Rules, London’s oldest restaurant, will always deliver the goods – you can have steak and kidney as pudding or pie; The Devonshire in Soho does a beef cheek and Guinness suet pudding; upstairs at The Hero in Maida Vale they do a great duck pie for two; Bob Bob Ricard in Soho offers a chicken and champagne pie; while at Kanishka you can get their speciality chicken tikka pie.
2. Get Your Skates On
Whether you’re someone who’s mastered the triple Salchow while humming Bolero or are more likely to be found edging your way slowly round the rink without loosening your grip on the perimeter wall, winter is the time to get your skates on. Somerset House provides quite the backdrop to your backflips – and Spring restaurant is on hand for nourishment afterwards. At the now super-smart Battersea Power Station, the ice rink is called Glide, putting quite some pressure on your skating skills, but fortunately Archway is nearby with its restorative Italian cooking.
3. Walk in a Winter Wonderland
There’s also a skating rink at the annual six-week jamboree that is Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, along with rides, shows and assorted adventures and activities. It’s enough to keep any sugar-filled, hyperactive child royally entertained and to get everyone in the mood for Christmas. Those who prefer their Wonderland to have a little less Winter and a little more Boogie, can get along to Park Chinois and their live music or Quaglino’s, just a short walk away.
4. Visit the Christmas Markets
There are certain parts of London that lend themselves beautifully to Christmas markets as they’re already bursting with character and history. Old Spitalfields Market is one, as is Covent Garden; for the former, you’ll be to close to Gunpowder and Bubala, while the latter gives you Cora Pearl and The Oystermen. Trafalgar Square should be on most people’s list too – casting an opinion on the quality of the tree gifted by the city of Oslo is now as traditional a Christmas pastime as TV specials and horrible jumpers. When it comes to nearby restaurants, Ochre is in the National Gallery, while Wild Honey St James is just a stroll along The Mall.
5. Sing Christmas Carols
Christmas isn’t the same without hearing a good carol. St Martin-in-the-Fields is a fine choice for a sing-song, as is The Royal Albert Hall which hosts six days of singalongs, while Westminster Abbey is hard to beat for a carol service and you have The Pem and Yaatra nearby for lubrication and sustenance. The annual carol service in the stunning Wren Chapel at The Royal Hospital Chelsea usually happens in early December and is well worth a ticket; for planners-ahead who want to make the night even more special, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay is just up the road.
6. Know Your Dickens
London and Charles Dickens are inextricably linked, as the capital not just featured in all his books but played an important character in most of them. An atmospheric winter’s day is the perfect time to explore his legacy and the Charles Dickens Museum near King’s Cross is always a good starting point – plus you’ve got Decimo close by for refreshment. Not much may remain of the Victorian London he wrote about, but you can get a feel for it by seeing A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic – a classic Christmas tradition which you can round off with dinner at Lasdun or The Anchor & Hope.
7. Enjoy London’s Best Wine Lists
The first month of the year is a great time to cosy up in London’s many brilliant wine-driven restaurants. From Cloth to Peckham Cellars, HIDE to Trivet, the capital has a bounty of restaurants where the wine list demands your attention. Some of them, like Soif and Noble Rot, also come with the kind of rustic warmth that’s ideal for the winter. While there's much to be gained from participating in 'Dry January', ordering a bottle with your meal will also help support your local restaurant in an already difficult month. Perhaps consider it ‘Damp January’ instead and just refrain on the nights you stay in – and keep an eye on your alcohol consumption all-year round, rather than having one dry month and 11 indulgent ones.
8. Celebrate Chinese New Year
In 2025, 29th January is the date to keep in your diaries. When the Lunar New Year celebrations take place, we will be entering the Year of the Snake and it’s the perfect time to gather together with friends and family to watch the parade and celebrations in Chinatown and Trafalgar Square. Afterwards, you can enjoy the food in one of the capital’s many Chinese restaurants: simple spots like Dim Sum Duck, longstanding restaurants such as Royal China Club, newer arrivals like Canton Blue and those offering a truly spectacular culinary experience, which has to mean A. Wong.
9. Hit the January Sales
Who doesn’t love a bargain? Just a few days after we’ve scrambled around in shops looking for presents, many of us are back again seeking out savings on more things that no one really needs. But it’s a tradition, it gets us off the sofa and the fear of missing out on a bargain is a powerful motivator. If you want a strategically central location for sustenance close to lots of shops then consider Soho and, more particularly, the area around Carnaby St; here you’ll find the Turkish feasts of Zahter, the Indian delights of Darjeeling Express and Syrian delicacies at Imad’s.
10. Double Date on Valentine’s Day
Restaurants can have a somewhat ambivalent view of Valentines Day. Yes, it fills the place but accommodating so many tables of two doesn’t always make great use of their available space – especially when they’ve got lots of large tables or booths. So, if you’ve left it late to book why not double up with another couple and go out as a four – you’ll find you have the pick of the restaurants. Or you can consider going out the night before or the day after – restaurants will again be delighted to see you and it’ll all be a little less frenzied. When it comes to choosing a romantic restaurant, London has plenty to offer.
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