Take a View: Landscape Photographer of the Year - until 7 Feb

This year’s Landscape Photographer of the Year exhibition is currently being held at Waterloo station, displaying almost 100 of the best entries from 2015.

Hosted by Network Rail in Britain’s busiest station, the exhibition – which is free of charge – is highly accessible to the general public.

Showcasing some stunning snapshots captured around England, Scotland and Wales, the chosen photographers certainly succeeded in capturing Britain’s raw beauty. The winning work belongs to Andy Farrer, who photographed Bat’s Head, Dorset, looking incredibly serene with a dusting of snow.

Opening hours for the exhibition match that of Waterloo Station; visit the Network Rail website to view a list of opening times.

Annie Leibovitz: Women - until 7 Feb

Wapping Hydraulic Power Station stands as the temporary home for photographer Annie Leibovitz’s extended collection, Women.

First released in 1999, Women essentially captures various representations of womanhood. “Visualising what women look like, who we are, was a very, very important thing to do,” Leibovitz told Forbes.

The exhibition showcases work from the original series of images, as well as new additions, which include famous faces Lupita Nyong’o, Adele and Taylor Swift. The talking point of the exhibition is perhaps the vast portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

Entrance to the exhibition is free.

Orchid Festival - from 6 Feb

For one month only, Kew Gardens is transforming its Princess of Wales Conservatory into a tropical paradise dedicated to the vibrant plant life of Brazil.

In Brazil, February brings with it the vivacious carnival season, and here you can get a little taste of the beautiful carnival colours.

The glasshouse will be bursting with tropical plants and flowers, and visitors will be able to explore the science behind some of the most mysterious Brazilian plant families and the environments in which they thrive.

Take this chance to explore a forest of orchids and a tunnel of tropical plants. Entry is included with a Kew Gardens general admission ticket, which costs £14 when bought online.

Chinese New Year celebrations - 14 Feb

Head to the streets of London to celebrate the Year of the Monkey at one of the biggest Chinese New Year celebrations outside of Asia. While Chinese New Year actually lies on 8 February, the London parade and other festivities will take place on 14th February.

In Trafalgar Square, across Chinatown and throughout the West End, the festivities will take place from 10am to 6pm. Kicking off the celebration is Europe’s largest and most spectacular lion dance – perhaps the highlight of the whole parade.

From midday, Trafalgar Square will host a mixture of stage performances, from traditional dance and acrobatics, to opera and martial arts.

The grand finale takes place at 5.20pm, where you can see monkey dancers take to the stage as pyrotechnics light up Nelson’s Column.

London Fashion Week - 19 - 23 Feb

Fashion fever hits once again as London Fashion Week arrives in true style, showcasing the finest collections from the AW16 season.

With the best of national and international fashion talent, LFW is the perfect opportunity for designers to present their work to press, industry buyers, and bloggers.

With exhibitions, presentations and runway shows, there’s plenty to get involved with over the course of the five days. LFW no longer takes place at Somerset House – last year, it made the move to an edgier location: Brewer Street car park, in the heart of Soho.

Tickets and packages range from £20 to £200. You can browse the available options on the London Fashion Week website. 

The Maids - from 20 Feb

Jean Genet’s The Maids finally returns to the West End after a 20-year break, and it’s set to be even more exciting than it was in the 90s.

The Jamie Lloyd Company’s first production of the year is set in a large, luxurious bedroom, where two maids fantasise about bringing their employer’s life to a brutal end, acting out dangerous scenarios as they plot her violent demise.

Bringing this contemporary adaptation to life are Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black), Zawe Ashton (Fresh Meat) and Laura Carmichael (Downton Abbey).

The Maids is showing in Trafalgar Studios until May. Tickets start from £15 (Monday performances only).