Things To Do This Easter Week In London: 3-9 April 2023

Things to do this week is sponsored by London Symphony Orchestra.

All week

EASTER HOLIDAYS: Kids off school and in need of entertainment? Take a look at our guide to Easter holiday events in London, covering exhibitions, shows and more, for all ages. We know the pennies don't stretch as far as they used to, so we've included some free, family-friendly things to do too.

TREASON: You've only got until Thursday to see The National Archives' current exhibition, Treason: People, Power & Plot. The free display is a history of treason from 1352 to the present day, covering well-known (Guy Fawkes) and more obscure cases, the people involved, and the punishments dished out. FREE, until 6 April

MACBETH: This week is your final chance to see the current production of Macbeth at Southwark Playhouse in Borough. Physical theatre company Flabbergast use live music to bring Shakespeare's bloodthirsty tale to life. Until 8 April

LONDON GAMES FESTIVAL: Thumbs at the ready as this year's London Games Festival continues. It celebrates all aspects of the video gaming industry here in the capital. The programme includes networking events, exhibitions, an awards ceremony, and of course, plenty of gaming sessions. Until 9 April

NOW PLAY THIS: Tying in with London Games Festival (above), Somerset House hosts Now Play This 2023, a festival of experimental games featuring interactive exhibitions, live shows, and plenty of chances to test drive some of those games. Until 9 April

CITY HUNT: Looking for a unique way to see London this Easter? Got teenagers to entertain during the school holidays? Sign up for StreetHunt Games' outdoor, self-guided mystery experience, The Case of Colombia's Finest. Over two hours, work as a team to unravel clues and sniff out evidence of the crime, all while exploring hidden London locations. Daily, 9am-6pm (sponsor)

HISPANIC ART: Time's running out to see the Royal Academy's current headline exhibition, Spain and the Hispanic World, which explores the art and culture of the Hispanic world from ancient times to the early 20th century. Sculptures, paintings, silk textiles, ceramics, silverwork, precious jewellery, maps, drawings and more all feature, including masterpieces by Goya and Velázquez. Until 10 April

ASMR: Another exhibition closing soon is Weird Sensation Feels Good: The World Of ASMR at Design Museum. It explores ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response): a physical sensation of euphoria or deep calm, sometimes a tingling in the body, triggered through sound, touch, and movement. For a double dose of culture, pair it with the museum's new exhibition opening this Friday — details below. Until 10 April

SPRING FESTIVAL: Over at Battersea Power Station, the Spring Festival rumbles on, with a giant flower trail, pop-up playground and other installations, as well as face painting and a mobile farm on selected dates this week. Some events free, until 16 April

PLAY OF THE WEEK: When second world war spy comedy Operation Mincemeat blew us away at Riverside Studios last year, we knew it'd only be a matter of time before it arrived on the West End stage. Well whad'ya know — it's now on at the Fortune Theatre, and we're here to tell you, you have GOT to see this musical masterpiece based on a true life story about a plot to foil the Nazis, using the corpse of a homeless man. Until 8 July

TAPROOM OF THE WEEK: Bermondsey's London Beer Factory is a particular delight for those who like to pucker up with a good sour beer; their mouth-creasing concoctions include wild ales made with damson plums, and elderflower saisons. The taproom also does pale ales, lagers and the like, for those with more traditional taste buds. Nestle in among the barrels in their arches taproom — not far from Tower Bridge — and enjoy a glass of something delicious.

Monday 3 April

HOUSE OF BOUNCE: Massive inflatables, including a pirate obstacle course, take over the event space at Big Penny Social this week — ideal for burning off Easter holiday energy, particularly if the weather's not on your side. Each session is an hour long. 3-6 April

DINOSAURS: Michael Foreman's children's book, Dinosaurs And All That Rubbish, gets the theatrical treatment at Grand Junction in Paddington. Dancing dinos and rock and roll music feature in a lively tale about saving Planet Earth. Suggested age 3+. 10.30am/1.30pm

FREE ICE CREAM: Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day is back, giving us all a chance to bag a free scoop of ice cream. Locations all over the country are taking place, but here in London you'll need to head to 74 Wardour Street in Soho. Simply join the queue (because there likely will be one) to get a free scoop of a flavour of your choice — and you can join the queue as many time as you like to try as many flavours as you like, all for free. FREE, 1pm-10pm

THE SANDMAN: The adaptation of Neil Gaiman's comic book series The Sandman is under discussion in a free online event. Mother-daughter film buff duo Katie Isbester and Teddy look at how themes of light versus darkness and good versus bad translated from page to screen. FREE, 6.30pm-7.30pm

THE FOURTH CHOIR: LGBT music group The Fourth Choir perform The Only Planet, a concert of choral masterpieces celebrating Planet Earth. The performances takes place in the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare's Globe. 7.30pm

MONDAY INSPIRATION: None of the above tickling your fancy? Read our guide to things to do in London on a Monday, for ideas for ways to keep busy today and every Monday.

