All week
SILVERTOWN TUNNEL: Big transport news, as the Silvertown Tunnel is due to open on Monday. You can find out all about it here. The good news: it's a whole new way to cross the Thames, 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.
EASTER HOLIDAYS: Got younger members of the family to keep entertained while school's closed? Our guide to things to do in London in the Easter holidays has plenty of inspiration, from current exhibitions and theatre shows, to one-off events and free things to do, aimed at a selection of age groups. Weather dependent, playgrounds and swimming pools are a good bet.
CHERRY BLOSSOM: Get out and about exploring a new part of London while hunting out the cherry blossom. The candy floss pink trees can be found in all corners of the capital, but these are some of the best cherry blossom spots. Hot on its heels comes wisteria season, so bookmark our guide to wisteria in the capital while you're here.
CRY-BABY: Last chance to catch the premiere run of Cry-Baby The Musical at Arcola Theatre. Based on the cult film by John Waters and set in 1954 Baltimore, it tells the story of Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker, a rebel in love with a rich girl, as he navigates teen rebellion and rivalry. Until 12 April
DARKFIELD ARCADE: Immersive experience experts Darkfield take over the basement of Shoreditch Town Hall for Arcade. These are not ordinary arcade machines though — you can enter the world of the game and choose your own unique journey through a world ravaged by war. The decisions you make determine whether you come out on the winning or losing side. Until 12 April
SOIL: Landmark exhibition SOIL: The World at Our Feet at Somerset House enters its final week. It 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
BALL AND BOE: Comedians Adam Riches and John Kearns portray musical superstars Michael Ball and Alfie Boe in their show at Soho Theatre. Expect a blend of humour and music, and hope for harmonies. 7-19 April
THE LIGHTNING THIEF: An electrifying stage musical is at The Other Palace, ready to transport you to a world of gods and monsters this Easter. The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is based on the children’s bestseller of the same name, and follows an NYC teenager thrust into an epic adventure after discovering he’s the son of the Greek god Poseidon. Suitable for ages eight+, it’s a perfect treat for the Easter hols. Until 31 August (sponsor)
SLAVERY AND THE MAIL: Open now, the Postal Museum's new exhibition Voices of Resistance tells the powerful stories of enslaved women, men and children who endured exploitation and persecution in the Caribbean, in the services of Royal Mail. For example, slaves were forced to carry heavy baskets laden with coal, to fuel ships belonging to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. Until 5 January 2026
EAT OF THE WEEK: Chinatown has a new eatery, in the shape of the second branch of Noodle and Beer, dishing up Sichuan small plates (inc. chicken salad in red chilli oil and peanut), as well as noodles one of three ways (dry noodles, noodles with soup, or rice noodles with soup). You can also crank up your spice levels accordingly, using the 'chilli-ometer', ranging from one to five chillies. There's Kirin Ichiban beer on tap to cool your buds down. All in some very theatrically scarlet surroundings.
EXHIBITION OF THE WEEK: Secrets of the Thames is the new paid-for exhibition taking up residency at London Museum Docklands for the best part of a year. Starring horned Iron Age helmets, Roman shoes, and one or two naughty items to boot, we gave it ★★★★☆, praising it as a treasure of a exhibition. Until 1 March 2026
DRINK OF THE WEEK: As we type this, the sun is shining, and a new bar that's dedicated to cider has just opened in Bethnal Green. In fact, Umbrella Cider House makes its own apple-y nectar — plus there's an al fresco space for supping. A good shout if the weather holds out.
DAY TRIP OF THE WEEK: Thoughts turning to getting out of London for a day (or longer) now the weather's improving? Our Beyond London section has plenty of ideas for day trips within easy reach of the capital. This Easter, why not venture to the real Hundred Acre Wood, the area of forest which inspired AA Milne to write his Winnie the Pooh books? There's a Winnie the Pooh themed museum and tea room nearby, and you can play Pooh Sticks on the real Pooh Sticks Bridge.
