Winter is coming, and while it’s often referred to as ‘the most wonderful time of the year,’ it’s also a period which many of us find difficult with the shorter days, earlier evenings and seasonal affective disorder out in full force. While you may be stocking up on vitamin D supplements, browsing for a sun lamp, and strategising on how to maximise on the very little sun we’ll be afforded this season, why not also pop some fun activities into your calendar to give you something to look forward to during these dark days?

There are plenty of uplifting pastimes you can get up to with the girlies – or even solo – this season. Aside from the classic Winter Wonderland or a spin on the ice rink, there’s no shortage of other options: presentation nights, religious circles, and book clubs to name a few – something for every mood, personality, and tax bracket! Coming across TikToks lately of people talking about how long they saved up to visit London, my home city, reminded me of all the wonderful things the capital has to offer. 

Appreciate Your Environment

A creative way to take in the city’s beauty, photo walks are an easy, low-effort way to hang with friends, meet new people, and flex that creative muscle. Plenty of creatives organise photo walks, but you can arrange one with your friends, or even go out on your own! You don’t need any special gear (your phone camera will do) nor do you need to meticulously plan a route – just go where your legs take you. If you want to add some novelty, pick a theme for your walk: on grey days look for the colour yellow; look for contrasts like the old and the new, the soft and the harsh, the nature and the man-made. Check out groups like the Royal Photographic Society who hold regular street photography or photo walk sessions. 

London is one of the most varied, diverse and inspiring cities in the world. Every day we pass by striking scenes – incredible architecture, snapshots of bygone eras, the marks that different communities have left on the capital and idyllic landscapes that people yearn their whole lives to see in person. Yet, often we’re so consumed by our daily lives – and let’s face it, our phones – that we just go through the motions, not taking a moment to look up. London is a city that demands appreciation and taking a moment to view your everyday surroundings through a camera lens could help all of us realise what a gift it is to get to live here. 

Feed Your Soul 

Many religious institutions across the UK have a long way to go in accommodating women, but we’re privileged in London to have options in where to seek spiritual nourishment. Beyond structured and paid courses, there are a number of free or affordable opportunities all over the city to connect with our faith in the company of friends old and new. 

Ta Collective, formerly My Mosque Story, was born out of the desire to help Muslim women find a deeper connection to Allah. They host a vast range of activities, courses and events led by female scholars – all exclusively for women – with discounts offered to those who may be struggling financially. As well as their rich and encompassing programme, they share indispensable knowledge through creatively crafted infographics and engaging videos online.

Aptly named, Faith Space’s tagline is ‘come as you are, to faith as it is.’ A small team has been running free sessions for several years, with series like the ‘99 Names of Allah’ and ‘The Companions.’ They recently started a monthly reading of Ibn Al Qayyim’s ‘The Disease and the Cure,’ alongside an open Q&A session – an invaluable offering for women given that many of us lack access to scholars. They host a range of paid online programmes and one-off, in-person seminars including regular Fiqh of Marriage courses and deep dives into specific chapters of the Qur’an. The team tries their best to make all courses as accessible as possible, offering discounts to regular attendees, donors and anyone struggling financially. If this sounds like it’s for you, they have a free talk on Prophetic Productivity coming up this Saturday, 29th of November. 

If you’re looking to connect specifically with the words of Allah, Tadabbur Club is a community that stemmed from nightly Qur’an reflections at Ramadan Space, focusing on one juz’ each day. They host a session each month exploring sections of the Qur’an through a particular lens, for example, delving into Surah Yasin with a focus on love and renewal, or Surah Yusuf through the lens of having blind trust in God. 

Al Madina mosque in Barking is a space that comes alive with collective remembrance every Thursday night. Warm smiles greet regular and new attendees alike, as chai and sweet treats are passed around to the sound of the remembrance of Allah. The mosque boasts a buzzing programme for males and females of all ages, including the opportunity to explore Surah Mulk on Wednesday evenings starting from the 3rd of December. 

Meanwhile, tucked away in Harlesden behind an unassuming shopfront is Rumi’s Kitchen – the permanent home of the spiritual and creative space, Rumi’s Cave. Like Al Madina in Barking, the Cave hosts weekly dhikr sessions in three different styles, along with regular monthly gatherings: talks and Q&As, open mic nights, forums for converts (or anyone wanting to revisit the fundamentals) plus a range of one-off events. The Kitchen itself is a cozy Malaysian-run restaurant, where diners can even choose to pay a meal forward, promoting the Prophetic tradition of feeding others. 

