The weather in February is notoriously icy-cold and a little bit on the gloomy side in London, so many people might be inclined to think that it is not a good month to visit the city. It is also straight after Christmas, and all the lights, Christmas trees and festivals are packed up and won’t be back until the next December. However, this resistance or apprehension is based on complete misconception – there is plenty to do in London during the cold months. In fact, some may even argue that it is even better equipped for the colder months than the hotter ones, especially when it comes to activities and things to do in spite of the weather.
Then, of course, there is the element of February being slightly too close to Christmas for comfort when it comes to your bank balance – between the roast turkey dinners, jewelled gifts and seasonal holidays, it can be quite a dry month when it comes to cash flow and money to spend on a February holiday or trip to London is not always available. Well, this is one thing you really do not need to stress about when you consider the Montcalm Spa Deals on offer, as well as book now pay later hotels making sure nobody loses out, even if it is soon after the Christmas spending season.
Theatre!
It is fair to say that theatre in London is by no means a fair-weather activity. It is accessible throughout the year, and the shows are on continuous loops. However, it is arguably a lot more pleasant to go to the theatre on miserable days, because you don’t feel any guilt for being cooped up inside. Not to mention, if you are staying in the Montcalm Hotel in Marble Arch, you are on the doorstep of the West End, the theatre district of London. Here are some top shows on this February.
The Lion King at Lyceum Theatre
Continuing on a very successful run, The Lion King will be showing at the Lyceum Theatre, just off The Strand, is a perfect way to spend a rainy day, whether at a matinee performance in the afternoon with the kids, or in the evening after a delightful dinner in Covent Garden. Though the warm, dry picture of Kenya being acted out may make you long somewhat for a Summer holiday, the musical classics like The Circle of Life and Hakuna Matata will put you in such good spirits that you will find it near impossible not to feel absolutely thrilled that you are in London and able to watch such talented displays of musical theatre.
Address: 21 Wellington St, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7RQ
Savoy Theatre for Adult-Themed Show
If you are looking for more of an adult-themed show, rather than this Disney classic, then head to the Savoy Theatre and buy tickets for 9 to 5: The Musical! This is Dolly Parton’s smash-hit musical Caroline Sheen, Natalie McQueen, Chelsea Halfpenny and Bonnie Langford. It is uplifting, funny, charming, and everything you could want from a night out on the town in London.
Address: Savoy Ct, London WC2R 0ET
Mary Poppins
Another absolute hoot of a show to watch during February on the West End is Mary Poppins, which is brand new in musical theatre terms, after The Book of Mormon has been holding the fort at The Prince Edward Theatre for quite a while now. Mary Poppins has been received with one five star review after the other – everyone who has had the pleasure of seeing it has come out with a beaming smile and endless positive sentiments. Join Mary Poppins and the kids she looks after on a whirlwind adventure with magnificent singing and all the jolliness of the Disney classic.
Address: Old Compton St, Soho, London W1D 4HS
Shopping
Though not an official scripture, not many people would argue the fact that there are few weather circumstances that make it hard to go shopping. Sun shining? Go shopping. Wind howling? Why not go shopping? Rain bucketing it down? Well, you get the picture: shopping is suitable for it all, making it a prime February activity, given the weather can never quite make up its mind at this time of year. Not to mention, if you arrive and find you didn’t pack appropriate clothing, this can readily be fixed after a shopping spree in London.
Harrods – The World’s Leading Luxury Department Store
Head to Knightsbridge, especially if you are staying at the Marble Arch Montcalm, for a shopping experience in one of the world’s most famous, celebrity-endorsed department stores: Harrods. Even if everyone in London had the same idea as you and headed to Harrods, there would probably still be enough for everyone to buy something – between the seven floors and 90,000 square metres of space, it is an absolute fortress of stores, boutiques and restaurants. Whether you are after a good book, a Burberry handbag or some perfume from Chanel, there is something for everyone.
Address: 87-135 Brompton Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7XL
Liberty London Department Store
All things luxurious yet traditional emanate from Liberty London Department Store on the world famous shopping hub of Regent Street. This Tudor-revival building is the kind that cannot even be glanced at without inspiring a selfie and a few Instagram snaps. There is high-end fashion and luxury homeware, as well as its own fabric line if you are making your own or wanting to have something made for you. It is the kind of vast range that makes you warm inside, even if it isn’t quite reflected outside the front doors.
Address: Regent St, Soho, London W1B 5AH
Oxford Street Shopping
If you plan on going shopping in London and Oxford Street doesn’t jump immediately to mind, then you may not have been paying attention over the last hundred-odd years. Just the renowned department store Selfridges would probably be enough to impress most, but that is not where Oxford Street stops showing off its shopping variety. There are also flagship stores like Tissot, New Balance, Gap and many more. Start at the top and work your way down – you will probably come across more shops than you even realised the street had. After a day on Oxford Street, you will understand how it got its reputation.
