From rugby at Twickenham to Cynthia Erivo's vampiric West End debut and the return of Kew's beloved Orchid Festival, here's everything worth doing in London this weekend.
February in London can feel like trudging through treacle. The January health kicks have worn off, spring still feels impossibly far away, and everyone's broke. But here's the thing: this particular weekend is genuinely stacked. We've got theatre openings that'll have people talking for months, the Six Nations kicking off at Twickenham, a final chance to catch a Serpentine favourite, and orchids (yes, orchids) offering a much-needed hit of colour in the grey.
I've filtered through every exhibition opening, gig listing, and "immersive experience" so you don't have to. The criteria? Events that are actually happening this weekend, things you'll genuinely remember, and a mix that covers most interests without pretending everyone wants to spend Saturday at a meditation pop-up.
These picks are drawn from AllEvents and verified across multiple sources. Times and availability change, so double-check before you go.
How this list works: Events are loosely ordered by urgency. Opening weekends and final chances come first, followed by excellent ongoing options. Prices accurate at time of writing. "Free" means free.
What: The Wicked star's triumphant return to London theatre, playing all 23 roles in Kip Williams' tech-heavy adaptation of Bram Stoker's vampire novel.
Why go: Erivo hasn't performed on a London stage since The Color Purple launched her into the stratosphere a decade ago. The Australian production team behind the Sarah Snook Picture of Dorian Gray brings their signature multimedia wizardry.
Who it's for: Theatre lovers who want to see a genuine event. Anyone who thought one-woman shows couldn't be blockbusters.
When: Performances throughout weekend (check showtimes)
Need to know: Noël Coward Theatre, Covent Garden. Tickets from around £25 but good seats go fast. Runs until May 30.
What: The 30th anniversary of Kew's beloved orchid spectacular, this year celebrating China's incredible biodiversity with dragon sculptures, lantern installations, and thousands of blooms throughout the Princess of Wales Conservatory.
Why go: Opening weekend of a London institution hitting its 30th year. The conservatory genuinely transforms into something otherworldly, and there's nothing quite like stepping into tropical warmth in early February.
Who it's for: Anyone needing a visual and sensory reset. Families, couples, solo wanderers who want to forget it's winter for an hour.
When: Opens Saturday February 7, daily from 11am. Last entry 4pm.
Need to know: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Entry included with garden admission (£21 adults). Book ahead for weekends. The after-hours evening events (with cocktails and live music) sell out quickly.
What: The opening weekend of the 2026 Six Nations as England host Wales at Twickenham in one of rugby's most historic rivalries.
Why go: It's England vs Wales. At Twickenham. On opening weekend. Some things require no explanation.
Who it's for: Rugby fans, obviously. Also anyone who enjoys 82,000 people losing their collective minds.
When: Saturday February 7, kick-off 4:40pm
Need to know: Allianz Stadium (Twickenham). Tickets extremely limited through official channels. If you can't get in, nearly every pub in London will be showing it. Arrive early wherever you're watching.
What: The UK premiere of Chadwick Boseman's 2005 play, a poetic drama about a woman grappling with her boyfriend's murder. Directed by Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu at the Globe's indoor Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.
Why go: Yes, that Chadwick Boseman. The Black Panther star was also a playwright with serious critical acclaim. This is the first contemporary American play to run in the Globe's candlelit indoor space.
Who it's for: Theatre adventurers. Boseman completists. Anyone curious about what happens when superhero stars turn out to have been proper playwrights all along.
When: Opens Friday February 7, runs until April 11
Need to know: Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Shakespeare's Globe. Opening weekend tickets may be limited. The candlelit venue is genuinely intimate.
What: The last chance to see one of the world's greatest living painters at the Serpentine, in a show that pairs his dreamy, memory-soaked paintings with a listening bar filled with rare vinyl.
Why go: Final weekend. Doig's paintings alone justify the visit, but the immersive sound element makes this genuinely unique. Skip this and you'll be annoyed when everyone talks about it in retrospect.
