What's on in London - the capital's best New Year's Day events

National Trust rambles | Surrey

The National Trust celebrates Britain’s great outdoors with guided rambling tours, starting from the stately Polesden Lacey and through some of the southeast’s most beautiful countryside. For this NYD wander, your ranger guide will explain the area’s history and is an expert on the wildlife you’ll encounter. There’s more than 1400 acres to explore and ample vantage points with some fantastic views. It’s a surefire way to blow away the cobwebs from the night before and see rolling hills in all their glory. 

Jan 1, 11am-1pm
Polesden Lacey, RH5 6BD
Tube | Dorking
nationaltrust.org.uk
 

Fuse new year’s day rave | East End 

 The Fuse crew get 2013 underway in fine style with this lunchtime-starter rave to make sure the label has an even bigger 2013 than 2012. Onur Ozer, Julian Perez, Enzo Siragusa, Seb Zito and Rich NxT are lining up, meaning there’s no chance of any let-up from the night before. And with a host of clubs going on this evening, too, the hardcore can take it on through to January 2.

Jan 1, 12pm-11pm
93 Feet East, Old Truman Brewery, E1 6RU 
Tube | Aldgate East
93feeteast.co.uk
 

World Darts Championship final | Alexandra Palace

 Play began on December 14 with it all coming down to this grand final on New Year’s Day. Two of the world’s ‘biggest’ darts players will step up to the oche to compete for the £200,000 prize money. You can drink as much beer as you want, shout out for your favourite and generally get rowdy. In fact, to not do so would be out of place at a darts match, so bring the noise.

Jan 1, 7pm
Alexandra Palace, N22 7AY
Tube | Wood Green 
alexandrapalace.com
 

New Year’s Day Gala | Barbican

Opt for the classic sound this numero uno day rather than sweaty club vibes with a gala from London Concert Orchestra with the hits you know: Rule, Britannia, Jerusalem and William Tell among them. 

Jan 1, 2.30pm 
Barbican Centre, EC2Y 8DS
Tube | Barbican 
barbican.org.uk
 

Horniman museum | South London

This little-known museum is a deadset treasure. In more than 16 acres of landscaped gardens, it is a beautiful setting for its natural and social history gallery, and state-of-the-art aquarium (it’s the last week of the Body Adorned exhibition, too). Plus, it has ace views over London. 

10.30am-5.30pm
100 London Road, SE23 3PQ
Tube | Forest Hill 
horniman.ac.uk
 

Ice skating | across London

It has become a solid fixture of the winter calendar, as Christmassy in the capital as carols and mulled wine. No festive season would be complete without striding out on to the ice at one of the many, many rinks that appear in the city come November, then wobbling around in a couple of ill-balanced circuits before crashing on to your arse in front of everyone. Bruises and hurt pride aside, it’s top fun, and worth taking advantage of over the festive period. Our favourites are Somerset House, underneath the London Eye at Eyeskate and by the historic Tower of London.

Various times
South Wing, Strand, WC2R; South Bank, SE1 7PB; Tower Hill, EC3N 4AB. 
Tubes| Charing Cross, Waterloo, Tower Hill 
somersethouse.org.uk
londoneye.com
toweroflondonicerink.com
 

Light show | South Bank

This new exhibition is guaranteed to brighten up gloomy January as it focuses on light as a medium with a variety of installations, environments and tricks of the eye.

Jan 30-Apr 20,
Hayward Gallery SE1 8XX 
Tube | Waterloo 
southbankcentre.co.uk
 

London Mime Festival | across London

Britain’s premier aerial theatre group, Ockham’s Razor, open 2013’s festival of art-circus, illusion, animatronics and puppetry and dark clown theatre. Cutting edge and without words (see Circle of Eleven, above left), this highly entertaining fest shows you don’t have to shout loudest to be the best or the most inventive.

Jan 10-27, various venues
mimelondon.com