Monday 7 April
THE VANISHING FOREST: Shakespearean storytelling combines with song and puppetry in The Vanishing Forest, a family-friendly opera which follows events from A Midsummer Night's Dream. It's part of the English Touring Opera's climate change trilogy, which aims to educate children on the importance of preserving nature. See it at Artsdepot in Finchley. 11am/2pm
PUB QUIZ: There's a maximum of six people per team at the pub-style quiz on board the Golden Hinde, which tests out your general knowledge and teamwork skills. Prizes up for grabs include tickets to a gig on board the dry-docked vessel, and free drinks at the bar. 7pm
BODY CLOCK: Neuroscientist and sleep expert Aarti Jagannath explores the mechanisms of the body's circadian clock, discussing how it regulates our rhythms and interacts with environmental cues. The talk, at the Royal Institution, provides insight into what happens when our internal clock is disrupted, and offers strategies for realigning it. 7pm-8.30pm
BILLIE HOLIDAY: The Jazz Cafe in Camden honours the legacy of Billie Holiday with live performances of her iconic tracks by vocalist Riketté Genesis and a group of talented musicians. Expect to hear hits including Lady Sings The Blues, Strange Fruit, and God Bless The Child. 7pm-10.30pm
BARKING'S BEST BUILDINGS: Join an hour-long virtual exploration of the fascinating architecture in Barking and Dagenham, including historical sites like Barking Abbey and contemporary developments. The event is presented by Rob Smith from Footprints of London. 8pm-9pm
Tuesday 8 April
FREE CONE DAY: The annual Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day takes place today, with stores around the world give away free ice cream. Turn up at a participating Scoop Shop (in London, that's at 74 Wardour Street in Soho) to claim a free scoop of flavours such as Cookie Dough, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Phish Food, or Cherry Garcia. Can't decide? You're encouraged to rejoin the queue as many times as you like to try a different flavour each time. FREE, Soho branch open 1pm-10pm
GREEK MYTHS: Guildhall Library hosts Arts Society Lecturer Val Woodgate to explore the fascinating intersection of art and Greek mythology. Find out how some of the most beautiful works in our culture illustrate these age-old stories. Tickets to attend in person have sold out, but you can watch online via a livestream. FREE, 2pm-3pm
LOST GIRLS OF AUTISM: Renowned brain scientist, and author of The Lost Girls of Autism, Gina Rippon discusses the overlooked issue of female autism. Focusing on why autistic girls are often misdiagnosed, Rippon addresses the systemic biases in research, highlighting how society's male-centric view has obscured the realities of autistic women and girls. Takes place at Conway Hall in Holborn. 6.30pm-8.30pm
THE MOTH MAINSTAGE: Known for The Moth Podcast, The Moth hosts monthly storytelling open mics featuring everyday people in the community sharing and listening to true personal stories. Tonight, The Moth hosts its Mainstage at Union Chapel, doubling up as a live recording for the popular podcast. Five people from different walks of life share captivating true stories based on the night's theme, hosted by Sara Barron. Doors 7pm (sponsor)
ED PATRICK: NHS anaesthetist, comedian and author Ed Patrick is at the Comedy Store for a performance of his show Catch Your Breath, about becoming a junior doctor, the pitfalls of modern medicine and the power of questioning it. 7.30pm
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. 7.30pm
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60 minutes of Schubert and Prokofiev with the LSO
Half Six Fix is back! This series of short-but-oh-so-sweet London Symphony Orchestra concerts at the Barbican continues on Wednesday 9 April at 6.30pm, with a shot of Schubert and a chaser of Prokofiev. And once again our readers can nab 2-for-1 tickets, with the code LDN25HSF.
For Half Six Fix newbies, here’s a quick primer. Each concert begins with an introduction from your conductor (this time it’s Gianandrea Noseda) and lasts just an hour – making them beginner-friendly, though with the LSO performing, more seasoned fans of orchestral music will have plenty to look forward to, too! Before the performance, you’ll get helpful hints on what to listen out for, during it there are big screen close-ups of the orchestra in action, and afterwards you’ll have plenty of time to debrief one of the Barbican bars (pssst… you can also bring a drink in with you).
