What To Do in London in February

February can be a weird one. Christmas and some well-earned time off, disappearing in the rear view. Spring not coming quick enough. The whole Valentine's Day business. But you're warming into the year. The year's warming up. You're starting to get a sense of what's in store. Your hangover's finally gone. Whichever feel good month long diet change you signed up to is over. Time to step outside and explore, no more hibernating. There's plenty to see and do in London at this time of the year. So we've come up with our guide to What to Do in London in February 2020, including...

• A beautiful flower festival to tide you over until spring springs
• A mini guide to Valentine's Day in the capital
• A big old beer festival to make up for lost time during Dry January
• Our favourite restaurant and bar openings
• And much, much more...

What to do in London in February 2020: Events, Shows and Exhibitions

Orchid Festival at Kew Gardens

Explore the wondrous biodiversity of Indonesia at Kew Garden’s 25th annual Orchid Festival. Over 5,000 different species of orchid grow in Indonesia, and this beautifully curated festival recreates the diverse environments of the 17,504 islands in the Indonesian archipelago to show the plants in their natural habitat. With after hours events including Indonesian music concerts and expert talks, there are plenty of ways to explore the culture and heritage of the country, as well as its most famous flowers. A perfect thing to do in London in February, as you wait for Spring to spring. Entry to the festival is included with entry to Kew Gardens. And entry to Kew Gardens is included with The London Pass. Find out more by clicking the button below. 8th February - 8th March 2020. Kew Gardens, Kew, Richmond, London TW9 3AE. For more details and to book, head HERE.

Pancake Day in London

A central date on the February calendar is Pancake Day. Sure, you could go out and get the ingredients yourself. You could come home and try to get the pan to the right temp. You could even try to flip one. Then you can get the broom out to thwack it off the ceiling. On the flip side, why not save your whisking arm this February and go out for pancakes. Our top pancake places? My Old Dutch in Holborn for fluffy discs the size of pizzas. Christopher’s in Covent Garden for US-style pancakes with a daring array of toppings. And The Breakfast Club, with branches across the capital, for all things breakfast pancake. It’s your choice.

Valentine's Day in London

There are many ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day in London. A romantic meal. An anti-Valentine’s Day party. A spot of speed dating. We’re particularly enticed by the Valentine’s Day Thames River cruises put on by City Cruises. They’re offering three different types of cruise, so there’s something for lovers of all persuasions. If you’re into towering romantic gestures, consider taking a trip up to see The View from The Shard. They’re putting on an exclusive Valentine’s Day event, where all couples get a complimentary glass of champagne, a single red rose and a photo to take home with them. Not into the lovey dovey Valentine’s thing? Just want to dance? In a world famous London landmark? Give the February Ceilidh at Cutty Sark a whirl. Turn up with your single mates and take a stranger for a spin. This traditional Scottish dance evening is a great place to meet someone new, or just solidify your belief that the only people you need right now are your friends anyway. Outside of special event times, entry to The View from The Shard, Cutty Sark and the City Cruises 24 hour hop-on hop-off Thames River Boat Cruise are included with The London Pass. Discover more about The London Pass by bashing the little button below.

London Fashion Week

The British Fashion Council’s twice yearly celebration of fashion’s cutting edge is back this February. And London’s is the first of the four global fashion weeks to invite the public in. Buy tickets to go inside the Fashion Week Hub to see catwalks, installations and an interactive experiential space which combines music, tech, art and fashion. This Spring’s Fashion Week also includes a City Wide Celebration. Popping up across London, keep your eye out for stores, exhibition spaces and studios putting on special events which tie in with this year’s themes of sustainability, community and ethics. Special events includes talks, workshops, exhibitions, installations, exclusive launches, parties, live entertainment, windows displays, catwalks, pop-up's and new collective previews. 14th - 18th February 2020. From £135. The Store X, 180 Strand, London WC2R 1EA. For more details, to see the schedule and to book, head HERE.

The Lost Dress of Elizabeth I at Hampton Court Palace

It’s your last chance to see the only piece of Elizabeth I’s clothing still in existence. And you get to see it in her old house, Hampton Court Palace. Research has shown that the Bacton Altar Cloth was cut from a fine piece of courtly clothing. And yet more research has found that that item of clothing belonged to Queen Elizabeth I herself. Find out more about the item, its history and the development of courtly and monarchical attire during a visit to Hampton Court Palace. Entry to The Lost Dress of Elizabeth I is included with entry to Hampton Court Palace. Which is itself included with The London Pass, so find out more about that below.

