10 things to do in London in spring

If you have the possibility to go to London in spring you are in luck because, without a doubt, it is the best time for your trip. The temperatures start to be more pleasant and the days are longer , getting dark from 18:30 in the evening. In addition, although London is a tourist city throughout the year, there is not as much affluence as in summer. And if you go between late March and June you will have the opportunity to enjoy various events particular to this time of year such as St. George's Day, the Oxford-Cambridge Regatta, the Chelsea Flower Festival or the London Games Festival.

If you want to know other plans that stand out for their popularity, visit the post what to see and do in London.

At the beginning of spring, between the end of March and the beginning of April, the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race is usually held, one of the most historic sporting events in the United Kingdom. The rowing teams of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge have been competing on the River Thames near London since the middle of the 19th century.

Specifically, the race is almost 7,000 meters long from the neighborhoods of Putney to Mortlake and, as you can imagine from its long history, it is one of the most popular spectacles in the city of London, gathering 250,000 people every year.

• When... Between the end of March and the beginning of April.

At the end of May, the Chelsea Flower Show is held in Chelsea, a very popular landscape festival that has been going on for more than a century. It is organized at the Royal Hospital of Chelsea, whose grounds have an extension of more than four hectares in which various and beautiful floral displays are organized. Every year almost 200,000 thousand people visit this event in order to learn about the latest trends in landscaping and decoration.

In addition, restaurants, cafes and stores in the Chelsea neighborhood decorate their windows and facades with flowers and plants. So if your trip coincides with this show do not hesitate to stroll through this neighborhood and enjoy the magic of this show.

• When... At the end of May.

At the beginning of April, London Games Festival is held for ten days, a festival of video games and interactive entertainment that aims to turn the city of London into the gaming capital of the world. Hundreds of game and video game lovers gather at this event to learn about the latest news, exchange opinions and, above all, to play.

In addition, exhibitions take place and conferences, professional panels and networking days are held in order to put creators in contact with funding rounds. This festival closes with a spectacular parade that is a real attraction for both specialists and fans. Don't miss it!

• When... First days of April.

Coinciding with the first Monday in May is Early May Bank Holiday. Historically it was a holiday only for those who worked in the banking sector, but gradually it was generalized to other sectors and became a national holiday, similar to our May 1st, Labor Day.

It is common for friends and family to gather in parks, gardens and green areas in order to spend a day outdoors in good company while celebrating the end of winter. In addition, you can choose to take a cruise on the Thames. If your trip coincides with this day take into account that stores and attractions have reduced opening hours.

• When... First Monday in May.

Continuing with the holidays, the last Monday of May is Spring Bank Holiday, a celebration of spring that is celebrated in all corners of London with outdoor events and street parties. It is a festive day and Londoners take to the streets or even go to the beach in order to enjoy this spring day.

If your trip to London coincides with this day I recommend you to go to Trafalgar Square where several events take place. Also, you have to take into account that some stores are closed because it is a public holiday and transport services have a reduced schedule.

• When... Last Monday of May.

Obviously in London there is no Easter as we know it in Spain. But there are a number of special events coinciding with these dates. One of the most popular is the theatrical representation of the crucifixion of Christ that takes place in Trafalgar Square coinciding with Good Friday. There are two free sessions during the day: at noon, around noon, and in the afternoon, around 3 pm.

But, without a doubt, the main activities related to these days have to do with Easter Eggs. There are demonstrations of Easter eggs, as well as decoration workshops in certain stores such as Fortnum & Mason in Picadilly Street. In addition, during this week there are many activities especially for the youngest of the house as the Easter Egg hunt (Easter Eggs) in the main parks of the city. And, on the other hand, special workshops are also held in other places such as the Royal Botanic Gardens, the London Zoo...

• When... Easter.

With the arrival of spring the temperatures soften considerably and the parks become the protagonists of this time of the year to go with friends and family. So I recommend that if you have the opportunity to go to London in spring do not forget to go to one of the main parks of the city to enjoy nature in the middle of the city. You have several options, but here are some of my favorites.

