Every January we go through the same experience: we open up our bank account and as if by magic our funds have all but disappeared. All that partying, gift-giving, and general generosity and social activity throughout December always leave an impressive dent in our funds. As such, we resolve to give up the booze (as much for financial reasons as health reasons!) and to be a little more careful with our spending. Thankfully, many London restaurants and venues know that we’re all feeling the pinch, and are here to help with freebies and discounts. We’ve rounded up a few of the best January deals to be found in London to help you save some cash in 2024.
The greatest discount of all is the one that cuts the price down to nothing, right? Who doesn’t love free stuff after all? Here are some of the freebies that you can get your hands on this January.
1. Free doughnuts
London’s most viral doughnut vendor, Bread Ahead, is giving away free doughnuts to Londoners to brighten everyone’s day on Blue Monday. Head to their Wembley location on January 15, where they’re giving away the first 100 doughnuts – completely for free. (And, yes, this does include their mouthwatering Crème Brûlée doughnuts.)
2. Free pizza
Between January 15-31, Franco Manca is giving away a free pizza to anyone called Franco or Franca. The giveaway is running at all of their pizzerias nationwide – just be sure to remember your ID to prove your name! Find out more here.
3. Free cupcakes
Another Blue Monday giveaway; Lola’s Cupcakes is giving away free mini cupcakes at all of their stores on January 15. All you have to do is head to any Lola’s store or kiosk to nab a complimentary mini cupcake – with no purchase necessary! Find your nearest Lola’s Cupcakes location here.
4. Free drinks
This one is so fetch! SOUND Cafe at The Cumberland Hotel is celebrating the release of the new Mean Girls movie with a complimentary cocktail for Mean Girls fans. If you turn up to your Wednesday booking wearing pink and say to your server “on Wednesdays we wear pink”, you’ll net yourself a pink-themed complimentary cocktail, Go Glen Coco-nuts! or mocktail, You Can Sip With Us. Make your Wednesday booking here.
5. Free climbing sessions
Beavertown Brewery has partnered up with charity partner Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) to host a series of free beginner-friendly climbing events at climbing centres in and around London. A variety of sessions are available throughout the week, and at various times, where you can clamber up some climbing walls and meet new friends. See the full list of events, and sign up for a session, here.
6. Free frights
As if the sight of your empty bank account isn’t scary enough, the London Dungeon is offering free entry to the first 20 arrivals who quote “Black Monday” to admissions staff on arrival. Maybe after a walk through the Victorian-era horrors displayed at the London Dungeon you’ll feel a bit better about your own plight?
7. Birthday gifts at The Yards
The Yards in Covent Garden is going all out this month with freebies galore for those born in January. The area’s shops and venues are giving away a whole host of freebies. Just make sure you bring proof of your January birthday!
🥙 if your birthday is in January, be sure to make a reservation for the Covent Garden branch of Le Bab this month – they’ll treat you to a free kebab!
🔥 Chowing down on some delicious barbecue dishes at temper this month? If your birthday is in January they’ll treat you to a complimentary Momma’s Margarita!
💅 The luxury nail salon, Townhouse, is giving out a complimentary 30ml tube of their Townhouse Cream #1 for those booked in for a treatment.
🍹 The Conduit’s Rooftop Restaurant is serving up a complimentary Royal Flush mocktail for those enjoying a Friday dinner, or Saturday lunch or dinner.
🥐 Head to the recently-opened Italian restaurant and bakery, Luci, to enjoy a freshly brewed coffee and a pastry – free of charge!
🍨 Dining at Gura Gura this month, and also celebrating your birthday this month? You’ll be treated to a free dessert!
Deals and discounts
Sure, a giveaway is great – but sometimes netting a hefty discount can feel just as good! Here are some of the best January deals and discounts we’ve scouted out from around London.
8. Explore another world
If your lack of finances has got you down, why not simply jet off to a whole other world? Avora is ready and waiting with its unique immersive cocktail and exploration experience – with a pretty discount to be gotten this weekend. Head to the event page between January 12 at 9:30pm, and January 15 at 10pm and you’ll cut the cost of the experience by 15%!
9. Neck some negronis
All through January, the cult Hackney Wick NY-style pizza vendor Slice Club are keeping spirits high with their spirited January deal. Every single day of January will see the pizzeria slashing the price of its negroni, limoncello negroni, and negroni sbagliatio to just a fiver! Head on over, enjoy some slices and join the Negroni Club.
