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The days are getting lighter, daffodils are popping up all over the city and all manner of chocolatey treats are arriving in the supermarkets ahead of Easter. It can only mean one thing; spring is here at last! With London finally enjoying a bit of sun this week, we’re feeling thoroughly excited about all the great events on the horizon as the days get brighter, longer and warmer, from the latest art exhibitions to major stage openings, exciting new festivals to landmark birthday celebrations.
Looking for some ways to spruce up your social calendar over the coming weeks? As Time Out’s events expert, it’s my job to keep you as informed as possible about all the great stuff going on around the city, and here are ten events I think you’d be a fool to miss this spring. Time to grab your diary!
London Soundtrack Festival
An exciting new addition to London’s roster of excellent film fests, this new festival celebrates an often unsung part of our favourite movies – the soundtracks – via talks, screenings and performances. Highlights include a concert from Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir (who did the scores for Tár and Joker), David Cronenberg and Howard Shore in conversation and a concert of great movie music featuring guest appearances from Jake Shears, Neil Tennant and Omar. Find out more here.
Roundhouse Three Sixty
Serving up an eclectic mix of live music, spoken word, podcasts and club nights, Roundhouse Three Sixty is another new springtime festival, taking place at Chalk Farm’s famous circular arts venue across April. Featured on the hugely eclectic programme are club nights curated by BBC 6Music DJ Sherelle and BAFTA-winning TV writer Jack Rooke, an evening of comedy hosted by Munya Chawawa and concerts from Tom Odell, Corinne Bailey-Rae and the National Youth Orchestra. Find out more here.
‘Here We Are’
The undisputed greatest composer of musicals in history, Stephen Sondheim’s final musical arrives at the National Theatre in April, in a coup for outgoing artistic director Rufus Norris. Having premiered at NYC arts centre The Shed in 2023, the posthumously produced Here We Are is a mashup of two disturbing arthouse classics by Spanish-Mexican filmmaker Luis Buñuel. Its London debut is a furiously exciting prospect, with a formidable cast headed by Tracie Bennett, Rory Kinnear and Denis O’Hare. Find out more here.
The opening of IKEA Oxford Street
The massive new IKEA store taking over the site of the dearly departed Topshop flagship finally has an opening date. Oxford Street’s most exciting new opening in years, it’ll feature three floors of showrooms, a market space stocking more than 3,500 items of bargain homeware and, of course, a 130-seater Swedish deli where you can sample those famous meatballs and bargain 75p hot dogs. Sick of schlepping back from IKEA Greenwich on public transport with a Billy bookcase in tow? Put Thursday May 1 in your diary. Find out more here.
The reopening of the National Gallery’s Sainsbury Wing
London’s world-famous National Gallery celebrated its bicentenary last May, and the last year has seen some major celebrations take place at the Trafalgar Square institution. It’s all been building up to the long-awaited reopening of the gallery’s Sainsbury Wing, following major renovations to the Grade I-listed space over the past two years. The gallery’s entire collection is being rehung for the occasion. We can’t wait to see what they’ve done with the place. Find out more here.
‘Cartier’
All that glitters isn’t gold – sometimes it’s silver, amethyst, emerald, ruby or sapphire. All the sparkling colours of the jewel rainbow will be on display at the V&A’s next exhibition tracing the evolution of French luxury brand Cartier since the turn of the century. Expect to see some serious bling among the 350-item-strong collection of tiaras, watches, clocks, brooches and other precious objects – some of which have been worn by pop royalty like Rihanna, and actual royalty like Queen Elizabeth II. Find out more here.
Tate Modern’s 25th Birthday Weekender
It’s hard to believe that a gallery with such an immense cultural impact has only been around since 2000, but the Tate Modern celebrates its 25th birthday this spring, and it’s hosting a four-day-long party to celebrate, including two late-night parties with live music, DJs and the lively, participatory vibe that Londoners have come to expect from Tate’s after-hours openings. It sounds a whole lot better than the tequila shots, drunk Maccies and raging hangover that mark most people’s 25th birthdays. Find out more here.
The opening of the V&A East Storehouse
It’s a big year for Stratford. Just a couple of months after the opening of London’s major new dance theatre Sadler’s Wells East in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the area is about to welcome another massive new cultural institution in the form of the V&A’s new east London storehouse. A purpose-built venue set to house more than 1,000 archives from the museum’s collection, the storehouse will be home to a wealth of fascinating cultural ephemera, from vintage footie kits and the Glastonbury festival archives to a collection of samurai swords. Find out more here.
Lido Festival
It’s been a good few years since Vicky Park hosted any new live events, but east London’s liveliest festival venue is welcoming a brand new event to its 5000-capacity Lido Field in late spring. Featuring headline slots from Charli xcx, Jamie xx, Massive Attack, Turnstile and London Grammar, Lido takes place across five dates in early June. Tickets are selling fast, so grab yours now if you’re a Baddy on the Floor. Brat Summer 2.0 incoming! Find out more here.
SXSW London
Austin’s SXSW festival is renowned across the planet for its role in launching the careers of pop superstars like Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa and Chappell Roan, so we’re expecting big things from the inaugural London edition of the festival. Taking place over a host of great venues around Shoreditch, it features more than 70 different music events, with a headline slot from Afrobeats star Tems, and the likes of Idris Elba, Katherine Ryan and Gillian Anderson on the bill for the conference arm of the event. Find out more here.
Be sure to check out our expertly curated guides on the best things to do this week, weekend and month for even more great suggestions on how to make the most of spring in the city. You’ll never be bored in London again.
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