Things To Do In April

Updated: Apr 8

Walmer Castle: TALK: AN EVENING WITH MILES ALDRIDGE


thirty7 Restaurant + Bar, Open Now, 37 Bedford Street, London, WC2E 9EN

Blending culinary influences from New York, Paris and beyond, the menu at thirty7 offers a range of dishes designed to celebrate the use of fresh ingredients that are both comforting and innovative. Head Chef, Grant Clark, joins thirty7 via iconic East Village restaurant, Hearth; Angela Harnett’s Cafe Murano and Jason Atherton’s Harrods Social.


Cotswold Pop Up Shop, Now - 28th April, Open Daily 10 am - 5 pm, Sundays 11am - 4pm, The Curated Store, 7 Talbot Court, Stow-on-the-wold, GL54 1BQ

Find small brands selling their Vintage & Contemporary Affordable Art and more at the Cotswolds Pop-Up Shop at The Curated Store.


The Conservatory x Ranjani Shettar, Now - 21st April, The Barbican Conservatory, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS

A spectacular new site-specific commission by Indian sculptor Ranjani Shettar. Cloud songs on the horizon is the artist’s first major institutional show in Europe and features five new, large-scale suspended sculptures across the entirety of the Conservatory space. Shettar’s sculptures are each handcrafted by the artist and draw inspiration from the complexity of nature – using a range of materials, including wood, stainless steel, muslin, lacquer and techniques that have been adapted from traditional Indian crafts.


The Picture Of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, Theatre Royal Haymarket, Haymarket, London SW1Y 4HT

Star of Succession, The Dressmaker, Pieces of a Woman and The Master Builder (The Old Vic), Sarah Snook takes on every role in this gripping, witty and vibrantly contemporary production that breathes new life into Oscar Wilde’s classic tale. This ground-breaking production – adapted and directed by multi-award-winning Kip Williams, Artistic Director of the acclaimed Sydney Theatre Company – delivers an explosive interplay of live performance and video in an astonishing collision of form


AGORA, Opening 2nd April, 2-4 Bedale St. SE1 9AL, London

AGORA [‘market’ in Greek] is designed to spill out + and merge into Borough market via its fully retractable shopfront located on the ground level of Bedale street. inspired by the lively streets and markets of Athens, with a custom two-metre souvla rotisserie and wood-burning oven taking focal point.


Repton & Co Launches Antiques Pop Up At Updown, 5th April, Updown Farm, Updown Road, Betteshanger, Deal, CT14 0EF

Antiques dealer James Wilson of Repton & Co will launch his popup at Updown

farmhouse. Repton & Co is one of the design industries best kept secrets. Traditionally

selling to top interior decorators, the antiques trade, and private customers online, James

has decided to have his first in-person pop-up and Updown Farmhouse is the perfect place

for it. It’s the first chance to get your hands on lots of unique pieces usually reserved for his

extraordinary client list. If unique is what you are after, it’s certainly worth a visit, he has

everything from medieval tracery from York Minster to beautifully patinated fragments of a

ship wreck.


Drop-in Drawing, 5th April, 6 - 8 pm, National Portrait Gallery, St Martin's Place, London, WC2H 0HE

Led by an artist, create your own work in the Gallery and be inspired by the world’s largest collection of portraits. The session starts with a short introduction, but participants can drop in throughout, staying for any amount of time, whether it be 10 minutes or 2 hours. The class is suitable for everyone, from complete beginners to accomplished artists.


‘Left, Right & Rhubarb’, By Jess Wheeler, 5th - 6th April, 10 am - 4 pm, 34 Bourdon Street, Mayfair, London

Introducing ‘Left, Right & Rhubarb’, an elegant new collection of bronze objects and artworks for the home from artist and designer, Jess Wheeler. Inspired by childhood memories of Rhubarb and the role it played in her family Jess works in bronze, casting from life to playfully rearticulate these joyful Springlike forms into tactile sculptures to use and live with. Comprising a Rhubarb leaf wall sconce, bowl and showcase table, each piece poetically captures the minute detail of the plant revealing the intricacies of the veins in the leaves and stems while preserving the sense of occasion, magic and playfulness that Jess associates with Rhubarb. 