Lewisham Islamic Centre, Imam Jazari Institute and East London Mosque also open their doors for regular events, both free and paid. Whether you’re looking for longer courses covering a specific topic or one-off talks to teach you something new or revive your faith, you’ll find something for you behind their welcoming doors.

While there are a plethora of choices, experiencing the joy of collective worship and reflection doesn’t need to start and end with organised events – or Ramadan! You can start your own Qur’an club or reflection circle (a halaqa) with friends and family, meeting regularly to explore passages or to gently unpack Islamic concepts and shared experiences in a familiar setting. 

Get Inspired

One of London’s greatest strengths is its broad, largely free access to arts and culture. The city is home to an extraordinary range of museums and galleries, including major institutions such as the British Museum – complete with all its controversially acquired treasures – the V&A and the newly opened V&A East, developed in collaboration with local young people and shaped by east London’s creative heritage. The two iconic Tates also stand at the heart of London’s cultural landscape.

Beyond the headline names, the city offers numerous lesser-known gems: the William Morris Gallery, Autograph, the Wellcome Collection and the Museum of the Home, to name just a few. Auction houses like Christie’s also double as public galleries before works go under the hammer and their upcoming programmes are always worth a look.

While temporary displays and special exhibitions sometimes require paid tickets, the permanent collections across these institutions remain free to explore, making London’s cultural life remarkably accessible.

One of the slightly frustrating things about galleries and museums is the common 5 pm closing time on weekdays, making it impossible to visit if you work the average office job. The answer to this is ‘lates.’ The V&A South Kensington and Tate Modern host a ‘Friday Lates’ on the last Friday of every month where they stay open until 10 pm, featuring a special programme alongside some open galleries. You can head down on Friday, 28th of November, for ‘Radical Kinship’ at the V&A, where you can explore and celebrate disabled creativity through music, performances, talks and workshops. Meanwhile, the Tate Modern’s ‘Gathering Ground,’ will highlight the connection between environmental and social justice through short films, DJ sets, and art installations.

Embrace the Magic

Continuing on the theme of appreciating London’s beauty, one of the things that makes this season so special is the sheer abundance of glittering, twinkling lights adorning streets, shop displays and home windows. 

While the summer brings its own joys – where the warm air and abundant sunshine make everything feel full of hope – winter in London has its own fleeting magic, especially before the lights come down in the middle of January. 

Going for a Christmas lights walk with the girls is an easy, inexpensive way to catch up while appreciating arguably the best space of all: the outside. 

Regent’s Street and St James’s sparkling angels are the obvious favourites, while Carnaby street always dazzles with a unique display. Grab the famous triple hot chocolate from Italian Bear for a sweet treat and gaze up at Covent Garden’s gigantic golden bells, soaking in the sound of street performers singing their hearts out to delighted tourists. 

If you’re looking for a lesser known spot, Chelsea’s lights don’t get enough attention in my opinion. Start at Sloane Square and wander down King’s Road for soft, elegant displays, picking up a uniquely spiced hot chocolate at Knoops as you stroll. Then cross the river using Albert Bridge, arguably the city’s most fairy-tale-like crossing, and take in the cold, festive air as the Thames sparkles beneath you. 

Upper Street also delivers whimsy away from the busy crowds. Start at Angel station and slowly make your way north, taking in the soft twinkles from the festive shop windows. Pop into After Noah, a charming toy shop tucked into Upper Street with vintage finds and nostalgic treasures. Just outside Islington Town Hall, the trees are strung with glimmering lights that add a quiet charm to the stroll. As you continue, pause to admire the glow spilling from the grand homes around Highbury Fields, where beautifully lit windows in multi-million pound houses add an enchanting touch to the walk.

For something a little different, head to Kew Gardens for their seasonal lights trail, featuring glowing installations, illuminated pathways, and immersive light sculptures. Don’t dilly-dally if you don’t want to be disappointed, tickets sell fast!

