Looking for something fun to do today? Something eye-opening to watch tonight? Something delicious to eat tomorrow? Our guide to things to do this week in London is personally curated, ensuring there's always a diverse range of events for you to choose from. Get stuck in!
TUBE STRIKES: At time of writing, strike action is due to take place on the Tube this week, 21-22 and 23-24 April, with significant disruption expected. Full details here, with updates on the TfL website.
What's on all week
LATIN MUSIC FESTIVAL: La Linea Latin music festival shimmies into several venues around central London from Monday. It opens with Portuguese singer Sara Correia performing live at Barbican to launch her new album, with Lia Kali, Renata Flores and Las Salseras also performing this week. Browse the full programme. 20 April-6 May 2026
CHOIR BOY: Last chance to see Tarell Alvin McCraney’s coming-of-age play, Choir Boy, at Theatre Royal Stratford East, on transfer from the Bristol Old Vic. It follows Pharus and the boys of Charles R. Drew Prep School through questions of race, sexuality and brotherhood, interwoven with a cappella gospel hymns. Until 25 April 2026
TEENAGE SHE-DEVIL: Comedy-horror rock musical about wallflower Nancy Nelson, who is transformed into a revenge‑seeking rocker by the Devil, I Was A Teenage She-Devil stars Aoife Haakenson, Sean Arkless and Jacob Birch, and runs until the end of this week at The Other Palace. Until 26 April 2026
SERPENTINE CURRENTS: Dana‑Fiona Armour's Serpentine Currents courtyard installation is a three-part illuminated sculpture modelled from a 3D scan of the endangered sea snake Aipysurus fuscus, its mesh LED surface animated using historic and predictive ocean data. FREE, until 26 April 2026. Also closing at Somerset House on Sunday is the Museum of Edible Earth, an exhibition about the practice of eating earth for health, ritual and culinary benefit. Until 26 April 2026
WEMBLEY PARK PHOTOS: Chris Winter’s outdoor photography exhibition maps a decade of change in Wembley Park with 16 large-format images displayed across Olympic Way, Market Square and Wembley Park Boulevard. The photographs (shot between 2017 and 2025) focus on urban wildlife, local life and the area’s changing architecture. FREE, until 30 April 2026
LIGHT: Highgate’s Lauderdale House hosts Light, a collaborative exhibition by artists Stephanie Shrager and Sonia Thomas exploring the titular theme through drawing, painting, and monotypes. The display in the ground-floor Lower Gallery features abstract cityscapes and figurative works alongside pieces investigating haunting and loss. FREE, until 4 May 2026
EAT OF THE WEEK: Mondo Sando (described by one critic as 'probably the best sandwich shop in Britain') has just opened grab-and-go sarnie shop Mondo To Go in Deptford Arches. If you happen to live/work in the area, lunchtime just got a lot more exciting, thanks to house-baked subs filled to brimming with all sorts of ever-changing savoury delights — some exclusive to Deptford.
DRINK OF THE WEEK: Newly uncorked wine bar Sova is now open for business in Notting Hill, pouring a selection of Central and Eastern European wines, and spinning vinyls alongside. There's also a small food menu, featuring Balkan & Alpine cheeses, and whisky & honey-roasted baby chicken.
