All weekend
EASTER WEEKEND: Here's our pick of Easter events in London, from bunny hunts and adventure quests to spring fairs and live music. Don't forget to check for transport disruption before you set off, as station and line closures and engineering works take place over the Easter weekend.
EASTER HOLIDAYS: Running out of ways to keep the kids busy while they're off school? You need our guide to spending the Easter holidays in London, which includes exhibitions, shows and other family-friendly activities for children of all ages.
BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND: If all the bunnies-and-eggs stuff isn't really doing it for you, but you've still got a long weekend to make the most of, take a look at our favourite things to do in London over the bank holiday weekend. It covers cultural days out, long walks, the great outdoors, sports, family fun and more.
DAY TRIPS: If you want to leave London completely, take a look at our map that's packed full of day trip ideas. From days at the seaside to niche museums to nearby towns worth exploring, there's plenty of inspiration.
CHOCOLATE SHOPS: Not sure if we mentioned it, but it's Easter this weekend. If a supermarket egg just won't do, hunt out London's best chocolate shops for cocoa-based goodies to delight the recipient (or yourself... we won't tell).
LAST CHANCE BACON: It's the final weekend of Francis Bacon: Man and Beast at Royal Academy of Arts, a heavyweight exhibition of the artist's paintings which had a lasting emotional impact on our art critic. Royal Academy, £22-£24.50, book ahead, until 17 April
MAGNIFICENT MAPS: New exhibition Magnificent Maps of London opens this week, showcasing maps of the capital from the 16th century until today, including the oldest complete surviving map of London. Other cartographical gems on display include 19th century etchings used to track the spread of diseases like cholera, and a tube map from 1912. London Metropolitan Archives (Clerkenwell), free, just turn up, 11 April-16 October
WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS: Ogle portraiture, landscape, architecture, wildlife and street photography by talent from more than 200 countries at the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition — this is the show's first weekend. Somerset House, £15, book ahead, 13 April-2 May
SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL: An exhibition dedicated to miniature art opens in South Kensington, with 130 tiny artworks on show, as well as photographs. Artists play with objects such as sweets, toys and pencils to create scenes in miniature. 79-85 Old Brompton Road, £16, book ahead, from 15 April
FREE BOOKS FESTIVAL: The Free Books Campaign — which aims to get books by authors of colour to those who cannot afford them — hosts a Free Books Festival. Expect talks, workshops, and plenty of free books for all ages. Authors Caleb Nelson and Paula Akpan are among those making an appearance. Copeland Gallery (Peckham), free, book ahead, 16-17 April
Saturday 16 April
LEARN TO PLAY: Fancy taking up a new hobby? Yamaha Music London offers free music lessons for one day only, to people of all ages and abilities. Get a taster of playing piano, drums, violin, guitar and bass, saxophone or trumpet at these free lessons by professional teachers — you never know, you might discover a hidden talent you never knew you had. Yamaha Music London (Soho), free, just turn up (arrive early, as it's first come, first served and will be popular), 10.30am-4.30pm (sponsor)
ANIMATION FILMS: This week's Family Film Club is a London International Animation Festival special. Take the kids along to watch a series of eight animation films, each lasting 6-16 minutes. Barbican Cinema, £3.50 adult/£2.50 child, book ahead, 11am
PEDAL POWER DISCO: Take the whole family along to a disco with a difference — you're the ones powering the music. Static bicycles are installed at Southbank Centre, and using them generates the power to keep the music playing — ideal if you're looking for a way to tire your children out (though be warned, grown-ups are invited to pedal too). Southbank Centre, free, just turn up, 11.30am/2.30pm
