Find out what’s on in London in April, including the Ideal Home Show, Eid in the Square, St George’s Day, Vaisakhi and the London Coffee Festival.

It’s April so by now the spring weather should hopefully be in full swing. London is really opening up to tourists and the festival season really ramps up. Of course, the Easter holidays mean the capital becomes a hub of family fun with parents and carers looking for ways to entertain the little ones. This year, Easter Weekend takes place 7-10 April so expect a lot of special events over the long weekend. There’s also the annual festivities for Eid, Vaisakhi and St George’s Day.

Look out for the 🐻 for family-friendly activities.

• Now until 1 April 2023 : Wandsworth Common Spring Beer & Cider Festival

South London’s largest attended independent beer festival, featuring 100 beers and 25 ciders to sample. Also featuring live entertainment. Open Wed 6pm-11pm, Thu 1pm-11pm, Fri-Sat 1pm-11pm. Tickets: £12-£40. Le Gothique, John Archer Way, Wandsworth, SW18 3SX. Nearest station: Clapham Junction, Wandsworth Town or Wandsworth Common. For tickets, visit Eventbrite.

• 1 April 2023 : Number 90 Bar & Kitchen’s 9th Birthday Party

Canalside drinking and dining destination Number 90 are hosting their 9th birthday party all day, with DJs, food, cocktails. DJs include DJ Fett Burger, San Proper, Scarlett O’Malley, Aroop Roy and more. Open 12pm-4am. Free entry before 10pm, tickets from £5 after 10pm. Number 90 Bar & Kitchen, 90 Wallis Road, Hackney Wick, E9 5LN. Nearest station: Hackney Wick. For more information, visit the Number 90 website.

• 1 – 16 April 2023 : Spring Festival @ Battersea Power Station

Two weeks of family-friendly fun at the new Battersea Power Station retail and entertainment complex. Activities include Giant Flower Trail, Mobile Farm, Illustrated Playground, face-painting and more. Times vary. Battersea Power Station, Circus Road West, Battersea, SW8 5BN. Nearest stations: Battersea Power Station, Battersea Park or Queenstown Road Battersea. For more information, visit the Battersea Power Station website. 

• Now until 2 April 2023 : 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, Gregg Wallace, John Torode, Lisa Faulkner, Olly Smith, Rosemary Shrager, Kate Hardcastle, Danni Menzies, Paul A Young 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.

• Now until 2 April 2023 : 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 Nikita Pathakji, Asimakis Chianotis, Helen Graham, Lola Milne, Theodore Chana, Nathan Davies, Charlie Jeffreys, Carole Edwards, Skinny Jean Gardner, Kevin Flynn 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 2 April 2023 : 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. 

• Now until 2 April 2023 : Original Print Fair

View and buy original prints from old and modern masters. Open Thur-Fri 11am-8pm, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm. Tickets from £15. Somerset House, Strand, Westminster, WC2R 1LA. Nearest station: Temple. For more information and booking, visit the Original Print Fair website.

• 5 April 2023 : Wild Escape in the City

Free family activities will be taking place across the Square Mile as part of The Wild Escape. Including workshops, installations, story-telling, and more. For ages 3-11. Events are free, but booking is strongly recommended. At the Guildhall Art Gallery, London Metropolitan Archives, London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE and the Salter’s Company. For more information, visit the City of London website.

• 5 April 2023 : Kids Easter Egg Hunt @ Merchant Square

Head to the Paddington Basin with your little ones for an Easter Egg hunt with an Alice in Wonderland theme. For ages 4-12yrs. 11am-4pm (each hunt last 25 mins). Merchant Square, Paddington, W2. Nearest stations: Paddington and Edgware Road. For more information, visit the Merchant Square website.

• 5 April – 29 October 2023 : Crown to Couture exhibition @ Kensington Palace

Explore centuries of fashion, ranging from couture worn by the Georgians to red carpet ensembles by Lizzo at the Met Ball and Lady Gaga at the MTV Awards. Open Wed-Sun 10am-6pm. Tickets: Adults £24/£29, Children £12.70/£14. Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens, W8 4PX. Nearest station: Kensington High Street. For booking, visit the Historic Royal Palaces website. 🐻

