ROUNDHOUSE THREE SIXTY: Camden's Roundhouse replaces its In The Round festival with new event Roundhouse Three Sixty. Running throughout the month across the entire site, the programme features music, spoken word, theatre, visual arts, podcasts, and club nights, all celebrating unapologetic and boundary-pushing artists. Corinne Bailey-Rae, Tom Odell and Vogue Rites all feature, and the legendary Roundhouse Poetry Slam is back. 1-30 April
PHIL ROSENTHAL: Star of documentary series Somebody Feed Phil, Phil Rosenthal is at the London Palladium for one night only as part of his tour. Hear him talk about his 40-year career, which includes creating comedy show Everybody Loves Raymond and producing and starring in the Netflix food and travel show which he's best known for. 2 April
SAD BOOK: Author Michael Rosen provides live narration for the stage adaptation of his book Sad Book, at Hackney Empire. Dancers and actors appear on stage to share the personal story of loss and grief, which Rosen wrote as a response to children asking him questions about his own son's death. 2 April
JAB: Inspired by true events, theatre show Jab tells the story of a couple whose marriage falls apart while the Covid lockdown goes on around them. The black comedy drama explores themes of power, gender, domestic violence, conspiracy theories, ignorance, and the limits of love, starring Kacey Ainsworth (Little Mo in Eastenders) and Liam Tobin. 2-26 April
ED ATKINS: Tate Britain opens the first major UK exhibition of work by Ed Atkins, one of the most influential British artists working today, best-known for creating computer-generated videos and animations. On display here are moving image works from the last 15 years alongside writing, paintings, embroideries and drawings, weighing the digital up against the physical. 2 April-25 August
FIXING OUR BROKEN PLANET: As Londonist reported back in February, the Natural History Museum opens a new (FREE!) gallery, its first in almost a decade. Fixing Our Broken Planet explores the biggest challenges currently facing our planet, with over 250 specimens on display including a Sumatran rhino, parasitic worms and whale's earwax. FREE, from 3 April
GIUSEPPE PENONE: Sculptures and works from 1969 to today by Italian artist Guiseppe Penone go on display at Serpentine South Gallery, extending beyond the gallery into the surrounding park too. Penone is a leading figure in the Arte Povera movement which celebrates the simplicity of natural materials and artistic techniques, and the works on display here showcase the relationship between humans and the natural world, FREE, 3 April-7 September
COMEDY IMPROVATHON: Now in its 15th year, The London 50 Hour Improvathon is back at Pleasance Theatre in Islington for a 50-hour completely improvised comedy soap opera in 25 episodes. Think Moulin Rouge meets The Greatest Showman, with performers becoming increasingly sleep-deprived as time goes on. No need for you to watch the whole thing though — tickets are available for each episode individually.4-6 April
ROADSIDE: New one-person show Roadside is playing at the Cockpit Theatre. Apparently the first theatre play set in, and created by, the UK's New Traveller community, it tells the story of Milly, who questions whether life on the road is what she wants. 4-6 April
MUDLARKING: The London Museum Docklands hosts Secrets of the Thames: Mudlarking London's Lost Treasures, an exhibition showcasing artefacts sourced from the Thames foreshore, including a Tudor knitted hat, a medieval gold ring with an inscription, and a Viking-era dagger. 4 April 2025-March 2026
MIDNIGHT COWBOY: Midnight Cowboy - A New Musical makes its world premiere at Southwark Playhouse Elephant, based on the novel by James Leo Herlihy, which in turn inspired a film of the same name. It's about the unlikely friendship between two men who head to New York City in search of a better life. 4 April-17 May
Sponsor message
Free events at the Southbank Centre
Did you know that the Southbank Centre — one of London's best-loved cultural institutions — hosts a wealth of events that won't cost you a penny?
There's always something free happening at the Southbank Centre, as part of their Open Doors series:
-
Live music performances in the Clore Ballroom.
-
Hands-on Creative Encounters workshops designed to get your creative juices flowing, and giving you the chance to meet new people.
-
Works in Progress from young creatives to wow and inspire you.
-
Mix & Move sessions, where professional dance artists teach you global moves.
-
Simmer Down, a joyful musical meet-up set to reggae rhythms.
-
Seriously fun Saturday Sessions for ages 5-11 and their grown-ups.
-
WordPlay, a new educational session for younger kids, encouraging creativity, communication and connection.
