April is proper spring in London: average highs reach 15°C, the parks and gardens are in flower, and the evenings are light until after 20:00 by the end of the month. In 2027 it is also a big month for sport, with the Boat Race on 11 April and a two-day London Marathon on 24 and 25 April.
The weather is milder than in March but still changeable. Short, heavy showers come and go, often with sunshine in between, so you need a light rain jacket rather than a winter coat. Crowds build during the month, especially in the first week, when London's schools are still on their Easter holidays.
Easter itself falls in March in 2027 (Easter Sunday is 28 March), so there are no bank holidays in April this time. That makes the middle of the month a good window: the school holidays are over, the summer crowds have not yet arrived, and the gardens are at their freshest.
April 2027 in brief
- Average high / low
- 15.0°C / 6.0°C (Met Office, Heathrow, 1991-2020)
- Sunshine
- About 177 hours, 50 more than in March
- Rain
- 42.3 mm on about 9 days
- Bank holidays
- None in April 2027 (Easter Monday is 29 March)
- School holidays
- Easter break until about 9 April (dates vary by borough)
- Key dates
- Boat Race Sunday 11 April; Vaisakhi on the Square Saturday 17 April; London Marathon Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April
Spring weather in numbers: 15°C and passing showers
According to the Met Office's 1991-2020 averages for Heathrow, April has an average high of 15.0°C and an average low of 6.0°C. Frost is now rare (less than one night in the month on average), and sunshine jumps to about 177 hours, compared with 124 in March.
Rainfall averages 42.3 mm, spread over about nine days with 1 mm or more. In practice April rain often comes as short showers rather than whole wet days, so a museum morning and a park afternoon usually work well together. Evenings cool down quickly once the sun goes, and 6°C at night feels cold if you are eating outside.
These are figures for Heathrow, on the western edge of the city; central London is often slightly warmer. Our month-by-month weather and packing guide puts April into context with the rest of the year.
The tail end of the Easter school holidays
Even though Easter weekend is in March in 2027, the school holidays continue into April. In Lambeth, for example, the Easter holiday runs from Friday 26 March to Friday 9 April 2027, and the summer term starts on Monday 12 April. Other boroughs and private schools set their own dates, so check the borough you are staying in if it matters to you.
During those days, family favourites fill up. The Natural History Museum is free, but it warns that queues are likely in school holidays; a free timed ticket guarantees entry. The same applies to the Science Museum, which now asks visitors to pre-book a free ticket. If you are travelling with children yourself, our family guide to London has ideas that avoid the worst queues.
Mid-April is the quiet gap between two busy spells. From Monday 12 April the schools are back, and the marathon crowds only arrive in the final week. Hotel prices and museum queues are usually at their friendliest in between.
Two days of London Marathon: 24 and 25 April 2027
The TCS London Marathon is one of the biggest days in the city's calendar, and in 2027 it is bigger than ever. For the first and only time, the race will be held over two days, Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April, with 100,000 runners in total.
Watching is free and needs no ticket. The course runs from Greenwich across south-east London, over Tower Bridge, out to Canary Wharf and back along the Embankment to finish on The Mall. The atmosphere is best where the crowds are thickest, but so are the queues at stations. Our guide to watching the London Marathon covers the best viewing points and how to get between them.
If you want to run, you are too late for the ballot: the 2027 ballot was drawn in July 2026. The remaining routes in are a charity place or an international tour operator. The entry fee is £79.99 for UK entrants and £275 for international entrants.
Marathon weekend changes how the whole city moves. Roads along the route close for most of the day, many bus routes are diverted, and stations near the course get very crowded. On 24 and 25 April 2027, plan sightseeing away from the route or use the Tube, and check TfL's travel advice the day before.
The Boat Race from Putney to Mortlake
The Boat Race is a rowing contest between Oxford and Cambridge universities, first held in 1829, on a stretch of the Thames in west London. The course runs upstream from Putney to Mortlake, and thousands of people watch free from the riverbanks, bridges and riverside pubs.
The 2027 race will be held on Sunday 11 April, with the two races at 15:40 and 16:40. The race is short, so do not expect to see more than a minute or two of rowing from any one spot. Arrive early for a place at the riverside, and bring a jacket: it is windy by the water. The official site, theboatrace.org, publishes maps and final details closer to the day.
