London Bookshop Crawl, 17-19 February

The London Bookshop Crawl is very similar to the concept of a typical pub crawl – an activity that as we all know is very popular with Brits of all ages. However, this time, Londoners have the unusual opportunity not only to drown in the depths of English literature (rather than English beer), but also to discover the most exceptional places to shop for books. You can either join the programme with a guided group, or walk on your own route with a company of friends using one of the free maps provided on the Bookshop Crawl’s website.

London Fashion Week, 17-21 February

London Fashion Week is back, and so the world’s most exciting and important fashion figures are flocking to London from all over the world, flashing their futuristic couture outfits at endless shows, parties and events that showcase both the most promising newcomers and London’s best established fashion designers. Most of the shows are by invitation only, but do not despair if you didn’t get one! There are plenty of side events, parties and sales available for the general public that will take place in the city while models showcase clothes at the main stages.

Beyond The Streets, 17 February-9 May

Saatchi Gallery is opening a huge new exhibition Beyond The Streets dedicated to street art. This time, all four floors of the gallery will be graffitied by more than 100 internationally acclaimed artists of this new form of indie art. Through numerous installations made in various graffiti styles, and with the help of graffiti historian Roger Gastman, the organisers will take you to the school of the street graffiti and help you explore how this art is linked to contemporary subcultures, and what influence it has on global fashion, film and politics.

Calcifer’s Kitchen, until 25 February

Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki’s full-length animated films are such a worldwide success that they are regularly shown in cinemas in Western countries on a par with multi-million dollar Hollywood blockbusters, have been staged as theatrical productions starring the giant fluffy troll Totoro, and now fashion house LOEWE has teamed up with Studio Ghibli (Miyazaki’s film company) to produce a series of bags, scarves and other accessories inspired by Howl’s Moving Castle. At the same time, LOEWE is opening a pop-up café in Selfridge symbolically called Calcifer’s Kitchen after one of the movie’s main characters, which will allow anyone to sample the unusual mini-desserts inspired by the food and other magical objects from Howl’s magical world.

Ukraine: Photographs from the Frontline, 3 February-8 May

February 24th will mark exactly one year since the start of the war in Ukraine. Thanks to the constant work of reporters, photographers and the internet media, the whole world has been able to see just how brutal and bloody the 21st Century war can be. The exhibition at the Imperial War Museum focuses on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began back in 2014 and in 2022 has escalated to become one of the worst events of the early 21st century. A collection of documentary photographs by Anastasia Taylor-Lind, who began working in Kyiv during the Maidan in 2014 and has since visited the war-torn Donbass multiple times, shows how the country has changed through the years since the invasion began in 2014.

Flavour Escapes, 17-18 February

Market dedicated to unusual innovative foods will open in Piccadilly Circus for two days this half-term. On Glasshouse Street, Londoners will be able to sample some of this winter’s most experimental food, with their sight and taste. Organisers promise bao bun that glow in the dark, colourful fondue fountains, liquid nitrogen ice cream and burritos made with candy-floss and marshmallow. The venue will provide sitting and even special dark rooms to appreciate the glowing buns. All money raised from the event will go to help homeless people.