All of these events and more are open to everyone, and totally free to enjoy. Check out the Southbank Centre's free events listings, and get an Open Doors event in the diary today!
EASTER HOLIDAYS: The middle two weeks of April are the Easter holidays for the majority of London schools. If you've got children or teenagers to entertain, take a look at our Easter holidays events guide — we've covered shows, exhibitions and one-off events, as well as some free things to do. 5-21 April
CATS IN CARTOONS: The Cartoon Museum puts felines in the spotlight for its Cats in Cartoons exhibition. The greatest cats to grace comics, newspapers and magazines feature, including Bagpuss and Garfield. The show explores why we're so drawn to cats. 5 April-7 September
BLACKSTAGE PRESENTS: AUDACITY: Pole dancers of colour are in the spotlight at Blackstage Presents: Audacity, an international pole dancing competition at Clapham Grand. Blackstage is a Black Queer sex worker-led company centring BPOC pole dancers. 6 April
SILVERTOWN TUNNEL: Big transport news, as the Silvertown Tunnel is due to open on 7 April. You can find out all about it here. The good news: it's a whole new route for vehicles to cross the tunnel, and several new bus routes, including a Superloop, will launch on the day it opens. The bad news (for drivers): tolls will apply to use the tunnel — and to use the previously-free Blackwall Tunnel. 7 April
QUEEN BY CANDLELIGHT: The music of rock band Queen is celebrated at the London Palladium, where some of their top hits are performed in a candlelit tribute concert. A 14-piece rock band perform Bohemian Rhapsody, It’s a Kind of Magic, We Are The Champions, Who Wants to Live Forever and many more hits. 8 April
NORA TURATO: The ICA's latest exhibition features the first solo presentation in the UK by Amsterdam-based artist Nora Turato. The installation includes newly commissioned works incorporating performance, writing, graphic design, video and sound. Turato explores our collective relationship to language, examining the ideologies and pleasures of modern communication through her own unique lens. 9 April-8 June
BREW LDN: Raise a glass to Brew LDN — the beer festival is back at Between The Bridges on South Bank this year. Toast Brewing, Renegade Brewery, Jiddler's Tipple, and Mad Squirrel are among the companies confirmed. The festival doubles up as the launch event for Between The Bridges' summer 2025 season. 10-12 April
NOW PLAY THIS: Tying in with the London Games Festival (2-13 April), Somerset House hosts annual games festival Now Play This 2025, this year with a theme of Folk Games. Child-friendly activities include an interactive dance performance for all ages, make-your-own-game workshops, and a trail to play around Somerset House. 11-12 April
TULIP FESTIVAL: Over 100,000 tulip bulbs bring a riot of colour to the gardens of Hampton Court Palace for its annual Tulip Festival — one of the UK's largest displays of planted tulips. Wander through the formal gardens and historic courtyards, and see 'floating' bowls in the Great Fountain and a free style of planting in the kitchen gardens. Find other places to see tulips in and around London. 11 April-5 May
THE GREAT GATSBY: Tony Award-winning musical The Great Gatsby transfers from Broadway to the London stage, based on the classic American novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Set in 1920s New York, it's the story of the fallout of one millionaire's unrequited love. 11 April-7 September
EDWARDIAN ELEGANCE: This exhibition at the King's Gallery (Buckingham Palace) showcases over 300 objects from the Edwardian era, many displayed for the first time, detailing the lives and tastes of two of Britain's most fashionable royal couples: King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and King George V and Queen Mary. Notable artists include Carl Fabergé and Edward Burne-Jones. 11 April-23 November
CARTIER: The V&A's glitzy new exhibition is Cartier, a deep-dive into the luxury jewellery brand's history and legacy, featuring more than 350 objects, including precious jewels, historic gemstones, watches and clocks. From 12 April
SPRING PLANT FAIR: Browse and buy garden plants from expert growers hailing from all over the country at the Garden Museum's Spring Plant Fair. Great Dixter Nursery in East Sussex and Beth Chatto Garden in Essex are among the organisations taking part, with a programme of talks and workshops happening throughout the day. 13 April
