It’s a relatively quiet time of the year for London , but there’s still plenty to do in the city this week. If you’ve got some money left over after Christmas then there’s an opportunity to spend it wisely – hopefully – at the London Art Fair; if you’re economising now’s the time to finally visit some of the West End’s best shows cheaply with Get into London Theatre. Elsewhere there are youth festivals, film retrospectives and a rather unusual exhibition. This week, also, sees the opening of two major London exhibitions: David Hockney’s A Bigger Picture exhibition at the Royal Academy (on Saturday) and Scott’s Last Exhibition at the Natural History Museum (on Friday). Let us know what you thought of last week’s best London events , and what you plan on doing this week, by commenting below, emailing us at london@telegraph.co.uk or tweeting @TelegraphLondon

Admittedly it’s only January, but Boxed: Fabulous Coffins from the UK and Ghana is already a contender for strangest London exhibition of the year. Held at the Southbank Centre, the subject of this display is unconventionally constructed, elaborately decorated coffins built either by the Paa Joe workshop in Ghana or by Crazy Coffins, based in Nottingham. In Ghana customised coffins that reference the deceased’s life and interests are a status symbol of sorts, while Crazy Coffins is frequently commissioned to build structures related to the purchaser’s passions and hobbies. Don’t be surprised to see a pair of huge and clunky ballet pumps swaddled with pink satin or a bulbous, human-sized cocoa pod vibrantly coloured green and yellow. The display precedes next week’s Death: Southbank Centre’s Festival for the Living (Jan 27-29), which takes a head-on look at the mystery, beauty and inevitability of death.

Thirty-three per cent of Londoners are aged under 26; 33% London celebrates the cultural contribution of young people in this age group. Held at the Ovalhouse Theatre in Kennington, the festival fuses film, theatre, dance by and for young artists with workshops and debates designed to provide a platform for emerging artists and opportunities to young people who would otherwise lack exposure to the arts. There are plenty of events to choose from – and all ages are welcome to attend – but some of the highlights include the premiere of SKEEN! And FiRST BiTES. The former is the work of Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu, a writer who trained with 33% London over the last five years; the latter is a series of multi-disciplinary works that examine the concerns, challenges and inspirations faced by young people in London and around the country.

When: until Jan 21

Where: Ovalhouse, Kennington Oval, London SE11 5SW

Tube: Oval

How much: prices vary

Pick up a future classic at the London Art Fair

Times are tight for many of us, but whatever the economic climate investors still seem to descend en masse to the annual London Art Fair. The largest art fair for Modern British and contemporary art in the country, it brings together more than 100 galleries and among the innumerable artworks on display are pieces by some of the great names of 20th-century art. Huge deals are brokered here, but there’s plenty to entertain visitors who can’t afford to splurge. The Art Project series continues this year with solo shows, live performances and a programme of experimental film and video by contemporary artists from across the world. If you are tempted to splurge, check out the fair’s Limited Editions section, where prints from both up-and-coming and established artists are available from £50.

When: Jan 18-22

Where: Business Design Centre, Islington, London N1 0QH

Tube: Angel

How much: £16 (on the door, or £11 if purchased online in advance); concessions £10; accompanied children free

Finally see that 'must-see' show, on the cheap, with Get into London Theatre



Shrek at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Image: Brinkhoff Mögenburg

Less of an event and more of an opportunity, Get into London Theatre again collaborates with some of London’s most dazzling theatre productions for the West End version of a January sale. For the next few weeks productions such as Mamma Mia!, The 39 Steps and Les Misérables offer tickets significantly below the usual going rate. Busy times for the most popular shows can sell out quickly, but if there’s a participating show you’ve always meant to go and see then this is the time to do it. Look out as well for a (very limited) number of special activities that complement certain performances. On Feb 1, the stars of Shrek, including Kimberley Walsh and Nigel Lindsay, will participate in a post-show Q&A, and there’s also an opportunity to learn the Thriller dance routine with the cast of Thriller Live.

When: tickets are available for performances running until Feb 10, but availability may run out before then

How much: tickets are charged at either £10, £15, £25 or £35

See through the worst of winter with Wise Cracks: The Comedies of Woody Allen



Woody Allen explains who is horrible and who is miserable in Annie Hall.

For anyone who needs cheering up, or just some respite from cold weather, the BFI this week holds its retrospective Wise Cracks: The Comedies of Woody Allen. Running for almost two months, the series has chosen to screen 21 of the prolific filmmaker’s funniest works, including Hannah and Her Sisters, The Purple Rose of Cairo and Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Throughout his works, Allen’s interest in the themes of neurosis and the complexities of relationships has remained steadfast, and this is a rare opportunity to see some of his earliest classics on the big screen in London.

When: until Feb 8

Where: BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road, South Bank, Waterloo, London SE1 8XT

Tube: Waterloo

How much: prices vary