COLLECTIBLES

Winter Decorative Fair, 21-26 January
Running for over 35 years, this beloved event gathers 130 expert dealers offering a dazzling range of pieces, from 18th century antiques to chic 20th century design. Perfect for both private collectors and interior enthusiasts, the fair showcases unique finds to transform your home or garden. Expect room-set displays to spark your imagination, alongside standout items like modernist lighting, vintage mirrors, and vibrant studio glass. Upstairs, explore The London Antique Rug & Textile Art Fair (LARTA), where 15 specialist dealers will present exquisite rugs, embroidered panels, and tapestries for decorating or collecting. With on-site delivery services, a mezzanine café, and a courtesy coach from Sloane Square, this event promises a day of delightful discoveries – and it’s dog friendly!
Evolution London, Battersea Park, SW11 (020 7616 9327; decorativefair.com)

L Prentice Art & Antiques

THEATRE

The Invention of Love, Until 1 February
Hampstead Theatre’s latest is a quietly powerful revival, with Simon Russell Beale starring as A E Housman under Blanche McIntyre’s direction. In Stoppard’s poignant play, Housman is ferried across the Styx to Hades, but instead finds himself back in the Oxford of his youth – alive with the academic debates that shaped his work and the friendships that defi ned his life. This is the Oxford of Ruskin and Pater, a world still marked by the brilliance of a recently departed student named Oscar Wilde. With Matthew Tennyson as young Housman and Dickie Beau as Wilde, it promises to be a thought-provoking and beautifully staged production.
Eton Avenue, NW3 (020 7722 9301; hampsteadtheatre.com)

EXHIBITION

Battle for Lobsteropolis,Until 20 January
Philip Colbert is back at the Saatchi Gallery with this unmissable exploration of art, technology, and history. The show features six monumental hunt paintings and sculptures that pit Colbert’s signature lobster against the rise of artificial intelligence. The highlight? Two AI-assisted paintings reimagine historic battle scenes, including a take on the ancient Battle of Issus Mosaic, now set in Colbert’s dystopian Lobsteropolis. Think classical mythology meets the digital age, with lobsters battling AI avatars in a surrealist spectacle. Known as the “godson of Andy Warhol”, Colbert’s hyperpop works fuse humour and social commentary. Expect a bold clash of past and future in Lobster Land.
Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Rd, SW3 (020 7811 3070; saatchigallery.com)

Battle Scene Figure XXIV (from The Lobstar Planet) 195x270x5cm-oil on canvas-2024-PC1528

ART

London Art Fair, 22-26 January
Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just starting out, from modern art to cutting-edge contemporary pieces there’s plenty to explore at this long-running art fair, now in its 37th edition. Highlights include works by iconic names like Bridget Riley and Francis Bacon, plus a growing focus on emerging talent in the critically acclaimed Platform and Encounters sections. Don’t miss the Sainsbury Centre’s immersive display or Tampabased artist Ya La’ford’s stunning installation exploring nature and human connection. It’s the perfect winter art fix.
Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, N1 (londonartfair.co.uk)      

Bridget Riley, Green, Blue, Red and Yellow, 1982, Signed and dated, gouache and pencil on paper. 74.5 x 63 cm, courtesy of the artist and Osborne Samuel

WELLNESS

The January Reset, 26 January
Kickstart your 2025 with this uplifting wellness experience in Victoria’s serene Eccleston Yards. Studio Pottery London has teamed up with Re:Mind and LondonCryo to create a unique two-hour programme designed to refresh your mind, body, and soul. Begin with Re:Mind’s soothing crystal bowls sound healing session – perfect for shaking off stress and embracing calm. Using pure quartz alchemy bowls, this guided meditation promises deep relaxation, mental clarity, and a noticeable mood boost. Next, get hands-on at Studio Pottery London with a pottery taster class in which you can discover the mindful art of throwing clay, creating your own pot to be fi red and glazed. Then finish with a two-minute whole-body cryotherapy blast courtesy of LondonCryo – a bracing, energising treat that melts away tension and boosts endorphins. Sign us up!
Eccleston Yards, SW1W (studio-pottery-london.com)      

Lucy Attwood, director of Studio Pottery London © Genevieve Lutkin.