From a David Bowie exhibition and a Hockney afternoon tea, to immersive experiences and family fun, here are the best things to do in London in April. 

1 Gilbert & George Centre, Spitalfields

This purpose-built centre dedicated to the east London cultural icons opens this month and designed to look like Gilbert & George’s Georgian home and studio. Three galleries, boasting a combined exhibition space of 280 square metres, will exhibit the Turner Prize winning couple’s work. The centre opens with exhibition THE PARADISICL PICTURES – a Gilbert & George style depiction of a heavenly place – part psychedelic, part landscape, part science fiction and full of brash colours, geometry and naturally, the pair themselves. Entry is free.

Address: 5a Heneage Street, Stephney E1 5LJ

Website: gilbertandgeorgecentre.org

2 Somerset House Terrace Bar with San Miguel

Opening just in time for the Easter bank holiday, the Somerset House Terrace Bar with San Miguel returns to the Strand for the fourth time. There’s ice-cold beer and a tapas menu designed by celebrity Spanish chef Omar Allibhoy with meaty, cheesy sharing boards as well as all the usual Spanish-style picky bits and traditional stone baked flatbreads. Also look out for live music, hands on workshops and other fun, participatory events. On until October.

Address: Strand, WC2R 1LA

Website: somersethouse.org.uk

3 esti, Shoreditch

Greek-Australian pop up esti has set up shop for six months at TT Liquor. The pop up brings together Greek homespun dishes, with warm Australian-style hospitality. British ingredients are used to created authentic Greek food with a sprinkling of Australian-native herbs, such as finger lime, lemon myrtle and forest anise. Dishes include classic souvlaki, grilled octopus and fish dishes, as well as a selection of snacks and dips flavoured with pomegranate, tahini yogurt, British honey and cumin.

Address: TT Liquor, 17B Kingsland Road, E2 8AA

Service: Sunday-Wednesday 5.30pm-10.30pm

Website: ttliquor.co.uk

 

4 No Place Like Home (A Vietnamese Exhibition) Part II exhibition, Hackney

Museum of The Home’s new exhibition features a group of Vietnamese diasporic artists, curated by KV Duong and Hoa Dung Clerget. Each artist presents work around the idea of home, from a Vietnamese cultural angle. Workshops, a panel discussion, performances and food sharing events will complement the exhibition.

Date: April 19 – July 11

Admission: Free

Address: 136 Kingsland Road, Hackney E2 8EA

Website: museumofthehome.org.uk

 

5 Punchdrunk’s Ascension Party, Woolwich

For one night, The Burnt City – a goliath of immersive theatre that take up the entirety of three warehouse spaces - invites audience to party on as the world of Troy falls. For one night, quaff cocktails as you watch cabaret, dance to live DJs and discover immersive bars at this one of a kind evening located in an incredibly elaborate set. You can book tickets to experience the show as well as go to ascension, or you can get tickets for the party on its own.

Date: April 30

Time: From 6pm until 10pm

Tickets: From £35

Address: 1 Cartridge Place Royal Arsenal SE18 6ZR

Website: theburntcity.com

 

6 Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial, West End

An absurd trial by many measures, but one we all tuned in for, the Wagatha Christie saga continues on stage when then Vardy v Rooney returns to London following a well-lauded first season.  Base n the court transcript, this stage adaption of this stranger than fiction tale comes with zingy one-liners and revelations blurring the boundaries of tabloid, court case, social media and soap opera – the key parts to this mad tale. A captioned performance will take place on April 29 at 2.30pm.

Date: April 6 – May 20

Tickets: From £25

Address: The Ambassadors Theatre, West Street WC2H 9ND

Website: wagathaplay.com

 

7 British Library’s Food Season, King’s Cross

The British Library’s food season kicks off this month, with a swathe of literary foodies talking stories and food, using the library’s collection a resource. Talks, in conversations and panels cover everything from cultural heritage, sustainability and future proofing food systems to what makes a sandwich great, and ice cream. Names include Nigella Lawson, Nadyia Hussain, Jimi Famurewa and Andi Oliver.