Tuesday 4 April

JUNGLE BOOK REIMAGINED: Akram Khan’s new dance-theatre production Jungle Book reimagined opens at Sadler’s Wells today. Based on Rudyard Kipling’s classic book, it's a reinvention of Mowgli's journey through the eyes of a climate refugee, featuring an original score, ten international dancers and state-of-the-art animation and visuals. 4-15 April

MEDIEVAL ST PAUL'S: Guildhall Library offers a walking tour exploring the street plan of the medieval version of St Paul's Cathedral. Find out how the area was laid out before the cathedral was destroyed in the Great Fire and rebuilt into what we know today. 11am-1pm

BLACK WOMEN'S RIGHTS: Professor Carole Boyce Davies is at the British Library to discuss her new book, Black Women's Rights: Leadership and the Circularities of Power. She explores the leadership styles demonstrated by women of African descent, with examples including the historical role of Shirley Chisholm as the first woman to run for presidency of the United States on a leading party ticket, and the current model of Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados. 7pm-8.30pm

BLACK PADDINGTON HISTORY: Head to Grand Junction in Paddington to hear historian S. I. Martin talk about the lives of Black people in the local area in the 20th century, and the contributions they made to life in Paddington. 7.30pm

COMEDY: Hal Cruttenden, Slim and Juliet Meyers — all three au fait with TV and radio — are on at the 99 Club in Leicester Square tonight, for a triple bill of laughs. 8.30pm-10.30pm

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Wednesday 5 April

EASTER PANTO: Panto's not just for Christmas, you know. Fairfield Halls in Croydon kicks off the Easter holidays with an Easter Panto version of Rapunzel. Bobby Davro stars in the show, which features live music, dance routines, jokes, slapstick comedy and more. 2pm/6pm

PEA CAFE: For one afternoon only, frozen foods brand Birds Eye opens The PEAple's Cafe, serving up free food and drink on a Petits Pois theme. Head to the Skinny Kitchen in Islington to sample three canapes and a unique cocktail, all featuring the green veggies. FREE, 2.30pm-5pm

TURKEY EARTHQUAKE FUNDRAISER: The Old Queen's Head on Essex Road hosts a screening of the film known as Turkish Star Wars (actual name Dünyayi Kurtaran Adam, or 'The Man Who Saved the World'). Infamous for its (very much unauthorised) use of footage from Star Wars, grab a ticket to celebrate its 40th anniversary, with all proceeds going to the Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal. See other ways to help the earthquake relief effort in Turkey and Syria. 7pm

QUEER WRITING CIRCLE: Bethnal Green's Common Press runs a monthly Queer Writing Circle, the latest of which takes place tonight. Turn up with your laptop, talk to like-minded creatives, and let your collective imagination run wild! FREE, 7pm-9pm

THE GHOST CLUB: Ever heard of The Ghost Club? It was a private group, set up by two Victorian gentlemen in 1882, to discuss matters of spirits and the occult. Tonight, Professor Roger Luckhurst talks about the club, whose guests included Arthur Conan Doyle, W. B. Yeats, Egyptologist Edgar Wallis Budge, and colonial administrator Sir Harry Johnstone, and whose detailed minutes are now kept by the British Library. 8pm-9.30pm

Thursday 6 April

WAGATHA THE PLAY: It's... Rebekah Vardy. Well, not the real one, but a dramatisation of the 'Wagatha Christie' trial, between Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney opens at Ambassadors Theatre today. Find out what happened behind closed doors at the libel case about who'd been leaking information from Rooney's private Instagram account. 6 April-20 May

ALADDIN SANE: Southbank Centre marks 50 years since the release of David Bowie's album Aladdin Sane with a series of events centring around a special exhibition. Opening today, the exhibition explores the creation of the album’s iconic artwork, including the legendary lightning flash portrait by photographer Brian Duffy. 6 April-28 May