• Hyde Park: Located in central London, it has an area of 140 hectares and is an ideal park for various activities such as cycling, sports or even have the possibility of renting sun loungers.
• Richmond Park: With almost a thousand hectares it is the largest park in London. It has been declared a Protected Area and Nature Reserve and European Special Area of Conservation and one of its peculiarities is that it is the habitat of hundreds of deer. Please note that during your visit you cannot approach or feed them.
• Regent's Park: Located northwest of London is an ideal park for sports. In fact, it has an artificial lake where you can practice rowing.
• St. James's Park: Next to Buckingham Palace is the royal park with more history of the city dating back to the sixteenth century.

I recommend you to read the post the 10 best parks in London to choose the one that best suits your tastes.

• When... During the whole spring.

If your trip coincides with late spring and early summer, you may be in luck and have the opportunity to see a show at the Greenwich & Docklands International Festival, a very popular outdoor theater and performing arts festival. This is a highly regarded event and, in fact, is part of the Royal Greenwich Festivals. In addition, most of the tickets are free. Don't hesitate to visit the website before your stay in London to see if it matches your dates.

• When... Date determined depending on the year.

Of course, in your trip to London in spring you can not miss a tour of the various museums of the city. A very economical plan, since most of them are free. Do you want to know the best options?British Museum: It opened in the mid-eighteenth century and includes pieces from all cultures and stages of history.

• The National Gallery: Located in Trafalgar Square, this art gallery has a collection of more than 2,000 paintings including works by Van Gogh, Velázquez, Titian and Rembrand, among other artists.
• Natural History Museum: It is one of the most visited museums in London captivating both adults and children. It houses an important collection with pieces of entomology, botany, mineralogy, paleontology and zoology.
• Tate Modern: This museum has one of the most important collections of contemporary art with pieces by Andy Warhol, Edvard Munch, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali.
• Sherlock Holmes Museum: A must-see for any follower of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, where visitors can see objects related to the detective's different cases, as well as a collection of furniture from the Victorian era.

If you want to know other options, read the post 10 best museums in London.

• When... Spring

One of the best places to visit in the spring season is Royal Botanic Kew Gardens, a botanical garden located about 30 minutes from central London with a total of 500 acres of woodland and more than 50,000 living plants. It has five greenhouses and several points of interest:

• The Bonsay House: Greenhouse housing an important collection of bonsai, some with more than a century and a half of history.
• Princess of Wales Conservatory: Greenhouse with tropical plants.
• Palm House: Greenhouse housing palm trees and exotic plants.
• Alpine House: Greenhouse housing alpine plants that only grow at high altitude.
• Temperate House: Greenhouse housing plants typical of temperate climates.
• Treetop Walkaway: An elevated walkway of approximately 200 meters offering the best views of the grounds.
• The Hive: 17-meter-high reproduction of the workings and structure of a bee hive.
• Kew Palace: Small palace of the second half of the seventeenth century and only open from March until September.
• Climbers & Creepers: Children's playground with educational games, climbing structures and slides.

Don't hesitate to check the map before your visit.

• When... All spring.

Spring temperatures in London start to become more pleasant and not as extreme as in previous months. In general, the city stands out for its cool and dry weather. However, it is common for the rain to surprise you at any time and the same day can be characterized by sunshine, cold and rain.

The average maximum temperature in March is around 11ºC and the average minimum is 4ºC, in April it is between 8 and 16ºC, in May it is between 11 and 19ºC and in June it is between 14 and 22ºC.

The number of tourists in London is always high, also in spring, although especially from May onwards and coinciding with certain dates such as Easter or Easter. Even so, it does not reach high season periods in terms of the number of visitors as it is the case of the months of July and August. Therefore, and taking into account the influx of tourists I recommend this season of the year for the visit.

London prices in spring are not as high as in other times of the year such as summer or Christmas, especially in terms of flights and accommodation. Even so, I recommend that you book your flights and hotels as early as possible so that you can benefit from greater discounts.

If you are traveling to London in spring, keep in mind that the temperatures will not be as cold as at other times of the year, but even so, regardless of the month in which you visit (March, April, May or June), I recommend that you take some sweaters and sweatshirts. In addition, it is essential that you take a raincoat and waterproof footwear, as the rain can surprise you when you least expect it.

Coinciding with spring there are several public holidays in London. Thus, the first Monday of May is Early May Bank Holiday and the last Monday of May is Spring Bank Holiday. In addition, Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays throughout the country. So if your trip coincides with these days keep in mind that museums, main attractions and transport services may have a reduced schedule.