Things to do in Surrey and London this February

There's plenty of great events to explore in Surrey this February, with quality shows, workshops and talks just a click away. 

The House Party at the Rose Theatre

• 4th - 22nd March, 7PM - 11PM
• Tickets: £15.00 - £45.00

A wild party. A friendship. A cherished pet. And a night that changes everything. It’s Julie’s 18th birthday and she’s throwing a party in her father’s extravagant townhouse. But as the volume goes up and the shots go down, the twisted cocktail of privilege, desire and destruction implodes. This contemporary reimagining of Strindberg’s Miss Julie won plaudits from critics when it previewed at Chichester Theatre last May.

Book here.

Blood Brothers at the New Wimbledon Theatre

• 4th - 8th March
• Tickets: £15.00

Bill Kenwright’s multi-award-winning production brings drama and heartwrench to Wimbledon next month. In the iconic role of Mrs Johnstone is Vivienne Carlyle, who received nightly standing ovations for her powerful performance in the West End production.

Book here.

Learn the basics of Quilting at Creative Quilting

• 10th February and 10th March, 11:30am-3.30pm and 18th March 18, 10.30-4pm
• Tickets: £35.00 - £50.00

New to quilting? Come along and learn the basics at Creative Quilting on Bridge Road, Hampton Court. In a one-day session, you’ll learn about rotary cutting, strip piecing and lots more.

Book here.

The Conversation at St Martin in the Fields Church

• Every Tues 6.30pm until April 22.
• Tickets: £15.00

Last month saw the launch of a new literary event featuring weekly conversations with 15 of the UK’s brightest minds tackling key political, social and environmental challenges.

The talks take place in the beautiful St Martin-in-the-Fields church in Trafalgar Square, with speakers such as Oscar-winning playwright and author Hanif Kureishi (Feb 11), astronomer Maggie Aderin-Pocock (Feb 4), theatre director Nicholas Hytner (March 18) and many more.

Book here.

Create and Grow at Squire's Garden Centres

• (Available at all Squire’s Garden Centres including Long Ditton, Walton, Cobham and Surbiton.)
• 17th - 21st February; 9.30am-1.30pm
• Tickets: £6.50 per child

Squire’s is hosting a choice of garden-related fun events this half term. Young children can paint a ceramic gnome or bird flowerpot and go on a garden treasure trail. 

Book here.

Terrarium Workshops at 139 Bethnal Green Road

• 2nd February - 27th April
• If you bring your own glass vessel, the cost of the 90-min class is £50

If you’re looking for something a bit different this month, Emma Sibley runs highly acclaimed Terrarium Workshops at different venues in South and East London, teaching visitors how to create one of these gorgeous miniature gardens.

Book here.

Orchids Festival at Kew Gardens

• 1st February - 2nd March (After hours events Fri/Sat, 7-22 Feb)
• Tickets: £20.00 - £24.00

Escape to Peru as Kew Garden’s orchid festival returns for another kaleidoscopic year. From beaches and rainforests to deserts and mountains, Peru’s varied landscape is home to over 3,000 species of orchid and an incredible array of wildlife, reflected in a series of horticultural displays and living sculptures.

Several special late-night openings include live Peruvian music, performances and food.

Book here.

Churchill in Moscow at the Orange Tree Theatre

• 3rd February - 8th March, 2:30pm and 7:30pm
• Tickets: from £15.00

The world premiere of Howard Brenton’s play dramatises the top secret meeting at the Kremlin in 1942 of two unpredictable titans, Churchill and Stalin, as history teeters on a knife edge. Three-time Olivier Award winner Roger Allam plays Winston Churchill; Peter Forbes is Stalin.

Book here.

Fairy Tale Trail at Painshill Park

• Until 2nd March; 10am–4pm (last entry at 3pm).
• Tickets: Included with general admission/free for members.

Painshill Park in Cobham unveils its Fairy Tale Trail, a family-friendly adventure through the landscape to discover some favourite fairy tale characters.

Book here.

Peter and the Wolf Drama Workshop at GLive

• 18th February; 12.30pm-1.30pm.
• Tickets: £16.00

GLive hosts a Peter and the Wolf Drama Workshop that takes children aged 7-11 years through the Peter and the Wolf story, using mime, freezes, and improvisation.

Book here.

Cave Painting at Bourne Hall Museum

• 20th February; 11am & 3pm
• Tickets: £6.00 per child

In prehistory, early men crawled down into the darkest caves and used light from primitive candles to paint pictures of themselves and the animals they hunted. At Bourne Hall Museu,m you can learn more about these early artists and create your own cave painting.

Book here.

