London Weekend Guide | 19th – 21st April 2024
The Weekend may look like it’s approaching quite innocently, but it’s actually dragging a conga line of excellent events behind it (and not a single one knows how to use their indoor voice).
You’ve got everything from faithfully recreated 18th century chocolate houses (filled with booze); nighttime wildlife hunts with UV torches & bat detectors in ancient botanical gardens; the opening of Europe’s largest karaoke venue with a discount just for you; a little rooftop archery & cocktails (yes, at the same time); a unique music festival; a highly controversial photography exhibition, and more…
The Best Things To Do On FRIDAY 19th April
1) Spirited Decadence: The Art of Chocolate and Gin Tasting | Get tipsy in an 18th chocolate house
So, the people at Greenwich Royal Naval College have recreated an old-fashioned, 18th century chocolate house. And presumably because the entire population in the 18th century was basically permanently blotto on everyone’s favourite bathtub liqueur, they’re inviting people in this weekend for a special gin & chocolate tasting there, too. You’ll get to hear a little history, sample some very old fashioned hot chocolate, get a guided tasting of gin, have a cocktail, and more.
Details: 19th April | Old Royal Naval College, SE10 9NN | £49.50
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2) Nature After Dark Walk | See the critters in London’s oldest botanical garden
The 300 year old Chelsea Physic Garden comprises 3.5 acres of secret, walled gardens filled with 5,000 curious plants. And this Friday, you can head down there under the cover of moonlight to check out the critters that come out at night. You’ll get a drink, an ecologist, a couple of bat detectors, some UV torches, and hopefully a little animal magic.
Details: 19th April | Chelsea Physic Garden | £20
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3) Sprung Superclub | By Brown Butter
Brown Butter is the work of a couple of guys who met on MasterChef (and both reached at least the semis), then decided to cook up their own supperclubs. They’ve only had one so far, but it went down a treat, and sold out nearly instantly, thanks to inventive dishes like guinea fowl karaage with pickled blackberries & Szechuan chilli oil; or Jerusalem artichoke baked Alaska. The menu for their spring supperclub has yet to be announced, but it’s likely to be a belter…
Details: 19th April | Hatch, E9 6AB | £70
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4) BAM Karaoke Box | 50% off, for you
After years of providing glamorously raucous nights out in Paris, Madrid and Bordeaux, BAM Karaoke Box is finally about to hit English shores. It’s going to be the biggest karaoke venue in the whole of Europe – and Nudge Members will get to enjoy all this sophisticated debauchery at a snip of the price, with 50% off karaoke bookings and food and drink from 19th April – 3rd May.
Details: BAM Karaoke Box London, 74 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6SQ | Nudge Members can enjoy 50% off karaoke (bookings up to 8 people) food and drink from 19th April – 3rd May, details here
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The Best Things To Do On SATURDAY 20th April
5) Roof East | Raising the games
For the past few months, life in Stratford has been roofless. Or rather, Roof East-less. But no more, thanks to the return of this bunting-strewn outdoor oasis filled with high-altitude games. Expect giant Jenga, disco bowls, batting cages, archery competitions, cocktails, and more.
Details: Reopens 18th April | Floors 7 & 8, Stratford Multi-Storey Car Park, E15 1XE | Free entry
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6) Rooftop Film Club | It’s a film club, on a rooftop
You know in that last little entry on this weekend guide, and how it ended on the words ‘and more’? Well, this is the more. Part of it, at least. Because Rooftop Film Club may be located in the Roof East complex, but it’s very much its own beast. This year’s lineup kicks off this weekend with the likes of Past Lives and Barbie…
Details: Season starts 18th April | Floor 8, Stratford Multi-Storey Car Park, E15 1XE | £17+
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7) Rocketman Live | Tiny Dancer, big screen
If there was ever a movie that would challenge a live orchestra, it’s this one. The rip-roaring story of Elton’s rise, fall, and levelling-out has some sensational musical moments, and you can see them at the Southbank Centre this weekend…
Details: 20th April | Royal Festival Hall | £29.50+
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8) In the Round Festival | Great bands on a circular stage
Housed in a former train depot where carriages could be rotated and sent off on different tracks, the Roundhouse was transformed from a glorified shed to Camden’s home of culture and performance back in 1966. Now, it’s hosting the In The Round Festival, in which you’ll see an eclectic lineup of bands & performers take to its spectacular circular stage, ranging from Samara Joy, to a Joni Mitchell tribute Bombay Bicycle Club & Emeli Sandé.