MARKET PLACE HARROW: Street food restaurant brand Market Place already has venues in Vauxhall, Peckham and Hounslow, and we have it on good authority that its latest site in Harrow opens today. Head to 80-84 St Ann's Road for food from Bread Ahead Bakery, Indo-Chinese brand Pepper Spice, Japanese street food brand Little Tokyo, masala bar Chaii & Spice, South American meat specialists Argentinian Grill and authentic Turkish brand Farm House Kebabs. Opens 6 April

SECRET DULWICH: How much do you know about Dulwich? Unless you live in the area, chances are the answer is "well, it's got a picture gallery". But there's much to explore in this affluent and historical area, as tour guide Richard Watkins uncovers. 2.30pm

DRAG COMEDY: Drag comedian Lady Bushra performs her latest show, Robbed, at Rich Mix. The 'South Asian Karen’ offers her unique take on success and how her career mishaps are anybody’s fault but hers. Age 18+. 7pm

POETRY PRIZE: The winners of this year's Out-Spoken Prize for Poetry are announced at a special event tonight. Hear performances from the shortlisted poets, before discovering this year’s winner. Joelle Taylor hosts, with DJ Sam 'Junior' Bromfield spinning reggae, soul and R&B tunes. 7.45pm

Good Friday 7 April

AI WEIWEI: If you've been to the Design Museum in the last couple of weeks, you'll have seen the recreation of Monet's Water Lillies, made entirely from Lego. That's a precursor to today's new exhibition, Ai Weiwei: Making Sense, which brings together several of the Chinese artist's works as a commentary on design. 7 April-30 July

MESSIAH ON GOOD FRIDAY: For the 147th time, the Royal Choral Society performs Handel's Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall on Good Friday — a tradition that's only ever been interrupted by the Blitz and Covid. 150 singers are conducted by the choir’s Music Director Richard Cooke, and accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and a quartet of soloists. 2.30pm

SECRET CITY: According to London on the Ground tour guide Jonathan Wober, "The City has 376 open spaces tucked away, including gardens, churchyards, former churches and cemeteries, bomb sites, green spaces and paved terraces." Explore some of the lesser-known Square Mile sites on his Secret City Spaces East tour today. 2.30pm

PASSION OF JESUS: Every Good Friday, Trafalgar Square is packed out with thousands of people gathering to watch The Passion of Jesus, a free retelling of the Easter story, with 100 actors taking part. Everyone's welcome, but it involves — spoiler — a crucifixion scene so may not be suitable for younger kiddies. FREE, 12pm/3.15pm

WIDOW'S BUN CEREMONY: One of London's oddest traditions takes place on Good Friday every year. Head to The Widow's Son pub in Bow, to watch the Widow's Bun Ceremony. A hot cross bun, with the year baked into to the top, is hung from the ceiling, to honour a widow who apparently used to continue baking them for her sailor son, even years after he stopped returning home and was presumed dead. FREE, 3pm

DRAG RACE: The Haters Roast at Eventim Apollo Hammersmith is a a drag comedy spectacular hosted by The Vivienne, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 1. It features nine RuPaul’s Drag Race stars from across the UK, the US and Canada including Trinity the Tuck, New York City queen Miz Cracker and the infamously disqualified Willam. Doors 7pm

ANNIE GET YOUR GUN: For one night only, hit musical Annie Get Your Gun is celebrated with a special concert production at The London Palladium. Rachel Tucker (who's starred in Wicked and Come From Away) plays American sharpshooter Annie Oakley. 7.30pm

Easter Saturday 8 April

SOUTH BANK BLACK HISTORY: Stroll along the riverside, while a guide tells you all about the area's African/Caribbean history — including amazing Black movies, Black British Civil Rights, and links to Windrush. 10am-12pm

ROGER RABBIT: Take the family along to Leicester Square's Prince Charles Cinema for a screening of 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbit. It probably needs no introduction, but just in case: a private detective is hired to investigate Jessica Rabbit, wife of cartoon star Roger Rabbit, and murder, revenge and chaos ensue. 12.45pm

