Simon & Garfunkel sang April Come She Will, and it seems that she is, in fact, coming around once again. And London is looking a bit brighter now; with some colours on the trees and a hell of a lot more daylight to be enjoyed.
That means a dosage of jazz festivals, parks, and new art exhibitions to enjoy throughout the month until whatever may come next (May). Fingers crossed for some warm weather on the horizon so we can get out and explore the city without freezing for too long. Here are some of the best things to do during April in London.
1. Catch a trail of giant Easter eggs around the capital
For children and adults alike, we can sure get behind an Easter hunt for giant eggs. Between March 24 – April 27, you can check out a beautiful flock of six-foot-tall eggs scattered around the city. You’ll find them at the Barbican, Buckingham Palace, the Saatchi Gallery, and many more locations around the capital, and you can even tick them off on a free app as you go along. There will be more than 100 of them in total, and you can find designs from the likes of Anya Hindmarch, Fortnum & Mason, Jimmy Choo and more across the six-week spell in the capital. Once they leave at the end of April, they’ll be auctioned to raise money for the charity Elephant Family. Find out more details about the trail here.
2. Frolic around some tulips at this beautiful springtime festival at Hampton Court Palace
100,000 tulips spread around a royal setting? This is the spring juice we have been craving and now it is at our green fingertips. Between April 11 and May 5, Hampton Court Palace will be adorned with colour and floral splendour as the grounds that Henry XIII once roamed undergo a giant seasonal bloom. Find out more about the Hampton Court Palace Tulip Festival here.
3. Or journey a little further to waltz through a giant tulip field
Look – we know this isn’t the Secret Tulip website, but we can’t help it. They’re all just too vibrant and awe-inspiring to not point you towards. In fact, I reckon you could pinpoint the exact moment the winter blues leave your body after setting foot in the field of tulips at Tulley’s Farm. Take a trip just outside the city to these heavenly (and ever-expanding) swathes of the flowers, which open from April 5. Read more about Tulley’s Farm here.
4. Check out works from Damien Hirst, Banksy, Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol and more
This Marble Arch museum is a one-stop shop for famous artworks, with the flagship Moco Museum welcoming in anyone with a passion for art. Worldwide, the museum has had over 5 million visitors, including the likes of Idris Elba, Adele, and Steven Spielberg to view art from Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol, Yayoi Kusama, and many more. This month, visitors will be treated to artworks from Robbie Williams (yes, that Robbie Williams), who will be hoping to entertain you with never-before-seen pieces in his Radical Honesty display. Find out more and plan your visit here.
5. Enjoy a CBeebies Adventure with the family
A splash of colour and fun can also be found at the CBeebies Rainbow Adventure in London, which is bound to light up the faces of your little ones with appearances from their favourite TV characters and plenty of photo opportunities. Hey Duggee, Bluey, JoJo & Gran Gran, and Mr Tumble will all be around as children and their grown-ups take to the guided show with the friendly ‘Rainbow Gardener’ as they search the rooms in the experience to fill out the missing rainbow colours. Find out more and plan your visit here.
6. Celebrate Eid al-Fitr among the lights
Eid marks the end of the month-long festival of Ramadan, and the beautiful lights that adorned Central London throughout will be changed to read ‘Happy Eid’. While Eid is predicted to fall on March 29, they will be left shining until April 6 for anyone celebrating or just passing by to enjoy them lighting up the London night when the sun sets.
7. Then head to Europe’s largest free Eid festival
London Eid Festival returns to the city for its sixth annual Eid al-Fitr celebrations, and it’s once again going to be a giant celebration – the largest in Europe, no less! Uniting London’s communities at the end of Ramadan you can join in the festivities across two weekends at both Westfields. Find it at Westfield London on April 4-6 before celebrations head over to Westfield Stratford on April 11-13. Find out more about it here.
8. Welcome back this colourful playground for grown ups
The start of summer is a moveable feast in London. Some might say it starts on June 1, while others proclaim the end of daylight savings to be the start of summertime. These are both correct, in a sense, but, really, it’s all about what’s going on in the skies… which seems to change every year. You want a sure sign of summer that arrives in April every year, though? Well, that would be Roof East, the dash of colour that’s with us all throughout the sunny season.
