As well as being a fantastic year for sport, 2012 was a great year for art exhibitions in London. We’ve enjoyed blockbuster shows such as David Hockney at the Royal Academy of Arts, Damien Hirst at Tate Modern and Lucian Freud at the National Portrait Gallery.

Here are five exhibitions to look out – and book ahead – for in 2013.

Manet: Portraying Life, Royal Academy of Arts: The Royal Academy hosts the first-ever UK exhibition devoted to Edouard Manet’s portraiture. 26 Jan-14 Apr

Lichtenstein: A Retrospective, Tate Modern: See 125 of the best paintings and sculptures by Roy Lichtenstein, known for his bright, comic strip-style works. 21 Feb-27 May

Life and Death in Pompeii and Herculaneum, British Museum: Major display of objects excavated from two Roman cities buried by a catastrophic eruption in AD 79. 28 Mar-29 Sep

Lowry and the Painting of Modern Life, Tate Britain: This exhibition of Lowry landscapes is the first big London show devoted to the artist since his death in 1976. 26 Jun-20 Oct

Paul Klee, Tate Modern: Tate Modern charts Paul Klee’s complex, colourful drawings and paintings alongside the events that happened during his lifetime. 15 Oct-9 Mar

Which London art exhibitions are you looking forward to in 2013? Let us know in the comments below.

With Christmas and New Year’s Eve both mid-week, there are fewer unique events than usual on in London this weekend. However, with the opening of the January sales, spectacular new theatrical productions such as Fuerzabruta and the usual wide range of attractions, it’s still very hard to get bored!

January Sales

Although they’re traditionally called the January sales, most shops actually start discounting their goods very shortly after Christmas. This weekend there are fantastic bargains to be had at famous department stores such as Harrods, Selfridges and Fortnum and Mason, although be warned that, for the most sought-after items, it’s very much a case of ‘the early bird catches the worm’! Take a look at our January Sales 2013 guide for tips and sale dates.

Ice Rinks

Head to London’s many ice rinks for a frosty seasonal treat that the whole family will enjoy. The city’s largest ice rink is at Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, which also contains rides, shows, seasonal refreshments and the enchanting Magical Ice Kingdom. Elsewhere, lots of ice rinks are conveniently located within other great attractions – why not combine skating with shopping at Westfield London, a trip on the London Eye or a visit to the Natural History Museum?

Museums and Galleries

Most of London’s fantastic museums and galleries are open this weekend, giving you the chance to catch up on some of the great exhibitions that have opened in recent months. You could see stunning works by Pre-Raphaelite painters at Tate Britain (£14), see Mario Testino’s photographs of the Royal Family at the National Portrait Gallery (free), or browse fascinating exhibitions on medicine and death at the Wellcome Collection (free). The Tower of London is also running special Charles Dickens-themed events this weekend, check this flyer for full details.

Theatre & Pantomimes

As ever, London is full of great theatrical productions. Why not celebrate Girl Power at the Spice Girls musical Viva Forever, see the hotly anticipated return of mind-blowing Argentinian show Fuerzabruta, or super-size your theatrical experience at Walking with Dinosaurs at The O2? If you’re in the mood for something more frivolous, you can indulge your silly side at a traditional pantomime in London: find out more about these hilarious, celebrity-filled shows on our dedicated panto page.

Walks 

If you’ve over-indulged at Christmas, a guided walk around London is a great way to burn off some of the calories – not to mention learn something new about our great city! London Walks have a fantastic range of sightseeing tours on everything from The Beatles to Jack the Ripper, and you can view the full schedule by visiting the London Walks website.

London throws up some dilemmas for the eager event-goer this weekend. Should you check out the contenders for the biggest prize in modern art, or delve through the Transport Museum’s rarely-seen depot collection? There’s also cut-price gastronomy and the chance to see a British music icon reborn as a hologram on stage. You might find it hard to choose.

