Many will tell you that the best time to visit London is in the summer (when it’s warmest) but we also love the spring - the flowers will be out, the days will be getting longer, it will be raining less but the big crowds won’t yet have arrived.
Our neighbourhood, Hampstead, is also beautiful in March - you can stroll on the Heath, explore the Village area and its backstreets, and really see the area’s flora coming to life. Pack a warm coat and even some thermals - as well as some comfy walking shoes (which hopefully are waterproof) and you’re good to go! (And if it starts to rain, just head into one of London’s best museums, or a traditional British pub for a pint and some classic fare).
In the meantime, here are five events we really think you should check out, if you’re visiting London in March 2024.
1. Long Day’s Journey into Night, Wyndham’s Theatre - opens 19th March
Regarded by some as one of the greatest American plays of all time, Eugene O’Neill’s ‘Long Day’s Journey Into Night’ is opening in the West End on March 19th and for anyone who likes theatre, it’s a must-see. Focusing on the single day in a life of a dysfunctional family, where resentments become clear as they relive the past, and deal with regret, anger, addiction and deep anger.
This production is directed by Jeremy Herrin and stars Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson and promises to be a monumental night, with plenty of exceptional characters - a miserable father, a drug-addicted mother and two brothers (one suffering from consumption, the other addled with booze) - and plenty of misery to go around. Each character is flawed (the mother, the great tragic heroine) - O’Neill wrote the play partly to show the world what his family was like and how he had been raised.
A masterpiece of a play.
2. Book Week at King’s Place - 2nd to 10th March
Once known as Jewish Book Week, it’s now just known as ‘Book Week’ and for anyone that loves printed matter, Kings Cross is the place to head for nine days of readings, workshops, performances and spirited debates - this is London’s longest-running literary event and will run for nine glorious days.
At Book Week, you’ll be spoilt for choice in terms of which talks to attend - from Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor’s rocky romance to Simon Schama’s Keynote address, and events like ‘The Art of the Thriller’ and ‘Women in Intelligence’ just delve in. And if you don’t want to leave the house, just buy a Digital Pass and watch everything online!
Book Week, King’s Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GE www.jewishliteraryfoundation.co.uk/bookweek/24
3. St. Patrick’s Day Parade - 17th March
When it comes to celebrating, there’s few nations that do it as well as the Irish so if you feel like letting your hair down, then head to central London on March 17th for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Always enormous fun, there’s no reason this year should be any different, with festivities bound to last late into the night, not just in the West End but in Irish pubs all across the capital.
The Parade - which began life originally as a religious festival but now is a great celebration of Irish culture - begins at Hyde Park Corner and ends at Trafalgar Square. What’s on offer? Well, plenty of traditional Irish dancing, marching bands, floats, typical Irish food (corned beef and cabbage, soda bread and chocolate and stout cupcakes) and as much booze as you can handle, whether your choice of tipple is creamy guinness or smooth whisky.
Oh - and don’t forget to wear green!
St, Patrick’s Day Parade, Hyde Park Corner, London https://www.london.gov.uk/events/st-patricks-day-2024
4. Affordable Art Fair, Battersea - 6th to 10th March
An essential fixture in the art world, the Affordable Art Fair (held annually each spring and autumn) is back, between 6th - 10th March this year at ‘Evolution London’ in Battersea Park, south of the river. A contemporary art fair that takes place across the word (think NYC, Amsterdam, Melbourne), it’s a must-visit attraction for anyone interested in art and the collecting of it.
The fair’s ‘democratic access’ policy means pieces start at £50 but are capped at £7,500, to ensure that art remains attainable to many, and the fair always goes out of its way to showcase not just established artists but emerging talent. There will be bars, cafes and food trucks to enjoy and even a Family Hour one day, so why not check it out and maybe even invest in what might be tomorrow’s Damien Hirst or Tracy Emin?
Affordable Art Fair, Battersea Park, Queenstown Road, London SW11 4NJ www.affordableartfair.com/fairs/london-battersea-spring/
5. British Science Week, Greenwich - 8th to 17th March
This ten day celebration of the ‘STEM’ subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths) comes to Greenwich this March, welcoming wide audiences and hosting plenty of events and activities that showcase science and encourage young people to think about pursuing careers in these subjects. Whether you;’re a budding physicist, an aspiring software engineer or someone already in the field, you’re likely to see some of the best of British science here.
This year’s theme is ‘time’ which, if you think about it, is key to so many discoveries in the field. Evolution (how plants and animals change over time), the earth's movements (why do we have seasons and time zones?), lifecycles (how do organisms grow and die?) and the ways we mark time (clocks, sundials) will all give you food for thought. After all, where would we be if we couldn’t even plan our daily movements, courtesy of our watches or smartphones?
There’s no better way to understand what a profound impact science has on our daily life than to download the free activity pack, which you can find at their website (see below).
British Science Week, Greenwich Royal Observatory, Blackheath Ave, SE10 8X www.britishscienceweek.org/
Finally, if you're looking for accommodation in London then consider staying with us at our hotel in Hampstead, La Gaffe. Our comfortable guest accommodation is competitively-priced and we’re family-run and owned beside, so you’re assured of a warm and personal welcome.
We’re just three minutes walk from Hampstead tube and then it’s a quick fifteen minute journey into central London underground, where all of the capital's major attractions are at your fingertips.
To find out more about us, contact us by email or phone or book directly with us (for the best rates!) on our website.