Roof East is rolling back to its Stratford rooftop on April 17 this year, and the vibrant playground for adults is bringing even more with it than usual this year. Aside from some familiar faces of activities (Birdies, Sluggers, Rooftop Film Club) and food vendors (Cheeky Burger, Piddaji), there are new strings to the roof’s bow which include bottomless brunches and festival weekends to ensure the warm season is enjoyed to its highest level. Roof East just gets it. Find out more about Roof East here; tickets are on sale now!
9. Check out a huge Cartier exhibition landing at the V&A
Be dazzled with items from the star-studded jewellery world of Cartier, which has an entire exhibition dedicated to its story at the V&A. From April 12, you can check out more than 350 shining items and learn about the illustrious history from sales to kings and queens to items worn by Rihanna. It’s the first major exhibition on Cartier in the UK for almost 30 years, and it’s nearly time to witness its beauty. Find out more and plan your visit here.
10. Take in the sunshine at the return of Between The Bridges (and potentially earn a free pint!)
Between The Bridges is rolling back into London for the summer, kicking things off bright and early in the (hopefully) sunny month of April. It’ll get up to its usual rollicking speed in a couple of months time, but when the sun’s out, you can head over and have a pint before enjoying one of their many events running at the space. Mark April 17 in your calendars, and pop on over: the first 500 people to arrive can bag themselves a free drink! Find out more and plan your visit here.
11. Play on a brightly-coloured mini golf set for free
Art duo Craig Redman and Karl Maier’s beautiful mini golf course is landing back at Canary Wharf soon, and you’ll be able to head along over to play the brightest outdoor course in the city. We can hope for sunny days, but the mini golf set will be with us come rain or shine until October. It can be enjoyed by any age group or skill level, and won’t cost a dime! Read more about it here.
12. Attend an event at the month-long Roundhouse Three-Sixty event
Credit: @roundhouseldn, via IG
This springtime festival comes in the form of a series of events in April at the Roundhouse that will be ‘amplifying the voices of today’s most vital and unapologetic artists’. Whether you love slam poetry, music, comedy, visual art, club nights, or a little from each column and more, you’ll be well catered for at Roundhouse Three-Sixty this month. Corinne Bailey Rae, Munya Chawawa, Daniel Kaluuya, Tom Odell and Caleb Femi are just some of the names on the lineup, with events from The National Youth Orchestra and Roundhouse Poetry Collective also on the agenda. Find out more and view the full story here.
13. Run like the wind during the London Marathon
April in London is marathon month, and even though those who are running at the event–which attracts 50,000 pacey people–already know, you may need to sort your plans for cheering on people you know, or how to celebrate getting to the finish line (pints, always pints). It takes place on April 27, and you can read our guide on what to remember before running the long old thing. ‘Til, then, back to training you go! Not long to go now.
14. Face the music at a lively London gig
London’s live music offerings never end, and here are a few of the best gigs happening in the city as we prepare for festival season.
🌟 Usher (April 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11): The O2 – got enough nights at the O2 there, Usher? NEVER.
6️⃣ You Me At Six (April 2, 3, 4): Brixton Academy (night one) and Wembley Arena (night two and three) – wave goodbye to YMAS at their final London shows.
💫 Orbital (April 5): Brixton Academy – throw back to a 90s rave with Orbital this month.
💃 Kate Nash (April 9): Kentish Town Forum – belting out Foundations with a few thousand others? Sounds like a night for the ages.
🤩 Slowdive (April 10): Brixton Academy – when the sun hits it’s time to shuffle into Brixton to witness the brilliance of Slowdive.
🎤 Sugababes (April 10): The O2 – push the button to sort yourself a ticket to a night of timeless pop anthems with the Sugababes.
😍 Benjamin Clementine (April 10): The Troxy – soothing sounds of Mercury Prize-winning artist Benjamin Clementine fill the East London venue in April.
🎷 Kamasi Washington (April 13): Brixton Academy – time for your dose of phenomenal jazz from LA’s finest.