Spring Plant Fair, RHS Garden Bridgewater, 6th - 7th April, Occupation Road, Off Leigh Road Worsley, Salford, Manchester, M28 2LJ

Join them for a weekend all about plants at RHS Garden Bridgewater. Organised with Plant Heritage North West, find inspiration this spring in the Middle Wood event marquee, where a selection of Northern nurseries will sell a range of beautiful and unusual spring plants. Listen to a variety of talks and demonstrations to help set you and your garden up for the season ahead.


The Comeuppance By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Directed By Eric Ting, 6th April - 18th May, Almeida Theatre, Almeida Street, London, N1 1TA

20 years have passed since graduation: some have had children; some have moved to the other side of the world; some have been to war. But there’s another presence in their midst. And as they catch up and reminisce, it only takes a scratch for the scars of those school days to surface. Full cast includes Yolanda Kettle (Patriots; The Crown), Ferdinand Kingsley (Silo; Reacher), Tamara Lawrance (The Silent Twins; King Charles III), Katie Leung (Harry Potter; White Pearl) and Anthony Welsh (The Flatshare; Sucker Punch).


The Walmer Castle Salon Presents An Evening With Miles Aldridge, 10th April, Talk: 6:30 – 7:15 pm, Q&A: 7:15 – 7:30 pm, 58 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill, W11 2AJ

Renowned artist and photographer Miles Aldridge will be in conversation with Lyndsey Ingram Gallery Director, Olivia Paterson, who curated the Walmer Castle Art Collection. Topics will include; Aldridge’s practice, his iconic bodies of photographic work and recent museum exhibitions, such as his current travelling retrospective at Fotografiska, Berlin.


Nicola Tassie: Light Sculptures, 11th April - 25th May, 8 Holland Street, Kensington, W84LT

8 Holland Street, Kensington is thrilled to announce Nicola Tassie: Light Sculptures. Nicola Tassie works with both ideas of utility and sculpture, Light Sculptures see’s the artist conflate these elements, using light as a metaphor for inspiration. Literally the light bulb moment, aiming for transformation, and hoping for self-illumination. Nicola Tassie presents a group of other worldly and unexpected lamps, and sculptural illuminations.


Machinal By Sophie Treadwell, 11th April - 1st June, The Old Vic, The Cut, London, SE1 8NB

‘How can that be? A great sin – a mortal sin – for which I must die and go to hell – but it made me free! One moment I was free!’  

From the outside, Helen Jones and her husband had a ‘happy marriage’. Until she murdered him.  

Based on the true crime story of Ruth Snyder in 1928 that shook a nation, Sophie Treadwell’s seminal Machinal is a pulse-pounding journey of someone pushed to breaking point by the relentless machinery of life, expectation and convention. 


Weaving Workshop With Christabel Balfour, 13th April - 5th May, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS

Weave your way through our Brutalist architecture and get inspired as you learn the techniques of hand-weaving in Christabel Balfour's weaving workshops. To coincide with the opening of Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art in the Art Gallery, Christabel will be leading a series of tapestry weaving workshops inspired by the Barbican. These four-hour classes cover the basics of hand-weaving before building up to more advanced techniques. Participants will learn how to set up and warp their looms, create a fringe for their wall-hanging, and start weaving. They will then move on to building shapes, blending colours and creating texture with soumak and rya knotting.