RU PAUL'S DRAG RACE: RuPaul’s Drag Race Werq the World tour comes to the London Palladium. Sasha Velour hosts, with Derrick Barry as Britney Spears, Jaida Essence Hall as Beyoncé, Marina Summers as Ariana Grande, Roxxxy Andrews as Mariah Carey and Vanessa Vanjie as Rihanna. 14 April
COMEDY ABOUT SPIES: Mischief, the comedy theatre troupe who created The Play That Goes Wrong, launch a new show, The Comedy About Spies. Opening at the Noël Coward Theatre, it's a spy thriller caper set in 1960s London, about a rogue British agent who steals plans for a secret new weapon. From 14 April
BRITISH SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS: There are six days of action at the London Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park, at the British Swimming Championships. Tickets are available for the public to watch both heats and finals, with swimming and para-swimming event schedules running concurrently, and the event playing a role in team selection for the world championships. 15-20 April
SWAN LAKE: English National Ballet and English National Ballet School offer performances of My First Ballet: Swan Lake, at the Peacock Theatre. It's a reimagined version of the famous ballet created especially for children (age 3+), shortened to an hour in length, with a narrator to help you follow the story. 16-27 April
SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS: One of our favourite photography shows every year, the Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition returns to Somerset House, showcasing images taken all over the world in the past year, spanning portraiture, documentary photography, architecture, sports and more. Previously unseen works by the 2024 Photographer of the Year Juliette Pavy are also on show. 17 April-5 May
MY MASTER BUILDER: Ewan McGregor, Kate Fleetwood and Elizabeth Debicki star in new play My Master Builder, set in the Hamptons on the eve of American Independence Day. It's the story of a wealthy couple whose marriage is shattered by the unexpected arrival of Mathilde, a former student of the architect husband. See it at Wyndham's Theatre. 17 April-12 July
EASTER WEEKEND: Keep yourself busy with our guide to spending the bank holiday weekend in London, and this selection of special Easter events in the capital. 18-21 April
VAISKHI FESTIVAL: Vaisakhi — the Sikh and Punjabi cultural festival — takes place on 14 April this year, but London's main celebration returns to Trafalgar Square a few days later. The free festival features live entertainment and performances, martial arts demonstrations, a showcase of Sikh art, plus food and drink stalls. FREE, 19 April
DINOSAUR ADVENTURE LIVE: The Big Jurassic Storm is the new production by Dinosaur Adventure Live, bringing giant dinosaur puppets and models on stage at Fairfield Halls. Join a mission to find a hidden code, reboot a satellite and save the dinosaurs from a huge storm.19 April
ST GEORGE'S DAY: 23 April is St George's Day, a celebration of the patron saint of England (plus Catalonia, Ethiopia, and various other regions). London's free St George's Day Festival takes place in Trafalgar Square a couple of days before, with live music and performers, family activities, and food and drink. FREE, 20/23 April
LATIN MUSIC FESTIVAL: La Linea Latin music festival takes place at several venues around central London. It opens with Latin Grammy award-winner Eliades Ochoa, one of the original members of Buena Vista Social Club, performing live at Barbican. Browse the full programme. 22 April-5 May
MULTITUDES FESTIVAL: Southbank Centre launches a brand new festival, Multitudes, shining the spotlight on orchestral music while also incorporating dance, visual art and poetry. Highlights include City of Floating Sounds, an immersive musical journey through central London, with six different starting points to choose from, and a soundtrack provided by the BBC Concert Orchestra. 23 April-23 May
HERE WE ARE: Stephen Sondheim's final musical Here We Are gets a revival at the National Theatre, starring Rory Kinnear, Richard Fleeshman, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Tracie Bennett in a story of a group of friends going out for a meal and experiencing a series of strange events. 23 April-28 June
BEAUTY, BIRDS AND BEASTS: Rarely seen bird studies are the centrepiece of a new exhibition devoted to animals and birds painted by J.M.W. Turner, at Turner's House in Twickenham. Turner's Kingdom: Beauty, Birds and Beasts displays fifteen artworks on loan from British public collections, showcasing the landscape artist's lesser-known work with fur, feathers and fins. 23 April-26 October