Who it's for: Art lovers, music nerds, anyone who thinks galleries should do more with the senses beyond "look at this."
When: Until Sunday February 8
Need to know: Serpentine South Gallery, Hyde Park. Free entry. The listening sessions have their own schedule, so check ahead.
What: Robbie returns to intimate venues to perform Life Thru A Lens and his never-officially-released Britpop album in full. It's the 90s, basically, but in 2026 and in Brixton.
Why go: Robbie at the Academy is significantly different from Robbie at a stadium. These small-venue shows are rare, and he's playing deep cuts that never got arena airings.
Who it's for: Anyone who owned Life Thru A Lens on CD. People who want to shout "Angels" in a venue where you can actually see his face.
When: Sunday February 8, doors 7pm
Need to know: O2 Academy Brixton. Sold out through official channels but resale tickets appear. Standing show. Will be sweaty.
What: Major exhibition tracing 1,000 years of Japan's warrior class through 280 objects, from medieval armour to contemporary interpretations, separating historical reality from the myths we've all absorbed from films and games.
Why go: This is the British Museum's main ticketed exhibition through spring. The armour alone is stunning, and the myth-busting angle gives it genuine substance beyond "look at cool swords."
Who it's for: History enthusiasts, anyone who's played Ghost of Tsushima, families with samurai-obsessed kids.
When: Opened February 3, runs until May 4. First full weekend.
Need to know: British Museum, Bloomsbury. Timed tickets from £22. Book weekend slots in advance.
What: The first major London revival of Tom Stoppard's acknowledged masterpiece, directed by Carrie Cracknell. A dizzying, emotional play about maths, physics, sex, and the nature of knowledge itself, jumping between Georgian and modern timelines.
Why go: Stoppard passed away in November, making this the last production he personally approved. Even without that poignant context, Arcadia is widely considered one of the greatest plays of the late 20th century.
Who it's for: Theatre people. Intellectually curious people who don't mind a play that makes them think. Anyone who missed it first time round and has been kicking themselves since.
When: In performance throughout weekend
Need to know: The Old Vic, Waterloo. Runs until March 21. Tickets from around £20. Don't arrive tired.
What: South African electronic music duo GoldFish bring their infectious live show to one of London's best venues, supported by Chris Watson.
Why go: GoldFish have been quietly changing the electronic music game for years. Their live show is properly live, not two people pressing play. The Roundhouse sounds incredible, and this will be a proper party.
Who it's for: Electronic music fans who want energy and showmanship. People who like their Saturday nights dancey.
When: Saturday February 7, 7pm
Need to know: Roundhouse, Camden. Tickets £29.50-£34.50. 18+.
What: Hugh Bonneville stars as C.S. Lewis in this revival of William Nicholson's acclaimed drama about Lewis's late-in-life marriage to American poet Joy Gresham. Transferred from a hit Chichester run.
Why go: Bonneville's first West End performance in decades, in a play about one of literature's most unexpected love stories. If you've heard the story, you know why tissues are advised.
Who it's for: Theatre lovers, Lewis fans, people who appreciate properly crafted drama about actual emotional stakes.
When: Throughout weekend (opened February 5)
Need to know: Aldwych Theatre. Runs until May 8. Tickets from around £25.
What: Premier League football at the Emirates as Arsenal host newly-promoted Sunderland.
Why go: Arsenal at home, Saturday 3pm, the Emirates atmosphere. Sunderland are back in the top flight after years away, which adds extra edge.
Who it's for: Gooners. Football fans who want a proper match-day experience.
When: Saturday February 7, kick-off 3pm
Need to know: Emirates Stadium, Highbury. Tickets through Arsenal if you're a member. Otherwise, watch in one of the many pubs showing it, though note the Six Nations clash at 4:40pm will compete for screens.
What: The blockbuster retrospective spanning every era of Lee Miller's extraordinary life, from Vogue model to war photographer. Every section reveals someone who refused to be one thing.
