10 Things To Do In London For Dry January
Whether you’re a new abstainer, a sober-curious, a mindful drinker or you just like the Dry January challenge after the excess of Christmas, here’s 10 fun things to do in London which might just help you stick to your resolutions this New Year.
Enter A World Of Happiness At Dopamine Land
Dopamine Land is the multi-sensory experience that’s sole focus is happiness. It combines media, technology and play in one interactive museum that channels the limitless imagination of your inner child into reality. This is a great day out with the kids, but late evenings are adult friendly, letting everyone reveal their inner child throughout all the colorful installations. It’s a rare opportunity to take a break from everyday life, have some fun and boost your happy emotions with a sweet release of dopamine.
Location: 79-85 Old Brompton Road, SW7 3LD, South Kensington, London
Dates: Varied from Tuesday to Sunday
Duration: 30-50 minutes
Kickstart The Year With A Zero Alcohol Cocktail Tour
You can still enjoy your favourite West End haunts when going dry this January. Whether you sip on a Tempest at Swift Soho (one of the World’s 50 Best Bars 2022), order a Botany Beauty at Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration, or indulge in a Ready & Raring at Cahoots, or sample a mood-enhancing Sentia Sbagliato or Velvet Asity (a clarified vegan milk punch/Jungle Bird riff using Everleaf Forest) at Club Soda’s Tasting Room in Dury Lane. The roster of fantastic alcohol free cocktails at London’s best bars illustrate the vibrancy of the alcohol-free market in the UK.
Other venues offering great alcohol free beverages include Nightjar, The Lower Third, SOMA, Farzi Cafe, Sartoria, 100 Wardour Street, NQ64, Sticks ‘n’ Sushi and Brewdog.
Take Your Artistic Skills to The Next Level
As the name suggests, Paint & Vino at Brixton Jam is usually a wine-fuelled event, but organisers have switched it up this New Year to offer a Dry January option in support of those who are on a mission to stay alcohol-free. During the evening guests will be led by a prolific London artist who will talk them through painting a subject of their choice. They will also be kitted out with various art supplies & a canvas. After the event, the art created can be taken home to hang.
Location: 261 Brixton Rd, London SW9 6LH
Dates: Thursday 05 January 2023. 19:00 - 22:00
Enjoy Some Guilt-Free Socialising
The Green Room, located just a few minutes’ walk from Waterloo station, boasts both eco-conscious business ethics and alcohol-free cocktails, making it a great choice for a healthy happy night out.
The Green Room only works with social enterprises and ethical suppliers and they always try to re-use and re-love wherever they can - from furniture, to light fittings, to the items on their menu; with meat that is only sourced from small farms committed to producing quality, naturally reared animals and maintaining high animal welfare standard, to fish that is sustainably and responsibly sourced.
Some of their alcoholic cocktails use vodka from the Green Room distillery - who give £1 to the charity BACKUP for every bottle sold and they donate £1 from every plant-based burger sold to StreetSmart homeless charity. In addition a £1 donation is added to every customer’s bill for unlimited still and sparkling BELU water with 100% of each donation going to the charity WaterAid.
Throughout Dry January The Green Room are offering a good selection of non-alcoholic cocktails. Teetotallers can enjoy drinks like the Velvet Underground, which is created using Seedlip Garden, beetroot pickled cordial or On The Edge, made with Lychee juice, lemon juice, blackcurrant cordial, green cordial.
Location: Green Room, 101 Upper Ground, Bishop’s, London SE1 9PP
Detox At A London Deli
The Detox Kitchen serves fresh, healthy and delicious food that is bursting with flavour and goodness. All of their food is free from wheat, dairy and refined sugar. They also cater for gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian diets, with a choice of plant-based milks with our teas and coffees at no extra charge to regular cow's milk.
For breakfast, choose from fresh juice and smoothie bars or breakfast pots and assortment of coffees and teas. For lunch, you can choose from seasonal, vibrant bowls of tasty salads and hot stews or soups, while their grab-and-go range, offers a yummy selection of sweet treats.
Their deli’s boast a sense of calm with interiors decorated in whites, neutrals and pale wooden tones.
Locations: Kingly Street and Mortimer Street,
Start The New Year In Paradise
If you are looking for some fun during Dry January in London, then check out Laki Kane in Islington. This quirky Polynesian paradise has a small but mighty array of non-alcoholic drinks, including the beautifully prepared Fatal Attraction.
Tropical-themed and lively with a fun events schedule Laki Kane is also known for only using glass, and biodegradable straws made from pasta.
Location: 144-145 Upper Street, London, N1 1QY
Attend a New Year, New You Workshop
If you are curious to explore your life goals, you might like to join Melissa Pegley founder of Believe In Change on Saturday 7th January for her annual ‘New Year, Celebrating You’ goal setting workshop, or if you need a little bit of a helping hand to stay off the booze during Dry January then you could log into this online workshop called How to cope when you’re craving a drink from Club Soda’s Dru Jaeger.
Get Your Vits & Kicks
After a healthy restaurant in the city? Then make your way to Vits + Kicks in Dulwich for a menu full of goodness. From poke bowls to halloumi sandwiches and lamb skewers, you can expect a truly mouthwatering eat with an international street food inspired dinner menu, paired with juice driven signature favourites.
There’s some great cocktails on the menu but if you're more about the vits and less about the kicks, you can replenish in a tranquil day time setting enriched with an immune boosting array of fresh juice and smoothie combinations, speciality hot drinks, and a delicious brunch and lunch menu to match.
Location: Vits + Kicks, 57 North Cross Rd, SE22 9ET
Kickstart 2023 with Sweat & Social
Start the year off with a sweaty HIIT workout courtesy of Work Me Shape Me; an events and networking platform for people who are interested in staying active, meeting like minded people, and trying new experiences in the city.
WMSM host regular events offering experience-led fitness and socialising by partnering with boutique fitness studios and social venues.
In their January HIIT workout Coach Bims will be taking participants through their paces with WMSM Founder, Vanessa, leading the cool down, followed by food and socialising.
Tickets include: 50 minute HIIT Work Out Class, followed by a cool down stretch and a Poke Bowl from Island Poke with a choice of sushi rice, brown rice or leafy greens, topped with Teriyaki Chicken, Sashimi Salmon, Teririyaki Tofu (Vegan & Vegetarian) or Miso Aubergine (Vegan & Vegetarian).
Location: 4 Hoy Street, Thanet Tower, Unit 11, E16 1XD LONDON
Date: 7th January
Time: 10.30am
Laugh Out Loud At London’s Alcohol-Free Comedy Club-Dry January Special
This afternoon event is perfect for those wanting to live a sober or healthier lifestyle - or if you just want to take a break from the booze and relax on a Sunday afternoon with some side-splitting comedy.
Sober IS Fun is the UK's first alcohol-free comedy club. Doors open at 2pm for pre- show fun with Pool, Table Football , Table Tennis all on offer, then the show starts at 3.30pm, with 4 leading professional Comedians taking to the Backyard Stage (James Redmond - Hollyoaks /Casualty / The Outlaws 2022. Paul McCaffrey (Live at the Apollo / Impractical Jokers). Maureen Younger (Comedy Store Regular). Dave Chawner (Mock the Week).
Location: 231, Cambridge Heath Road, E2 0EL
Date: Sunday, January 22nd
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