🙏 Geordie Greep (April 15-16): KOKO – the former Black Midi frontman promises a holy, holy time at this double-header in Camden.
🔥 Lambrini Girls (April 17): Electric Brixton – scream and shout along with the Brighton trio that demands your attention.
😎 Sean Paul and Ashanti (April 18): Wembley Arena – a time-capsule co-headline for the ages.
🎸 Manic Street Preachers (April 18-19): Shepherd’s Bush Empire – an intimate couple of shows for the Manics is one for the April diaries.
🎻 Beck (April 19-20): Royal Albert Hall – playing with the BBC Concert Orchestra, Beck is back.
👻 Ghost (April 19): The O2 – witness a spooky night on Ghost’s biggest world tour to date.
🎆 Central Cee (April 24): The O2 – a crowning show for the UK rapper of the moment comes this month.
🕺 Kaytranada (April 25, 26, 27): Alexandra Palace – the shimmering sounds and beats of Kaytranda are striding into Ally Pally.
🦑 Squid (April 26): The Roundhouse – if you’ve been spinning their latest record ‘Cowards’ throughout this year so far, you’ll want to be catching Squid live in Camden.
🎶 Corinne Bailey Rae (April 27): The Roundhouse – instead of putting your records on at home, just swap it for a gig and see Corinne Bailey Rae live in London.
15. Check out an adorable Labubu pop-up
Labubu has had a storming rise in popularity, with the toothy elf-like monster garnering fans from Rihanna to Dua Lipa to BLACKPINK’s Lisa. Now, you can catch a pop-up running until the end of April run by POP MART at London’s legendary Harrods. Find limited edition Labubu collectibles at the store and pick out your favourites. Read more about the pop-up here.
16. Welcome the springtime with a musical celebration
The Sounds Of Blossom festival returns to Kew Gardens this spring for a colourful and musical celebration of the season where the light comes back to the city. Compositions accompany the swaying cherry blossom, all crafted by seven students from the Royal College of Music. Inspired by the glory of spring, it’s the perfect accompaniment to get you in the mood for the dazzling middle section of the year that we’ve endured the winter for. Read more about Sounds Of Blossom here.
17. Then walk around the cherry blossom wonderland that is London in spring
Look, London in the winter can be great and all, but once the allure of Christmas lights and warming fires wears off, it’s safe to say it really does last a touch too long—we’re over it! When spring arrives it does so with style, with flair. Pink shades in the trees around the city, and with that comes a dose of endorphins served to us like a tray of delights.
London’s keen Instagrammers will be taking a tour of the capital this month to find striking shades of pink on the city’s saplings; and, quite frankly, I suggest you do the same, whether you’re capturing the evidence on your phone or not. A walk to the shops and a stroll through the park can have a whole new meaning in spring – here are some of the best places to clap eyes with the cherry blossom in London.
18. Check out some stunning photography at Somerset House
Wander through a sea of award-winning images that tell stories from around the world. Running between April 17 – May 5, the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition at Somerset House features images of captivating imagery of wildlife, architecture, streets, landscapes and more. Among the work includes that of Susan Meislelas, a Magnum photographer who documents the lives of people with in their communities, and you can also check out the work of scientists battling the invisible threats to the Arctic and Medditerranean Sea documented by Juliette Pavy. Find out more and book your spot here.
19. Visit the city’s largest sculpture park (which isn’t here for long!)
Head to visit a free collection of art in a disused golf course as the Winter Sculpture returns to the city for its fourth year. Catch the popup from the creative duo behind Gallery No.32 until April 26, with 40 works of art across different mediums on display. Read more about it and plan your visit here.
20. See the Shard sparkling every hour
Once the clocks have gone forward and signalled that we’re not far from the promised land (summer), the Shard will enter a new era of hourly light shows. Check out the landmark sparkling away from sunset until 1am each night as a beacon in the middle of our capital. 1,000 feet high beams by way of 575 energy-efficient LED units is aurely something worth checking out, right? And you sure are spoiled for choice for places to catch a view of it given it can be seen from all around. Find out more about it here.
