April is a month full of events and festivals. Don’t miss Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebration held yearly at the Globe Theatre. Open the new theatrical season with a street fair of live music and entertainment, especially suitable for fans of the Bard and for children. Another great event happening in April is the ceremony of Queen Elizabeth’s birthday. Watch the impressive gun salutes at Hyde Park and the Tower of London. Runners and joggers, join in on the annual London Marathon.
With milder weather, April is the perfect month for walking tours. London’s incredible cultural and historical sightseeing is best done through walking down the streets. However, London also is famous for its enchanting little tours called London Walks, which highlight historical buildings, literary landmarks and more. London also has multitudes of hop-on, hop-off double-decker buses, servicing various tourist essentials such as Westminster Abbey and the Buckingham Palace. April also is a beautiful month to take a tour cruise on the Thames River, when the wind and water are less icy.
London has a number of famous sites outside of the city limits. With trains, buses and tour groups heading out to places including Windsor Castle and Stonehenge, taking day trips out from London is a must, especially since April is more suitable for outdoor touring. Visiting other cities from London is just as easy. Bath and Oxford are within a few hours, and are beautiful English cities worth exploring. Consider heading out to the coast to Brighton, the second-favorite city of England. Whitstable is a smaller fishing town with great little pubs, delicious seafood and pebble beaches.
Although relatively mild on most days, evenings can be brisk. Jackets come in handy, as well as raincoats or ponchos. Umbrellas are especially handy for London, as April can be quite rainy. The weather may be too crisp for sandals, so stick to a strong pair of walking shoes. Pack T-shirts for most days, but bring along one or two long-sleeve shirts, and sweaters or hoodie. A scarf or hat might be useful for windier days, but gloves likely are unnecessary.