JOHN CRACE: The Guardian’s political sketchwriter John Crace takes part in a live show at Bloomsbury Theatre, offering a comedic look at the last 10 years in British politics, spanning the Scottish referendum, Brexit... and the Queen's final words to Liz Truss. 24 April
FORGOTTEN AERODROMES: A double header of forgotten aerodromes comes to the Horse Hospital in Bloomsbury. Historian Mark Amies explains how Hendon was once an essential part of British aviation history, while Londonist Editor Will Noble transports you back to the 1920s and 30s, when Croydon was the capital's continental travel hub — swarming with Hollywood stars and tourists. 24 April
BRICK LANE JAZZ FESTIVAL: The Brick Lane Jazz Festival returns for a weekend of live music. Headline acts include American multi-instrumentalist Laraaji, soul-funk-r&b artist and producer Adi Oasis, and MOBO-nominated Ragz Originale, among many others. 25-27 April
ROMEO AND JULIET: Shakespeare's Globe stages arguably the playwright's best-known work, Romeo and Juliet... except it's been plucked from the streets of Verona and dropped in the Wild West. Saloon brawls and frenzied parties ensue as the son and daughter of two enemy families fall in love. 25 April-2 August
BOOKS IN THE PARK: After a successful first year, literary festival Books in the Park is back at Beckenham Place Park for a second innings. It's a day of events for both adults and children with talks, guided walks, workshops, and even a cheese tasting. Yum! 26 April
NEW ORLEANS: Spend an evening in New Orleans at We Call It Jazz, a one-night live music performance at St Mary's Church in Marylebone celebrating the birthplace of the music genre. Jazz musicians and vocalists perform a blend of setlist tunes and improvisation. 26 April
TWEED RUN: Style meets cycling as the Tweed Run meanders through London's streets and parks, with cyclists competing in categories including best-dressed individuals, finest moustaches, and most elegantly adorned bicycles, among others. Stops for tea, a picnic, and a celebratory cocktail are built into the schedule. How sophisticated. 26 April
CHRONIC YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL: Chronic Youth Film Festival returns to Barbican, championing emerging and underrepresented filmmakers with a weekend of screenings and events programmed around the theme of Against All Odds. It launches with the UK premiere of José María Cabral’s Tiger, a coming-of-age feature examining a teenager’s act of defiance towards machismo culture in the Dominican Republic. 26-27 April
CLASSIC CAR BOOT SALE: Pre-1990 vehicles including cars, campervans, hot rods, scooters, caravans, motorbikes and custom bicycles park up in King's Cross for the Classic Car Boot Sale — a weekend of shopping, eating and dancing. Browse and buy vintage clothing and homewares from the Charity Super.Mkt, and visit the Repair Shop for advice on caring for your vintage garments. 26-27 April
GLADIATOR IN CONCERT: Believe it or not Russell Crowe film Gladiator turns 25 this year, an anniversary being celebrated at the Royal Albert Hall, where it's shown on the large screen, accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra performing Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard’s Golden Globe-winning score live. 26-27 April
GIANT: John Lithgow reprises his role as children's writer Roald Dahl in Mark Rosenblatt's play Giant, addressing the author's complex legacy amidst controversies surrounding his antisemitic views. The play runs at Harold Pinter Theatre. 26 April-2 August
LONDON MARATHON: It's that time of year again, when thousands of runners pound the pavements in London, many in bizarre costumes to raise money for good causes. This year's London Marathon follows the usual route and format. Even if you're not watching or taking part, be aware of widespread road closures, bus diversions and the like, on and around the route. 27 April
CHERRY BLOSSOM: The capital's cherry blossoms are just about still in flower as we enter April. Check out our guide to where to see these candy floss-esque trees in London, and flood your Instagram feed with pink.
BLUEBELLS: Out with the pink and in with the blue. The lilac hues usually crank up a notch towards the end of April and into May, as bluebell season takes hold. Here are the best places to find bluebells in and around London.
