THE LONDON GAMES FESTIVAL
Until 9 April
The London Games Festival is already underway, but runs until 9 April. Celebrating the art, culture and business of video games, the festival is now in its seventh year. It’s taking place in person and online, with this edition’s theme being ‘Escaping the Metaverse’.
THE BIG LONDON FLEA
Stoke Newington, 16 April
Stoke Newington – land of the cool, home of the thrift, where else would London’s biggest flea market festival be held? There are over 50 vintage stalls at ‘EartH’ in Northeast London, with market traders joining locals to sell just about anything you could find. I suppose the nature of flea markets is that they’re a bit of a lottery, but with a collection of this size, chances are you’ll find something decent.
LONDON BOOK FAIR
West Kensington, 18 – 20 April
This three day affair in Olympia is massive. With something for writers, publishers and readers alike, the London Book Fair is attended by as many as 25,000 people, including over 1,000 companies from across the globe. There are also talks, seminars and conferences, spanning genres.
LONDON COFFEE FESTIVAL
Brick Lane, 20 – 23 April
A barista prepares coffee during the London Coffee Festival 2019 at Old Truman Brewery on March 28, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)
When you go coffee tasting, do you spit out into a bucket the same way you do wine tasting? Three days of celebrating coffee sounds quite intense, especially with intermittent sleep in between. From classic coffees to espresso martinis to, I’m sure, some exotic brews that only a sophisticated palette could appreciate, the London Coffee Festival promises to have something for all coffee lovers.
Just poured coffee on myself. Things going well.
— Simon Brew (@simonbrew) March 24, 2023
READ MORE: HOW THE PRET SUBSCRIPTION STOLE MY IDENTITY?
LONDON MARATHON
23 April
LONDON – APRIL 23: A fun runner dressed as a “Pepperami” runs during the 2006 Flora London Marathon on April 23, 2006 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
I wonder if Pheidippides, the Greek messenger who ran from Marathon to Athens to announce the defeat of the Persians back in 490 BC, ever saw this coming. I doubt it, but you never know. They were some wise folk, those Greeks.
Tens of thousands of people – from the world’s elite to hot-dog clad charity runners – will take to London’s streets this April in the annual event that is the London Marathon.
SAINT GEORGE’S DAY
Trafalgar Square, 23 April
(Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Everyone talks about Patrick, but what about George? The patron saint of England has his day in the sun late in April, with a series of events across the capital to celebrate the occasion. The biggest of these is in Trafalgar Square, where there’s music, food, history and, one imagines, a lot of red and white flags.
GREAT BRITISH BEEF WEEK
23 – 30 April
Smithfield Market on December 24, 2015. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Phwoar, this sounds like great fun. The final week of April is, officially, Great British Beef Week (or GBBW to its friends). GBBW is organised by ‘Ladies in Beef’ and the point is not just to consume good, old-fashioned cow meat, but to consume British beef, supporting the beef industry and highlighting the importance of sustainable beef farming. While there are no specific events, this is more of a nation-wide celebration – and a worthy one at that.