Details: 18th – 27th April | The Camden Roundhouse, NW1 8EH | £10+
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9) Campfire Cocktails At Midnight Apothecary | Firepits, marshmallows & cocktails
It’s gotten juuuust warm enough for Midnight Apothecary to reopen their botanical rooftop bar. You’ll start your evening in their charming fairylit urban garden, complete with salvaged garden furniture, firepits, and thriving vegetable and herb patches, and if you fancy you can take a tour of the Brunel Tunnel shaft too…
Details: 19th & 20th, 26th & 27th April | The Midnight Apothecary, Brunel Museum, Railway Avenue, London, SE16 4LF | £8
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Things to do on SUNDAY 21st April
10) Hampton Court Palace Tulip Festival | See 100,000 tulips
If you’ve ever wanted to see what 100,000 tulips look like but couldn’t be bothered to plant them yourself, Hampton Court Palace has you covered. It’s annual tulip festival is in full swing thanks to the not-terrible weather, so get down there while it lasts.
Details: Until April 29th | Hampton Court Palace | Included in Palace admission (£27-£30)
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11) Queer East | A multi-disciplinary LGBTQ+ festival
Queer East started out as a film festival showcasing Asia’s best LGBTQ+ cinema, but it’s since morphed into a multi-disciplinary affair, featuring the whole spectrum of visual arts at venues across the city.
Details: 17th – 28th April | Across London
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12) The London Marathon | We’re not suggesting you run it, just watch maybe
Travelling 26 miles across central London in a little over two hours would extremely impressive in a car. On foot it’s mind-blowing. And this Sunday, thousands of Londoners will attempt it, while some of them wear hilariously impractical outfits.
Details: Across London | See course info here
13) The World Photography Awards | A highly controversial exhibition
The fight against burning oil wells, Kuwait oil fields, 1991. © Sebastião Salgado
Juicy Controversy Alert: last year’s winner of the World Photography Awards turned out to be AI generated. The organisers tried to give the award to the photographer anyway. He refused to accept it. It was something of a kerfuffle. Anyway, everyone’s going to be scrutinising the images on show this year verrrry carefully to make sure there was a pulse involved. But whatever the case, they’ll be absolutely stunning…
Details: 19th April – 6th May 2024 | Somerset House | £15
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14) Rice Paddy x The King & Co | Northern Thai cooking in South London
As of this week, The King & Co is ushering in Rice Paddy to take over the kitchen. If you missed him at Bottle + Rye (perfectly understandable, as it was almost always booked solid), just know that Paul Asher’s homage to Northern Thai cooking is a force to be reckoned with. Here he’ll be cooking up a weekly changing curry alongside signature hits like whisky smoked ribs; hot dogs with homemade Sai Oua sausages; oyster mushroom satay; and laab spiced fries…
Address: The King & Co, 100 Clapham Park Road, London SW4 7BZ
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15) Ainu Stories: Contemporary Lives By The Saru River | Last day
The Ainu people are an indigenous group in northern Japan, who have a distinct culture and (nearly extinct) language from the rest of the country. With a population of only about 30,000, it’s one of the world’s most endangered cultures – but in recent years there’s been a resurgence among younger members of the community in reviving the language and Ainu crafts. Lots of this is on show in Japan House’s latest exhibition, where you can see contemporary artwork, traditional crafts and unique items like a pair of shoes crafted from salmon skins – plus there’s a whole programme of live performances, talks, cookery demos and more.
Details: Ends 21st April | Japan House | Free
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Fancy escaping the capital? Check out our newly-refreshed pick of amazing day trips from London