LAST CHANCE TO SEE: A few things are closing this month too. It's your last chance to see:
MUCH ADO: Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell star as Benedick and Beatrice in a production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Until 5 April
ALTERATIONS: Lyttelton Theatre at the National Theatre stages Alterations, a play about a tailor running a small business who works through the night to complete a large order, causing him to question what price he is willing to pay for success. Until 5 April
RAMADAN LIGHTS: Between 28 February and 6 April, the West End's Ramadan lights are illuminated on Coventry Street. From 30 March onwards, they display the message 'Happy Eid', alongside Islamic geometric patterns and the celestial symbols of Ramadan. FREE, until 6 April
NAOMI IN FASHION: At the V&A, the NAOMI In Fashion exhibition puts the spotlight on the career of model Naomi Campbell, via the creative output of the many photographers and designers who've worked with her. As with all V&A fashion exhibitions, it's likely to be very popular in its final days, so do book ahead. Until 6 April
SOIL: Landmark exhibition SOIL: The World at Our Feet at Somerset House explores the wonder of soil, its links to all life, and the vital role it plays in our planet's future. Works by more than 50 artists, writers, and scientists are on display, including a 13ft-high photo by National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson. Until 13 April
IMPORTANCE OF BEING OSCAR: Time's running out to catch the first London revival in over 25 years of Micheál MacLiammóir‘s play, The Importance of Being Oscar. Alastair Whatley stars as playwright Oscar Wilde, telling the story of how his life of fame, glamour, and romance led him to become an imprisoned outcast. Until 19 April
TURANDOT: Puccini's opera Turandot, which features the famous aria Nessun Dorma, is performed on the main stage at the Royal Opera House, telling the story of a princess who will only marry a man who will solve three riddles. Anyone who fails is beheaded. Until 19 April
THREE SISTERS: For the first time ever, the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at the Globe Theatre hosts the work of Anton Chekhov. A new translation of Three Sisters tells the story of three sisters, their brother, and his fiancé in a small town, in the middle of nowhere. Until 19 April
LIVES LESS ORDINARY: The impressive Two Temple Place venue hosts Lives Less Ordinary. The free exhibition takes a deep dive into working-class representation in British art through more than 150 works by working-class artists, spanning painting, photography, film, sculpture and ceramics. It challenges the notion that art is the domain of the middle and upper classes. FREE, until 20 April
JOHN MORLEY: The first solo exhibition of work by painter John Morley in almost 30 years is at the Garden Museum. John Morley: Artist Gardener showcases his paintings and pastels of flowers, fruits and garden plants, many of which have never been publicly displayed. Until 20 April
VERSAILLES: Science Museum hosts exhibition Versailles: Science and Splendour. Find out how the famous French palace became a major site of scientific thinking in the 17th and 18th centuries, from mapping the moon to pioneer Madame du Coudray, who trained thousands of midwives across rural France. Until 21 April
BRASIL! BRASIL!: The Royal Academy is home to a major exhibition featuring over 130 works by ten important Brazilian artists from the 20th century. Brasil! Brasil! The Birth of Modernism spans the 1910s-1970s, with works from rarely seen Brazilian private collections, as well as Brazilian public collections, most of which have never been exhibited in the UK. Until 21 April
EXPLORING SPACE: The Easter holidays are your last chance to see the entirety of the Exploring Space gallery at Science Museum. From 22 April, the gallery will be partly closed (and completely closed from June) to make way for a new space-themed display opening later this year. Objects on display include the descent module that carried astronauts Tim Peake, Yuri Malenchenko and Tim Kopra back from the International Space Station. FREE, until 22 April
UNICORN: Nicola Walker, Stephen Mangan and Erin Doherty star in Unicorn, a play at the Garrick Theatre about a couple who appear to have everything, but feel like something's missing. Until 26 April
THE SCORE: Succession star Brian Cox appears in The Score, playing the role of composer Johann Sebastian Bach in 1747 Prussia. The production delves into the tensions and explosive events between Bach and Frederick II, Europe’s most ambitious and dangerous leader. See it at Theatre Royal Haymarket. Until 26 April
SOLID LIGHT: The immersive works of Anthony McCall take centre stage in Solid Light at Tate Modern. Beams of light are projected through a thin mist creating large three-dimensional forms in space, which slowly shift and change. Until 27 April
WAR AND THE MIND: The psychological effects of war are explored in free exhibition War and the Mind at the Imperial War Museum. It questions how humans think, feel and act during conflict, from the First World War to the present day. FREE, until 27 April
SALT COSMOLOGIES: Free exhibition Salt Cosmologies is in the courtyard at Somerset House, taking the form of an 80m-long fabric installation representing the Inland Customs Line, a 2,500 mile-long 'hedge' created by the British to enforce salt taxation during colonial rule in India. The exhibition continues inside the building, focusing on other aspects of Britain’s imperial salt monopoly in India. FREE, until 27 April
ADWOMEN: 100 years of women in advertising is celebrated in AdWomen at the Museum of Brands in Notting Hill. Find out how advertising has both influenced and reflected women's societal and domestic roles over the last century, including the pioneering women who created groundbreaking TV ads that transformed the industry. Adverts dating back as far as the 1920s are on show. Until 28 April
DICK WHITTINGTON: Guildhall Library is the apt location for an exhibition about legendary Mayor of London Dick Whittington, given the Library was founded by money left in his will. Find out how, in the intervening six centuries, his story has changed from one of a politician and philanthropist into a rags-to-riches tale of penniless orphan. FREE, until 30 April