Dates: April 17 – June 7

Tickets: Sessions individually ticketed and priced, starting from £3.25

Address: 96 Euston Road, King’s Cross NW1 2DB

Website: bl.uk

 

8 Easter Bank Holiday

From arts and craft workshops, to Easter egg hunts and family discos, there’s a whole long weekend of family fun to have – friends can also get amongst it during the bank holiday too. Families can decorate bunting in preparation for the King’s coronation, or children can make their ultimate unicorn puppet, or try their hand at baking sweet Easter treats at one of London’s most luxurious hotels. Here are The Resident’s family Easter activities recommendations. For pals, Some of London’s rooftop bars are opening in time for the bank holiday, but there are also new brunches to get stuck into and DJs to listen to. Find more fun stuff to do in The Resident’s full Easter bank holiday guide.  

 

9 Wild Goose chase at Leadenhall Market, City

The central market will bring back The Great Leadenhall Market Wild Goose Chase, with Old Tom’s Golden Egg as a trophy and a £500 prize to win, which can be spent at a market outlet of choice. Open to all ages, the market as created 100 challenges for 20 teams to take part in throughout April. The goose chase is inspired by the original 1920s treasure hunts put on by The Bright Young Things who were a team of party loving artists and socialites who set about creating London-wide treasure hunts and pranks. Register your team on the website.

Date: Tasks go live April 1 at 8am and submissions close April 30 at 10pm

Address: Gracechurch Street, City EC3V 1LT

Website: leadenhallmarket.co.uk

 

10 Battersea spring festival, Battersea Power Station

Two weeks of springtime family fun descends onto Battersea Power Station with a mix of workshops and outdoor games for children of all ages can get amongst. Free activities include a giant flower trail which comes with facts on 10 different flowers and a scratch card, a mobile farm with alpacas, sheep and goats, and face-painting. There’s also a wriggle and squiggle floor playground which invites you to shake it all about and everyone’s favourite bug, Colin The Caterpillar will stop by to say hello too. Children can also learn how to grow their own lettuce, play on rides and participate in a mini sports day.  

Dates: April 1-16

Address: Battersea Power Station, London SW11 8BJ

Website: batterseapowerstation.co.uk

 

11 Aladdin Sane: 50 Years, Southbank Centre

This exhibition marks 50 years since Bowie made his iconic album, Aladdin Sane, with the iconic artwork, the lightning flash portrait. It’s curated by by Geoffrey Marsh and Chris Duffy, son of photographer Brian Duffy who collaborated with Bowie to create the image. There’s also a gig with the likes of Anna Calvi and Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears covering the album, two queer club nights in Bowie’s honour and a night of poetry inspired by the album, so get amongst it.

Date: April 6 – May 28

Price: Events individually ticketed

Address:  Belvedere Road, South Bank, SE1 8XX

Website: southbankcentre.co.uk

 

12 Hilma af Klint and Piet Mondrian Forms of Life Exhibition at Tate Modern

Through around 250 works, this exhibition will look at two of the most imaginative artists of the twentieth century, Klint and Mondrian. Both artists shared a bond with the natural world and a desire to understand the forces  behind life on earth. The exhibition explores the artists’ radical new ideas, theories and scientific discoveries in a era of rapid social change.

Dates: April 20 – September 3

Tickets: From £20/£5 adult/child

Address: Bankside SE1 9TG

Website: tate.org.uk

13 The Lucky Club, Camden

Celebrating its reopening for the Easter Bank Holiday, The Lucky Club Camden will serve free bubbles to the first 100 guests booked in for the Easter weekend. The heated rooftop will also be supplying goodie bags, and a non-stop happy hour throughout the four day holiday. The cocktail list has been updated and new additions include frozen daiquiris, and the food menu has also had a revamp as well. Mexican street food is still on offer, but dishes now included loaded burritos, battered halloumi with Mexican slaw and chipotle mayo and the dirty vegan deep fried artichoke.

