With comedy, live music and more to help you keep cheerful on the gloomiest day of the year, London events such as stand up shows across the capital aim to put a smile on your face and a spring back in your step.

Winter blues
The nights are still dark and long, the weather's rubbish, there's ages still to go before payday and worse yet, there's still a whole week before the next weekend lie in; yes, Monday 17th January is expected by statisticians to be the gloomiest day of the year. London events at clubs, restaurants, bars and live music venues aim to help you beat the post Christmas blues with a variety of shows and activities, so stop moaning about the cold and your credit card bills and prepare to get happy.

Comedy Bin
One of the most cheering of the gloomiest day of the year London events, the Comedy Bin show at Whitechapel bar Carnivale is giving you plenty of reason to cheer up with stand up comedy specifically designed to induce a feel good glow in the audience. Join 15 stand up comedians and MC Gwilum Argos for a session of all round entertainment, which is all the better for being free.

Comedy at Carnivale

Samba for free
Another one of the gloomiest day of the year London events bound to put a smile on your face, the free samba classes at Guanabara aim to give you a slice of Rio life while helping you shape up at the same time. Get those hips swinging, learn new dance steps and burn off some of those excess calories still hanging around from Christmas at the Brazilian themed bar.

Samba Classes at Guanabara

Golden oldies
If you'd rather sit in the dark on the most miserable day of the year and bathe in the glow of some bona fide silver screen legends, BFI Southbank is here to help with films from its Audrey Hepburn and Howard Hawks seasons. Things were a lot better in the old days, after all.

Audrey Hepburn at BFI Southbank

Howard Hawks at BFI Southbank

Live music
Nothing rallies the soul like listening to a great set of live music, and there's plenty of that to be had on Monday 17th January. Head to the Slaughtered Lamb in Clerkenwell for the very best in up and coming electro, acoustic and folk music.

Live Music at Slaughtered Lamb

Drown your sorrows
While we're hardly recommending that you drink yourself into oblivion to forget all your sorrows on the gloomiest day of the year, everyone likes a freebie and nothing is quite as cheering as sharing a quiet drink or two with a group of friends. Click on the link below for more information on two for one offers available at pubs and bars across London.

January Offers at London Bars

The gloomiest day of the year London events take place on Monday 17th January 2011.

January Offers at London Restaurants

New Year, New You

Tea Cocktails at 108 Marylebone Lane

Cirque du Soleil London

London Mime Festival

Disney 50 at BFI Southbank

Sampled at Sadlers Wells

Winter Wanders Walking Weekend

London Exhibitions 2011

Masterpiece a Month at Dulwich Picture Gallery