April 2019: Top Cheapo London Events

The snow is (finally) gone, the flowers are starting to emerge and the weather really, really should be warming up soon! With Easter, chocolate and plenty of events to choose from, April is a pretty good month!

London Games Festival | Across London 

A huge umbrella event covering a whole list of shows and try-outs, this is a game lover’s heaven, with all the latest innovations and developments. Only in its fourth year, it is already incredibly popular, with 50,000 attendees last year and more expected for 2019. Some of the highlights include a three-day festival of experimental game design called Now Play This and the BAFTA Game Awards.

The Creative Craft Show London | Custom House

Whether you love knitting, cross-stitching, paper-crafting or dress-making, there’s something for everyone at this three-day event filled with everything you could dream of. There will be stalls offering all the latest tools and materials with great displays of new innovations and inventions. There will be an elements quilt challenge, a wedding aisle and a Sew your Style competition to take part in too!

Beasts of London | Barbican, St Pauls

An immersive tour in the Museum of London, this event will explore the animals who once roamed the city. Lions, pigs, elephants and rats will all explain how the city grew thanks to animals, with familiar voices like Nish Kumar, Angellica Bell and Brian Blessed taking part.

The Underbelly Festival | South Bank

A Southbank tradition, the Underbelly Festival brings all the most unusual entertainment to the riverside spot. Enjoy comedians, cabaret and music at the many, many ticketed events or just chill out on the colourful lawn area.

The Boat Races | Mortlake & Putney

Cheer on competing rowers along with millions of TV viewers and thousands of spectators for one of the most famous spring traditions in London. The teams from Cambridge and Oxford will row from Putney to Mortlake in the ever-competitive race for the title. The women’s race begins at 2.15pm and the men’s at 3.15pm.

Vape Jam UK 5 | Custom House

This is the UK’s biggest vape event and focuses on TPD-compliant products, advocacy and legislation in the vaping world. You can meet suppliers, hobbyists, manufacturers to learn more about the market and products. Note that no one under the age of 18 will be able to attend and proof of age will be required to enter.

Brixton Windmill Open Days | Brixton

Kicking off a summer of open days, April is a great month to start exploring some green spaces in London. Offering a chance to explore the windmill interiors as well as guided walks on Sundays, these free events are popular, so reserve a space in advance!

Easter Egg Hunt at Sutton House | Hackney 

Sutton House is offering lots and lots of space to let the little ones run wild and burn off that Easter egg sugar high! There will be lots of opportunities to scour the grounds for lost chicks who can be traded in for an egg as well as family-friendly activities like seed planting and a special trail within Sutton House. The egg hunt costs £2.00 and entry tickets are required, costing £6.00 for adults (special Easter price) and £4.00 for children.

Horniman Easter Fair | New Cross

The Horniman Museum Easter fair features a whole host of events including a performance of the Ugly Duckling, Easter trails, craft workshops and face painting. Although entry is free, some of the events are priced, like the show and the chance to meet a giant boa constrictor and his friendly bearded water dragons—so you can see how you feel about that on the day!

Feast of St George  |  Trafalgar Square

Celebrating the patron saint of England, this annual festival includes plenty of traditional highlights like Morris dancing, family games and medieval jousting. There will be food stalls offering their very British wares and cookery demonstrations from top chefs so you can learn a few skills to take home too.

The Summer Season at Shakespeare’s Globe | South Bank

A chance to see the performances, join the talks and experience a whole host of other events this summer at the Globe. There will be 700 £5.00 tickets available across performances and plenty of family friendly events across the school holidays too.

New Cross and Deptford Free Film Festival | New Cross, Deptford

Back again for a host of free screenings and cinema-themed events. There is a good mix of eclectic, art-house and independent films with listings to be announced soon.

Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition | Kensington

The Design Museum is hosting an exploration into the archives of cinematic hero Stanley Kubrick, offering fans and newcomes alike a chance to learn more about the creator alongside his creations. There will be original props, set models and rare photos to linger over.

Vaisakhi Festival | Trafalgar Square

Learn about and celebrate Sikh culture at this free event in Trafalgar Square. There will be indoor and outdoor event areas so you’ll be able to enjoy it whatever the weather. Highlights include spiritual music , traditional food, turban tying , folk dance, martial arts and special children’s activities.

Acton Depot Open Weekend: Love Your Line | Acton

A rare chance to step into London Transport Museum’s Acton depot, this open weekend is one of only three per year, so it would be a shame to miss out. The focus of this one is Loving your Line so you can alearn all about the architecture, creation and communities of London’s trainlines through any of the activities set up for kids and adults alike. Tickets are required and must be bought in advance, but kids go free!

London Marathon  |  Free

While you may not be running in the marathon that doesn’t mean you can’t cheer people on and marvel at the costumes and challenges people had added to their 26-mile challenge. There are always huge crowds lining the route and a great atmosphere, with the main spots for gatherings being Tower Bridge, Embankment and the finish line.

Last Chance Events

Superbugs: The Fight for our Lives | Ends April 7th | Kensington

Twilight Tours at the Tower of London | Ends April 14th

Dead Quiet | Ends April 20th | Kensington

Hendrix Talks | Ends April 27th | Mayfair

Ongoing Events

The Chocolate Cocktail Club | Until May 28th | Spitalfields

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