So, what exactly will you be treating your ears to, then? Your evening begins with Schubert’s cheerfully bustling Die Zauberharfe overture and culminates with the whirlwind of energy and inventiveness that is Prokofiev’s Symphony No 2. Two pieces of incredible music and 2-for-1 tickets?! Talk about bang for your buck.
Half Six Fix. 6.30pm-7.30pm on Wednesday 9 April at the Barbican. Tickets start at £15, and you can get two for the price of one by entering the code LDN25HSF when prompted at the checkout.
Wednesday 9 April
THE RAILWAY CHILDREN: A production of The Railway Children comes to St Michael's Centre in Chiswick, the same version which has previously been staged at the National Railway Museum and Waterloo Station (though sadly there's no space for a real-life steam train in this venue). 9-12 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
POWER UP LATES: Science Museum stays open late for an adults-only Power Up evening session, where you can play your way through 160 consoles, hundreds of video games and five decades of gaming history. Pong, Pac-Man and Mario are among the games available to play, with the bar open all evening. Age 18+. 6pm-10pm
SEX, DRUGS, SAUSAGE ROLLS: Chef Graham Garratt hosts a supper club at Fortnum & Mason, cooking up a meal inspired by his life. He's worked in kitchens since the early 90s, buying The West House restaurant in Kent in 2002, but back in the 1980s he was touring the world as a drummer for bands like Dumb Blondes, Panache and Ya Ya. 6.30pm-9pm
VOGUE RITES: As part of Roundhouse Three Sixty festival, Ballroom collective Vogue Rites takes over the Camden venue for Face the Music Ball, an evening dedicated to celebrating inspiring artists working in the dance style. 7pm
FIRKIN HILARIOUS COMEDY: Mark Thomas, Malinda Mukuma, Chris Ford, Yovan Chamroo and Sarah Evans are all on the line-up at Firkin Hilarious Comedy at the Fox & Firkin in Lewisham, joined by a special guest TBC. 7pm
Thursday 10 April
BOXHALL OPENS: The newest venue in the Boxpark family opens its doors today. Boxhall City is a new food hall opening at The Arcade on Liverpool Street, with 14 kitchens including Eggslut, Club Mexicana and Soft Serve Society taking up residence, alongside two bars. From 10 April
BREW LDN: Raise a glass to Brew LDN — the beer festival is back at Between The Bridges on South Bank. 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
SKATEPARK: Choreographer Mette Ingvartsen invites a group of skaters and dancers to explore the energy and speed of movement in Skatepark, at Sadler's Wells. The show blends the art of skateboarding with dance, with a prelude featuring local skaters showing their skills on stage. 10-12 April
GHOSTS: The Lyric Hammersmith opens a contemporary reimagining of Henrik Ibsen's classic Ghosts, about a woman honouring her late husband's memory by opening a children's hospital in his name, and the secrets their son Oz brings with him when he returns to the family home. 10 April-10 May
COCKNEY SIKH: Suresh Singh, also known as The Cockney Sikh, shares his unique journey from growing up in Spitalfields during a turbulent era, marked by racial tensions. He's at Guildhall Library to discuss the life of his father, Joginder Singh, who emigrated from India to support his family back home. FREE, 6pm-8pm
CHARITY COMEDY: Join the Sunday Assembly for a comedy fundraiser headlined by Mark Thomas at the COLAB Theatre in London Bridge. The evening's line-up includes Ben Pope, Jamie Mykaela, and Alex Franklin, with profits supporting the Sunday Assembly, which brings people together to sing songs, hear inspiring talks, and create a sense of community. 7.30pm
Friday 11 April
NOW PLAY THIS: Tying in with the London Games Festival (until 13 April), Somerset House hosts annual 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
CIRCUS BERLIN: A highwire act, a stunt riding team, hula hoop, juggling, a wheel of death, and a performer hanging by her hair are all part of the Circus Berlin show, which pitches up at the Old Deer Park in Richmond from today, as part of its European tour. 11-21 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