Exclusive Q&A And Screening Of Jeanne Du Barry With Maiwenn And Jurgen Doering, 14th April, 4.30 pm – 7.30 pm, The Soho Hotel, Firmdale Hotels, 4 Richmond Mews, London, W1D 3DH

Join them for a very special advance screening of Jeanne du Barry followed by a Q&A with lead actress and director, Maiween and Costume Designer, Jurgen Doering. Part of their Fashion & Cinema series, see this much-anticipated film ahead of its UK release before delving into the magical world of costume design with Maiwenn and Jurgen Doering, who collaborated with Chanel to create the wardrobe. Starring Maiwenn and Johnny Depp, the film follows Jeanne Bécu, the daughter of an impoverished seamstress who goes on to scandalise the Court of Louis XV by becoming his last mistress. The costumes created by Jürgen Doering in collaboration with Chanel are a feast for the eyes, offering a nuanced and subtle characterisation of Jeanne du Barry and capturing the spirit of the era with a breath of fresh air.


Justin Wheatley Chilled Portraits, 15th - 27th April, Green & Stone, 251 - 253 Fulham Road, London, SW3 6HY

A exhibition of works in oil by figurative painter Justin Wheatley of the contemporary portrait. Paying tribute to the early-modern masters, the works harmonious warm and ‘chilled’ palette, and virtuoso brushwork serves to intimately express distinctive identities.


OMA, Opening 16th April, Borough Market, 2 - 4 Bedale Street, SE1 9AL, London

Inspired by the serenity and simplicity of the Greek isles, with the bold flavours of the levant and further afield. A 450+ bin wine list filled with the minerality and salinity of the sun-washed coastlines.

located in a thoughtfully restored site in London’s iconic borough market.


TALK: Horticultural Happiness, The Surprise, 6 Christchurch Terrace, Chelsea, London, SW3 4AJ

“The joy in cultivating green spaces” – ahead of next month’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, join us at The Surprise for an evening with a host of experts to discuss the delight of gardening and growing, and how to make the most of your patch, whatever its size.


The History Of RHS Rosemoor, 16th April, 11 am - 12:30 pm/1 pm, Great Torrington Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon, EX38 8PH

Rosemoor was significant in the plant world long before the RHS came to Torrington. Find out about Lady Anne Palmer and how she gifted Rosemoor to the RHS. Learn about her plant collecting and see some of the species she initially planted in Lady Anne's Garden. This session will be a journey through time, considering the development of the RHS at Rosemoor as well as honouring Lady Anne as a notable plantswoman and plant collector.


Women Who Made Chatsworth, 17th April, 11 am - 12.30 pm, Chatsworth, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1PP

Join their Archive and Library team for a special morning in the Chatsworth Library and Collections Study Room, exploring the fascinating stories of the Women who made Chatsworth. Enjoy exclusive access to the Library to have a closer look at some of the extraordinary archive/library material relating to Bess of Hardwick, Countess Christian, Duchess Georgiana, Duchess Elizabeth (Bess Foster), Blanche Cavendish and Sarah Paxton. 


Talk: Exploring David Parr's Painting With Mary Kempski, 17th April, 6.30 pm - 7.45 pm, David Parr House, 184/186 Gwydir Street, Cambridge, CB1 2LW

Join Mary Kempski for a talk on David Parr’s Painting, exploring his historic painting technique, the pigments and materials he used and how his vision was achieved. Employed as an art decorator on many grand commissions, David Parr painted his own small terraced house in his spare time over 40 years and created remarkable arts and crafts-inspired decoration. Mary will shed light on the conservation that took place behind the scenes before the house was opened to the public and share the exciting discoveries that were revealed during the house’s restoration.


The Last Caravaggio, 18th April – 21st July, The National Gallery, Room 46, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN

May 1610. Caravaggio is in Naples working on the last picture he'd ever paint. Two months later, he died in mysterious circumstances. But it was during his final tumultuous years that Caravaggio made some of his most striking works. His characteristic style includes tightly cropped scenes and dramatic lighting. He used real models with dirty feet and grimy fingernails. Few paintings are better placed to tell the story of Caravaggio’s final years than his last-known work, 'The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula' (1610, Gallerie d’Italia, Naples). The painting is coming to London for the first time in 20 years.


