Soap Making, Wine Tasting & Celebrating: 20+ Great Things To Do In London In April

If there’s one month to embrace renewal, it’s April – and we’ve gathered some fabulous ways to embrace that this month in London. Whether it’s trying something new (soap making workshop, anyone?), attending an inspiring talk or celebrating mother earth, it’s time to dust off the winter cobwebs, fling the curtains wide and celebrate the best our city has to offer. Here are the best things to do in London in April 2024.

Best Things To Do In London: April 2024

Rooftop Film Club

Rejoice: rooftop season is back, heralded by Rooftop Film Club, which returns to Bussey Building in Peckham and Roof East in Stratford this April. Both venues will be screening a mix of new releases and cult classics, from the Oscar-winning Poor Things and Anatomy of a Fall to favourites like About Time and Notting Hill. While you watch, enjoy cocktails, pizzas and desserts – with the option to order food directly to your seat, in case you get peckish mid-film.

Details: From 18 April (Roof East) and 25 April (Bussey Building). Book tickets at rooftopfilmclub.com

Soap Workshop

Try something new in London this month: join Soapsmith founder Samantha Jameson for a special soap workshop at Hart Shoreditch, learning to create your own bath soak, learn techniques used by experts and mixing natural oils for your own bespoke creation which you will take home in a beautiful gift box along with other Soapsmith goodies.

Details: 27 April 2024 from 3–5pm at Hart Shoreditch (61-67 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3HU). Tickets are free – or you can make a donation to Step Forward – and can be booked here.

Salinas #2, Cádiz, Spain, 2013 photo © Edward Burtynsky, courtesy Flowers Gallery, London

See An Eco Exhibition

Don’t miss the largest exhibition of Edward Burtynsky’s 40-year career this month at London’s Saatchi Gallery, featuring 94 of Burtynsky’s large-format photographs as well as 13 high-resolution murals, and an augmented reality experience. ‘I have spent over 40 years bearing witness to how modern civilization has dramatically transformed our planet,’ Burtynsky says. ‘At this time, the awareness of these issues presented by my large format images has never felt more urgent. I am grateful to be mounting the largest exhibition of my career at Saatchi Gallery in London, UK and I hope the exhibition experience will continue to provide inflection points for diverse conversations on these issues and move us all to a place of positive action.’

Details: Burtynsky: Extraction / Abstraction runs 14 February–6 May 2024 at the Saatchi Gallery (Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Rd, London SW3 4RY). Tickets start from £10 and can be booked at saatchigallery.com

Celebrate Earth Day

Every year on 22 April, billions of people across the world come together to celebrate mother nature. This year’s theme is Planet vs. Plastics, so this month is the prime time to commit to a local park or river cleanup, attend an insightful talk, or challenge yourself to improve your at-home recycling.

Details: Learn all about Earth Day and learn how to get involved in our comprehensive guide.

Games Night

Board games fan? Beloved Battersea brunch and small plates spot The Table will be hosting its inaugural Games Night on Wednesday 3 April, kicking off a monthly series of fun-filled evenings taking place on the first Wednesday of every month. Enjoy lively rounds of classic games accompanied by delicious cocktails for the perfect date night or gathering of pals.

Details: 6–10pm on Wednesday 3 April 2024 at The Table Battersea (35-37 Battersea Rise, London SW11 1HG). Games Night will take place on the first Wednesday evening of every month. Book your table at thetablecafe.com

Exclusive Skin Contact Wine Tasting

Wine lover? This is not one to miss. Join winemaking collective Troupe for a special wine tasting at Brunswick House this month. Austrian biodynamic winemaker Martin Diwald will be opening a selection of bottles from his collection, as well as the Troupe x Martin wine, ‘Welcome to the Jungle 2022, a skin contact white that is a product of a 27-year-long experiment with Martin’s Sauvignon Blanc vines. It is blended with local heroes Grüner Veltliner and Riesling from the best vineyard sites the region has to offer. Meanwhile, tuck into a delicious four-course feasting style menu featuring the likes of crispy pork knuckle, beer and mustard gravy, potato salad, seaweed, wild garlic and sauerkraut.

Details: Thursday 4 April from 6pm at Brunswick House (30 Wandsworth Road, London SW8 2LG). Tickets are £85 including all food and wine pairing, and can be booked here.