Today's events: Monday 20 April
LUNCHTIME CONCERT: Clarinettist Poppy Beddoe and pianist Matthew Taylor perform a lunchtime recital at Blackheath Halls. The programme features Beddoe’s own transcriptions of J.S. Bach alongside works by Schumann, Stravinsky, and a fantasia on themes from La Traviata. 1.10pm
A WORLD WITHOUT WORK: Economist and author Professor Daniel Susskind visits Barnard's Inn Hall to discuss the potential for "structural" technological unemployment. The Gresham College lecture explores how AI might eventually outperform humans at every economically useful task and what that means for the future of the labour market. Attend in person or watch online. FREE, 6pm
CAMBER: New indie trio Camber come to The Waiting Room in Stoke Newington for their first ever London headline show. The group blends the sound of the UK underground scene with American midwest emo to explore themes of teenage angst and escapism. 7pm-10pm
CHEMSEX AND THE BRAIN: Dr Stephen Naulls presents findings from the world’s first brain-imaging study on the impact of sexualised drug use at this Pints of Knowledge talk at Camden Town Brewery Beer Hall. The session explores how reward systems and decision-making networks adapt when sexual cues and psychoactive drugs like methamphetamine and GHB become tightly bound together. 7pm
CHARITY COMEDY: Award-winning comedian and author Sara Pascoe hosts a night of stand-up at Soho Theatre Walthamstow. The evening features a stellar line-up including Jess Fostekew, Rosie Jones, and Iain Stirling, with all proceeds supporting east London youth charity Write Back. 7.30pm
SIX ISLINGTON SQUARES: Explore the domestic architecture of 19th-century Islington from home with this virtual tour hosted by Footprints of London. Guide Rob Smith leads an illustrated Zoom presentation through the first suburbs of London, sharing stories of the theatre critics, singers, and experts in guerrilla warfare who once lived in these historic Barnsbury squares. 8pm
CHLOE FLOWER: Korean‑American pianist and composer Chloe Flower performs at Kings Place. Flower is known for crossover collaborations (including with Cardi B and Nas), composing for film, television and major brands, and her campaigning work on human trafficking. 8pm
Today's events: Tuesday 21 April
FANNIVERSARY: The Vagina Museum in Bethnal Green hosts Celebrating our Fanniversary, a one-day hybrid conference exploring feminism, gender, and justice in the modern world. Held in partnership with the Open University, the event features panels, workshops, and a keynote from Dr Lady Phyll to mark the museum's ongoing mission since opening in 2019. FREE, 9.30am-7pm
TRANSPORT MUSEUM LATE: Evening Music at the London Transport Museum brings live bands and DJs into the galleries for late-night, seated concert experiences. Tonight's performers include a harpist, violinist, pianist, double bassist, soprano, saxophonist, accordionist, cellist, and guitarist, who are all students at Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, or Trinity Laban. 6.30pm-9pm
KOREAN CORN DOGS: Author Alice Amelia is in conversation with Zea Stuttaford of the Trouble Club to discuss her debut memoir about moving to Seoul and working in the Korean entertainment industry. The talk includes a Q&A, and a complimentary glass of wine or soft drink, and takes place at Stanfords in Covent Garden. 7pm-8.30pm
POETRY JAM NIGHT: The Fiddler's Elbow in Kentish Town hosts an eclectic open mic night welcoming all forms of spoken word, from traditional poetry and song to stand-up comedy. Poetry Jam Night offers a platform for both newcomers and original poets on the scene, with each performer getting a four-minute slot. Expect a lively atmosphere where even rants about smelly neighbours are encouraged. 7pm-11pm
RICHMOND FILM SOCIETY: The Exchange in Twickenham hosts a screening of Good One, a quiet and emotionally deep American drama. The story follows 17-year-old Sam on a backpacking trip in the Catskills as she navigates the bickering egos and subtle misogyny of her father and his oldest friend. It is part of the society's 62nd season bringing world cinema to the local community. 8pm
ROUNDHOUSE MUSIC COLLECTIVE: The Roundhouse in Camden hosts a showcase of exceptional new music and contemporary songwriting from the talented artists of the current Roundhouse Music Collective. Part of the Three Sixty Festival, the evening features this year's cohort of musicians performing original works developed through industry masterclasses and collaborative recording sessions. 8pm