VAISAKHI TRAFALGAR SQUARE: Vaisakhi — the Sikh and Punjabi cultural festival — takes place on 14 April this year, but London's main celebration returns to Trafalgar Square today. The free festival features live entertainment and performances, martial arts demonstrations, a showcase of Sikh art, plus food and drink stalls. Trafalgar Square, free, just turn up, 1pm-6pm
THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY: Footprints of London guide Rob Smith leads a walking tour visiting some of the locations from 1980 film, The Long Good Friday, in which Bob Hoskins' character Harold Shand gives his view on the future of Docklands. Find out if it all turned out how he predicted. Tower Hill tube station, £12/£9, book ahead, 2pm
DAVID RODIGAN: Influential DJ, broadcaster and champion of reggae music David Rodigan headlines a night of tunes chosen by himself and performed by the 25-piece Outlook Orchestra. Special guests include Horace Andy, Bitty McLean, Kiko Bun, Hollie Cook and Horseman. Southbank Centre, £35-£55, book ahead, 7pm
ENCHANTED SEAS: Enjoy an evening of spellbinding stories, songs and shanties by the water, led by professional storytellers, London Dreamtime. It's an outdoor event, so take a candle or a lantern and something to sit on. Dress warmly and wear non-slip shoes that you don’t mind getting muddy. Secret Rotherhithe location, £10, book ahead, 7.30pm
SISTER SESSIONS: Sister Sessions is an evening of live music and a platform for women and non-binary musicians. Performers this time round include Sheffield-born, London-based Mauritian vocalist and percussionist Vanessa Rani, and fiancé and fellow musician, Wonky Logic — plus bassist, vocalist and composer Isobella Burnham, and Jana Saleh, a DJ, musician, performer and producer from Beirut. Rich Mix (Shoreditch), from £8, book ahead, 8pm
HOW DOES IT FEEL: Club night How Does It Feel To Be Loved celebrates its 20th birthday, with lashings of indie pop, northern soul and 60s girl group music. Here's to another 20 years of this indie institution. The Phoenix (Oxford Circus), £6.60/£4 if you email ahead: [email protected], book ahead, 9pm
Sunday 17 April
THE UNEGGSPECTED: Long before the chocolate Easter eggs we know today, artists hid secret images in their work, hoping that others would discover and appreciate them. The Sunday Assembly hosts Rina Atienza, a lecturer at Kingston School of Art, to reveal some of these hidden 'easter eggs'. Conway Hall (Holborn), free, book ahead, 11am-1pm
HEATH QUARTET: The Heath Quartet — whose members met at the Royal Northern College of Music — marks its 20th anniversary with a special concert of works by Janáček, Purcell and Schulhoff. Wigmore Hall (Marylebone), £16, book ahead, 11.30am
LA TRAVIATA: ROH Live offers an Encore screening of La Traviata, transporting audiences to 19th century Paris with Pretty Yende as Violetta, Stephen Costello as Alfredo Germont, and Dimitri Platanias as Giorgio Germont. The production was filmed on stage at the Royal Opera House, and this is a recording rather than a live stream. Barbican Cinema 321, book ahead, 2pm
BILL MURRAY: No not that Bill Murray. We're talking about the legendary comedy pub in Angel. You can spend an entire Easter Sunday afternoon/evening laughing your head off at the shows here, from the likes of Joseph Parsons, Alison Spittle and an as-yet-unnamed lineup for the 8pm show. Bill Murray (Angel), various prices, book ahead, from 3.30pm
TRACKS ON TAP: Hear some new live music at showcase event Tracks on Tap, as it makes its east London debut. Expect a mixture of booked sets, and open mic slots to be filled on the night. Rich Mix (Shoreditch), from £4.50, book ahead, 6.30pm
KATSURA SUNSHINE: Traditional Japanese Rakugo comic storyteller Katsura Sunshine brings this method of storytelling back to London, sitting solo on the stage throughout and using only a paper fan and a small cloth as props. Age 8+. Leicester Square Theatre, £26.50, book ahead, 7pm
Looking for things to do on Good Friday or Easter Monday? You'll find that in our Easter Weekend guide.