Of course, twinkling lights are only part of the festive magic. London’s Christmas markets are the perfect way to soak up the season’s atmosphere. From Southbank’s riverside stalls and the charming cabins at Trafalgar Square, Greenwich’s quaint offering to the artisanal stalls at King’s Cross – there’s a market to suit every mood! Wander past rows of handmade crafts, festive decorations, and warming street food while lapping up the cheerful buzz of nostalgic tunes and the palpable excitement of tourists. 

Expand your Mind 

The end of the year is often about winding down, but whilst work and studies might be reaching a welcome plateau, why not use this as an opportunity to expand your intellect and turn your mind to something new? 

If you’re not one for braving the elements, then some wholesome community events (based indoors!) could be just what you’re looking for to occupy you this season. Spaces like Hulm Club and Root/25 are boasting a broad programme of events this winter, from Tatreez workshops to book launches – and of course, Amaliah’s very own book club which next meets on Tuesday 16th of December to discuss this month’s pick, The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan. 

Seek out Cosy Corners 

We were treated – or tormented, down to the climate crisis – to highs of 17 degrees a couple of weeks ago but it seems that the cold has truly set in. While there’s much beautiful nature to lap up in London’s surrounding greenery, it’s also the perfect time to put your hostess hat on, light some candles and get cosy with the girlies at home! 

From a zero-effort, post-work chill to intricately-planned parties, the opportunities are endless and the best part is, you can decide your own budget.

Here’s some inspiration for your next girls’ night in:

• Paint and Sip: Buy some mini canvases and paints at highstreet stores like Tiger, Argos or Hobby Craft and revive those art skills that might have last seen daylight back at secondary school, whilst sipping on your hot beverage of choice – whether that’s a warming herbal tea, a delicately-spiced chai, rich hot chocolate or even a non-alcoholic mulled wine.
• Presentation Night: You may have seen these all over TikTok and I can confirm they’re just as fun as they look. Each person presents on a topic of their choice – two of my personal favourites have been ‘rating places I’ve cried’ and ‘what I think happened to fictional couples.’
• Games Night: A much-loved classic – you can opt for traditional board and card games, focus on world-building fantastical games, or search on Instagram and TikTok for more creative party games – or mix it up with a new genre each week!
• Themed Nights: Pop a K-drama on and indulge in tteokbokki, bibimbap and bungeoppang.Get dressed up for a murder mystery and method act your character all night long. Elevate your Bollywood film experience with pani puri, pakoras and mishti. Dance the winter blues away with nostalgic bops at a y2k party. If you can’t choose, put them all in a jar and have a friend pick a theme at random each time you’re set to meet.
• Cook or Bake Together: Beyond the usual potluck-style gathering, why not get the girls together for a day of cooking or baking? My explore page is all autumnal and festive bakes right now and I couldn’t be happier! You can work on a labour-intensive dish together, like stuffed vine and cabbage leaves, or each make an item from a menu and enjoy a banquet together at the end. Using local ingredients that are at their peak this time of year is a great way to embrace the flavours of the season and be more environmentally-friendly too.

Lighten your Load 

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the loss of the casual hang and it’s a topic others have been dissecting too. Hanging out with friends can sometimes feel a little indulgent – or even irresponsible – especially when our to-do lists keep growing and the goals we set at the start of the year are still waiting to be ticked off (it’s almost that time again – want a little inspo? Check out what goals 25 Muslim women shared last year).

Instead of begrudgingly saying yes to plans when you feel you should really be prioritising something else  – or potentially missing out on wholesome, carefree opportunities altogether because of that niggling guilt in the back of your mind – why not find ways to blend responsibilities with friend time? You could go for a run, a bike ride, or a gym class together. How about co-working or job-hunting side by side? You could even tackle admin and errands as a pair, taking turns to keep each other company, combining tasks or FaceTiming while you get things done. That way, connection and productivity go hand in hand, and hanging out doesn’t have to come with guilt. Plus, some warm company during these cold days and dark nights can never be a bad thing.

‘Tis the Season for Finding Joy

At this time of year, we are bombarded with commercialised messages about buying and consuming more and it feels easier than ever to fall into the trap of thinking we need to spend money to feel joy. But it’s also worth keeping in mind that this is also a time of year in which families, friends and communities come together and the world slows down a little to make space for the things that matter. For those of us lucky enough to live in and around London, there’s a whole world of opportunity right on our doorstep and endless ways to fill these frosty days and nights with something wholesome – and best of all, it doesn’t need to cost us much at all.