21. Dine and drink at a literary-inspired, floral-laden spring terrace
The Dalloway Terrace loves a fresh seasonal makeover, and this year, they’re celebrating the literary birthday of – who else? – Mrs Dalloway. Virginia Woolf’s character turns a whole century old this year, and you can toast to Clarissa Dalloway in a backdrop of stunning hydrangeas, peonies, and yellow wild English roses. In this scenario, Mrs Dalloway would have said she would buy a gin cocktail herself… and so should you. Find out more and plan your visit here.
22. Grab a bargain at the King’s Cross Car Boot Sale
If there’s one thing better than a car boot sale, it’s a classic car boot sale. Yes, the CCBS returns to King’s Cross this month on April 26-27.
Bask in a weekend filled with bargains and ogle at the vintage cars, including a celebration for 70 years of the Citroën DS, plus many more beautiful vintage wheels. If you go, you’re kindly asked to ‘forget everything you know about car boot sales’ – and with live music, craft beer, pinball and arcade alley, the roving CCA Art Bus travelling gallery, and more, I think it’s safe to say that we like this variety of the sales. Read more about the Classic Car Boot Sale here.
23. Attend the Vaisakhi Festival celebrations in Trafalgar Square
Marking one of the most important days in the Sikh calendar, the Vaisakhi celebrations are taking place at Trafalgar Square once again. Those who attend the free event on April 19 can expect a lively commemoration of the festival celebrating Sikh and Punjabi tradition, heritage and culture with a lineup of main stage acts, talks, food stalls and much more. Find out more and plan your visit here.
24. Take in the sight of the magical bluebells in and around London
Of course, cherry blossoms are the first to emerge… but later in spring is when blue beauties come out to play. It truly depends on the year as to when bluebell season is in full swing, but recently, more mild winters have seen them flowering as early as late March. Whenever they do decide to show themselves, we can expect to see a carpet of colour sweep over the woodlands in and around London, so you’d be foolish to miss the chance to check them out – they don’t stick around for long, after all! Here are a few spots you can expect to see bluebells around London.
💙 Eltham Park North
💙 Wanstead Park
💙 Wanstead Park
💙 Epping Forest
💙 Horsenden Hill
Read about more places to look at the bluebells here.
25. Check out a beautiful London art exhibition
Those who tire of the endless art in London must get their heads checked – there’s always a brilliant new exhibition opening just around the corner and here are some highlights you can check out in the capital this month.
Exhibitions opening in April
❤️ Ed Atkins (opens April 2): Tate Britain – billed the first major UK exhibition on one of the most influential British artists at work today, this exhibition drawing on multiple art forms is worth checking out when it lands at the start of the month.
🩷 Secrets of the Thames: Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures (opens April 4): London Museum Docklands – set to run for nearly a year, this presents more than 350 items found through mudlarking at the Thames.
Exhibitions ending in April
🧡 “Brasil! Brasil! The Birth of Modernism” (until April 21): Royal Academy of Arts – a landmark exhibition showing over 130 pieces of art by Brazilian artists from the late 1910s to the 1970s.
💛 SOIL: The World at Our Feet (until April 13): Somerset House – an exhibition inviting viewers to reflect on the soil beneath their feet and its vital connection to life on Earth, with microscopic photography, immersive installations, and more.
💚 Versailles: Science And Splendour (until April 21): Science Museum – diving deep into the inner workings of Versailles during the 17th and 18th centuries as a hub for scientific thinking.
💙 Naomi In Fashion (until April 6): The V&A – a deep look into the storied career of fashion model Naomi Campbell through her collaborations, activism, and cultural impact.
💜 Solid Light (until April 27): Tate Modern – view a stunning set of immersive, translucent light works by Anthony McCall.
26. Enjoy a free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream
Who would say no to this? Ben & Jerry’s is enjoyed by many as a celebration and a drowning of sorrow(s), so why not take them up on an offer of a free scoop for their annual Free Cone Day. It takes place on April 8, and 2025 marks another year of the tradition that has been running since 1979! All you need to do is turn up to your nearest scoop shop (Soho or Tower Hill for Londoners) and get in the queue to earn yourself a free cone. Find your nearest participating shop here.