Today's events: Wednesday 22 April
FILM FESTIVAL: Little Venice Film Festival gets going today, kicking off a week of 100+ screenings, with topics including Female Perspectives on Film, LGBTQ+ Experience and Disability Experience. Despite the festival's name, screenings take place at venues including Vue Piccadilly. 22-28 April
WHY DO WE LOVE?: Professor Robin May is at Barnard's Inn Hall to deliver Why Do We Love?, a Gresham College lecture exploring the mysterious biological basis of human affection. The talk examines whether the love for a partner and a child are fundamentally different emotions, and considers if science could ever create a real-life Shakespearean love potion. FREE, 6pm
STAR TREK V: The Science Museum stages a special screening of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier on the massive IMAX screen in South Kensington. Part of the museum's Star Trek at 60 season, the 1989 film follows Captain Kirk and the crew as they are summoned from shore leave to handle a renegade crisis at the edge of the galaxy. Contains the classic line: "What does God need with a starship?" 7.15pm
SPRING SUPERMARKET SIPPING: Join award-winning food and wine writer Ross Clarke at the London Welsh Centre for Spring Supermarket Sipping, an evening dedicated to finding the best seasonal bottles at your local shop. Discover which crisp whites and fruity reds are perfect for garden drinking and upcoming barbecues during this relaxed, sociable tasting session. 7.30pm
PAINT YOUR DOG: WagWorks Fulham hosts a Sip & Paint evening for dog owners who want to paint their pet over a drink or two. The session, led by artist Stenning Designs, includes all materials, and you can paint your dog in person or work from a photo. 7.30pm-9pm
LETTERS LIVE: The Royal Albert Hall hosts a special Earth Day edition of Letters Live, in support of Greenpeace. The event brings together actors and public figures to read out and perform written correspondence from across the globe, though the exact line-up isn't revealed in advance. 7.30pm
TALES OF LOVE AND LOSS: The Royal Ballet and Opera’s Clore Studio hosts Insights: Tales of Love and Loss, a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process. Join the Jette Parker Artists as they prepare to bring their latest production to the Linbury Theatre stage. 7.45pm
TUNELESS CHOIR: The Tea House Theatre in Vauxhall hosts the Tuneless Choir, a singing group specifically for those who have been told they can’t sing in tune but love to do it anyway. Located in a Victorian pub on the site of the historic Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, the session offers a judgement-free space to belt out songs regardless of ability. 8pm-10pm
Today's events: Thursday 23 April
LITTLE TOWN BLUE: The Python-inspired Little Town Blue is a surreal play in which high school seniors Brad, Chad and Sven are force to spend the night in Little Town Blue — a seemingly idyllic locale, which reveals an uglier side at night. It's on at Camden People's Theatre. 23-25 April 2026
GENERATION HOPE: Get inspired to take action against the climate crisis with this empowering programme of events at the Natural History Museum. Created with young people in mind, these talks, tours and workshops feature scientists, youth climate activists, creatives, business/policy experts and more. You’ll come away with knowledge on deep sea ecosystems, tips on how to engage people with opposing views, and resources to help craft a healthier future for the planet. 23-26 April 2026 (sponsor)
NORTH LONDON BOOK FESTIVAL: One of London's newest literary festivals, the North London Book Fest returns to Alexandra Palace with events for all ages. Tessa Hadley, Ben Aaronovitch, Rachel Parris and Laura Bates are among the names confirmed to be taking part over the weekend. 23-26 April 2026
BRICK LANE JAZZ FESTIVAL: The Brick Lane Jazz Festival returns for a weekend of live music around east London. Headline acts include American multi-instrumentalist Kwame Yeboah, jazz keys player Charlie Stacey and south London producer Footshooter. 23-26 April 2026
MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM: Shakespeare's Globe opens a new production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A company of amateur performers prepare a wedding‑night play that spills into a moonlit world of lovers, fairies and mischief. The production is accompanied by music by Jim Fortune. 23 April-29 August 2026
SHAKESPEARE FOR ALL IN ALL: Footprints of London guide David Charnick leads a Shakespeare-themed walking tour that explores the real man behind the legend of the Bard. Starting at St Paul's Station, the two-hour route examines William Shakespeare’s life as a social climber and poet in Tudor London, finishing at Southwark Cathedral. A timely event, given that the location of Shakespeare's Blackfriars home was revealed last week. 11am
ART IN OPERA: Discover how the stage becomes a living gallery at V&A South Kensington during a free talk, From Canvas to Curtain: Art in Opera Production. Opera singer Helen Astrid explores how masterpieces by Bruegel, Caravaggio and Titian have inspired world-class productions, including David Hockney’s vibrant designs for Glyndebourne. FREE, 1pm-2pm
CHARM KEYRING MAKING: Poplar Union hosts a Children’s Creative Workshop where young designers can assemble their own personalised accessories using a selection of colourful charms. Led by ARTscape CIC, the session helps children aged 5-11 develop fine motor skills and self-expression using basic tools like small pliers (under adult supervision). 1.30pm-3.30pm
JAZZ BY CANDLELIGHT: The Nash Conservatory at Kew Gardens hosts a vibrant evening of music with The Nash Sessions: Jazz by Candlelight. Saxophonist Aaron Liddard and his dynamic quintet perform a blend of Latin jazz, selections from the Great American Songbook, and reimagined Amy Winehouse hits. The performance takes place in a spectacular 19th-century glasshouse, with a bar opening an hour before the music begins. Doors 6.30pm
LEFTY PARKER: Folk singer Lefty Parker brings his UK and EU tour to The Shacklewell Arms in Dalston for a special headline show. Known for his lyrical honesty and tender grit, the New York-based artist is joined by support acts The Horse and Perfect Binding for an evening of intimate, raw storytelling. 7pm
BRIDGERTON'S FORGOTTEN ENSLAVERS: Independent historian Tré Ventour-Griffiths visits a Camden pub to host Bridgerton's Forgotten Enslavers: Inside Jane Austen's Candy-Land. This Pints of Knowledge lecture uses the hit Netflix series as a case study to explore how Regency-era period dramas can obscure the historical realities of the British Empire and absentee slave-owners. 7pm-8.30pm
A FAMILY MATTER: Foyles Charing Cross Road hosts author Claire Lynch in conversation with comedian Sara Pascoe to discuss Lynch's award-winning debut novel, A Family Matter. The story, which won the Nero Gold Prize 2025, is a moving exploration of love, loss, and hidden pasts, centered on a terminally ill father and his daughter. 7pm
Today's events: Friday 24 April
CATEGORY IS: MACBETH: See Shakespeare's tragedy reworked in a queer clubland setting, in Category Is: Macbeth at The Emerald Theatre, starring RuPaul’s Drag Race winners Ginger Johnson (Macbeth) and Kyran Thrax (Lady Macbeth) alongside a cast of drag performers. The production uses 1980s British synth-pop and club visuals to examine power, persecution and survival under police scrutiny. Expect strobe lighting and stylised violence. 24 April-28 May 2026
RALPH FIENNES: David Hare's new play Grace Pervades stars Ralph Fiennes as Sir Henry Irving and Miranda Raison as Ellen Terry, charting their theatrical partnership and its effect on Victorian theatre. It comes to Theatre Royal Haymarket following a sell-out run at Theatre Royal Bath. 24 April-11 July 2026
RIVER CLEAN UP: Join the Friends of River Cray and charity Thames21 for a community action day at The River Cray at Crayford: Waterside Gardens. Volunteers can help remove litter and manage overhanging vegetation, with waders provided for those entering the water to clear the channel. The session is designed for local residents to improve the river's biodiversity and reduce fly-tipping in the town centre. FREE, 9.45am-1.30pm
COMMUNITY CUPPA: The Cafe at Chickenshed in Southgate hosts the very first Community Cuppa, a new fundraising initiative designed to bring locals together in an inclusive space. Open to everyone from regular visitors to those just passing through, the event offers a chance to connect over a drink while supporting the theatre's work with children and young people. FREE (donations encouraged), 10am