Why go: Closes February 15, so this is your penultimate weekend. It's one of the best-reviewed exhibitions of the season for good reason.
Who it's for: Photography fans. Anyone interested in 20th-century history, fashion, surrealism, or just remarkably lived lives.
When: Until February 15
Need to know: Tate Britain, Millbank. Timed tickets from £22. Weekend slots book up. Find what's on at AllEvents for more exhibition listings.
What: A new play by first-time playwright Jack Nicholls about cavemen. Yes, cavemen. Part of the Royal Court's 70th birthday season featuring only unsolicited submissions.
Why go: The Royal Court's willingness to take genuine risks is why British theatre keeps producing interesting work. The title alone suggests irreverence. Opening night is Friday.
Who it's for: Theatre adventurers who prefer discovering something new to seeing the safe option. Anyone who likes their drama with an edge of the absurd.
When: Opens Friday February 6, runs until March 14
Need to know: Royal Court Theatre Upstairs, Sloane Square. Tickets around £15. Small venue, intimate experience.
What: The digital concert experience where ABBA avatars (rendered from motion-capture of the actual band) perform their greatest hits with a live band in a purpose-built arena.
Why go: Look, it's weird. ABBA holograms shouldn't work. But it does, somehow, and it's become a genuine London institution. Multiple shows this weekend.
Who it's for: ABBA fans. Curious sceptics. People who want to dance to "Dancing Queen" in a room full of people having the same experience.
When: Multiple shows Friday-Sunday
Need to know: ABBA Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Tickets from £35. The dance floor tickets are the ones to get. Book through AllEvents or official channels.
What: 250 objects exploring the ill-fated queen's fashion, jewellery, interiors, and enduring influence, including loans from Versailles never before shown outside France.
Why go: One of the V&A's most lavish exhibitions in years. The craftsmanship of the objects is staggering, and the curation manages to humanise someone history has often reduced to "let them eat cake."
Who it's for: Fashion obsessives. History fans. Anyone who appreciates incredible craftsmanship and wants to feel briefly like they're in Versailles.
When: Until March 22
Need to know: V&A, South Kensington. Timed tickets from £20. Weekends are busy, book ahead.
Curtis Stigers at Ronnie Scott's (Saturday): The jazz vocalist returns to Soho's legendary club. Proper jazz in a proper jazz venue.
Art After Dark (through February 10): West End galleries staying open late with DJ sets, performances, and a massive Lakwena Maciver installation in Piccadilly Circus. Free.
Wes Anderson: The Archives at Design Museum: Still running strong if you've not yet visited. The Grand Budapest Hotel model alone is worth the trip.
The Devil Wears Prada at Dominion Theatre: Vanessa Williams as Miranda Priestly. Elton John score. Proper West End glitz if you want it.
What are the best free things to do in London this weekend? Art After Dark gallery events are free and excellent. Peter Doig at the Serpentine is free. Most major museums have free permanent collections, with only special exhibitions requiring tickets.
Where can I watch the Six Nations in London? Everywhere. But for atmosphere, try sports-focused pubs near Twickenham, rugby clubs with big screens, or places like Flat Iron Square which set up outdoor viewing. Arrive at least an hour early for England vs Wales.
Is the Kew Orchid Festival worth it? Yes. It's genuinely beautiful, genuinely warm, and genuinely different from everything else you'll do in February London. Opening weekend has extra energy.
How do I get last-minute theatre tickets? The official TKTS booth in Leicester Square sells day-of discounted tickets. TodayTix app shows last-minute availability. Or try theatre box offices directly, especially for weekday performances.
What's the weather like? February. Dress in layers, bring an umbrella, expect the worst, be pleasantly surprised by anything above 8°C.
Right, you've got options. Whether you're chasing opening nights, last chances, or just need to watch England play Wales while holding a pint, this weekend has you covered. Now get out there.
