At a Glance
Compared to this destination's peak season
London in April — Travel Guide
By Harry Nara · Last updated
London in April offers some of the best conditions of the year, ideal for spring visitors & marathon spectators. Expect temperatures of 6–15°C, around 9 days of rain, and medium crowds across the city. Daily budgets typically land around £90–150 for mid-range travellers. Book three to four weeks ahead for the best mid-range rates and the widest hotel choice.
Contents16 sections
#At a Glance
April is when London wakes up after winter: the clocks have gone forward, the evenings stretch past 8pm, and the parks fill with blossom, from the cherries of Greenwich and Battersea to the magnolias of the Kensington squares. The weather is famously changeable, sunny one hour and showery the next, at about 15°C on a good afternoon.
In 2027 Easter falls at the end of March, so April opens with the tail of the school Easter holidays, then brings the Boat Race on Sunday 11 April and, for the first time, a two-day London Marathon on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April. It is a busy, lively month with prices still below the summer peak.
#Weather in London in April
London in April averages 6–15°C (43–59°F) with around 9 days of rain, and crowds are medium.
| Measure | April in London |
|---|---|
| Daytime high | About 15°C / 59°F |
| Overnight low | About 6°C / 43°F |
| Wet days | About 9 |
| Sunset | 7:33pm on the 1st, 8:21pm by the 30th |
| Big dates | Boat Race, Sunday 11 April 2027; London Marathon, 24–25 April |
| Crowds | Busy in the Easter holidays and on Marathon weekend |
Figures are Met Office 1991–2020 averages for London.
What that actually means for your trip:
- It changes by the hour. A bright morning can turn to a sharp shower and back to sunshine in an afternoon; carry a layer and a small umbrella.
- The nights are still cold, close to single figures, so a coat is needed after dark.
- Rain comes as showers, not long wet days, and April is often drier than the autumn months.
- The light returns. With the clocks forward, it is light until after 8pm by the end of the month.
Is April a good time to visit London? Yes, for blossom, long evenings and two of London's great free sporting days. Dress for changeable weather, book ahead for the Marathon weekend, and expect the museums to be busy in the first week of the Easter school holidays.
#April's calendar
Easter and the school holidays. Good Friday is 26 March and Easter Monday 29 March in 2027, so April has no bank holiday. The Easter school holidays in most London boroughs run from 26 March to 9 April, filling the museums and family attractions in the first days of the month.
Oxford and Cambridge race up the Thames from Putney to Mortlake in the Boat Race on Sunday 11 April 2027. With the women's race a hundred years old this year, the order is reversed: the men go at 3:40pm and the women follow at 4:40pm. The riverbanks are free.
For the first time the TCS London Marathon is split across a weekend, with 100,000 runners divided between Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April 2027 on the same course from Greenwich to The Mall, so the roads close twice. See our London Marathon guide.
St George's Day, England's national day, is on 23 April, the day before.
The blossom. The cherry trees of Greenwich Park and Battersea Park, and the magnolias and cherries in the squares of Notting Hill and Kensington, flower from late March into April; Kew Gardens has its bluebells and magnolias, and the azaleas of the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park begin at the end of the month.
#What to Do in London in April
Solo Travellers
Walk from Putney along the Thames towpath towards Barnes on a weekday, when the rowing crews are out training for the Boat Race, then visit the London Wetland Centre.
Spend a showery afternoon at Tate Britain, free.
Couples
Picnic under the cherry blossom in Greenwich Park, then take the riverboat back to Westminster as the sun goes down.
A spring evening at the Barbican or the Southbank Centre suits a changeable day.
Families
Book a free timed ticket for the Natural History Museum at the first slot of the day in the Easter holidays, and see the deer in Richmond Park, where the fawns arrive later in the spring.
The Horniman Museum in south London is calmer than the big museums.
Groups
Choose a riverside pub on the Boat Race course, around Hammersmith or Chiswick, for the race, or join the crowds cheering the Marathon runners and then find a pub along the route.
#Getting Around
The Elizabeth line, the Piccadilly line and the Heathrow Express serve Heathrow; Gatwick has the Gatwick Express and Thameslink; Stansted and Luton have their own rail links. On the Tube, buses and trains, tap a contactless card, phone or Oyster card; the Zones 1–2 daily cap was £8.90 at 2026 prices, and TfL's annual fare change takes effect in March.
April is a good month for the river: the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers riverboats link Putney, Westminster, the City and Greenwich, and the Thames Path is lovely on a fine day.
#Budget & Costs
| Travel style | Per day | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | £80–120 | Dorm bed, market lunches and pub suppers, Tube and bus caps |
| Mid-range | £175–255 | 3-star hotel, restaurant meals, one paid sight or show |
| Luxury | £470+ | Top hotels and fine dining |
April is shoulder season, with prices rising in the Easter holidays and on Marathon weekend.
