Self-catering cottage holidays recommended for January

Suggested events to see in January

January can be a dreadfully grey and gloomy month. The best thing to do is to get out and about and visit somewhere new. There are numerous special offers and deals to take advantage of. Accommodation is much cheaper plus you may find special offers on entry to tourist attractions and on rail travel. Do a google search for current deals in London and the south east.

London and any city break is wonderful for brightening up wintry months. Visit theatres, indoor attractions and just have a great time at a much lower price than usual.

January sales in London

The sales are generally on in January which are always a great excuse to go shopping. Take a short break and visit somewhere different to shop. For example, if you stay at any place in Essex or Kent, you will be close enough for day trips to London to go shopping or visit the museums, art galleries and theatres. Travel into London by rail in January and get discounted rail travel. Visitors to Essex also have sprawling shopping centres like Lakeside and Bluewater for shopping expeditions.

One nice things about London is that so much is free - including museums, art galleries, sightseeing, the royal parks, plus a programme of events and festivals for tourists from around the world.

Ice skating in London in January

Temporary ice rinks allow you to ice skate in some spectacular London locations, these include:

• Broadgate Arena, EC2 (Behind Liverpool St. Station), until 1 April. Combine this with a trip to Spitalfields Market, or the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.

• Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf, E14, until 26th February. Canary Wharf is an impressive part of London to see with its towering sjyscrapers. View the Millenium Dome, walk the Thames Path for great views of the Thames.

• Cardinal Place, Victoria SW1 until 19 February

• Hampstead Heath, Parliament Hill Fields NW5 until 15 January. Take a walk on the heath, visit the interesting old English pubs, up-market shops and salubrious areas where the wealthy live.

• Hampton Court Palace, KT8, until 15th January. Hampton Court Palace is a 'must see' at any time of year. The kitchens are very memorable.

• Kew Gardens, TW9, until 15th January. The Palm House and other glasshouses are beautifully warm in January. Enjoy different climates and flowers in the middle of January.

• Natural History Museum, SW7, until 22nd January. Whilst you're in museumland - visit the museums - the dinosaur exhibition is free and will terrify the children.

• Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, SE10, until 15 January. Take a reduced price trip on the Thames, explore the museum at Greenwich, Cutty Sark, Thames Barrier is also close by.

• Somerset House, WC2, until 29 January. Somerset House now contains the Cortauld Institute and various art galleries (entry fee). There is a cafe. Places to see within walking distance are Horseguards Parade for the changing of the guard, Trafalgar Square, the Embankment, Houses of Parliament (tours are sometimes possible by arrangement).

Ice skating at Somerset House in London	Take a tour of the Houses of Parliament

In search of snow in January

If you're a skier then you may consider travelling north to Scotland in search of snow. Anywhere in Grampian or Highlands would be convenient for travelling to the ski slopes for day trips.

Other places to consider if you would just like to walk through snow, or take children to enjoy toboganning and snowmen, are Northumbria, Cumbria and Wales.

The photograph on the left shows snowy views of Cumbria or the Lake District.

Chinese New Year in London

Celebrate Chinese New Year at the end of January. Chinese restaurants all around the uk offer traditional Chinese banquets. London's China Town with its restaurant lined streets and shops is an exciting place to visit at New Year, with special celebrations, Chinese lantern displays, Chinese dragons and facinating cultural performances.

Useful links for January

• Suggested events to see in January
• self-catering in London - good value places to stay
• self-catering cottages in Scotland