Lina Stores South Kensington, Opening 19th April, Corner Of Exhibition Road And Thurloe Square

Located on the picturesque corner of Exhibition Road and Thurloe Square and mere steps from popular Museum Mile, Lina Stores Kensington will feature an all-day restaurant with a large outdoor terrace and will be serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, with fresh pasta, antipasti, secondi and dolci taking centre stage.


Ceramic Art London, 19th – 21st April, Olympia West, 12 Blythe Rd, London, W14 8UX

At the U.K's foremost contemporary ceramics event, you will see over 110+ artists and their uniquely crafted pieces.


La Rondine, MET Opera Live, 20th April, 5:55 pm, Cinema 1, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS

Puccini’s bittersweet love story makes a rare MET appearance, with soprano Angel Blue opposite tenor Jonathan Tetelman. Puccini’s bittersweet love story makes a rare Met appearance, with soprano Angel Blue starring as the sophisticated French courtesan Magda, opposite tenor Jonathan Tetelman in his company debut as Ruggero, an idealistic young man who offers her an alternative to her life of excess.

Maestro Speranza Scappucci conducts Nicolas Joël’s Art Deco–inspired staging, which transports audiences from the heart of Parisian nightlife to a dreamy vision of the French Riviera. Soprano Emily Pogorelc and tenor Bekhzod Davronov—both making their Met debuts—complete the cast as Lisette and Prunier.


Salad Days Market, 20th/ 21st April, 11 am - 4 pm, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, London, SE21 7AD

Salad Days Market (formerly A South London Makers Market) is an award winning market based in South London run by twin sisters Daisy and Liv Tinker. Expect to find unusual and special things, from versatile ceramics, to colourful original artworks, handmade gemstone jewellery, and small-batch beauty and body products made with essential oils, amongst many other wonders. A visit to Salad Days market is a fantastic way to discover and shop with the best, most brilliant and talented small businesses from around the city!


North Yorkshire Meets Notting Hill, 23rd April, 7:30 pm, The Walmer Castle, 58 Ledbury Road, London, W11 2AJ

“Bringing a taste of the North Yorkshire countryside to the City” – Join us for an evening of culinary excellence as North Yorkshire meets Notting Hill, renowned Michelin-star guest Chefs Andrew Pern & Steve Smith promise to delight the senses with a bespoke & Yorkshire inspired menu, complemented by an exquisite selection of wines from Italy, Bordeaux and beyond.


A Taste Of Spring - Garden Tour And Lunch, 23rd April, 10:30 am - 3 pm, Goldstone Hall, Goldstone, Market Drayton, Shropshire, TF9 2NA

Join Head Gardener, Ross Underwood, and kitchen gardener, Sarah Smith-Roe, for a guided Garden Tour exploring the award-winning garden and one-acre kitchen garden with its bountiful seasonal produce including the heritage vegetable collection. This will be followed by a delicious, seasonally inspired tasting menu showcasing the best of Goldstone terroir & local artisanal food and drink.


In Conversation: Issam Kourbaj, Kettle’s Yard, 24th April, 6.30–8 pm, Kettle's Yard, University of Cambridge, Castle Street, Cambridge, CB3 0AQ

Join them for a special event in the Kettle’s Yard house, where artist Issam Kourbaj will be in conversation with exhibition curator Guy Haywood. Since 2011 Issam Kourbaj’s artwork has responded to the ongoing conflict in Syria, and reflects on the suffering of his fellow Syrians and the destruction of his cultural heritage. This exhibition presents key works from this period alongside a new series which explores themes of loss, memory and renewal. The exhibition – the artist’s largest to date – will include installation, sculpture, performance and works on paper. Kourbaj will be present at intervals throughout the exhibition, which will evolve as he adds to the displays.


Maison Francois In St James', The Sherborne Arms, 25th April, Market Square, Northleach, Gloucestershire, GL54 3EE

A return leg of their pop-up at the glorious Maison Francois in St James', as Francois and his team join them at The Sherborne for an unforgettable feast.