See A Comedy Show

Get some comic relief this month at Making Friends, Spencer Jones’ new show that delves into his move from London to Devon with his young family, and its reverberations. Taking us on a trip through the humour and agony of neighbourly relationships, Spencer explores what happens when we lose our connection to our social supports, his worries about being a decent Dad, and how not to scare off potential new Devon-based mates like an overeager teenager on a first date.

Details: Making Friends is running from 10–20 April 2024 at Soho Theatre (21 Dean St, London W1D 3NE). Tickets start from £14 and can be booked at sohotheatre.com

Cinnamon Bazaar’s New Spot

If you’re looking for an Indian restaurant to try this month, you can head to the brand new outpost of Cinnamon Bazaar, which is now open in Richmond. Pop in for Bombay-style eggs at breakfast or enjoy vibrant sharing plates for lunch and dinner (we’ve got our eye on the Toddy Shop Pepper Fry: delectable stir-fried shrimp topped with cracked black pepper and curry leaf lime crumble). When you’re all done, you can take a stroll along the Thames. What could be better?

Details: Cinnamon Bazaar is now open at 31-35 Kew Rd, Richmond, TW9 2NQ. cinnamon-bazaar.com

Jeanne du Barry

Screening Of Jeanne du Barry

As part of their Fashion & Cinema series, The Soho Hotel will be showing a special advance screening of French flick Jeanne du Barry followed by a Q&A with lead actress and director, Maïwenn and Costume Designer Jürgen Doering who collaborated with Chanel to create the film’s spectacular wardrobe, which captures the spirit of the era with a breath of fresh air. After the talk, head to Refuel restaurant and enjoy a special three-course dinner with a glass of wine.

Details: 14 April from 4.30pm at The Soho Hotel (4 Richmond Mews, London W1D 3DH). Tickets are £35 for the screening and Q&A, or £70 pp with a three-course dinner and glass of wine, and can be booked at firmdalehotels.com

Winemaker Supper Club

Islington and Battersea branches of neighbourhood wine bar Humble Grape will be hosting Villa Melnik’s Militza Zikatanova, who is travelling all the way from Bulgaria to treat guests to an exciting evening celebrating her family’s wine. Militza’s parents, Nikola and Lyubka, planted their vineyards in the picturesque town Melnik, located in southwestern Piri Mountains of Bulgaria, using indigenous and international grape varieties with the clear mission to bring back the glory of the Melnik wine and to lead the Renaissance of the region. Militzka joined the family business in 2015 and has been making wine ever since.

Details: 16 April in Battersea (2 Battersea Rise, London SW11 1ED) and 17 April in Islington (11-13 Theberton St, London N1 0QY). Tickets are £99.98. For the full line-up of events, visit humblegrape.co.uk

Cherry blossom in Greenwich Park

Spot Cherry Blossom

What better way to celebrate spring than with a stroll around London’s gorgeous parks? Better still, they are blooming with cherry blossoms this month. According to the RHS, blossom levels are set to be off the charts this spring – so that spring stroll is certainly a must-do.

Details: See our top pick of cherry blossom spots here.

First In At NIJŪ

Sushi lovers should book their table at NIJŪ, London’s latest Japanese restaurant opening in April. Meaning ‘20’ in Japanese, NIJŪ will serve an innovative menu offering ‘Katei Ryori’ style cooking, meaning ‘home cooked food’, in a decadent yet informal setting. Expect gorgeously presented dishes crafted with seasonal produce and showcasing culinary experimentation. Yum.

Details: NIJŪ (20 Berkeley St, London W1J 8EE) opens on 17 April 2024. Book your table at nijulondon.com

New Restaurants Opening In April In London

Earthfest

A free festival designed by the community, for the community will be hosted at Kings Cross this month: Earthfest. Taking place just before Earth Day (22 April), Earthfest will bring together an exceptional line-up of speakers, an immersive exhibition and a programme of interactive workshops, and strive to bring the most pressing climate conversations to the fore.

Details: 18–21 April 2024 around Kings Cross. Tickets are free for the public and can be booked at earthfest.world

The Drawing Room at Charlotte Street Hotel

Book Salon With Georgina Moore & Kate Sawyer

Join best-selling authors Georgina Moore (author of The Garnett Girls) and Kate Sawyer (author of The Stranding and This Family) in conversation at Charlotte Street Hotel’s latest Book Salon this month. They’ll be discussing all things novel writing and getting published, plus exploring the themes of family, friendship and relationships found in each of their books. The talk will be followed by a Q&A and a book signing, too.