The Tannahill Weavers at Grayshott Folk Club

• 8th February;  7.30pm
• Tickets: £18.00

Grayshott Folk Club welcomes back one of Scotland’s finest and most enduring folk/rock bands, The Tannahill Weavers. The “Tannies” as they are affectionately known have made an international name for their special brand of Celtic music, blending the beauty of traditional melodies with the power of modern rhythms.

Book here.

Pride and Prejudice at Holy Trinity Church, Guildford

• 13th February - 1st March; 7.30pm
• Tickets: £29.50 (concessions available)

Guildford Shakespeare Company’s highly acclaimed production of the Jane Austen classic Pride & Prejudice will be revisiting Holy Trinity Church in Guildford. Join the Bennett sisters as they set about conquering love and social mores in 19th-century society.

Book here.

In Conversation with actor Joe Thomas at Cranleigh Arts

• 27th February; 8pm
• Tickets: £20.00

Actor Joe Thomas is ‘in conversation’ at Cranleigh Arts to discuss 16 Years of The Inbetweeners. The star who played Simon in what has become one of the UK’s most beloved shows will share insights and backstage gossip.

Book here.

Pottery Course at the Watts Gallery

• 25th February - 25th March
• Tickets: £162.00 - £180.00

Head to Watts Gallery near Guildford for this five-week pottery course. Join ceramicist Luisa Cacciotti who will cover a range of techniques, including pinch, slab and coil pots and throwing on the wheel.

Suitable for all skill levels. Morning and afternoon slots are available.

Book here.

Charity Comedy Night at The Comedy Store

• 25th February; 7.30pm
• Tickets: £25.00

Channel 4’s The Last Leg’s Adam Hills is hosting a comedy night at The Comedy Store in the West End in aid of Tadworth-based The Children’s Trust. Joining Adam will be a stellar line-up of comedians, including Rosie Jones, Tim Vine, Jake Lambert, Michelle Shaunnessy and Fatiha El-Ghorri.

Book here.

Acclaimed folk musician Seth Lakeman at Farnham Maltings

• 21st February; 8pm
• Tickets: £29.50 - £32.50

It’s a busy month for Mercury Award-nominated folk musician Seth Lakeman, who releases his self-produced new album, The Granite Way, before embarking on a fresh set of UK headline dates. The multi-instrumentalist will be appearing with his band at Farnham Maltings.

Book here.

Gothic Romance Tour at Strawberry Hill House

• 14th Feb; 6.30pm
• Tickets: £25.00 (includes a glass of fizz)

Immerse yourself in a world where romantic beauty and gothic fantasy combine. Guided by resident experts, Strawberry Hill House’s Gothic Romance Tour reveals how Horace Walpole’s fairytale castle inspired him to write the very first Gothic romance novel, and takes you through the tangled histories of his family as you explore different rooms and parts of this atmospheric house after hours.

Book here.

Drawing from Observation at Kew

• Deadline for entries is 15th Feb
• Entry Fee: £5.00

Acclaimed British artist Diana Armfield RA NEAC has lived in Kew for many years. Presented by Arts Richmond, the Diana Armfield Drawing From Observation Prize is open to all, and is awarded in memory of Diana’s husband, Bernard Dunstan RA. There is a £5 entry fee per drawing and an exhibition will be held in Twickenham on March 3-8.

Learn more.

Winter Wassail at Barnes Common

• 8th Feb, the procession starts at 10 am by the Vine Road Recreation Ground and ends at 1pm
• Tickets: adults £11.55, children £6.13, family discounts available

Barnes Common’s weird and wonderful Wassail is back. Make merry and celebrate the community orchard at this ancient rural celebration. Enjoy storytelling, poetry, crafts and singing, plus warm spiced apple juice and snacks, with a Wassail Master to oversee proceedings.  

Book here.

Sausage Roll making competition at the Red Lion

• 5th Feb

The Red Lion in Barnes’ now legendary annual competition returns, with top chefs heading head-to-head to create the best sausage roll chosen by a panel of esteemed judges while raising money for charity. Competitors travel from all over the UK to showcase their wonderful and wacky creations.

Enter here.

Calçotada festival at Tapas Brindisa Richmond

• 9th and 23rd Feb
• Tickets: £75.00

Tuck into one of Catalonia’s most cherished traditions as Calçotada returns to Tapas Brindisa Richmond. Roll up your sleeves, tie on a bib and enjoy the smoky, savoury experience of charred calçots (similar to large spring onions) dipped in romesco sauce. It’s a deliciously messy affair.

Book here.

Men's Pilates Class at Ticho Studios

• Every Wednesday; 7:30pm
• Pricing: £21 one-off, class packs available, as well as an Intro offer of  21 days unlimited classes for £45

Ticho Studios on White Hart Lane in Barnes has launched a men’s Pilates class. The weekly sessions promote core stability whilst building muscle strength and flexibility, including stretching and breathwork. It occurs at 7.30 pm every Wednesday and is open to all levels.

Book here.