Get us in your inbox
🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!
Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!
We’ve teamed up with Transport for London to bring you our top picks of festivals, exhibitions, Easter family fun and more
By now, we’ve all got that London itch. You know the feeling: the evenings are longer, the air is warmer, the cherry blossoms are emerging – and you’re feeling ready to get out there and explore the capital. We’re here to help! Thankfully, there are loads of low-cost (or even free) events, exhibitions and festivals happening in London this spring, which means you can stick to your budget while making the most of the city. Below, you’ll find seven awesome activities – all of which you can get to via the TfL network. When you’re travelling on public transport, not only are you getting about more sustainably, but you could also be saving money (especially when you’re travelling off-peak!).
And remember, when you’re travelling with TfL, not only are you getting about more sustainably, but you could also be saving money! Adults can travel between Zone 1 and 2 for only £2.80*, and kids under 11 travel free on the Tube, and under 18s travel free on buses and trams**. Winner!
That gorgeous pink flush is synonymous with the onset of spring – and nowhere is it more enchanting than at Greenwich Park. Follow a road just beyond the cricket pitch and you’ll discover a candy floss arch of blooms bursting into glorious life, leading you straight to a charming Georgian villa called Ranger’s House.
Greenwich Park, SE10 8QY. Free. Buses: 53, 54, 129, 177, 188, 199, 286, 202, 380, 386. DLR: Cutty Sark.
There’s more to this gem of south east London than its famed overstuffed walrus: the Horniman Museum hosts a plethora of family-friendly events throughout the year, including this Spring Fair. Enjoy beautiful views from the museum grounds as you take in live music, crafty workshops, performances, games, face-painting and mini golf.
100 London Rd, SE23 3PQ. £5, £2.50 child (under-threes free). Sat Apr 8. Bus: 176, 185, 197, 356, 363, N63, P4. Overground: Forest Hill.
Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or not, we guarantee the unexpected at this annual eight-day family-friendly festival of experimental game design at Somerset House. This year’s theme is love in all its forms and there are loads of events to choose from, including a LARP (live-action role play) game set at the end of the world, an interactive show by Alistair Aitcheson using a specially designed app and a colourful installation called ‘Rainbow Paths’, which stretches across Somerset House and is filled with mini-games, play spaces and hidden objects.
Strand, WC2R 1LA. £9, £6.50 child. Apr 1-9 (not Apr 3). Buses: 1, 6, 9, 11, 15, 26, 59, 68, 76, 87, 91, 139, 168, 172, 176, 188, 243, 341, 521 and X68. Tube: Temple.
Last year, the UK’s first museum dedicated to LGBTQ+ history and culture opened its doors in King’s Cross so if you haven't been yet, now’s a great time. Inside, you’ll find objects, stories, voices and images covering 100 years of queer life in the UK; think inspiring activism, eye-opening artworks and more, with a focus on intersectionality and inclusivity.
2 Granary Square, N1C 4BH. Free. Bus: 17, 30, 73, 91, 205, 259, 390. Tube: King’s Cross St. Pancras.
Got some curious little ones on your hands? This Easter, the stunning west London Georgian country estate, Osterley Park and House, will be hosting an epic hunt through the gardens. Kids will be given a trail map and pencil, then introduced to nature-inspired, poetry-themed activities.
Jersey Rd, Isleworth, TW7 4RB. £3 per trail. £14, £7 child entry fee to house and gardens. Apr 1-16. Bus: H91, H28. Tube: Osterley.
Uncover vintage treasures, meet local artists and pick up one-of-a-kind salvaged objects at one of London’s top markets. This iteration of Hackney Flea Market will be held in a particularly atmospheric venue, Evolutionary Arts Hackney (or EartH), located in the restored, formerly derelict Savoy Cinema.
EartH, 11-17 Stoke Newington Rd, N16 8BH. £1. Sat Apr 16. Bus: 67, 76, 149, 236, 243, 488 Overground: Dalston Kingsland.
Eid al-Fitr is a celebration of the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, and everyone’s invited to join in at this free festival in Trafalgar Square. Here for its 18th year, this one-day event will showcase London’s diverse Muslim communities through dance, storytelling, music, food stalls and more.
Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN. Free. Sat Apr 29. Bus: 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 15, 24, 29, 87, 88, 91, 139, 159, 176, 453. Tube: Charing Cross.
Travelling during off-peak hours? You can get even better value. Off-peak fares apply every weekday between 9.30am and 3.59pm, and after 7pm. They also apply all day at weekends and on public holidays. Always touch in and out with the same card or device to pay the right fare. Touch in only on buses and trams. Check the cost of your travel on the TfL website.
Download TfL Go to your iOS and Android devices to plan your journey and check live arrival times or visit TfL’s website.
Wherever you’re going, by choosing public transport you’re making a good choice for you and a more sustainable choice for London.
* Fare stated is the adult off-peak pay as you go journey from Zone 2 into Zone 1 on Tube, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line services.
**All kids under 11 can travel free at any time on buses and trams; 11-18 year-olds travel free with a Zip Oyster photocard. Up to four kids under 11 can travel free at any time on Tube, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line services when accompanied by an adult. Full terms and conditions at tfl.gov.uk/zip