London Transport Museum Depot Open Weekend

The London Transport Museum’s depot in Acton holds more than 400,000 objects that are not on display in the main museum – from historical cars, trains and buses to posters, signs and engineering drawings. This family-friendly open weekend lets you explore the collection and dabble in activities like craft workshops, miniature railway rides and storytelling with children’s book character Toby the Taxi. 6-7 Oct

Turner Prize 2012 at Tate Britain

The four short-listed artworks for this year’s Turner Prize are being hailed as some of the most though-provoking in the award’s 28-year history. Film is the medium of choice for two of the finalists: Luke Fowler blends archive footage and new film to explore the life and work of Scottish psychiatrist RD Laing, while Elizabeth Price’s video installations dissect our relationship with consumer culture. Perhaps the most fascinating pieces are Paul Noble’s detailed drawings of an entire fictional city called Nobson Newtown. The exhibition is at Tate Britain and the winner will be announced in December. Until 6 Jan

Best of Britannia at The Farmiloe Building

You’ll spot Made in Britain labels all over the place at the Best of Britannia show, a new celebration of British-made and British-designed products at The Farmiloe Building in Clerkenwell. The eclectic lineup of talks features a Cumbrian shepherdess and the folks behind men’s health charity Movember, and each evening hosts live music including an appearance from a hologram of an iconic British superstar who has yet to be revealed. 5-7 Oct

London Restaurant Festival

Snap up some grub from Michelin Star restaurants like Trishna at seriously reduced prices at the London Restaurant Festival. Over 800 resturants have laid on two and three-course menus from £10 for this celebration of the capital’s gastronomy. At the other end of the price scale, if you can stump up £145 , the Gourmet Odyssey event takes you on a tour of top establishments on an old-fashioned red routemaster bus, tasting one course at each venue. Until 15 Oct

What events will you be at this weekend? Post below and let us know.

If you’ve been planning to visit this summer’s must-see exhibitions such as Damien Hirst at Tate Modern or Yoko Ono at the Serpentine Gallery, be quick! It’s changeover time at London museums and galleries and the following shows are all set to close this month:

Closing this weekend

• Damien Hirst at Tate Modern
• Yoko Ono at Serpentine Gallery
• Royal River at National Maritime Museum
• London 2012 Medals at the British Museum

Closing later in September

• Stadia at Sir John Soane’s Museum
• BP Portrait Award at National Portrait Gallery
• Metamorphosis: Titian 2012 at the National Gallery
• Road to 2012: Aiming High at the National Portrait Gallery
• London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Posters at Tate Britain
• Heatherwick Studio at the V&A

But don’t worry there are plenty of exciting new exhibitions coming up this autumn, including Pre-Raphaelites at Tate Britain and Hollywood Costume at the V&A. Keep an eye on our Arts page for all the latest information.

The Olympic Games aren’t just about victory at the finish line – creativity and design have played a part in making the ultimate sporting event in the world happen. Make sure you celebrate the artists and engineers involved as well as the athletes by visiting one of these top Olympic exhibitions this summer. They’re all free.

Design Stories and After the Party at RIBA
The Royal Institute of British Architects is putting on two Olympic exhibitions to toast the architecture behind the Games. Design Stories: The Architecture Behind 2012 explores the ideas and complex engineering behind the brand new Olympic venues like the Aquatics Centre. It compiles drawings, images, videos and detailed models. The second exhibition, After the Party: The Legacy of Celebration, compares the UK’s Olympic buildings to efforts for previous Olympic Games and celebrations and asks what happens to monuments celebrating events after all the hoopla has passed. 
Design Stories: 25 Jun-21 Sep
After The Party: 25 Jun-5 Oct

Road to 2012 at the National Portrait Gallery
None of the glory on the track and court would be possible without all the work behind the scenes of the Olympic Games. This free series of photographs at the National Portrait Gallery features not only the athletes but people who have put the event together, such as apprentices from the Olympic Park and the team that led the bid for London to hold the Games. It’s the final part of  the BT Road to 2012 project which has commissioned leading photographers to document the build up to the event. Katherine Green’s images of sports communities in London’s East End sit alongside the display. 
19 Jul-23 Sep

The Olympic Journey at the Royal Opera House
For two weeks only, an impressive collection of Olympic artefacts will set up camp at the Royal Opera House for The Olympic Journey: The Story of the Games. The exhibition traces the evolution of the Olympic Games from the ancient Greek games 3,000 years ago. The highlight has to be seeing every single summer Olympic medal since 1896 and every summer Olympic torch since 1936. 
28 Jul-12 Aug

London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Posters at Tate Britain
The posters for the Olympic Games have always reflected the art – and the mood – of the city that hosts them. Artists like Tracey Emin and Chris Ofili are among the 12 to put their mark on the official posters for London 2012. Screen prints and lithographs of their creations will be among those on show at Tate Britain as part of the London 2012 Festival.
21 Jun-23 Sep

Olympics Through the Ages at Westfield Stratford City
Award-winning photography will showcase iconic sporting moments at this exhibition in the Getty Images Gallery. Taking place within walking distance from the Olympic Park, it looks at the Olympic Games through a camera lens – from the first modern event in Athens in 1896 through to Beijing in 2008. 
27 Jun-30 Sep

What will be the most iconic image from the London 2012 Olympic Games? Comment below and let us know.