SUFFRAGETTES AFTER DARK: The Bow Street Police Museum in Covent Garden is open late for Suffragettes After Dark, an evening celebrating the work of the suffragettes. Author Jennifer Godfrey discusses her book Secret Missions of the Suffragettes: Glass Breakers and Safe Houses, and you can make your own suffragette rosette and meet Hope, the full-sized model suffragette made from Lego. Age 16+. 6pm
Saturday 12 April
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
THE POWER OF TREES: Intricate botanical illustrations and a video installation feature in new exhibition The Power of Trees at Kew Gardens, which looks at how trees have shaped human creativity. The centrepiece is Finnish visual artist Eija-Liisa Ahtila’s living portrait, Horizontal–Vaakasuora, depicting a 30-metre-tall spruce in Finland, complete with the sounds of a creaking trunk and birdsong. 12 April-14 September
FIRST FILMS: Got a budding film buff in your midst, but till now the cinema's been a bit grown up for them? ArtHouse Crouch End invites you and your younger kids to First Films, featuring easygoing screenings in which making noise, getting up for drinks/toilet, and even playing about down the front are very much allowed. Today's screenings are of Zog and We're Going on a Bear Hunt. 10am-12pm
MANDALA WORKSHOP: Try your hand at mandala art at a workshop at London Wetland Centre, designed to reduce stress and maintain mental wellbeing. Learn about the history and significance of mandalas, then create your own designs using guided techniques by artist Ekta from StoryBeyondlines. Age 18+. 10.30am
BENJAMIN ZEPHANIAH DAY: Head to Brunel University for the first ever Benjamin Zephaniah Day, a celebration of the late poet and actor, organised by his wife, Qian Zephaniah, and taking place over his birthday weekend. It's a family-friendly festival, with food, live music, spoken word and poetry. Dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson and children’s author and poet Michael Rosen are among the performers. FREE, 11am-6.30pm
GOSPEL BOYBAND BRUNCH: Hits by Backstreet Boys, NSYNC and Westlife are given an uplifting twist at a new Gospel Boyband Brunch at The Refinery in Regent's Place. Tuck into a brunch dish and a cocktail as you enjoy live renditions of familiar tunes. 12pm-4pm
NOAH MAHLER: MAP Studio Cafe in Kentish Town welcomes instrumentalist Noah Mahler, who's performing soulful tracks from his electro-Brazilian style debut EP Observations. Support comes from Speedial, Lucia Cacho Trio and Masuva. 7pm
Sunday 13 April
SUNDAY MARKET TOUR: Born and bred east Londoner Rich takes you around his neck of the woods and its Sunday markets including Columbia Road Flower Market and Brick Lane. There's a chance to sample street food, while gorging on fascinating stories, historical and personal. Skipping breakfast is recommended. 10am
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. 10am-4pm
ADAMS ANTIQUES FAIR: The Adams Antiques Fair takes place at the Royal Horticultural Halls in Westminster, with over 130 exhibitors selling antique jewellery, silver, decorative pieces and collectables. If you're keen to be first in, get there early as a queue usually forms before opening. 10am-4.30pm
BABY GOSPEL: Soul, Motown and gospel music feature in Baby Gospel, a live music show aimed at families with babies and toddlers. Sing and dance along with songs by Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley, Adele, Jackie Wilson, Pharrell and more, as well as traditional gospel songs, and nursery rhymes, at Big Penny Social in Walthamstow. 11am
BOAT RACES: It's Boat Race Day, when teams from Oxford and Cambridge go head to head in races down the Thames between Putney and Mortlake. The women's race takes place first, followed by the men's an hour later. Head down to the river side to watch the action, though be warned it can get very busy. FREE, 1.21pm/2.21pm
FUTURE INEQUALITY: Social scientist Danny Dorling is at Conway Hall to discuss the topic of his latest book, Seven Children: Inequality and Britain’s Next Generation. Hear his thoughts on post-pandemic Britain’s most pressing issues, such as why most British parents are on below-average income, and how we can avoid current generations of children growing up to be financially worse off than their parents. 3pm-4.30pm