Costs worth knowing:
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| National museums and galleries | Free |
| Watching the Boat Race and the Marathon | Free |
| Zones 1–2 daily cap | £8.90 at 2026 prices |
| Columbia Road Flower Market | Free to browse |
| Restaurant service charge | About 12.5% |
- Book hotels early for Marathon weekend, when the race runs on two days.
- Check TfL's 2027 fares, which change in March.
- Free museum timed tickets save queuing in the Easter holidays.
#Food & Dining
April brings wild garlic, the first Jersey Royal potatoes, new-season lamb and forced rhubarb to the menus.
Borough Market and Maltby Street are good on a weekday morning; at weekends they are packed. Easter eggs and hot cross buns are in the shops before Easter, at the end of March in 2027. Book popular restaurants a week or two ahead for weekends, and well ahead on Marathon weekend.
#Nightlife
The pubs and bars spill out onto the pavements on the first warm evenings, and the riverside pubs of Hammersmith and Richmond are busy on Boat Race day. The West End has new spring productions, and Ronnie Scott's in Soho has jazz every night.
#Shopping
The spring collections arrive on Oxford Street, Regent Street and in Covent Garden, and Liberty is a lovely shop to browse on a wet afternoon.
Columbia Road Flower Market on Sunday mornings is full of spring bulbs and blossom.
#Culture & Etiquette
- Keep right on the escalators and let passengers off the train before you get on.
- Wait your turn, at the bus stop and the bar alike.
- On Marathon days, cross the course only where marshals allow it.
- Tipping of about 12.5% is usual in restaurants, often added as a service charge.
#Essential Local Phrases
| What you want to say | What Londoners say |
|---|---|
| A sudden rain shower | A spot of rain |
| A sweater | A jumper |
| The subway | The Tube |
| Very tired | Knackered |
| Brilliant | Lovely |
| Thank you | Cheers |
| The bathroom | The loo |
| A public holiday | A bank holiday |
#Packing List
- A warm jacket and a light waterproof
- Layers for changeable days
- A compact umbrella
- Comfortable walking shoes that cope with rain
- Sunglasses for bright spells
- A contactless card or Oyster card
#Backup Plans (Rainy Days)
On a showery day, plan around the free museums with cafés, such as the V&A in South Kensington and the British Museum in Bloomsbury, or the covered markets of Covent Garden and Leadenhall. A West End matinee fills an afternoon.
If the Marathon closes your route: keep to the Underground and the Elizabeth line, and plan sights north of the river or west of Westminster for the morning.
If the blossom is over: look for the later-flowering trees in Kew and the Isabella Plantation, or the wisteria that starts on the terraces of Chelsea at the end of the month.
#Safety & Health
London is generally safe; keep your phone and bag secure in crowds, on the Tube and at the Marathon and the Boat Race. Tree pollen starts in April, so bring antihistamines if you need them.
Emergency: 999, or 111 for urgent medical advice and 101 for non-emergency police.
#What's New for April 2027
- Marathon weekend has two race days for the first time: Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April 2027
- The Boat Race is on Sunday 11 April 2027, the centenary of the women's race
- Easter falls in March in 2027, so April has no bank holiday
- London fares: the Zones 1–2 daily cap was £8.90 at 2026 prices, and TfL revises fares each March
- St George's Day is on Friday 23 April
#About This Guide
By Harry Nara (founder of WhenToWander), updated October 2026 for April 2027. Climate figures are Met Office 1991–2020 averages. Dates and prices verified against:
- TCS London Marathon for the two-day race
- University of Cambridge for the 2027 Boat Race
- GOV.UK for the 2027 bank holidays
- Royal Borough of Greenwich for the Easter school holidays
- Transport for London for fares
For the month that follows, see London in May, and for the season as a whole, London in spring.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is April a good time to visit London?
Yes, for blossom, long evenings and two of London’s great free sporting events, the Boat Race and the Marathon. The weather is changeable, about 15°C on a good day with frequent showers, so pack layers and an umbrella.
When is the London Marathon in 2027?
Over two days for the first time: Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April 2027, with 100,000 runners divided between them on the same course from Greenwich to The Mall. Roads along the course close on both days; watching is free.
Where are the best cherry blossoms in London?
Greenwich Park and Battersea Park have the best-known avenues of cherry trees, and the squares of Notting Hill and Kensington are full of cherries and magnolias. Kew Gardens has blossom and bluebells. The trees flower from late March into April.
How does Easter affect visiting London in April 2027?
Less than usual: Easter falls on 28 March in 2027, so the bank holidays are in March. The Easter school holidays still run until about 9 April, so the museums and family attractions are busy in the first week of the month.
What’s the weather like in London in April?
London in April typically sees temperatures of 6–15°C with around 9 days of rain across the period. Pack lightweight layers that suit both cooler mornings and warmer afternoons.
How much does it cost to visit London in April?
Budget-conscious travellers can expect daily costs of £90–150, covering accommodation, food, and local transport. Flexible dates can save up to 20% compared with peak-week rates.