Find out what’s on in the capital, including art fairs, Secret Cinema’s Bridgerton experience and the Ideal Home Show.

Spring is in the air… well at least it’s supposed to be! With March having notoriously erratic weather, fortunately London has plenty of indoor festivals, exhibitions and events on this month. 

Look out for the 🐻 for family-friendly activities.

• 3 – 6 March 2022 : The Stitch Festival

Haberdashery festival featuring hundreds of workshops, demonstrations, interactive features and 200 exhibitors selling specialist craft supplies. Open 9.30am-5.30pm. Tickets: Adults £15.50, Children £7.50. Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, Islington, N1 0QH. Nearest station: Angel. For more information, visit the Stitch Festival website.

• Now until 6 March 2022 : Orchid Festival @ Kew Gardens

An orchid display is coming to the Princess of Wales Conservatory for four weeks, with this year being inspired by Costa Rica. General entrance tickets to Kew Gardens includes orchid exhibition: Adults £15, Children (4-15yr) £5. Kew Gardens, Brentford Gate, Kew, TW9 3AB. Nearest station: Kew Gardens. For more information, visit the Kew Gardens website.

• Now until 6 March 2022 : Beano – The Art of Breaking the Rules

Exhibition of Britain’s naughtiest kid and the comic’s history. Explore original artwork and artefacts. Open Sat, Sun & Tue 10am-6pm, Wed-Fri 11am-8pm. Tickets: Adults £16, concs £12.50, Under 6s free. Embankment Galleries (South Wing), Somerset House, Strand, Westminster, WC2R 1LA. Nearest station: Temple. For more information and booking, visit the Somerset House website. 🐻

• Now until 9 March 2022 : The Green Planet AR Experience

Enjoy an immersive, augmented reality experience with Sir David Attenborough as you explore the green planet. Open Mon-Wed 10am-6pm, Thu-Sun 10am-8pm. Free entry, but book a time slot in advance. 55 Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, W1 5RF. Nearest station: Piccadilly Circus. For more information, visit the Green Planet Experience website. 🐻

• 10 – 13 March 2022 : Affordable Art Fair – Battersea Spring

A chance for people to buy a unique piece of art or photography for their homes at an affordable price. There are over 100 galleries, with pieces for sale ranging from £50 to £7,500. Tickets: £10-£27. Battersea Evolution, Battersea Park, SW11 4NJ. Nearest station: Battersea Park or short bus ride from Sloane Square tube. For more information, visit the Affordable Art Fair website.

• 11 – 13 March 2022 : WOW – Women of the World

A festival of talks, debates, music, film and comedy celebrating women. Marian Keyes, Lisa Taddeo, Pandora Sykes, Patrisse Calours, Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan, Warsan Shire, Deborah Frances-White and Elizabeth White among the featured names. Events range from free to £38. Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, South Bank, SE1 8XX. Nearest station: Waterloo. For more information and booking, visit the Southbank Centre website.

• 11 – 13 March 2022 : Move It

The world’s biggest dance event featuring performances, classes, workshops, shopping, and talks by experts from all genres, including Layton Williams, Dane Bates, Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe, Dark Angels, Flawless, Jess Baddie, Josh Denyer, Josh Wharmby, Kloe Dean and more. Day tickets: Adults from £21, Children from £16.50 (show and class tickets also available). ExCel, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, Docklands, E16 1XL. Nearest station: Custom House or Prince Regent. For more information, visit the Move It website. 🐻

• 11 – 27 March 2022 : Ideal Home Show

A place of inspiration for homeowners including interiors, fittings and gardens. Includes plenty of opportunities to buy things both big and small for the house and food. Celebrity guests and experts include Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Phil Spencer, Martin Lewis, David Domoney, Rosemary Shrager, Lisa Faulkner, Melissa Helmsley, and many more. Open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm. Advance tickets (more on the door): Weekday £14 or Weekend £16, Children 15 yrs and younger free (Tickets also include free access to the Eat & Drink Festival). Olympia, Hammersmith Road, Kensington, W14 8UX. Nearest station: Kensington Olympia. For more tickets, visit the Ideal Home Show website.

• 11 – 27 March 2022 : Eat & Drink Festival

Indoor food festival returns, featuring cooking masterclasses and workshops, drinks experts, celebrity chefs, shopping, Artisan Producers’ market, and more. Celebrity guests and experts include John Whaite, Rosemary Shrager, Lisa Faulkner, Matt Tebbutt, Juliet Sear, Dean Edwards, Rachel Green and more. Open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm. Advance tickets (more on the door): Weekday £14 or Weekend £16, Children 15 yrs and younger free (Tickets also includes free access to Ideal Home Show). Olympia, Hammersmith Road, Kensington, W14 8UX. Nearest station: Kensington Olympia. For more information, visit the Eat & Drink Festival website.