10. Have a wine date
Humble Grape has clearly heard our wine-ing because they’ve got a delicious deal for Londoners this January. Throughout the month, across all of their London wine bars, duos of diners can enjoy three sharing plates and a flight of four wines each, for just £30 per person. To take advantage of the offer simply book online and quote “Humble January” in your booking notes. Find your nearest Humble Grape location here.
11. Try a unique cut of meat
Vivat Bacchus knows that our wallets are particularly lean in the early months of the year, so just for January, they’re offering a unique deal. Diners can enjoy an Ostrich Fillet Steak, paired with a glass of rich Pinotage for just £30. (Psst… the ostrich fillet is usually £29 on the a la carte menu! So your wine is basically free!) Take advantage of the deal by booking your table and quoting “£30 January Offer” in the booking notes.
12. Head to the Wild West
Leave your money worries behind and enter into the lawless world of the Moonshine Saloon thanks to this weekend’s sale. If you purchase your ticket between January 12 at 9:30pm, and January 15 at 10pm, you’ll slash the cost of your ticket by 15%. Head here to secure your cut-throat cut-price ticket.
13. Wolf down some pasta
Both TOZI’s Victoria location and Battersea Power Station locations have great-value set menus on offer. At TOZI Restaurant & Bar in Victoria guests can enjoy a set lunch, with two courses PLUS bread PLUS a coffee for just £22.95. Meanwhile, the Battersea Power Station restaurant is serving up a three-course Taste of TOZI menu for just £28.50. Find out more and make a booking here.
14. Share some cocktails
Head to the Bocconcino Lounge Bar this month with some pals to make the most of their 2-4-1 Happy Hour between 4pm-7pm, Monday to Friday, and all day on Sundays. With cocktails that include the likes of focaccia-infused tequila, prosciutto-infused whiskey, and herb-infused gin, you’ll want to take advantage of the deal to try as many drinks as you can! Find out more about Bocconcino here.
15. Dig into some barbecue
Until the end of January, temper is treating diners to a special sharing Greatest Hits menu. Two portions of tacos, a massive hunk of steak with a variety of sides and sauces, and a deep-dish cookie and ice cream will run you and your dining partner just £45 – total! That’s only £22.50 each for a proper feast… The menu is available at temper Paddington, Shoreditch, Soho and Covent Garden from 12-6pm, Monday to Friday. Book in for the special meal here.
16. Recharge with a coffee
Caravan Coffee and fine-fast-food vendors Yolk are celebrating the launch of their new collaborative coffee blend with 50% off all coffee from all 5 Yolk stores from January 15 – 21. Find your nearest Yolk location here.
17. Slurp up some noodles
Marugame Udon is launching a cut-price noodle offering on January 15, which will then run every third Monday of the month. Kake Monday allows nood-lovers to enjoy half-price Kake, with bowls starting at just £2.50! Find your nearest Marugame Udon location here, and rush down on January 15 to enjoy a cut-price meal.
18. Enjoy some empanadas
Head on over to De Nadas for your next January deal, where you can fill your tum to bursting with their lunch box offer. Comprising three empanadas and a fresh salad for under a tenner, it’s a steal of a lunchtime deal! And with fifteen flavours to choose from, you can enjoy the deal over and over again without getting bored. Find out more about their offerings here.
19. Pile the pancakes high
The Breakfast Club are celebrating the opening of their third Soho location with a soft launch discount. While it officially opens on January 20, you can head down on January 19 to try out the new location and receive a 50% discount on all food and drink. You can find the new location at 18 Old Compton Street, W1D 4TN.
20. Slurp down some drinks
BOXPARK aren’t content with just one January deal – and they know you wouldn’t be either! Throughout January they’re offering up a limited edition 2-4-1 happy hour drinks menu of cocktails for Saints and Sinners, with full and non-alcoholic versions of each drink available. During the Happy Hour (Monday to Friday, from 5-8pm), the 2-4-1 offer also applies to the venue’s selection of beers, wines, and spirits.
But you can also net a whopping 50% off your entire drinks order, even outside of Happy Hour, by booking a table at any BOXPARK venue in January. Simply secure your table with a £10pp deposit, and you’ll get a hefty discount at the end of your night! Find out more about the BOXPARK January deals here.
21. Nosh on some Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine
If you’re heading to Bamboo Mat for a meal between January 15-31, you can enjoy a main for just £1! To take advantage of the £1 dish deal, diners must have spent a minimum of £20pp. (But that won’t be difficult given the venue’s huge range of side dishes, sushi, and more. Find your nearest location here.
For even more cut-price suggestions, check out our round-up of The Best Cheap Things To Do In London For Under 20 Quid. There’s everything from ramen to river cruises, steak, margaritas, theatre shows, and more!
