All weekend
HOCUS FOCUS: Family-friendly show Hocus Focus: The Kid Who Missed The Trick comes to The Magician's Table near London Bridge. Magicians Peat Heat and Alex Hathway team up to tell the story of young boy named Hocus on a quest to reclaim his lost attention, snatched away by a devious conjuror and trapped inside a black glass box. 12-13 April
SOIL: Landmark exhibition SOIL: The World at Our Feet at Somerset House enters its final weekend. 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
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
BOXHALL CITY: The newest venue in the Boxpark family is now open. Boxhall City is a food hall at The Arcade on Liverpool Street, with 14 kitchens including Eggslut, Club Mexicana and Soft Serve Society taking up residence, alongside two bars. Daily 7am-midnight, from 10 April
CIRCUS BERLIN: A high wire act, a stunt riding team, hula hooping, juggling, a wheel of death and a performer hanging by her hair feature in the Circus Berlin show, which pitches up at Old Deer Park in Richmond from today, as part of its European tour. 11-21 April
TULIP FESTIVAL: Over 100,000 bulbs exploded in a riot of colour in 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
EDWARDIAN ELEGANCE: This new 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. It's likely to be busy this opening weekend, so book tickets in advance. From 12 April
BODY STOCKING LEGION: Bethnal Green Working Men's Club launches its first full theatrical run of 2025, Body Stocking Legion by cabaret and theatre star Robyn Herfellow. The new musical is about the fishnet apocalypse and the subsequent lingerie uprising, with original songs performed by an electric queer live band. 12-20 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
Saturday 12 April
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
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. 10am-5.45pm
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
BREW LDN: Raise a glass to the final day of 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. 12pm-5pm/6pm-11pm
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). Today's your last chance to see it. 4pm/7.45pm
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
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. 7.30pm
SHOW HOLE: Club meets cabaret show meets comedy night at Jack Rooke's Show Hole, part of Roundhouse Three Sixty at Camden Roundhouse. Mercury-nominated musician Self Esteem gives a DJ set, with comedian Lolly Adefope, and the cast of sitcom Big Boys also on the programme. 8pm
GRAND GOES GAGA: Party venue the Clapham Grand celebrates all things Lady Gaga off the back of her latest tour announcement and new album Mayhem. Live singers and drag artists perform songs from Gaga's back catalogue, along with confetti cannons, balloon drops, photo booths and more. 10.30pm-3am
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
SECOND HAND SUNDAYS: Today's regular Sunday market at the Horniman Museum also incorporates the monthly Second Hand Sundays, a chance to repurpose, reuse and recycle items such as clothing, homewares, toys, games and books. 10am-3pm
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
SECRETS AND SPIES: Footprints of London guide David Charnick leads a walking tour around the Vauxhall and Westminster area, themed on secrets and spies. Find out about MI5, MI6, Military Intelligence and Police activity in the area. 2pm-4pm
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
VIDEO GAME ORCHESTRA: As part of the London Games Festival, the London Video Game Orchestra gives a performance at Cadogan Hall, with vocals from the Hesperos Choir. Hear tunes from game including Mario Kart, Warhammer, Final Fantasy VIII, Legend of Zelda and others. 4pm
