Welcome to 2023! Another year to come and explore all that London has to offer. With Euston Square Hotel as your base, you’ve easy access to the tube, rail and bus networks, and will find that many of the city’s best spots are within easy walking distance. So, let’s take a look at some of our picks for this January.
The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, offers a chance to see changing exhibitions from the Royal Collection, featuring old master paintings, rare furniture, decorative arts and images from the vast photograph collection. Also, who doesn’t want to visit a palace? Here’s a few of this month’s highlights at The Queen’s Gallery:
Japan: Courts and Culture is the current exhibition, and runs until February 23rd. The Royal Collection holds some of the most significant examples of Japanese art and craftsmanship in the western world. For the first time, highlights from this outstanding collection are brought together to tell the story of 300 years of diplomatic, artistic and cultural exchange between the British and Japanese royal and imperial families.
January 16th – The art of Japanese woodblock printing In this lecture, Hiroko Imada examines her practice as an artist and the techniques she has developed to create her unique approach to traditional woodblock printing.
January 19th – Kintsugi: The art of repair An exciting opportunity to learn all about the Japanese method of Kintsugi, where the beauty of imperfection is celebrated.
January 26th – The art of Ikebana Discover more about the practice of ikebana, the Japanese art of floral design.
January 31st – Japan: Courts and Culture Descriptive Event Highlights from this outstanding collection are brought together to tell the story of 300 years of diplomatic, artistic and cultural exchange between the British and Japanese royal and imperial families.
For more details on the The Queen’s Gallery, tickets, and more events, visit the site here.
How about a movie? The London Short Film Festival takes place January 20th-29th. The festival celebrates the world of independent short filmmaking from British and international talent as LSFF makes a welcome return. Screenings include drama, comedy, animation, low budget and experimental work. Each day also hosts some industry events, which include a wide range of practical discussions, from funding and safeguarding to capturing politics, sex and culture on film. So it’s perfect for industry insiders, budding filmmakers and students too.
You’ll find more info on the festival site here.
While London may be considered noisy, you’ll find some quieter moments at the iconic Barbican this January, when The London International Mime Festival returns. With four captivating theatre shows, featuring eccentric puppeteers, Olivier Award-winning performers, and the rising stars of Belgium’s acclaimed contemporary theatre scene. Plus, a film screening about a circus knife-thrower takes place in the cinema with a live piano accompaniment. How’s that for something different?
January 24th-28th – The Old Trout Puppet Workshop: Famous Puppet Death Scenes With tongue-in-cheek references to the masterworks of theatre, Old Trout Puppet Workshop cuts straight to the chase, taking out all of the boring bits, getting right to the point.
January 25th-28th – Still Life: Flesh This UK début by rising stars of Belgium’s acclaimed contemporary theatre scene forces us to think about who we are and how much we need others.
January 29th – The Unknown (PG) + Live Music Outrageous, lurid, haunting: this circus-set melodrama is one of the great silent films.
January 31st – Dorothy James & Andy Manjuck: Bill’s 44th This poignant, puppet tragicomedy for grown-ups is a wordless spectacle about the ingenuity of the mind.
For more info and tickets, quietly visit the site here.
That’s our round up of some of the intriguing events near us at Euston Square Hotel this January, but you won’t have to look far to discover many more. Until next month, enjoy your stay and happy exploring.