DECODER: Catch a screening of 1984 sci-fi/cyberpunk film Decoder at Barbican Cinema. It was made by German artist Muscha, though became largely forgotten due to low distribution numbers. Today, English artist and filmmaker Stewart Home introduces the story of a man who learns that the soundtrack being played in the fast food chain he works in is being used to manipulate customers. 3.30pm

LOCK-IN: Feel-good five-piece Lock-In are on stage at The Garage in Highbury and Islington tonight. They've been lauded as "Indie-pop infused music sprinkled lightly with brit-pop sounding melodies." Special guests are Spangled and San Quentin. 7pm

JESSIE CAVE: Actor and comedian Jessie Cave — who played Lavender Brown in the Harry Potter films — kicks off a stint at Soho Theatre, showcasing her current work-in-progress show. It's about the chaos of heartbreak and being a working mother, but we're promised it does contain hope and humour. 7.15pm

JEFF GOLDBLUM: Beloved American actor/musician Jeff Goldblum joins his band on stage for a live concert at Royal Festival Hall. Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra are in town to celebrate the launch of his new EP of jazz standards. 7.45pm

SOUTH LONDON SOUL TRAIN: The South London Soul Train celebrates 50 years of hip hop with a special club night at Peckham Levels, overseen by DJ Koco. 10pm-5am

Easter Sunday 9 April

EASTER FAMILY DISCO: Kids buzzing from too much chocolate? Take them along to Big Penny Social in Walthamstow for the Easter family disco and Easter egg hunt. Dance to family-friendly tunes as you enjoy games and singalongs, and then take part in the egg hunt. 10am-1pm

FITZROVIA GHOSTSIGNS: Footprints of London guide Jane Parker offers a walking tour around the Fitzrovia area focusing on ghostsigns — faded adverts of brands and businesses from the past. Hunt out mosaics, and symbols embedded within masonry and metal. 11am-1pm

SUNDAY JAZZ LUNCH: The Ryan Quigley Quintet headlines today's Sunday jazz lunch at legendary Soho venue Ronnie Scott's. They celebrate the music of 1960s jazz pianist Horace Silver, including tunes such as Song For My Father, Room 608, Ecaroh, The Jody Grind, Strollin’ and The Preacher. A traditional Sunday lunch is available to order as you enjoy the music. 12pm

POOCH PARTY: M Restaurant in Canary Wharf caters for humans and their dogs on Easter Sunday, with a pooch party. It begins with an Easter hunt for four-legged guests, with treats hidden on the terrace outside, waiting to be sniffed out. Then tuck into a three-course brunch menu, while your dog enjoys their own, canine-friendly three-course treat. 12pm-4pm

FULHAM PALACE: Explore the fascinating history of Fulham Palace — including the story of 'Bloody' Bishop Bonner — on this guided tour, which whisks you around the Victorian chapel, Tudor great hall and Georgian dining rooms. 2pm-3.15pm

DULWICH HAMLET: It's one of the last chances of the season to catch Dulwich Hamlet's women's team in action — they're playing Ebbsfleet at home at Champion Hill today this afternoon — go show some support, while sipping a beer or Bovril. KO 2pm

PREPPERS COMEDY: You wouldn't think there'd be much funny about an apocalypse, but comedy duo Stuart Laws and Matt Sandstorm tease out the humour in Preppers, a comedy show about preparing for Doomsday. Catch it at Camden Comedy Club at the Camden Head. 5pm

Urban oddity of the week

With the Southbank Centre celebrating 50 years since Aladdin Sane, we thought we'd highlight the ultimate urban/space oddity — the famous mural of David Bowie opposite Brixton tube station. The portrait was painted by street artist Jimmy C in 2013, to highlight the singer's local connections (Bowie was born in Brixton, and spent his first years nearby). The mural became something of a shrine following Bowie's death in 2016, and it still attracts flowers to this day. More Bowie street art here.

Good Causes of the week

Besides being a unique broadcasting legend, Paul O'Grady was also well-known as a dog lover and an Ambassador of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. Following his death, the charity has launched a fundraiser in his name. Donations to this page will go towards the charity's work, rescuing and re-homing animals. "Paul will always be associated with Battersea, and we are truly saddened to have lost such a true friend and huge part of our charity."

The devastating earthquake that recently hit Turkey and Syria quickly fell out of the news agenda, but its after-effects are still causing suffering on huge scale. We've kept up-to-date our page of ways to donate, which includes several upcoming fundraising events you might like to participate in.

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