The bulbs are beginning to burst, evenings are lingering longer, and there’s a fresh hum of energy in the air. Spring has sprung and with it comes a whole new line-up of cultural delights. Hunkering down for the winter has a certain charm to it, but the time has come to get back out into the city. So, we’ve curated a shortlist of London springtime events that are sure to stir some excitement. Read on to discover what’s in store this season…

 

Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind

The Tate Modern | On through 1^st September, 2024

 

Yoko Ono is much more than an icon of London’s swinging sixties. She’s a creative polymath who expresses her dedication to fostering world peace and environmentalism through conceptual art, film, and music. A new retrospective at the Tate Modern covers seventy years of her activist art, including key moments shared with the infamous John Lennon. Drop in for an afternoon and soak up the many ways in which Yoko Ono approaches her causes, from the poetic, to the radical, to the surprisingly humorous.

 

Belgravia in Bloom

Throughout Belgravia | 20^th – 27^th May, 2024

 

Belgravia in Bloom has become a springtime staple for us. Our showroom on the Pimlico Road sits right in the thick of the action, with inventive floral displays bursting to life all around us. Take a stroll through our neighbourhood to enjoy spring in full swing, stopping to admire the many shops and restaurants in full colourful regalia. We hope you’ll pop in to say hello to us along the way!

 

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Royal Haymarket Theatre | On through 13^th April, 2024

 

Oscar Wilde’s classic enjoys a fresh and original reinvention in this captivating one-woman show. Succession’s Sarah Snook takes the spotlight, playing every character in a theatrical tour de force. There’s a thoroughly contemporary quality to the production, with just the right amount of camp woven in for good measure. Expect many of Wilde’s best-loved aphorisms, dazzling costumes, and a new perspective on an old favourite.

 

Royal Ballet Behind the Scenes Tour

Royal Opera House | On through 29^th June, 2024

 

If attending one of the Royal Ballet’s many spectacles leaves you wanting more, a peek behind the velvet curtain could be just the thing you’ve been searching for. This season you’ve invited to join an expert guide for a tour through the unseen elements which add up to every entrancing performance. Dip into areas of the Royal Opera House which are usually off-limits, from rehearsal studios to costume workshops. Aficionados aged twelve and up are welcome, making it the perfect springtime activity for aspiring ballerinas, young and old.

 

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark™

Live in Concert with the London Symphony Orchestra

Royal Albert Hall | 25^th – 26^th May, 2024

 

The Royal Albert Hall is back with a new addition to their much-loved Films in Concert series. Whether you’re drawn in by an affection for the Indiana Jones classic or by a love of music, this one is bound to excite. The London Symphony Orchestra will be playing live alongside the screening, bringing John William’s iconic score to life. This will mark the first time the orchestra performs the piece in full since recording the original soundtrack in 1981. Opportunities like this don’t knock twice, so best to get your tickets while you can.

 

The Oxford Cambridge Boat Race

Putney Bridge to Chiswick Bridge | 30^th March, 2024

 

The Oxford Cambridge boat race is so much more than your average sporting event. It’s a historic face-off which winds its way through some of London’s loveliest settings. This year marks the 169^th men’s and 78^thwomen’s races. The women’s kicks off at 2:46pm, followed by the men’s at 3:46pm. We’d suggest positioning yourself by the Thames to experience the action first-hand. Better yet, arrive early to stake your claim on a seat at a waterside pub, preferably The White Hart in lovely, leafy Barnes.

 

Glyndebourne Festival

Glyndebourne | 16^th May – 25^th August, 2024

 

If you’re in the mood to spend a day further afield, look no further than Glyndebourne Festival. Their programme of operatic performances kicks off this spring and will continue through summer. This black-tie staple of the season takes place in the champagne air of East Sussex at historic Glyndebourne. At just an hour by train from Paddington to nearby Lewes, it’s a hop, skip, and a jump from London. Each performance, from Carmen to Tristan and Isolde, is broken up by a 90-minute interval. You can either partake in the traditional picnic on the lawn or indulge in a proper sit-down meal at one of the estate’s various restaurants. If you’re partial to both cultural intrigue and fresh air, we’d bet this is the perfect spring day for you.

 

 

 

Text by Annabel Colterjohn