KENSINGTON SECRETS: Discover the heritage of one of London’s most elegant royal spaces on the Hidden Stories of Kensington Gardens Walking Tour. The 90-minute guided walk explores the history of the park’s famous statues, including the beloved Peter Pan, and offers a rare close-up view of the Albert Memorial’s Frieze of Parnassus from behind the railings. 11am-12.30pm
CAMDEN ARCHIVES: Archivist Tudor Allen leads a 90-minute highlights tour of the Camden Archives, showcasing its wealth of manuscripts, photographs, maps, books, newspapers, ephemera and more — some dating back to the 16th century. 11am-12.30pm
SOANE LATE: Sir John Soane's Museum hosts Soane Late: The Drama of Architecture, an after-hours celebration of the museum's unique design and its new Vanbrugh exhibition. Visitors can explore the atmospheric, collection-lined corridors of the Lincoln's Inn Fields townhouse while encountering actors delivering dramatic readings of excerpts from Vanbrugh’s plays. Admission includes a glass of prosecco or wine in the elegant Library-Dining Room. 6pm-9.15pm
SEA SHANTY PUNK: Folk-rockers The Captain's Beard bring their lively tales of the sea to the New Cross Inn for a night of maritime mayhem. The award-winning group, known for their viral shanty covers and "inappropriate mermaid" stories, are joined by shanty-punk outfit TowRag and landlubber Captain Daisy Pegbeard. 6pm
MUSIC QUIZ: Valence House Museum in Dagenham hosts a high-energy Music Quiz to test your knowledge of artists, lyrics, and classic hits. All proceeds from the evening support the museum's essential conservation efforts and educational programmes. 7pm-9pm
SING-ALONG-A MUSICALS: Greenwich Theatre hosts Sing-Along-A Musicals Live, where the audience is encouraged to belt out West End and Broadway hits. Professional singers and dancers lead the way through well-known numbers from Mamma Mia!, Les Misérables, and Wicked, supported by giant karaoke-style lyrics on screen. 7.30pm
JOEL DOMMETT: The Masked Singer presenter returns to his stand-up roots at the London Palladium with his brand-new show, Happy Idiot. Expect a mix of glamorous tales from behind the camera and less-than-glamorous anecdotes about his experiences with first-time fatherhood. 7.30pm
Today's events: Saturday 25 April
THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND: Based on a memoir and film of the same name, the true story of William Kamkwamba is told in new musical The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind, at Soho Place. William designs and builds a windmill to make his Malawi village's broken water pump work again, and saves the local area from drought. 25 April-18 July 2026
SATURDAY MORNING PICTURE CLUB: Dalston’s historic Rio Cinema hosts a family-friendly screening of the claymation classic Chicken Run. Arrive early for themed arts and crafts activities in the lobby led by the Rio team, primarily aimed at children aged 4-10. The feather-ruffling adventure from the creators of Wallace & Gromit follows a flock of determined hens plotting a daring escape from their farm. 10.15am
GEOFFREY FLETCHER: Best known for his book (and its documentary adaptation) The London That Nobody Knows, Fletcher was an early pioneer of chronicling London's quirky corners and vanishing eccentricities. Join London on the Ground for a tour of Islington, which highlights the markets, Georgian terraces and varied Victorian architecture that Fletcher celebrated in his books and drawings. 11am
JEWELLERY SAMPLE SALE: London-based jewellery brand Tatty Devine hosts a sample sale on Neal Street, right next to its Covent Garden store. More products are added throughout the day, so you won't miss out if you can't get there as soon as doors open. 11am-4pm
ROYAL ALBERT WHARF OPEN STUDIOS: Bow Arts invites the public to peek behind closed doors at the Royal Albert Wharf Open Studios in the Royal Docks. Explore 40 different artist spaces and take part in free creative workshops and family-friendly activities throughout the afternoon. FREE, 11am-5pm
