10 things to do in London in April

April is a month full of color, parties and lots of things to see and do in London. After the harsh winters in the UK, people welcome the spring weather and the parks and streets of the English capital are full of life.

The arrival of good weather also opens the possibility of doing activities that with the cold and rain of winter are unfeasible. For example, enjoy the traditional five o'clock tea on a terrace or sail along the Thames on a cruise. If you want to know what to do and what to see in London in April I share with you the best options.

You can see London in a thousand ways but one of the most relaxing and interesting is to book a cruise on the Thames. The good temperature in April makes it an ideal month to see some of London's monuments while cruising the waters.

The basic Thames river cruises with nothing included range in price from 8 euros to about 20 euros

And all of them have outdoor rooms to take advantage of the clear days and air-conditioned rooms for colder days, plus bathrooms and even some with onboard cafe to enjoy the views with your favorite drink.

Another plan to welcome the good weather in London is to book a climb to the top of the O2, a stadium where shows and sporting events are held.

With the help of a guide-assistant and a complete safety equipment you can climb up to the dome of this legendary building.

After an hour and a half of ascent through the facade, you will reach about 52 meters high and already, at the top of the O2, you can enjoy some of the most breathtaking views of the British capital. The panoramic view of Greenwich Park or the Olympic Park will make you take spectacular pictures.

Even in April, rain tends to show up in London more often than we'd like. For those days when you don't feel like being outdoors, visiting London's museums is always a good idea. Among the best in the world are:

• The British Museum
• The Natural History Museum
• The Science Museum
• The National Gallery
• The Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

If you have to choose, my recommendation is to prioritize the British Museum or the Natural History Museum if you go with children.

Is there anything more British than:drinking five o'clock tea? Probably not. If you want to become a Londoner, a tea tasting with pastries and cakes is a must if you travel to London.

April is a special month for it. With the arrival of spring the typical tea rooms move to the terraces and it is a luxury to savor the tradition with the good weather accompanying. In London there are endless places to have tea, but I share with you some of the most emblematic ones.

The Ritz Hotel

One of the institutions par excellence when it comes to five o'clocktea. Such is its fame that you have to book weeks in advance and there are daily shifts. Be warned, however, that the Ritz Hotel in London is not exactly cheap.

Fortnum and Mason

A mid-priced option is the Fortnum and Mason department store. Inside it houses several cafes for tea. The most recommended is Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon. It is said that these warehouses are the ones that supplied tea to the Queen of England.

Bea's of Bloomsbury

If you want to go for cheap, the Bea's of Bloomsbury chain has stores all over London. Nicely decorated and with a wide variety of teas and accompaniments.

And if you fancy something different, you can book a tourist bus with tea in London where you can enjoy tea and pastries aboard a tourist bus while you see the city comfortably from your seat.

Easter is one of the biggest festive periods of the year in London and although in essence it is celebrated the same as in Spain there are some differences.

There are endless activities during that week and the most outstanding is the representation of the Passion of Christ in Trafalgar Square. Every Good Friday there is an outdoor performance in which actors and volunteers represent the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Another attraction are the traditional dances typical of Holy Week. In several places in London there are performances of Morris dancing, a traditional medieval dance very typical of this week's festivities and in which elements such as swords, bells and sticks are used during the choreography.

Although it is part of Easter week, the traditional Easter egg hunt deserves a separate mention. It is an activity that will be especially enjoyed by those traveling to London with children.

According to tradition, on Easter Sunday Easter eggs are prepared and decorated and then hidden and during Easter Monday the children are dedicated to find them.

It is very typical in London to give chocolate eggs during Easter so the London bakeries sell chocolate eggs in a thousand different shapes and decorations. In Spain we do not have this tradition so discovering it in London is a highly recommended experience.

On April 23rd England celebrates the feast in honor of its patron saint, St. George. A figure with more legend than history but of great importance for the English. According to myth, St. George was a knight whose fame was achieved by freeing a princess from a dragon.

Legend or myth, but the truth is that St. George existed and somehow inspired the English to such an extent that they made him their patron saint.

Every April 23rd, Trafalgar Square is decorated in red and white colors, for the flag of England, and hosts numerous free activities, food stalls and music. All with a medieval theme.

April 23rd is also Book Day and is celebrated in part because it is the date of the death of one of the most important English authors in history, William Shakespeare.

Activities related to literature are organized in Trafalgar Square and bookstores throughout London. I recommend Daunt Books, an old bookshop dating from 1912, which in addition to its valuable collection stands out for its architecture and decoration.

It is located near Baker Street station less than 10 minutes walk. I leave you an article about the London Underground so you know how to move around the main transport of the city.

The London Mar athon has been held since 1981 and is part of the World Marathon Majors, the competition that brings together the six major marathons in the world along with New York, Chicago, Boston, Berlin and Tokyo.

Each year around 40,000 runners participate trying to complete the 42 kilometers of the marathon. The race passes through some of the most emblematic places in London such as the Tower of London, the London Eye, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace.

If you are a prepared athlete you can't miss the event and if not, you can always come along to cheer on the participants and enjoy the joint activities organized by the sponsors. It is worth remembering that the benefits of the London Marathon are destined to charity.

The historic regatta pitting Oxford against Cambridge is one of the oldest sporting events in the world, the most important rowing competition and one of the most historic rivalries in the history of the sport.

The race pits the rowing teams of Oxford and Cambridge universities against each other on the waters of the Thames. And on the banks of the river more than 250,000 people throng to watch the race. It is usually held in early April and these are the best spots near the river:

• Putney Bridge
• Putney Wharf
• Bishop's Park (to watch the start of the race)
• Craven Cottage
• Fulham FC Stadium
• Hammersmith Bridge (in the middle sections)
• Chiswick Bridge (to see the finish)

Spring in London and temperatures are much more pleasant than in the winter months. However, London is still a city where the cold and the rain never completely go away.

Temperatures are usually between 12 and 16 degrees Celsius on average and the rain is always present as it can not be otherwise in London, but decreases its frequency. It rains more or less 50% of the days in April.

But you have to see the glass half full and the days get longer and the sunset does not arrive until 19:30 in the evening or 20:30 at the end of the month.

Although the high season doesn't arrive until summer, April is one of the busiest months for tourists in London. This is due to Easter.

Hotel prices go up in price as do the entrance fees to some of London's main monuments. However, the good weather and the amount of activities that April offers make up for it.

If you want to visit London in April you will be right for sure, but I recommend planning well in advance to get better deals and avoid running out of rooms in hotels.