• Now until 12 March 2022 : Spaces of Light and Colour

Never before seen paintings by Ulrich Erben, from his early work until more recent creations. Open: Tues-Sat 10am-6pm. BASTIAN, 8 Davies Street, Mayfair, W1K 3DW. Nearest stations: Green Park or Bond Street. For more information, visit the Bastian Gallery website.

• Now until 13 March 2022 : Shen Yun

Chinese performing arts company’s spectacular show returns to London. Experience a lost culture through classical Chinese dance. Tickets: £62-£138. Eventim Apollo, 45 Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith, W6 9QH. Nearest station: Hammersmith. For tickets, visit the Shen Yun website.

• 13 March 2022 : St Patrick’s Day Festival

Celebrate the patron saint of Ireland with Irish culture, performers, arts, dance, food and drink. 12pm-6pm. Free. Trafalgar Square, Westminster, WC2N. Nearest stations: Charing Corss, Embankment, Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus. For more information, visit the London.gov.uk website.

• 14 – 18 March 2022 : London Design Week 2022

Interior design festival featuring over 100 events, including talks, demonstrations, showrooms, installations, food and drink. Open 9.30am-5.30pm. Free entry, but register in advance. Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, SW10 0XE. Nearest station: Imperial Wharf. For more information, visit the London Design Week website.

• 16 March 2022 : Taste Champagne

The biggest global champagne showcase, featuring 327 cuvées presented by 63 champagne négociants, growers and coopératives. 6pm-9pm. Tickets: £50. The Royal Horticultural Halls, The Lindley Hall, Elverton Street, Westminster, SW1P 2QW. Nearest station: Victoria or Pimlico. For more information, visit the Taste Champagne website.

• 17 – 20 March 2022 : The Other Art Fair

Chance to see and buy art from 140 unrepresented artists in an unpretentious art fair for everyone. Also features immersive installations, performances, DJs and bar. Open Thurs 4pm-6.30pm/7-10pm, Fri 1pm-4.30pm/5-9pm, Sat 11am-7pm, Sun 11am-6pm. Tickets: £11 (advance), £13 (on the door), Children under 12 yrs free. The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, Spitalfields, E1 6QR. Nearest station: Shoreditch High Street or Old Street. For more information, visit the Other Art Fair website.

• 18 March 2022 : Friday Late – Legacies

Late night opening of the London Transport Museum to mark the opening of the Legacies: London Transport’s Caribbean Workforce exhibition. Featuring DJs, talks, augmented reality, cocktails and creative workshops. From 6.30pm-10pm. Tickets: Adults £15. London Transport Museum, the Piazza, Covent Garden, WC2E 7BB. Nearest station: Covent Garden. For more information and booking, visit the LTM website.

• Now until 20 March 2022 : Titanic – The Exhibition

An immersive exhibition exploring the history and the wreck of the Titanic, featuring over 200 artefacts and life-sized recreations of the tragic ship’s interior. Open: Mon, Wed, Thur: 10am-7pm, Fri 10am-8pm, Sat 9am-8.30pm, Sun 9am-8pm. Tickets: Adults from £27.90, Children from £15.90, Under 4s free. Dock X London, Retail Park, Unit 1 Canada Water, Surrey Quays Road, SE16 2XU. Nearest station: Canada Water. For more information and booking, visit the Titanic: The Exhibition website. 🐻

The Vault Festival returns to Waterloo

• Now until 20 March 2022 : Vault Festival

Eight week fringe arts festival returns to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Head to the tunnels beneath Waterloo. Entertainment includes live music, theatre, film, dance, comedy, immersive experiences and late-night parties. Ticket prices vary. The Vaults, 10 Leake Street, Waterloo, SE1 7NN. Nearest station: Waterloo and Lambeth North. For booking, visit the Vault Festival website.