BOOKS IN THE PARK: Literary festival Books in the Park returns to Beckenham Place Park with author talks from Ruth Ware, Paul Sinha and others, along with writing workshops, family sessions, a pop-up bookshop (Beckenham Bookshop) and a Food & Farmers Market. Simon Goddard and Alexander Larman present a special event marking David Bowie's legacy, and many activities are free to enter while individual events are ticketed. 11am-8pm
FAMILY SHAKESPEARE: The Cockpit in Marylebone hosts an interactive theatre experience, Family Shakespeare: Pyramus & Thisbe, where the audience helps the Rude Mechanicals finish their play. Aimed at children aged five and up, the show uses puppets, music, and rhymes to introduce Shakespeare’s language in a silly, accessible way. Tickets are available on a pay-what-you-can basis, with special discounts for Westminster residents. 2pm
KIP KOMPLIN 10: Poplar Union hosts an intimate evening celebrating Sierra Leone Independence through a showcase of creativity from the African Diaspora. Kip Komplin 10 features an interactive quiz game show alongside live music, poetry, comedy, and a film screening. The night also includes a wildcard open mic slot and a Q&A session for networking with the artists. 7pm-9.30pm
SARA PASCOE: Household name and confessional comedian Sara Pascoe headlines a night of stand-up as Live at the Rose returns to Kingston. The stellar supporting line-up features Funny Women Award winner Laura Smyth, energetic improviser Phil Nichol, and viral sketch comic Muhsin Yesilada. 7.30pm
RESISTANCE COMEDY: Enfield’s Dugdale Arts Centre hosts a night of stand-up as part of its Resistance Comedy: Spotlight Series. This edition features a headline set from Junior Booker, bringing sharp storytelling to the independent north London venue. 8pm
Today's events: Sunday 26 April
LONDON MARATHON: Thousands of runners will take to the streets for the TCS London Marathon 2026, which weaves through the heart of the capital. The iconic course begins with participants gathering in Greenwich Park and concludes with a grand finish on The Mall in St. James’s Park. Our guide includes everything you need to know, including the best spots to watch from. Even if you're not involved directly, be aware of road closures and diversions throughout central London this weekend. From 8.30am
GUITAR HISTORY: Nigel Jones, resident guitarist of the Handel/Hendrix House Museum, leads a musical journey through the evolution of guitar style at V&A South Kensington. Blues to Bowie, Beatles to Britpop explores everything from early rhythm and blues to modern rock across two afternoon sessions. FREE, 12pm-3pm
GEORGIAN FEAST: A selection of seasonal pkhali, and 12-hour-cooked lamb in a plum and mint sauce are on the menu at DakaDaka, Heddon Street's Georgian restaurant, which is now dishing up a feast every Sunday afternoon. Wine pairing is also available for an extra charge. Served 12pm-4pm (every Sunday)
HIDDEN HOLBORN: London Blue Badge tour guide Diane Burstein gives a talk on the history of Holborn’s once Italian quarter — from organ grinders and ice-cream sellers to mosaic makers at St Peter’s church, and the annual Italian Festival. The talk, at Wilderness Kitchen, also touches on the area’s links to Dickens and London’s diamond district. 3pm
VOGUE RITES: London ballroom collective Vogue Rites returns to the Roundhouse to host the Welcome to Hollywood Ball as part of the Three Sixty Festival. The global ballroom community battles it out in Hollywood-inspired categories spanning beauty, fashion and performance, celebrating everything from golden-age glamour to Black Hollywood brilliance. 4pm
HARLOTS, STRUMPETS AND TARTS: Herstorical Tours' guide, performing as ‘The Baroness’, leads a two-hour theatrical walk through 18th-century Covent Garden and the backstreets of Charing Cross. The tour brings the stories of Georgian sex workers to life, finishing at the Nell Gwynne pub for a tot of gin. 5pm
BARTHOLOMEW LAFOLLETTE & FRIENDS: Conway Hall’s 2026 Artist-in-Residence, cellist Bartholomew LaFollette, performs a colourful programme of chamber music alongside violinist Hyeyoon Park and pianist Caroline Palmer. The evening at the Holborn venue features Rachmaninoff’s passionate Cello Sonata and Schubert’s evergreen E flat trio. 6.30pm-8.30pm
KOOL STORY BRO: Kiell Smith-Bynoe brings his all-star cast of improvisers to the Free Association in Southwark for another instalment of Kool Story Bro. Audience members share their stories, then Kiell and co set to work spinning them into improv comedy scenes. Chaos ensues. 7.30pm