27. Waltz through these London villages that feel like the countryside
Saving your bucks for a holiday in summer can mean you’re sat twiddling your thumbs, hoping for an escape when the weekend hits. Enter our solution: village-like locations amid the hustle and bustle of London that might just make you feel like you’re on a well-earned getaway.
🤩 Hampstead Village – adorable streets and a pergola to wander through; this one is quite the dream.
🚲 Warren Mews – hard to quite comprehend that this is as central as Fitzrovia, but it is. And it’s a quaint little paradise.
🌲 Chiswick – the parks and gardens here could have been plucked out of the countryside and into the unassuming west London zone 2 streets.
🛶 Little Venice – walking by a canal filled with colourful boats is a guaranteed pass out of the city, if only for a few minutes.
Read about more villages in London here!
28. Enjoy an epic Easter egg hunt at London Zoo
Children of a certain age are partial to enjoying a zoo on any day of the year, but add Easter eggs into the equation? That might be the golden ticket to the greatest combination of all time. London Zoo are hosting Zoonormous Egg Hunt with crafts, photo opps, and more to get involved with all throughout the month of April. Find out more and plan your visit here.
29. Have a boogie at the Brick Lane Jazz Festival
Credit: @bricklanejazzfestival, via IG
If there’s one thing better than a day out in Brick Lane–a day filled with beigels and bargains from vintage stores–it’s a day out at Brick Lane that involves a jazz festival. Between April 25-27, you can take in the smooth tones and swing your hips to artists including Ragz Originale, Jelani Blackman, Adi Oasis, dialE, Afriquoi, Laraaji, Africa Space Programme, and many more across a stacked three-day bill. Find out more and book your tickets here.
30. Take the Horrible Histories boat tour of the ‘Terrible Thames’
Set sail on the treacherous water of the ‘Terrible Thames’ by way of Horrible Histories boat tour, which returns for its voyages across the river on April 3. It’s crammed with history, taking you through the Tower Of London, Execution Dock, and more, with tales of Henry VIII Julius Caeser, Queen Boudicca, and more along the way. Find out more about the Horrible Histories boat tours here.
31. Bag yourself a free wagyu steak
Sometimes, a hunk of meat is all that will do, and Flat Iron know that best with some good value for money cuts of meat at their many establishments. To celebrate the opening of their newest spot, within the famous Royal Festival Hall at the Southbank, no less, they’ll be giving away 500 free wagyu steaks on the house. From 5pm on April 3, if you’re within the first half-century of wagyu steak orderers, you’ll be treated to it for free. It comes ahead of the restaurant’s main opening on April 4, so it’s sure to be an exciting atmosphere all around. Find out more about bagging a free steak here.
32. Bask in the glow of the first 8pm sunset of the year
Thanks to the clocks going forward, March treated our poor Vitamin D-starved souls to the first 7pm sunset of the year. Come April 17, the sun won’t be leaving us until 8pm and after, so you’d better be cranking up the heat on your summer plans. It could be 7°C or 31°C, but those extra hours of sunlight will have you feeling like a million dollars in the beer gardens across London.
33. Travel back in time to board a murder mystery train
Take a trip to the past and board The Murdér Express train to experience dining and a mysterious aura on the luxury 1920s train. Enjoy a slap-up three-course meal and enjoy a theatrical comedy performance from live actors that depicts a tale of murder as you sip on crafted signature cocktails. Plus, family-friendly sessions are coming in time for the Easter holidays meaning it’s a day out to be enjoyed for all. Find out more and book your spot here.
34. Don’t be played for a fool on the first day of the month!
Didn’t think we’d go the whole way without a mention of April Fool’s Day, did you? You’ll want to be alert to those pesky pre-12pm pranks that we inevitably fall foul of on occasion. April 1 falls on a Tuesday this year, so don’t let your mid-week, word-mode state lead to yourself being done good and proper by your housemates (aka the prank patrol) or colleagues (prank patrol version two).
