Plan an amazing April 2025 with our selection of the best events, exhibitions and things to do in London
April bursts onto the scene, a kaleidoscope of reawakening. The city stretches, yawns, and sheds its winter cloak, revealing a vibrant tapestry of blossoming parks and sun-drenched streets. A symphony of birdsong replaces the hushed stillness, and the air hums with a newfound energy. Think: picnics in fragrant gardens, the thrill of the first open-air theatre performance under a pastel sky, and the electric buzz of the London Marathon. Easter’s double dose of holiday magic ignites the city with festivals, art, and the rhythmic pulse of music. It’s a month where every sense is heightened, a prelude to summer’s crescendo. Dive into this explosion of life – London in April is pure, unadulterated vitality.
1. Have a cracking Easter in London
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.
2. See Sondheim’s final musical ‘Here We Are’
He may have been the greatest composer of musicals in history, but Stephen Sondheim’s final musical was, appropriately enough, too arty for Broadway: the posthumously produced Here We Are debuted in NYC to warm if not uncritical notices. Now the new Sondheim is arriving in London – and it’s a coup for Rufus Norris to score it as the centrepiece of his final season running the NT. Directed by Joe Mantello in what has been billed as a new production, different from his original NYC one, it has a formidable cast headed by Tracie Bennett, Rory Kinnear and Denis O’Hare. The plot follows Leo and Marianne Brink, who think they’ve discovered the perfect new brunch spot – but things start to get very weird.
3. See three of George Balanchine’s quintessential works in a Royal Ballet triple bill
Balanchine’s greatest hits are back on at the ROH this Spring as the Royal Ballet will peform three works from the father of American ballet: Serenade (1935), Prodigal Son (1929), and Symphony in C (1947). There’s a reason why Balanchine’s classics are still bangers today: oozing elegance and grace, these plotless, minimal works set to scores by Tschaikovsky, Prokofiev and Bizet are not to be missed.
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 27 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. Indulge your sweet tooth at The Chocolate Station Market
Battersea Power Station plays host to its first-ever chocolate market this Easter. The Chocolate Station will boast stalls from some of the UK and Europe’s finest chocolatiers, including the oldest chocolate manufacturer in Belgium, Meurisse. Vegans with a sweet tooth can stock up at Diana’s Chocolates, while there’ll be cakes, cookies and more available from the likes of Ritual Cacao and Midnight Pantry, plus bars, eggs and truffles from Cornwall’s Chocolarder, and many more.
6. Learn some circus skills at the Horniman Spring Fair
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. Watch The Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race from the banks of the Thames
The famous and historic London rowing contest between the UK’s oldest two universities returns for its 170th edition on Sunday April 13, when crews from Oxford and Cambridge go head-to-head in eight-oared rowing boats across the Thames. The women’s race is usually up first, followed by the men’s race an hour later. Spectators can watch the BBC’s coverage of the race on large screens at two riverside Fan Zones in Hammersmith and Fulham, or check out our guide for the best places to see all the rive-side action.
8. Pick up some new houseplants at the Garden Museum’s Spring Plant Fair
Once again the Garden Museum is throwing open its doors to exhibitors and plant perusers. The fair takes place both outside and inside the museum and this year has been curated by Susanna Grant, garden designer and founder of Hackney’s Hello There Linda. Nab plants and garden ephemera for your urban space, balcony or allotment, pick the brains of pro growers and attend talks and workshops covering everything from the city’s fruit trees to setting up your own micro-nursery.