Address: Selfridges: 400 Oxford St, Marylebone, London W1A 1AB
Tissot: Tissot Flagship Store373 Oxford St, Mayfair, London W1C 2JR
New Balance Flagship Store London 287-291 Oxford St, Mayfair, London W1C 2DR
Gap: Clothing Store 376/384 Oxford St, London W1C 1JY
Food
Food-therapy may not be a doctor-prescribed remedy for feeling down about the cold weather, but you would struggle to find a foodie who doesn’t wholeheartedly agree that a mouthful of delicious food warms the heart just as well as the sun does. There is one thing that is absolutely certain – you can’t complain about the weather when your mouth is full of food.
Aviary at the Montcalm Royal London House is a rooftop restaurant and bar
The Aviary London is a restaurant and bar in The Montcalm Royal London House, which is the best place to go if you need reminding just how special this city is during February and exactly why you chose to visit at this time of year. The view from the 10th story is sweeping, beautiful, metropolitan and impressive, showing the London skyline at its finest, in a light that everyone needs to appreciate at least once during their time in the city. The menu is seasonal, meaning during February you can expect flavours like beetroot, artichokes, fruits and fish. The coal oven-cooked Modern British cuisine paired with the smashing cocktails will make you feel like you are soaring through the air – fitting, given that the restaurant is bird-themed, and so high in the sky.
Address: Royal London House, 10th Floor Montcalm, 22-25 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1DX
Protein Studios in Shoreditch
It can be really exciting to visit pop-up restaurants when visiting London. Though going to restaurants that are considered seasoned experts of the culinary world is always a safe bet, a unique experience is guaranteed at pop-up restaurants. Throughout February, Terra Mundo in Protein Studios in Shoreditch will be popping up and serving quirky, immersive meals that incorporate audiovisuals and sensory surprises, and is sure to be an experience you won’t forget anytime soon. It is taking place from the 12th until the 16th of February.
Address: 31 New Inn Yard, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 3EY
Lamberts Restaurant in South West London
The seasonal food in February is wholesome but fresh and delicious, unlike the somewhat denser foods you might have been eating throughout the Christmas months. So, to make the most of this wonderful seasonal variety, head to a restaurant that specialises in seasonal cooking. A prime example of this is Lamberts Restaurant in South West London. The word “Seasonal” has become somewhat of a buzzword at upmarket restaurants, though not always true to the country it resides in – everything is seasonal somewhere. But Lamberts focus on both seasonal and ethically sourced food from Europe, the origin of their menu, serving up delicious meals in a smart and modern environment. The European flavours will remind you why February produce makes February such an excellent month to be wining and dining out.
Address: Station Parade, 2 Balham High Rd, Balham, London SW12 9AZ
Exhibitions
Once you have seen a show, gone shopping and eaten out, you have covered three of the perfect rainy-day schedule in London, with the last being museum exhibitions. This is perfect if you are trying to keep costs low during your trip, because a number of museums in London are free. Here are some top exhibitions on this February in some of London’s top museums, which are all on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, conveniently close to Montcalm Marble Arch.
Natural History Museum
Though this is a paid-for exhibition taking place at the usually-free Natural History Museum, paying for this particular exhibition is well-worth the money: The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is on throughout February and is a celebration, display and exploration of the world’s best nature photography, exhibited on 100 spectacular lightbox displays. Head to this hub of natural history to appreciate nature captured at its most beautiful, vulnerable and personal level.
Address: Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD
Science Museum
If your interests lie less in the natural world, and more in that of science and human invention (or, of course, both), then head to the Science Museum just up the road from the Natural History Museum, where throughout the month of February, the special exhibition Driverless: Who Is In Control is on. It is a fascinating, cutting-edge exploration of the world of artificial intelligence, the role it has had and the role it will one day have on our world and lives.
Address: Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD
Victoria and Albert Museum
If you have been to the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum on Exhibition Road, then you are one museum away from completing the museum-trifecta of London. The last of the three is the Victoria and Albert Museum, across the way from the Science Museum. Throughout February, be sure to catch the exhibition Cars: Accelerating the Modern World. Even those who aren’t big fans of motor vehicles and their history will find the exhibition truly fascinating, especially when contemplating the lengths we have come from the start of it all, from horse-drawn carriages to the self-automated cars that have been promised in our future. In fact, this is a particularly interesting exhibition to enjoy and explore in conjunction with the one on artificial intelligence at the Science Museum.
Address: Cromwell Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW7 2RL
So what are you waiting for? London may seem like the kind of place that is best enjoyed over the yuletide celebrations in Winter Wonderland, or when the sun is shining in Hyde Park, but this is completely unfounded – which the activities on this list ought to prove once and for all. There is nothing left to do but keep an eye on hotel deals and book your stay at Montcalm Royal London for February as soon as possible.