Dates: Reopens Thursday, April 6

Address: North Stables Yard, Camden Market, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AH

Website: theluckyclub.com

 

14 Roof East, Stratford

East London’s carpark playground reopens for the summer season this month. Sluggers, Birdies Crazy Golf, archery game Arrows and disco lawn bowls Glitter Bowls will also all reopen, as will Rooftop Film Club, which always has excellent programming. The rooftop bar’s food trucks reopen as well as do its five bars so you can have a sundowner while overlooking Olympic Park and London beyond.

Dates: Reopens April, 20

Opening Hours: Thurs-Fri 5pm-11pm; Sat-Sun 12pm-11pm (April trading hours)

Address: 7 & 8 Stratford Multi Storey Car Park, Great Eastern Road, Stratford E15 1XE

Website:  roofeast.com

15 Now Play This at Somerset House

As part of the London Games Festival, Now Play This, a hands-on exhibition, showcases the latest in independent and experimental game design from around the world. This year’s theme is based on love, in its many iterations, through games, installations and workshops – you can discover a game played from the perspective of a cat tasked with cheering up its owner and a documentary captured through 3D scanning.

Tickets: From £9/£6.50

Address: Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA

Website: nowplaythis.net, somersethouse.org.uk

 

16 David Hockney Afternoon Tea at Rosewood London

Another new way to experience David Hockney's wonderful work, the High Holborn hotel is putting on a creative and sophisticated afternoon tea in celebration of David Hockney’s current exhibition, Bigger & Closer (not smaller and further away) at the Lightroom in King's Cross. Served in the Grade II listed buildings' Mirror Room, the tea comes with five Hockney-inspired cakes and desserts based on some of his most iconic paintings.  

Price: From £75 per person

Address: 252 High Holborn WC1V 7EN

Website: rosewoodhotels.com

17 Double Standard Brunch, King’s Cross

The Standard’s ground floor bar and terrace is popping on new Sunday brunch for the warm weather that comes with a DIY bloody Mary station so you can construct your perfect drink, adding the spices and garnishes as you see fit. The menu, which is designed to go with bottomless prosecco or the aforementioned Bloody Mary’s is made of British breakfast favourites and American classics – things like buttermilk chicken waffles, full English, short rib with mac n cheese, or caramelised banana, salted caramel ice cream with chocolate sauce waffles for something sweet.

Dates: Sunday from March 26, 12pm-4pm

Address: 10 Argyle Street, WC1H 8EG

Website: standardhotels.com

18 BBC Earth Experience, Earl's Court

Another immersive experience for London, and one that features Sir David Attenborough and footage – included extended scenes – from the magnificent Seven Worlds, One Planet series. Footage from the epic series is projected across multiple multi-angle screens so visitors immerse themselves in the natural world, while Attenborough’s narration guides guests through the seven continents and around the marvellous creatures that live there. Breakout areas offer deep dives into specific pockets of the natural world, including getting up close to (digital) creepy crawlies.

Tickets: From £28.50

Dates: Opens March 30

Address: The Daikin Centre Earl's Court SW6 1TR

Website: bbcearthexperience.com

 

19 Winnie The Pooh The Musical, Hammersmith

A bear and world that needs no introduction, Winne The Pooh The Musical is full of life size puppets, Grammy award-winning songs from the original animated features, plus some new musical arrangements. The show brings to life the beloved and iconic characters of Christopher Robin, Eeyore, Piglet, Rabbit, Owl, Kanga and Roo with refreshed storylines by the team who brought The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, Paddington gets in a Jam and Sesame Street the Musical to the stage.

Dates: From March 17-May 21

Tickets: From £29.50

Address: Riverside Studios, 101 Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith W6 9BN

Website: winniethepoohshow.co.uk; riversidestudios.co.uk

20 London Games Festival, Central London

The annual gamer’s heaven returns to central London, for all things games. Discover new games and gaming initiatives and opportunities to network with like, game-loving minds. Programme highlights include the Stand Up for GamesAid, featuring Pete Firman, Imran Yusuf and Laura Smyth (Monday, April 3; 7pm), Now Play This (Saturday, April 1; 10am) which is an interactive showcase of experimental game design, and the Trafalgar Square Exhibition on Wednesday April 5, from 10am.

Dates: March 29 to April 8

Tickets: events individually ticketed

Address: games.london

This guide will be updated, there is more to come.