Vaisakhi on the Square
Vaisakhi is the Sikh spring festival, and London marks it with a free Mayor of London event in Trafalgar Square. In 2027 it is on Saturday 17 April, from 12:00 to 18:00, with music, performances and food. It is a friendly, family-focused afternoon and a good reason to be in the West End that day; details are on the Mayor of London's event page.
Gardens, deer and blossom
April is when London's green spaces look their best. Blossom that started in March reaches its peak, spring bulbs cover the lawns, and the trees come into leaf by the end of the month.
- Kew Gardens. The botanic gardens are at their most colourful in spring. Tickets are paid and cheaper online; read our visitor's guide to Kew before you go. Kew Palace has been closed "until spring 2027", so check whether it has reopened.
- Richmond Park. Open parkland with red and fallow deer. Keep at least 50 metres from the deer at all times, and never feed them: it is illegal. Our Richmond Park guide covers the best walks.
- Kensington Gardens. The Diana Memorial Playground is open 10:00-18:45 in April and admits only adults supervising children up to 12. It is part of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, where the Long Water and the Italian Gardens are pleasant on a sunny afternoon.
- Greenwich Park. The hill below the Royal Observatory has one of the best views of the city. The Observatory itself is closed for a major transformation until summer 2027, but the park is open; combine it with a day in maritime Greenwich.
Making the most of longer evenings
British Summer Time started on 28 March, and by the end of April the sun sets after 20:00. That changes how you can plan a day. You can finish at a museum at 17:00 and still have two or three hours of daylight for a walk along the South Bank, a park or a viewpoint.
The free Sky Garden is a good sunset option. Free tickets are released every Monday morning, three weeks ahead, for the whole week, and they go fast. Walking is also at its most pleasant this month; our guide to walking between London's sights shows where it beats the Tube.
Where to stay and when to book
April demand is uneven. The first week (school holidays) and marathon weekend are the busiest times, so book central hotels early if your trip includes 24 and 25 April 2027. If your dates are flexible, the middle of the month is easier and often cheaper. For help choosing a base, see our comparison of the best areas to stay in London.
Spring is also a good time for a trip out of the city. Windsor Castle is under an hour from Waterloo by direct train, but remember that it is closed every Tuesday and Wednesday, and Oyster and contactless are not valid for the journey.
A packing list for sun and showers
Pack for three kinds of weather in one day: cool mornings, mild sunny afternoons and a sudden shower.
- A light waterproof jacket that folds into a day bag.
- A thin jumper or fleece for mornings and evenings.
- Comfortable shoes that can cope with wet grass in the parks.
- Sunglasses and a small umbrella; a sunny spring day in London can be surprisingly bright.
If you are still deciding between spring months, compare this with London in March, which is quieter but colder, and London in May, which is warmer but busier.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in London in April?
Mild and changeable. The Met Office average for Heathrow is a high of 15.0°C and a low of 6.0°C, with about 177 hours of sunshine and rain on about nine days. Expect short showers between sunny spells, and cool evenings.
When is the London Marathon in 2027?
The 2027 TCS London Marathon is held over two days, Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April 2027, for the first and only time. Around 100,000 people will run, and watching from the roadside is free for everyone.
Is Easter in April in 2027?
No. In 2027 Easter Sunday is 28 March, so Good Friday and Easter Monday are both in March. London's Easter school holidays still run into early April, until about 9 April in many boroughs, so the first week of April is busy.
When is the Boat Race in 2027?
The Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge takes place on Sunday 11 April 2027, with races at 15:40 and 16:40 on the Thames between Putney and Mortlake. Watching from the riverbank is free.
Is April a good time to visit London?
Yes, for most visitors. It is warmer and sunnier than March, the parks look their best and there are several free events. Avoid the first week and the marathon weekend if you want lower prices and fewer crowds.
Sources
- Met Office - Heathrow climate averages 1991-2020 (checked September 2026)
- London Marathon Events - TCS London Marathon (checked September 2026)
- The Boat Race - official site (checked September 2026)
- Mayor of London - Vaisakhi on the Square 2027 (checked September 2026)
- Lambeth Council - School term dates 2026 to 2027 (checked September 2026)
- GOV.UK - UK bank holidays (checked September 2026)
- The Royal Parks - Deer safety advice (checked September 2026)