• 7 April 2023 : The Passion of Jesus

Gather in Trafalgar Square to watch the Easter story performed by the Wintershall Players on Good Friday. Expect donkeys, doves, a 100-strong cast and a re-enactment of the Crucifixion. Performances at 12pm and 3.15pm. Free. Trafalgar Square, Westminster, WC2N 5DN. Nearest stations: Charing Cross, Embankment, Piccadilly Circus or Leicester Square. For more information, visit the Wintershall Players website. 🐻

• 7 – 9 April 2023 : Le Beat Bespoke

Indoor music festival returns celebrating 21st Century Modernist and Sixties inspired underground music culture. Featuring live bands, DJs, vintage market, guest clubs, all-nighters and Go Go dancers. Tickets range from £10 to £58. At various venues in East London, including Oslo, and Paper Dress Vintage. For more information and tickets, visit Le Beat Bespoke website.

• 7 – 10 April 2023 : Star Wars Celebration 2023

Four day celebration of Star Wars, including immersive exhibits, interactive show floor, screenings, merchandise, celebrity guests, panels, autograph sessions, fan activities, costumes and more. Tickets: Adults from £65, Children from £33. ExCel London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, E16 1XL. Nearest stations: Custom House or Prince Regent. For more information, visit the Star Wars Celebration website. 🐻

• 7 April – 30 July 2023 : Ai Weiwei – Making Sense @ The Design Museum

Ai Weiwei’s first exhibition focusing on design, featuring recent works and commissioned pieces. Open 10am-6pm. Tickets: Adults £15, Children £7.50. Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High St, Kensington, W8 6AG. Nearest stations: Earls Court, High Street Kensington or Holland Park. For booking, visit the Design Museum website.

• 8 April – 30 September 2023 : Coronation exhibition @ Westminster Abbey

Explore hundreds of years of Coronations at the event’s venue at an exhibition to coincide with King Charles III’s Coronation. Entry times vary (NB: the Abbey will be closed to visitors from 25 April – 7 May). Tickets (inc general entry to the Abbey): Adults £27, Children 6-17yrs £12. Westminster Abbey, 20 Dean’s Yard, Westminster, SW1P 3PA. Nearest stations: Westminster, St James’s Park or Victoria. For more information, visit the Westminster Abbey website. 🐻

• Now until 9 April 2023 : London Game Festival 2023

In-person and online festival to promote gaming and interactive entertainment, including a Trafalgar Square exhibition, LGF World Stage, Games Finance Market, the Now Play This exhibition, BAFTA Games Awards, industry talks, and more. For more information, visit the Games London website. 🐻

Brixton Windmill

• 9 April 2023 : Easter Family Day @ Brixton Windmill

Family event in the grounds of Brixton Windmill, featuring an Easter egg hunt, arts and craft workshop, windmill tours, windmill tours and more. From 1pm-5pm. Free entry. Brixton Windmill, Windmill Gardens (west end of Blenheim Gardens, off Brixton Hill), Brixton, SW2 5EU. Nearest station: Brixton. For more information, visit the Brixton Windmill website. 

• 14 April – 1 May 2023 : Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition

Check out images from the four competitions of the annual awards. Open Mon-Fri 11am-9pm, Sat-Sun 11am-8pm. Tickets: Standard £15, Children under 12 free. Somerset House, Strand, Westminster, WC2R 1LA. Nearest station: Temple. For more information, visit the Somerset House website. 🐻

• 14 April – 1 May 2023 : Tulip Festival @ Hampton Court Palace

Check out the UK’s biggest display of planted tulips. Daily tulips talks at 11am and 2pm. Open 10am-5.30pm. Tickets (inc with regular entry): Adults £26-£29, Child £13-£14.50. Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, KT8 9AU. Nearest station: Hampton Court. For more information, visit the Hampton Court Palace website. 🐻

• 15 – 16 April 2023 : Classic Car Boot Sale

Buy music, food, fashion and more surrounded by classic cars and bikes. Also featuring street food, clothing repair stalls, live DJs, craft beer and cocktail stalls. Open 10am-6pm. Tickets: £6. Granary Square, Kings Cross, N1. Nearest station: Kings Cross St Pancras. For more information, visit the King’s Cross website.

• 19 April – 11 July 2023 : No Place Like Home (A Vietnamese Exhibition) Part II

Vietnamese diasporic artists explore the theme of the home through a Vietnamese lens. There will also be accompanying workshops, food sharing, performances and a panel discussion. Open Tues-Sun 10am-5pm. Free entry. Museum of the Home, 36 Kingsland Road, Hoxton, E2 8EA. Nearest station: Hoxton. For more information, visit the Museum of the Home website.