This year we enjoyed blockbuster exhibitions including Miró at Tate Modern, Leonardo da Vinci at the National Gallery and Degas at the Royal Academy.

So which will be the most talked-about shows in 2012? Here are five to look out for:

• Lucian Freud Portraits, National Portrait Gallery: More than 100 works by the artist who died in July 2011, including his portrait of Benefits Supervisor Sue Tilley. 9 Feb-27 May
• Damien Hirst, Tate Modern: The first substantial survey of Hirst’s work in the UK, featuring his famous Pharmacy installation and shark in formaldehyde. 5 Apr-9 Sep
• Picasso and Modern British Art, Tate Britain: Major exhibition bringing together Picasso’s work and that of admirers such as Henry Moore and David Hockney. 15 Feb-15 Jul
• David Hockney RA: A Bigger Picture, Royal Academy of Arts: Exhibition spanning 50 years and showcasing brand new landscapes, iPad drawings and films. 21 Jan-9 Apr
• Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton: A Diamond Jubilee Celebration, Victoria and Albert Museum. One of several major exhibitions celebrating the Diamond Jubilee. 8 Feb-22 Apr

Which exhibitions are you looking forward to in 2012? Let us know in the comments below.

Some of Britain’s top artists, including Tracey Emin and Bridget Riley, have produced posters for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The posters will be displayed in a free exhibition at Tate Britain next summer. If you don’t want to wait until then, you can buy your own copies for £7 each from today.

Find out how to get your hands on a London 2012 poster or limited edition print at www.london2012.com/shop  

Here’s a fantastic film from Tate, showing one family’s adventure as they start the day at Tate Britain, then take a trip down the Thames to enjoy all there is to see and do at Tate Modern.

Tate even have a website dedicated to kids: kids.tate.org.uk

To find out more fabulous family-friendly things to do in London this summer, check out our family section

If you’ve been meaning to see Gauguin at Tate Modern or Diaghilev at the V&A, now’s your last chance. Many high-profile London exhibitions are closing over the next fortnight to make way for exciting new shows.

These exhibitions are all in their final days - catch them while you can!

Closing 9 January 2011:

• Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes at the V&A
• Dior Illustrated: René Gruau and the Line of Beauty at Somerset House
• Move: Choreographing You at the Hayward Gallery

Closing 16 January 2011:

• Gauguin: Maker of Myth at Tate Modern
• Eadweard Muybridge at Tate Britain
• Venice: Canaletto and His Rivals at the National Gallery
• Damián Ortega: The Independent at the Barbican
• Rachel Whiteread: Drawings at Tate Britain

Tate Britain’s new exhibition of 19th Century photographs by Eadweard Muybridge left me thinking not just about the power of his images (which laid the foundations for cinema) but also about Muybridge’s strange personality.

Among prints of the American wilderness, stunning panoramas of early San Francisco, and pioneering stop-frame photos of animals and people in motion, there are portraits of Muybridge staring out with a severe expression from behind his wiry facial hair, and slumped moodily against a giant redwood tree.

It must have taken an obsessive personality to venture out into the wilderness and set up darkrooms in caves and mountain tops (he had to process the photos immediately after taking them in those days). Muybridge was also a canny self-promoter, changing his name various times. The spelling “Eadweard” was inspired by a Saxon King.

But halfway through the exhibition a shocking fact about his identity comes to light: he was a murderer. In 1874, on discovering that his son was not in fact his own, he killed his wife’s lover, Harry Larkyns. The following year he was tried but acquitted on the basis that the killing was “justifiable”.

If he had been jailed for the crime, none of his most amazing, groundbreaking works would be sitting in the Tate today, but you can’t help but get a sinister feeling when you look into his eyes.

Eadweard Muybridge at Tate Britain until 16th January 2011. Entry £10, concessions £8.50