Details: Monday 22 April from 6:30pm at Charlotte Street Hotel (15-17 Charlotte St., London W1T 1RJ). Tickets are £20 pp including a glass of wine or a non-alcoholic cocktail, or £50 pp including a two-course dinner and a glass of wine available, and can be purchased at firmdalehotels.com

Sour Mango salad & Kolae chicken bamboo skewer. © Ben Broomfield Photography

Celebrate Songkran

Fancy a taste of Thailand? Songkran – aka Thai New Year – takes place on 13 April every year so it’s the perfect time to tuck into some Thai food. Our top pick this month is Kolae, a new spot bringing a dose of spice to Borough Market. Drawing on the Southern Thai cooking style the restaurant is named for – where ingredients are generously coated in a fragrant, curry-like coconut marinade before being grilled over open flames – expect an array of signature dishes spanning seasonal fish, game, seafood and veggie options. Start with the fresh yet tantalisingly spicy biryani rice crackers with pickled ginger and green nahm jim, and don’t miss the kolae chicken bamboo skewer – it might be the best chicken you eat all year. Other than that, the mix and match the menu between you – just be wary of the spice.

Details: Kolae (6 Park St, London SE1 9AB) is open everyday for lunch and dinner. Book your table at kolae.com

Best Thai Restaurants In London

Rooftop Terrace Season Is Here

London is gradually warming up, and The Culpeper kicking off the rooftop terrace season, readying its annual popular spot by reeling in the canopy. Time for a dreaming cocktail with breathtaking city views, plus small plates to tickle your taste buds if you fancy it, all using fresh produce from the garden surrounding guests on the rooftop.

Details: The Culpeper (40 Commercial Street, London E1 6LP) rooftop terrace is open from 25 April 2024. Book your table at theculpeper.com

Sunrise Yoga

Sunrise Yoga is back for the sunnier season at art’otel London Battersea Power Station. Kicking off on Friday 26 April 2024, visitors will practise a 60 minute session led by local yoga teacher Jinis beside the rooftop pool with a breathtaking background of Battersea Power Station. Post class, fuel up at TOZI Counter with juice, a hot drink and pastries. What better way to kick off a Friday?

Details: 7.30–8.30 AM on Friday 26 April 2024 at art’otel London Battersea Power Station (1 Electric Blvd, Nine Elms, London SW11 8BJ) – and every Friday from then on. Tickets are £40 including a complimentary juice or hot drink and pastry at TOZI Counter, and can be booked here.

48 Hour Champagne Festival

Searcys annual Bubbly Show is returning to London this April, taking place at {10-11} Carlton House Terrace and preparing for a serious Champagne extravaganza. Visitors can meet both distinguished Champagne Houses and English Sparkling Wine growers, sip on some of the world’s finest bubbles, feed your mind with a plethora of talks and masterclasses, and feed your belly with culinary delights for lunch, dinner and afternoon tea.

Details: The Bubbly Show will take place on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 April 2024 at {10-11} Carlton House Terrace (St. James’s, London SW1Y 5AH). Tickets start from £60 and can be booked at searcys.co.uk

Martha Freud

Pottery Workshop With Martha Freud

Missing The Great Pottery Throw Down? Join Martha Freud at Ham Yard Hotel this month for a special day-long creative workshop. Known for her delicate but playful ceramics, Martha will guide guests through the process of crafting their own ceramic plant pot out of clay and personalising them with an inscription. Guests will also enjoy lunch at Ham Yard Restaurant where Martha’s work takes centre-stage as her handmade pots illuminate the back wall.

Details: 10am–3pm on Saturday 27 April at Ham Yard Hotel (1 Ham Yard, London W1D 7DT). Tickets are £250 per person including all materials, morning coffee, lunch and your own ceramic pot to take home, and can be purchased at firmdalehotels.com

Missing The Great Pottery Throw Down? These Are The Best Pottery Classes In London

Giant London Flea Market

Looking for some new vintage treasures? Visit The Giant London Flea Market this month, a golden opportunity to spruce up your living space with something old yet refreshingly new to you. Over 100 traders will take over the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Multi-Storey Car Park, selling lost treasures, unique finds, fun furniture and unexpected oddities.

