United Kingdom, Europe
London in April
Blossom season in the parks and squares. Easter school holidays crowd the family sights for about two weeks.
The straight answer
April is a good month to visit London. Blossom season in the parks and squares. Easter school holidays crowd the family sights for about two weeks.
- Weather
- Classic spring mix, highs near 57F (14C), showers
- Crowds
- 3 of 5
- Prices
- 3 of 5
What April is like in London
April is the classic London spring mix. Highs near 57F (14C), sunny spells broken by showers, and blossom in the parks and garden squares. Crowds and prices climb as the month goes on. The Easter school holidays, which move each year, fill family attractions for roughly two weeks.
It suits garden lovers, walkers and couples who want the city looking pretty without summer prices. Families on school holiday will find it busy but pleasant. If you want the parks at their very best and longer evenings, May is worth the small step up in price.
Make the most of April
What is especially good about London this month.
Blossom season
Cherry and magnolia trees bloom across the parks and residential squares. Greenwich Park is a lovely spot for it.
Greenwich by riverboat
Spring is a good time to take the Thames Clipper out to Greenwich for the Royal Observatory and the prime meridian.
Longer evenings
With the clocks changed, daylight runs into the evening, so you can fit a river walk after dinner.
What to pack for April
- A light waterproof jacket
- A sweater for cool mornings and evenings
- Comfortable shoes that handle wet paths
- A small umbrella
Our timing tip
If your dates overlap the Easter school holidays, book timed slots for the British Museum and the Harry Potter studio tour well ahead.
Book London for April.
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- Hotels for April
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in LondonOpens a hotel search for London in April, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in LondonWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in LondonTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in London for April. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Things to do in London
Tower of London
Book online and arrive at opening; go straight to the Crown Jewels before the queue builds. Yeoman Warder tours are free with entry and worth planning around.
British Museum
Free entry, but book a timed slot in busy months. The Rosetta Stone room is calmest in the first hour.
Westminster Abbey
Closed to tourists on Sundays for services. Verger-led tours are the sleeper upgrade.
Borough Market
Full market runs Wednesday through Saturday; Saturdays are a crush by 11am. Go hungry, early, midweek.
The South Bank walk
Tate Modern to Tower Bridge along the river is the best free afternoon in London, in any weather.
West End show
The TKTS booth in Leicester Square sells legitimate same-day discounts. Midweek matinees are easiest.
Beat the crowds
- Do the Tower of London at opening or after 3pm; the cruise-excursion and coach-tour wave hits between 10am and 2pm.
- The free museums are busiest on weekends and rainy afternoons. A sunny weekday morning at the British Museum feels like a different institution.
- Book Westminster Abbey's first entry and you will have the Poets' Corner nearly alone; by late morning it is a slow shuffle.
- Ride the London Eye in the last daylight hour instead of midday: shorter lines and better light.
Know before you go
- London has no off-season shutdown. Museums, theatre, and restaurants run at full speed all twelve months; winter changes the light and the price, not the access.
- December 25 is the one true closure day: nearly everything shuts, including the entire Tube network. December 26 (Boxing Day) still runs reduced hours and transit.
- Buckingham Palace's state rooms open to the public only in summer, generally July into September. The rest of the year you are looking at the outside.
- Westminster Abbey closes to sightseers on Sundays, and state occasions can close it or the surrounding streets with little notice.
London in April, quick answers
Is April a good time to visit London?
April is a good month to visit London. Blossom season in the parks and squares. Easter school holidays crowd the family sights for about two weeks.
What is the weather like in London in April?
Classic spring mix, highs near 57F (14C), showers.
Is London crowded in April?
Crowds in London are moderate in April; timed bookings still help at the biggest sights.
Keep planning London.
The months either side, and the best one if this is not it.
Also at their best in April
Before you book.
Sort these two things first.
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