• 20 – 23 April 2023 : London Coffee Festival 2023

Festival of Java, 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.

• 20 – 23 April 2023 : SicilyFEST London 2023 Edition

A gastronomic celebration of Sicily, featuring wine-tasting, food samples, masterclasses and live entertainment. Open Thur: 5:30pm-10pm, Fri: 11am-10pm, Sat: 11am-8pm, Sun: 10am-5:30pm. Tickets: £3.50. Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, Islington, N1 0QH. Nearest station: Angel. For more information, visit the FeverUp website.

• 21 – 23 April 2023 : The Cycle Show 2023

The UK’s biggest cycling show returns to Ally Pally,. Featuring test rides, expert advice, shopping and more. Open Fri-Sun 10am-5pm. Tickets: Adults from £16, Children 5-16yrs £7. Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY. Nearest station: Alexandra Palace or Wood Green. For more information, visit the Alexandra Palace website. 

• 21 April – 7 May 2023 : La Linea

The London Latin Music Festival returns at venues across the capital. Venues include Jazz Cafe, Rich Mix, Colour Factory, SOAS Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre, Barbican, AMP Studios and Village Underground. For more information, visit the Como No website.

• 22 April 2023 : Vaisakhi festival

Trafalgar Square hosts a celebration of Sikh and Punjabi tradition, heritage and culture. Featuring Kirtan (spiritual music), Gatka (Sikh martial arts), Langar, cooking demonstrations and Sikh art display. From 1pm-6pm. Free. Trafalgar Square, Westminster, WC2N 5DN. Nearest stations: Charing Cross, Embankment, Piccadilly Circus or Leicester Square. For more information, visit the London.gov.uk website. 

• 23 April 2023 : St George’s Day 2023

Celebrate England’s Patron Saint with an afternoon of live music, entertainment, family activities and traditional food and drink stalls. From 12pm-6pm. Free. Trafalgar Square, Westminster, WC2N 5DN. Nearest stations: Charing Cross, Embankment, Piccadilly Circus or Leicester Square. For more information, visit the London.gov.uk website.  

• 23 April 2023 : St George & The Dragon Street Theatre

Local theatre troupe The Lion’s Part will be performing the story of St George and the Dragon to mark the Patron Saint of England’s day. Performances at 11.15am, 12.15pm, 1.15pm and 2.15pm. Free. Market Hall, Borough Market, 8 Southwark Street, Borough, SE1 1TL. Nearest station: London Bridge. For more information, visit the Borough Market website.

• 24 April 2023 : Shakespeare’s First Folio display @ Guildhall Library

View The Bard’s First Folio on the 400th anniversary of its publication. Open 10.30am-3.30pm. Guildhall Library, Guildhall Yard, City of London, EC2V. Nearest station: St Paul’s. For more information, visit the City Of London website.

• 25 – 30 April 2023 : Marylebone Food Festival

Restaurants and cafes across Marylebone take part in a week-long foodie celebration. Featuring special festival menus, events and a launch dinner hosted by Jay Rayner and top London chefs. At various venues in Marylebone Village, W1. Nearest stations: Bond Street, Marble Arch or Baker Street. For more information, visit the festival website.

• 27 April 2023 : Devonshire Square’s Festival of Dance – Coronation Event

An evening of dance to celebrate the impending Coronation of King Charles III. Watch dance groups perform a range of traditional genres, from folk to classical. 5.30pm-8.30pm. Free (but register through Eventbrite). Devonshire Square (Western Courtyard), City of London, EC2M. Nearest stations: Liverpool Street or Aldgate. For more information, visit the Devonshire Square website.

• 28 April 2023 : RuPaul’s Drag Race UK @ Royal Albert Hall

The cast of Series 4 bring their tour to London, featuring Baby, Black Peppa, Cheddar Gorgeous, Copper Top, Dakota Schiffer, Jonbers Blonde, Just May, Le Fil, Pixie Polite, Sminty Drop, Starlet and current champion Danny Beard. 8pm. Tickets: £40.50-£84.50. Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP. Nearest station: South Kensington or Knightsbridge. For tickets, visit the Royal Albert Hall website.

