Hurray - April is here and the clocks have gone forward, which means the capital will have more daylight hours (and, trust us, after a long and gloomy winter everyone will welcome this!). Daffodils in our lovely Hampstead neighbourhood are out, crocuses have sprung up and the magnolia trees are in bloom Oh, and If you’re lucky you can swap your big winter coat for a lighter spring jacket!
And whilst you’d still be smart to pack an umbrella in your bag, because England is a place where rain never goes out of style, there’s still a good chance that if you’re visiting the British capital you’ll see a little sun. This will give you the chance to explore London’s Royal Parks, take a walk along the Thames, see a play on the famous London stage or visit one of the capital’s vibrant street markets.
With a long weekend on the cards (it’s Easter after all which means Good Friday and Easter Monday are both public holidays), it’s a lovely time to visit. Here are some of our top picks if you’re looking for things to do in London this April…
1. “Turner and Constable” at the Tate Britain - until 12th April
‘Turner and Constable: Rivals and Originals’ at Tate Britain is one of the most significant exhibitions to hit London in years. Marking 250 years since their births, it brings together over 170 paintings and works on paper by two artists who, despite being born within a year of each other, approached landscape painting from radically different directions. Critics of the day compared their clashing styles to a battle of "fire and water" — Constable representing pastoral nostalgia and realism, Turner an entirely new way of depicting emotion through landscape.
The works on show are genuinely rare. Highlights include Turner's The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons (1835), not seen in Britain for over a century, and Constable's The White Horse (1819), one of his greatest achievements. The exhibition also recreates key side-by-side confrontations echoing the dramatic Royal Academy displays of the 1830s, giving you a real sense of the competitive fire that drove both men.
You will also be offered unexpected intimate insights into the artists’ lives, through sketchbooks and personal items. Turner's later paintings — which shocked critics of his day and went on to inspire Monet — sit alongside Constable's expressive cloud studies, capturing the shifting light of an English sky. It closes on 12th April, so head down to Pimlico to catch it in its last two weeks.
2. The Horniman Museum’s Spring Fair - 11th April
The Horniman Museum, nestled in Forest Hill, south London, is a wonderfully eclectic (and free) museum founded by tea trader Frederick Horniman in 1901. It houses over 350,000 objects spanning natural history, anthropology, and musical instruments — including its famously overstuffed walrus. Set within 16 acres of beautiful gardens with sweeping views across the city, it's a beloved local gem that really is worth a visit.
And no more so than this April, when they’re holding the annual Spring Fair. Think arts and crafts, bubbles, a bouncy castle, face painting, not to mention tours of their green spaces. You can explore their butterfly house, pick up some small plants for your home, get crafty in the “craft area” and even learn some circus skills!
The fair will also have food and drink, supplied by local traders, so why not pop along? The museum is also close to Dulwich Village, which is a lovely spot worth visiting if you’re south of the river. Tickets to the fair cost 6 and under twos go free!
3. “A Doll’s House” by Ibsen at the Almeida Theatre - throughout April
Ibsen's 1879 masterpiece remains one of theatre's most electrically relevant texts. When ‘A Doll’s House’ premiered, 19th-century audiences were left questioning the sanctity of marriage and a woman's place within the patriarchy — and over a century later, its themes of money, power, and domestic deception feel anything but resolved.
This bold new contemporary adaptation has been written by Critics' Circle Award-winner Anya Reiss and is directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins. The result is Ibsen cracked open for the present tense — expect a very modern take, while Hill-Gibbins brings a provocative touch to this Norwegian classic.
At the centre of it all is Olivier Award-winning Romola Garai, exploring the fault lines in relationships through sharp, contemporary dialogue. Following her triumphant recent work at this very venue, her casting feels inspired. The show has already extended its run due to audience demand, which is a sure sign that London's in love with this production. Don't miss it.
4. North London Book Festival at Ally Pally - 23rd to 26th April
Book lovers, this one is definitely for you! Held in north London’s historic Alexandra Palace (surrounded by lots of greenery) the North London Book Festival is hosting the North London Book Festival, where well-known authors and debut writers come together for a long weekend of discussion about printed matter.
Authors there will include Ben Aaronovitch (‘Rivers of London’), MIchael Rosen (‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’) and Onjali Q. Raúf (‘The Boy at the Back of the Classroom’). Wannabe palaeontologists can meet Simon Mole (‘Stomp and Chomp: a First Book of Dinosaurs’), young girls can dress up as suffragettes with one of their descendants (Kate Pankhurst' and budding writers can do some networking over a glass of wine and some light bites.
Alexandra Palace (or ‘Ally Pally’ as Londoners refer to it) is also a beautiful place to wander around, set in a lovely park and not far from the trendy neighbourhoods of Crouch End and fashionable Muswell Hill - so why not make a day of it?
5. Hampstead Village Walking Tour - 11th April at midday
We feel so lucky to have our business in what we think is London’s most beautiful neighbourhood - Hampstead - since it has so much to offer the visitor - including 17th century Kenwood House, acres of glorious woodland (that snakes you feel as if you’re in the countryside) and the ‘urban’ part of the area, where you can eat, drink, shop and wander.
So this April, why not take a walking tour of Hampstead Village led by qualified tour guide Jill Dalton, and discover more about this incredible part of north London? Historically, Hampstead has always had a bohemian vibe to it, attracting artists, poets, psychoanalysts and writers to its streets in the last hundred years and the fact that it’s such a lovely place to stroll doesn’t hurt either!
This walk will take you along Hampstead High Street, down winding backstreets, past a number of historic buildings and onto the Heath too. It’s the perfect way to learn something new and even meet new friends (since, quite often, when the walk concludes, people head to one of Hampstead’s charming pubs, for a pint and a chat…)
Finally, if you’re going to be visiting the British capital and looking for accommodation in London then consider staying with us, here at La Gaffe Hotel Hampstead. Our comfortable guest accommodation is competitively-priced, we’re family-run and owned ( so you’re assured of a warm and personal welcome) and our rates include VAT and a continental breakfast (complete with our famous cappuccino).
We’re just three minutes walk from Hampstead tube and then it’s a quick trip (around 15-20 minutes) into the city centre by underground. And our neighbourhood is so charming, many people never want to leave it!
To find out more about us, give us a call on 0207 435-8965 or book directly with us (for the best rates!) on our website.
We look forward to seeing you!