• 23 March – 18 April 2022 : London Handel Festival 2022

Six weeks of concerts, talks and walks celebrating Fredrick Handel, with this year’s theme being “New Beginnings”. Venues includes Handel’s parish church St Georges in Mayfair, as well as the Foundling Museum, Stone Nest, St Martins-in-the-Fields church, Village Underground, Grosvenor Chapel, St John’s Smith Square and St Vedast. Ticket prices range from free to £75. For more information and booking, visit the London Handel Festival website. 🐻

• 25 March – 10 April 2022 : Telegraph Hill Festival

Arts and entertainment festival in South East London, including music, open studios, art shows, interactive exhibits, classes, workshops, talks, literary events, plays, performance art and music events. Lots of events are free, but some will cost. At various venues across New Cross, Nunhead, Hatcham, Brockley and Honor Oak. For more information, visit the Telegraph Hill festival website. 🐻

• 26 March 2022 : Head of the River Race

Four hundred crews from around the world take their boats to race 4.25 miles from Mortlake to Putney. The race starts at 2.15pm. Free. Nearest stations to spectator points: Mortlake, Barnes Bridge, Hammersmith or Putney Bridge. For more information, visit the Head Of The River Race website. 🐻

• Now until 26 March 2022 : Crystal Palace International Film Festival

The CPIFF returns, featuring shorts and feature-length screenings, animation night, premieres, horror/sci-fi night, and documentary night. Ticket prices vary. At Everyman Crystal Palace and PictureHouse West Norwood. Nearest stations: Crystal Palace and West Norwood. For more information, visit the CPIFF website.

• 27 March 2022 : Flower Arranging Masterclass & Brunch @ Brother Marcus

Treat your mother to a flower arranging workshop with Stems Rebellion Flower Design, followed by a lavish brunch. 12pm-2pm. Tickets: £80. Brother Marcus Spitalfields, 2 Crispin Place, Spitalfields, E1 6DW. Nearest station: Liverpool Street. For booking, visit DesignMyNight.

• Now until 27 March 2022 : Secret Cinema presents Bridgerton

Step back in time to Georgian London in an immersive Bridgerton experience. Expect food, drink, live music, light show and immersive Georgian experiences. Fancy dress required. Over 18s only. Tickets from £39. At secret indoor location in Wembley. For more information and tickets, visit the Secret Bridgerton Ball website.

• Now until late March 2022 : Neon Drama and Pearl Drops

Immersive exhibition from the re-opened Mansard Gallery’s first artist-in-residence, Chila Kumari Singh Burman. Free entry. Mansard Gallery, Heal’s, 196 Tottenham Court Road, Fitzrovia, W1T 7LQ. Nearest stations: Goodge Street, Warren Street or Tottenham Court Road. For more information, visit the Heal’s website.

• 30 March – 2 April 2022 : Wandsworth Common Spring Beer Festival

The 12th annual beer festival returns to SW18, featuring 100 beers and 25 ciders to sample. Also featuring live entertainment. Open Wed 6pm-11pm, Thu 1pm-11pm, Fri 12.30pm-11pm, Sat 1pm-11pm. Tickets: £10-£40. Royal Victoria Patriotic Building, John Archer Way, Wandsworth, SW18 3SX. Nearest station: Clapham Junction, Wandsworth Town or Wandsworth Common. For tickets, visit Eventbrite.

• 30 March – 28 August 2022 : Mulan Rouge

An immersive, foodie, theatrical mash-up of Disney’s Mulan and Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! Overs 18s only. Dress Code: ‘A hot Paris night in the Mulan Rouge’. Times vary. Tickets: £45-£60. The Vaults, Leake Street, Waterloo, SE1 7NN. Nearest stations: Waterloo, Lambeth North or Waterloo East. For more information, visit The Vaults website.

• 31 March – 3 April 2022 : London Coffee Festival

Java lovers should head to the East End for this four celebration of coffee. Featuring tastings, coffee masters, food & wine pairing, Global Coffee School, DJs and more. Entry times via timed sessions. Thu and Fri daytime for industry only. Open to public: Fri 4pm-8pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 10am-5pm. Tickets from £24. Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, Spitalfields, E1 6QR. Nearest station: Shoreditch High Street or Aldgate East. For more information and tickets, visit the London Coffee Festival website.

• Now until 17 April 2022 : Francis Bacon – Man and Beast

New exhibition focuses on artist Francis Bacon’s fascination with animals. Open 10am-6pm. Tickets: £22-£24.50. Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD. Nearest station: Green Park or Piccadilly Circus. For more information, visit the RA website.

• Now until 18 April 2022 : Bob Marley – One Love Experience

An immersive experience celebrating the late, great singer, along with previously unseen photographs and memorabilia. Open Mon-Sun 10am-6pm. Tickets: Standard £18/£24, Children 9-14 yrs £10, Under 8s free when accompanying an adult. Saatchi Gallery, King’s Road, Chelsea, SW3 4RY. Nearest station: Sloane Square. For tickets, visit the Saatchi Gallery website. 🐻

• Now until 22 April 2022 : Sculpture In The City 2021/2022

Free public art exhibition, bringing 18 contemporary pieces to the streets and spaces of the City of London. Free. At various sites around the Square Mile. Nearest stations: Fenchurch Street, Monument or Liverpool Street. For more information and a map of the artworks, visit the Sculpture in the City website. Check out Metro Girl’s gallery of the exhibition.