• 29 April 2023 : Eid in the Square

Celebrate the Muslim festival of Eid and the end of Ramadan in Trafalgar Square, with traditional and contemporary entertainment, costumes, food stalls, workshops, sporting events, and tours. Open 12pm-6pm. Free to attend. Trafalgar Square, Westminster, WC2N 5DN. Nearest stations: Charing Cross, Embankment, Piccadilly Circus or Leicester Square. For more information, visit the London.gov.uk website. 🐻

• 29 April 2023 : Queen’s Yard Summer Party 2022

Festival spread out across Hackney Wick features the best of local art, culture, wellness, food and drink. At various venues across E9. For listings and more information, visit the party’s website.

Canalway Cavalcade returns to Little Venice

• 29 April – 1 May 2023 : IWA Canalway Cavalcade 2023

The unique waterways and community festival at Little Venice celebrates its 40th anniversary. Features stalls, bands, kids’ activities, Morris dancers, a Real Ale bar, food and pageant of boats. Open 10am-5pm. Free. Little Venice, Maida Vale, W2. Nearest station: Warwick Avenue. For more information, visit the Inland Waterways Association website. For Metro Girl’s blog post on a previous year’s Cavalcade, click here. 

• 29 April – 7 May 2023 : Grand Designs Live

Find inspiration to improve or build your home with experts and top brands. Open 10am-5pm. Tickets: Weekday £13, weekend £16, Children 15yr and under free. ExCel, Royal Victoria Dock, Docklands, E16 1XL. Nearest stations: Prince Regent or Custom House. For more information, visit the show’s official website. 🐻

• Now until mid-April 2023 : Sculpture in the City 2022/2023

Free public art exhibition, bringing 19 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 blog post on the exhibition.🐻

• Now until 8 May 2023 : Ukraine – Photographs from the Frontline

Harrowing exhibition of images taken by photojournalist Anastasia Taylor-Lind in Ukraine in the run up to and during the current conflict with Russia. Open daily 10am-6pm. Free entry. Imperial War Museum London, Lambeth Road, Lambeth, SE1 6HZ. Nearest station: Lambeth North. For more information, visit the IWM website.

• Now until 9 May 2023 : Beyond the Streets London

New exhibition showcases graffiti and street art, curated by Roger Gastman and featuring over 100 artists. Open daily 10am-6pm. Tickets: Standard £25, 6-16 yrs £10. Saatchi Gallery, King’s Road, Chelsea, SW3 4RY. Nearest station: Sloane Square. For tickets, visit the Saatchi Gallery website. 🐻

• Now until TBC May 2023 : Frameless

Explore a new way to engage with art in an immersive, multi-sensory experience. Visitors can travel through four galleries, coming up close to masterpieces from the likes of Cezanne, Kandinsky, Monet, Dalí, Van Gogh, Canaletto, Rembrandt and Klimt, among others. Opening hours vary. Tickets from £15, Kids under 5 yrs free. 6 Marble Arch Place, Marylebone, W1H 7AP. Nearest station: Marble Arch. For tickets, visit the Frameless website.🐻

• Now until 4 June 2023 : David Hockney – Bigger and Closer

Experience the world through Hockney’s eyes in an immersive, digital art exhibition. Open daily, hours vary. Tickets from £25. Lightroom, 12 Lewis Cubitt Square, King’s Cross, N1C 4DY. Nearest station: King’s Cross St Pancras. For more information, visit the Lightroom website.

• Now until 4 June 2023 : Thin Air

Exhibition brings together works by seven contemporary artists as they transform 55,000 square feet of connecting environments, using light, atmospherics, sound and experimental new media. Open Wed-Thur 12pm-9pm, Fri 12pm-11pm, Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-7pm. Tickets: Adults £20/£25, Child 4-16 yrs £10. Beams, Thameside Industrial Estate (West End of Thames Refinery), Factory Road, Royal Docks, E16 2HB. Nearest station: London City Airport or Pontoon Dock. For more information, visit the Beams website. 🐻

• Now until 30 June 2023 : 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 1 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. 🐻

• Now until 10 September 2023 : Berthe Morisot – Shaping Impressionism @ Dulwich Picture Gallery

The first UK exhibition since 1950 of one of Impressionism’s founding artists Berthe Morisot. Open Tues-Sun 10am-5pm. Tickets: Adults £15/£16.50. Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, Dulwich, SE21 7AD. Nearest stations: West Dulwich or North Dulwich. For booking, visit the Dulwich Picture Gallery website. 

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