Plan an exceptional April 2026 with our curated selection of the very best events, exhibitions, and experiences across London.
April is often overlooked, yet it remains one of the most rewarding times to experience the capital. With winter firmly behind us, the city begins to reawaken—social calendars fill, outdoor spaces come back to life, and a renewed energy can be felt across every borough. The longer days and milder temperatures offer the perfect balance: the vibrancy of spring without the intensity of peak summer.
London’s parks and gardens are now in full bloom, providing an ideal backdrop for both relaxation and exploration. Meanwhile, the cultural scene is in full swing, with a strong lineup of spring music festivals, notable art exhibitions, and an impressive theatre programme—including the return of open-air performances.
The city also plays host to landmark events such as the London Marathon and the iconic Boat Race, adding to an already dynamic calendar.
Explore our comprehensive roundup of the standout events and activities taking place throughout the month, and position yourself to make the most of London this spring.
1. Be one of the first visitors to brand new museum V&A East
⭐ Museums 📌 Olympic Park
Just shy of a decade after it was first announced as part of the £1.1 billion development of Stratford’s East Bank cultural quarter, the long-awaited V&A East will finally open to the public on Saturday 18 April. The 7,000-square-metre museum will bring together exhibits that speak to both east London’s creative heritage and the voices that are shaping contemporary culture across the globe today.
2. Have a cracking Easter in London
⭐ Things to do
London has an amazing energy on bank holidays and Easter weekend is particularly blessed, because it’s a rare double bank holiday, meaning we get four whole days of work-free fun from Good Friday on April 18 to Easter Monday on April 21. The capital has plenty to keep you occupied over your extra-long weekend. From egg hunts to bumper club nights, check out our top picks for Easter weekend 2025 below.
3. Discover your new favourite band at Brick Lane Jazz Festival
⭐ Music ✨ Music festivals 📌 London ⏰ 24 Apr – 26 Apr 2026
In London, we are well past the days of jazz being stuffy dinner party music, because the capital’s jazz scene is dynamic, young, cool and underground. Split across the Truman Brewery, 93 Feet East and nearby venues, the Brick Lane Jazz Festival brings together some of the best and most exciting talent on the flourishing scene, and in the past hast hosted big talent like Nubya Garcia, Ezra Collective and Cherise. In 2026, the festival will programme genre-blending sounds covering jazz, RnB, neo-soul, hip hop, broken beat and electronic music. The first wave of acts announced for the next edition includes IAMNOBODI, Kwame Yeboah, Alexander Flood, TABLE and more.
4. Cheer on the 50,000 brave souls tackling The London Marathon
Running a marathon is a truly gruelling feat requiring countless hours of training, so the 50,000 brave souls who are taking part London Marathon on Sunday April 26 very much deserve our support. Check out our route guide to find the best spectating spots and track down nearby pubs and bars for when all that whooping and clapping leaves you feeling nearly as thirsty as the runners. Remember: your presence at this monumental sporting occasion makes it absolutely fine to drink lager or rosé in the street at 10am on a Sunday.
5. Enjoy a sky-high dinner with champagne at Oblix at The Shard
Elevate your dining game this April, literally. Oblix East at The Shard invites you to a night of indulgence with a three-course chef’s signature menu designed for sharing, plus a glass of Champagne to kick things off in style. Tuck into a decadent selection of starters, from burrata and datterini tomatoes to crispy chicken with honey-lime glaze, followed by mains like roasted baby chicken or roasted prawns, all paired with sumptuous sides. Finish with a signature dessert platter while soaking in breathtaking views of London’s skyline. This exclusive Time Out offer gets you 23% off and is available every night Monday to Sunday, so treat yourself to a night above the clouds.
6. Join an Easter bonnet parade at the Horniman Spring Fair
⭐ Things to do ✨ Quirky events 📌 Forest Hill ⏰ 11 Apr – 19 Apr 2026
The Horniman Museum and Gardens’ Spring Fair is maybe the most efficient way to cram as much Easter fun into a single day as possible. The gardens will be taken over by a ridiculously busy programme, with everything from an Animal Walk to an Easter Bonnet Parade. But there’s plenty more: think circus skills, singalongs, fete games and seed planting, all fuelled by some cracking cuisine from the roster of food stalls.
7. Find your new favourite video game at the London Games Festival
London’s citywide celebration of video games is back for another week of talks, workshops, live performances, markets and networking events celebrating video games and the people who make them. Highlights include the first-ever London edition of the Games For Change Summit (Apr 15), where game creators and funders, educators and social innovators will be coming together to discuss how best to drive meaningful social impact in the gaming industry, and the return of Screen Play (Apr 15), the BFI Southbank’s one-day festival exploring the crossover between games, film, and television, as well as New Game Plus (Apr 16-17), a showcase of more than 70 exciting new and unreleased games from around the world in a huge showcase at Exhibition White City. Ready, player one!
8. Gawp at the gorgeous blooms at the Hampton Court Palace Tulip Festival
⭐ Things to do 📌 Hampton ⏰ 11 Apr – 26 Apr 2026
Henry VIII’s former gaff is already one of the most splendid-looking buildings in London, but fill it with 10,000 tulips and you’ve got something mighty special to look at. Hampton Court Palace’s Tulip Festival is one of the biggest planted displays of the colouful flowers in the UK and is a good excuse to celebrate the start of spring. See the buds pouring out of the Tudor wine fountain and in floating tulip vases, and spot rare, historic and specialist varieties. There are also expert talks on the flowers and craft activities themed around them. The palace’s expert gardeners predict the displays will look at their best between April 11 and 26, though ‘Mother Nature always has the final say.’
9. Check out the spring flowers blossoming around the city
Spring in London is always a knockout. As we emerge from an extra-severe period of hibernation, the urge to get to the park and gawp at loads of pretty flowers becomes pretty intense and there are tons of amazing green spaces to enjoy the season’s pops of colour. From London’s bright pink cherry blossoms to seas of lavender that swell in summer, take a look at our list of the best places to see flowers in London.
10. Celebrate sakura season by paying a visit to London’s cherry blossoms
The capital’s special colourful spectacle that signals warmer days are on the way is here. Cherry blossom season in Japan is a major event, with vistors from around the world flocking over to get a glimpse of the petals in full bloom. If you can’t make it over for this year’s sakura season London has plenty of bloomin’ marvellous places to see the flowers.
11. Watch Oxford and Cambridge’s annual oars-off along the Thames
If there’s one thing that best encompasses the historic rivalry between academic titans Oxford and Cambridge, it’s the Boat Race – the annual oars-off between the two unis. Typically, over 300,000 people line the banks of the Thames to get a glimpse of the action. If you’re like the majority of them, then as well as the sporting spectacle, you’re also there for the excuse to knock back a few pints (or more). Whether you’re a diehard supporter or a fair-weather fan, here’s our guide to everything you need to know about the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race on Sunday April 4 2026.