Details: 10am–5pm on Sunday 28 April 2024 at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Multi-Storey Car Park (London E15 2GZ). Entry costs £2 on the door, with cash and contactless accepted. Click here to find out more.

The Dive Bar at Ham Yard Hotel

In Conversation With Liz Earle & Dr Louise Newson

Health enthusiasts shouldn’t miss this: Liz Earle and Dr Louise Newson will host an insightful and inspiring talk at Ham Yard Hotel this month, dissecting the multifaceted topic that is women’s health and wellbeing during midlife. They will be sorting the fads from the fiction and sharing evidence-based techniques, research and expertise that can be found in their books accumulated over years of experience in their dedicated fields.

Details: Tuesday 30 April from 6.30pm at Ham Yard Hotel (1 Ham Yard, London W1D 7DT). Tickets are £25 pp (or £50 pp including a copy of the books by Liz Earle and Dr Louise Newson) and can be booked at firmdalehotels.com

Fire Dining Roast

The roasts don’t have to end with Easter. Soho’s buzzy fire dining restaurant Sucre is launching a brand new Sunday Fire Dining Roast inspired by the Argentinian tradition of Asado (grilling meat over an open flame). Guests can expect a meticulously curated menu of delicious meats and fish, flame grilled theatrically over an open fire in the heart of the restaurant. Top it off with a trio of delectable desserts, and wash it all down with bottomless Argentinian bubbles for the perfect indulgent Easter weekend treat.

Details: Sucre’s Sunday Fire Dining Roast is £45 per person and includes the ultimate three-course roast of grilled meats, fish, and vegetables, followed by indulgent desserts. Add bottomless bubbles for an extra £25 pp. Sundays 12–4pm at Sucre (47b Great Marlborough St, London W1F 7JP). Book your table at sucrerestaurant.com

World Class Cocktail Festival

Thirty of London’s top bars are mixing up a range of limited edition cocktails in celebration of the inaugural World Class Cocktail Festival this month. Each bartender’s bar will shake up and serve at least three new cocktails using Tanqueray No. TEN, The Singleton 12-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky and Seedlip. The hub of the action is The Bar At Home, where guests can enjoy a complimentary World Class cocktail after completing a fun and interactive Flavour Masterclass hosted by in-store experts, all free of charge.

Details: The World Class Cocktail Festival is running from 9 March–30 April 2024. See the full list of participating bars at thebar.com

Jury Games

Do Your Jury Duty

A new immersive experience has landed in London: Jury Duty, where you decide if Harry Briggs – who has been charged with arson, manslaughter and murder – is guilty or not guilty. A huge hit played virtually during Covid 19 lockdown, Jury Duty now has a permanent home at London’s Theatre Deli, where visitors must work together using a round-table format to interrogate the evidence, as well as the suspect, before delivering their final verdict.

Details: The experience is 90 minutes long and is available to book at 7pm on Thursdays and Fridays, and at 2.30pm, 5pm and 7.30pm on Saturdays. Jury Duty takes place at Theatre Deli Leadenhall (107 Leadenhall St, London EC3A 4AF). Tickets are £42.50 and can be booked at theatredeli.co.uk

© Philippa Langley

Try A Brand New Brunch

Foodie looking for things to do in London in April? Broadway Market’s buzzy neighbourhood restaurant Sune is launching a decadent new Sunday brunch this month, inspired by Antipodean and NYC brunch culture. Think cocktails, indulgent playful dishes, and laid back Sunday vibes.

Details: Every Sunday from 11am at Sune (129A Pritchard’s Rd, London E2 9AP). Book your table at sune.restaurant

Sip Perfume Inspired Cocktails

Pomello has created a special trilogy of cocktails, inspired by the enchanting aromas of Jo Loves, are now being served at the BoTree Bar: the Pomelo Paloma, the Jo Loves Spritz and the Botanical Sour. Plus, with every purchase of a Jo Loves-inspired cocktail, guests will receive a complimentary 2ml Jo Loves fragrance to prolong the sweet-smelling experience.

Details: Now being served at The BoTree Bar (The BoTree, 30 Marylebone Ln, London W1U 2DR), open everyday from midday to midnight. thebotree.com