Half Term with the Kids

School Half Term falls between February 17th and 21st, and plenty of London’s top attractions are putting on special events to get the kids in and entertained. ZSL London Zoo are bringing back their immensely popular Vets in Action event, where little ones get to learn about life as a veterinarian. If that’s a little too real world for your kid, fear not. The Tower of London are training the next generation of knights during half term. Enrollment in Knight School is included with entry to the Tower. And if your offspring aren't looking to joust, they're just looking for some seasonal fun, take them along to the Half Term Puddle Jumping Championships at London Wetland Centre. Entry to the Tower of London, London Wetland Centre and ZSL London Zoo is included with The London Pass. As is entry to many more of the top London attractions. Find out which attractions are included with The London Pass below.

Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2019

It’s your last chance to see this exhibition so, even though it kicked off in December, it’s made our hit list of the top things to do in February in London. 45 emerging artists, selected through open submissions by established names such as Rana Begum, Sonia Boyce and Ben Rivers. It’s varied, it’s progressive and it’s totally free. Until 23rd February 2020. South London Gallery, Main Gallery, 65-67 Peckham Road, London SE5 8UH. Free exhibition. For more details, head HERE.

Resolution 2020

Resolution 2020 is a cutting edge dance festival showcasing the shape of dance to come. It’s the UK’s biggest festival of choreography, with 81 artists bringing shows to The Place, the venue and school at the heart of the UK’s contemporary dance scene. The schedule sees three performances each night in a mixed bill. One ticket lets you see all three of the evening’s performances. And it only costs £16. Until 21st February 2020. Tickets £16. The Place, 17 Duke’s Road, London WC1H 9PY. For more details and to book, head HERE.

Brew LDN

150 different breweries are showing up for this celebration of beer, held at the Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane. The line up includes established names and some emerging ones looking to grab your attention and become your new favourite tipple. You don’t have to be a connoisseur to get something from this big booze bash, with music provided by Greg Wilson on Thursday night and DJ Artwork on Friday and Saturday. You can chat tasting notes and hoppiness if you like, but this is an informal, relaxed event for both those who are deep in the game, and those just dipping their toes into the brew. The perfect way to wave Dry Jan on its way. 27th - 29th February 2020. From £15 per ticket. The Old Truman Brewery, London, E1, UK. For more details and to book, head HERE.

What to do in London in February 2020: Bars and Restaurants

Padella Shoreditch

The enormously popular Padella is opening a second branch this February. Located in Shoreditch, there’s no doubt it will bring in a large crowd, with its short menu of fresh pasta dishes, bakery and delicious affordability. Maybe this will mean the queues outside the Southwark original will die down a little. Probably not. This is exceptional cooking well worth waiting around for. Opening Mid to Late February 2020 at 1 Phipp St, Shoreditch, EC2A 4PS. For more details to book, head HERE.

Hot Gin Roof: Some Like it Hot

Head up to the exclusive roof terrace of the Ham Yard Hotel for this winter themed gin bar curated by Sipsmith. The historically inspired menu features a wide set of gin cocktails, some hot, some not and some that can do both. Each one features the award-winning Sipsmith London Dry Gin and comes with a food pairing suggestion. Until 29th February 2020. From £20. Ham Yard Hotel, One Ham Yard, London W1D 7DT. For more details and to book, head HERE.

Flat Earth Pizza

Flat Earth Pizza are gaining plenty of followers with their wild and seasonal and sustainable approach to pizza. They ferment their own veg, keeping it flavourful and bold, and privilege organic and foraged ingredients. After a successful stint at The Hive in E2, they’re at The Plough in Homerton for the next six months or so. All their pizzas are meat-free and can be made vegan upon request. Thursdays - Saturdays from 31st January 2020. The Plough, Homerton High St, Clapton, London E9 6JP. For more details and to book, head HERE.

Tendril

Filling the space left by the Flat Earthers, Tendril are bringing their creative, seasonal and fresh veggie and vegan menu to The Hive in Bethnal Green. Taking influence from across the planet, Chef Rishim Sachdeva comes up with inventive dishes that look great on the plate and live long in the memory. The Hive, 286-290 Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, London E2 9DA. For more info, head HERE. So, there you have it. What To Do in London in February. All the hits. No filler. If you've got any suggestions, let us know in the comments below.