35. Drink up at this otherworldly cocktail experience
Onward and upwards to a new world! For drinks! Avora is your port of call for entering an immersive world of cocktailing adventures. Whack on a jumpsuit and dive into the multi-sensory universe of Avora and choose your journey towards three crafted cocktails with a New World storyline along the way. Find out more and book your spot here.
36. Party in Peckham with up-and-coming musical talent (April 11)
Credit: @bad.parrot.music, @tolapeckham, @lau.ra.lau.ra.lau.ra, via IG
Down in Peckham, an impressive showcase of international talent from the underground electronic music scene will take over TOLA on April 11. New record label Bad Parrot will be showing off their roster of performers, with sets from the likes of Lau.ra, IsGwan (flying over from Australia for the event), Rich Ellis, and more. Thanks to ultra-cheap tickets (just £4.99 a pop!) and the impressive talent on deck(s), you can expect a raucous, energetic night at this one-off event.
Grab your ticket here.
37. Enjoy a new adventure trail at the Wetland Centre
A trail has arrived just in time for the Easter holidays at the Wetland Centre in London, with the ‘Lloyd of the Flies Wetland Bug Hunt’ hitting the ground running on April 5. It takes the children’s comedy series character, Lloyd the Housefly, and creates a trail by way of app to have him take you around with tour guide Dart the dragonfly. Families will be able to explore the Wetlands to search for Lloyd’s family and friends while learning about the species of moth, ladybirds, grasshoppers, crickets, ants, wasps, bees and more! Find out more and plan your visit here.
38. Watch the Grand National at Flat Iron Square and enjoy a £1 beer
If you’re looking for somewhere to watch the Grand National, you can head on over to Flat Iron Square on April 5, where you can bag yourself a beer for just £1 for the duration of the race. Granted, that is typically only around 10 minutes, but when else will you find one this cheap at a bar around the city on a Saturday afternoon (unless it happens to be raining… see below)? Expect it to commence at 4pm, and you can sip on a cold one with a crowd of fans at the square. Book your spot here.
39. Or, enjoy a free pint when it rains
Look – we all pine for sunshine when it’s approaching summer, but we can’t have it all our way. I’ll go out on a limb and say it’s going to rain on at least one day of April, and unless the jinx is miracle-level strong with me, you’ll be able to get a free pint when it does. When the heavens open throughout the month, Greene King will be serving up free jars of the good stuff to keep punters happy during the infamous Apirl showers. Find out how to get your hands on one here.
40. Witness a Martian invasion
Travel back to Victorian England to navigate a Martian invasion by way of Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds: The Immersive Experience. If you find yourself wanting to fight off the spring showers, then bound in from the streets of London to the world filled with live actors and multi-sensory effects. Find out more about it and plan your visit here.
41. Keep exploring this incredible city
We’ll let you in on a little secret: it’s impossible to list everything that goes on in London over the course of one month (though we do try our best). Here are a few more things Secret London has been shouting about that you don’t want to miss out on before April waves goodbye.
😍 An Immersive Moomin Installation Is Coming To London – With FREE Entry And Family-Friendly Events
📚 This Gorgeous Independent Bookshop Has Just Been Named The Very Best In London
🛶 You’ll Be Able To Paddle Down The Canal For A Pint At This Cool London Brewery This Summer
🍰 This West London Café Serves Up Bottomless Cake For The Ultimate Sweet Indulgence
💪 The Best Advice For London Newbies, According To Londoners
🏛️ Legoland’s ‘Miniature London’ Has Had A Mega Makeover – And It’s Looking For A Mayor
⚡David Bowie’s Childhood Home In South London Is On The Market For Almost Half A Million Pounds
💐 This FREE Flower Festival Is Returning To London – Featuring Over 100 Fashion-Forward Installations
🥯These 8 London Bakeries Are Officially Some Of The Best Bakeries In Britain
🍻 This Historic Riverside Pub Might Just Be The Smallest In The Whole City
There’s A Chocolate Café In Soho Serving Chocoriffic Treats – Including Sushi Crepes And Speciality DrinksMore things to do and inspiration…
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