• Now until 24 April 2022 : Body Vessel Clay exhibition

Explore 70 years of ceramics. Open daily 10am-4.30pm. Free entry. Two Temple Place, 2 Temple Place, Temple, WC2R 3BD. Nearest station: Temple. For more information, visit the Two Temple Place website.

• Now until 30 April 2022 : Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds – The Immersive Experience

An immersive experience inspired by the classic story. Travel back in time to Victorian London and the Martian invasion of 1898. Experience immersive theatre, virtual reality, augmented reality, holograms and other cutting-edge technology. Overs 12 only. Times vary. Tickets: £40-£130. The Old Metal Exchange, 56 Leadenhall Street, City of London, EC3A 2BJ. Nearest station: Aldgate or Fenchurch Street. For booking, visit the War of the World’s website. Check out Metro Girl’s review of the show.

• Now until 8 May 2022 : Van Gogh Self-Portraits

Vincent Van Gogh’s self-portraiture is explored in a new exhibition. Entry times from 10am-5.15pm. Tickets: Adults £16-£20, Under 18s free. The Courtauld Gallery, Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 0RN. Nearest station: Charing Cross, Embankment or Temple. For tickets, visit the Courtauld Gallery website. 🐻

• Now until 22 May 2022 : The Art of Banksy

Exhibition of Banksy’s art made up of pieces from private collections (although not curated or authorized by the artist himself). Expect prints, canvasses, screen prints, sculptures and other unique works. Open Mon-Wed & Sun 10am-6pm, Thu-Fri 10am-9pm, Sat 9.30am-7pm. Tickets: £14.50-£29.50, under 6s free. 50 Earlham Street, Covent Garden, WC2H 9LJ. Nearest stations: Leicester Square or Covent Garden. For tickets, visit the Art of Banksy website. Check out Metro Girl’s blog post on the exhibition. 🐻

• Now until 5 June 2022 : Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Witness the beauty and diversity of the natural world in this annual photography exhibition. Open Mon-Sun 11am-5.50pm. Tickets: Adults £15.50, Children £9.25. Natural History Museum, South Kensington, SW7 5BD. Nearest station: South Kensington. For more information and booking, visit the NHM museum website. 

• Now until 11 June 2022 : 20s People

A series of events and an exhibition marks the release of the 1921 Census of England and Wales. Including the immersive exhibition, The 1920s: Beyond the Roar, as well as exploring the archives, audio dramas, webinars and online talks. The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, TW9 4DU. Nearest station: Kew. For more information, visit the National Archives website. Check out Metro Girl’s blog post on the exhibition.

• Now until summer 2022 : Superblue London

AA Murakami, the artist duo behind Studio Swine, present a multi-sensory, immersive experience which explores the relationship between humans and nature. Open Tues-Thur: 10am-7pm, Fri-Sun: 10am-8pm. Tickets from £11-£13 (online), £13-£15 (walk-in). Superblue London, 6 Burlington Gardens, Mayfair. W1S 3ET. Nearest station: Green Park or Bond Street. For more information and tickets, visit the Superblue website.

• Now until 29 August 2022 : Surrealism Beyond Borders

Exhibition of surrealism artworks. Open daily 10am-6pm. Tickets: £18. Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG. Nearest station: Blackfriars. For more information, visit the Tate website.

• Now until 25 September 2022 : Beatrix Potter – Drawn to Nature

New exhibition celebrating the life and works of Beatrix Potter. Open 10am-5.15pm. Tickets: £14. Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, Kensington, SW7 2RL. Nearest station: South Kensington. For tickets, visit the V&A website. 🐻

• Now until July 2023 : Scenes in the Square

Check out bronze sculptures of iconic film characters around Leicester Square. Eight interactive characters, such as Laurel & Hardy to Wonder Woman will be placed in the square for four months. Free. Leicester Square, Westminster, WC2H 7DE. Nearest stations: Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus. For more information, visit the Leicester Square website. Check out Metro Girl’s gallery of the exhibition. 🐻

Explore London’s current exhibitions

The Art of Banksy exhibition extended until Spring 2022

National Archives launches 20sPeople events and exhibitions to celebrate release of the 1921 census

Guide to what’s on in London in April 2022