Expressionists Kandinsky, Münter And The Blue Rider, 25th April – 20th October, Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG

Explore the groundbreaking work of a circle of friends and close collaborators known as The Blue Rider. In the early 20th Century they came together to form, in their own words, ‘a union of various countries to serve one purpose’ – to transform modern art. The artists rallied around Wassily Kandinsky and Gabriele Münter to experiment with colour, sound and light, creating bold and vibrant art. Expressionists is a story of friendships told through art. It examines the highly individual creatives that made up The Blue Rider, from Franz Marc’s interest in colour to Alexander Sacharoff’s freestyle performance. The women artists played a central role in the movement. Discover experimental photographs by Gabriele Münter alongside the dramatic paintings of Marianne Werefkin.


The Monthly Digestif, 30th April, 7 - 8:30 pm, The London EDITION, 10 Berners Street London W1T 3NP

The Monthly Digestif returns for it's second year! Join the mad monthly news round up of cultural and political stories with writer and documentary filmmaker Sydney Lima. Along with some of the greatest brains in comedy, journalism, music and art, Sydney and her panellists will break down the recent headlines, so you don’t have to. They'll debate anything from the return of Tango-ed Trump to the rise of the ‘Stan' . Oh, and with a Grey Goose cocktail in hand. This month see's Sydney joined my comedian and writer Will Hislop. Special guests to be announced.


New Film Releases

The Trouble With Jessica (5th April), Back To Black (12th April), Challengers (26th April)


Antique & Flea Markets

Beckenham - Vintage Market at the Mansion, 1st April

Richmond Duck Pond Market - Artisan Market, 6th April

Antiques & Home Show, Arthur Swallow, 10th April

Richmond Duck Pond Market - Artisan Market, 14th April

The Cotswolds, Decorative Antiques Fair, 12th - 14th April

Pop Up Vintage Fairs London At The Engine Rooms, 13th April

Frock Me Vintage Fair, 14th April

Women Will Create - Abney Public Hall, Stoke Newington, 14th April

Antiques & Salvage Market, Arthur Swallow, 20th April

Hackney Flea Market, 20th April

Vintage Flea Market, Arthur Swallow, 21st April

The Runway Flea - Blackdog Events, 21st April

St Albans Antique And Vintage Street Market, 21st April

Adams Antique Fair, 21st April

Wembley Antiques Market, 24th April

The Hyde Park Vintage Furniture Flea, 27th April

Women Will Create - Mercato Metropolitano, Elephant And Castle, 27th April

The Giant London Flea Market, 28th April

Riverside Studios, Duck Pond Markets, 28th April

Museum Of Power Outdoor Market, Haddon Events, 28th April

Auctions

Sotheby's - Classic Design Including Property of the Marquess of Anglesey, 2nd April

Lay's Auctioneers - Home & Garden Sale, 3rd - 5th April

Sotheby's - Old Master & 19th Century Paintings, 4th April

Sotheby's - Frames From The Collection Of The Richard Green Gallery | Part II, 4th April

Tennant's Auctioneers - Antiques & Interiors, To Include A Section Of Silver, 5th April

Bonhams - Home & Interiors, 5th - 16th April

Dreweatts - The Collection Of Serena, Countess Of Snowdon, 9th April

Bonhams - Old Master Paintings, 10th April

Lay's Auctioneers - Home & Garden Sale, 10th - 12th April

Lay's Auctioneers - Cornish Art & Fine Art Sale, 11th April

Sotheby's - Picasso Ceramics, 11th April

Woolley & Wallis - Collections & Fine Furniture, 16th April

Wooley & Wallis - Parker & Morris: The Art Of Decorating, 17th April

Cheffins - The Interiors Sale, 18th April

Tennant's Auctioneers - Antiques & Interiors, 19th April

Dreweatts - Alchemy of Design: The Collection of Count Manfredi della Gherardesca, 24th April

Chiswick Auctions - Interiors, Homes & Antiques, 24th April

Lay's Auctioneers - The Timed Art Sale, 26th April - 12th May