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Things To Do This Weekend In London: 6-7 April 2024

All weekend.

EASTER HOLIDAYS: Most London schools are closed for the Easter holidays this week. If you've got little ones to entertain, peruse our guide to Easter holiday events in London , for ways to keep them busy, whatever their age and whatever your budget.

BRITISH SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS: The British Swimming Championships continue at the London Aquatics Centre this weekend, with the best swimmers in the country going head to head. Tickets are available for the public to watch both heats and finals events, with Olympic and Paralympic swimming event schedules running concurrently, and the championship event playing a role in team selection for the Paris Olympics this summer. 2-7 April

WOMEN IN REVOLT: A major survey of work by over 100 women artists working in the UK from 1970 to 1990, Women in Revolt! explores and reflects on issues and events such as the British Women's Liberation movement, and the visibility of Black and South Asian Women artists, through painting, drawing, sculpture, film and performance. This is the final weekend to see it at Tate Britain. Until 7 April

DIVA: The V&A's deep-dive into the power and creativity of iconic performers from the 19th century onwards is in its final weekend. The exhibition looks at the origins of the term 'diva' and how it has been subverted and embraced through film, TV, music and fashion. Until 10 April

DOGS DON'T DO BALLET: Aimed at ages 2-6, Dogs Don't Do Ballet is a lively theatre show featuring music and puppetry, about Biff the dog who thinks he's a ballerina. Running time is only 40 minutes, so ideal for younger viewers. See it at Artsdepot in Finchley. 2-7 April

WORLD UNSEEN: In partnership with the RNIB and camera brand Canon, Somerset House opens new photography exhibition World Unseen . It ensures that everyone, including people with sight loss, can experience the images in the same way, using a combination of new printing technology, soundscaped audio of photographers describing their images, braille, and tactile printing. FREE, 5-7 April

ICE HOCKEY WEEKENDER: See out the ice hockey season in style, with the NIHL Playoffs taking place at Alexandra Palace all weekend. South Divisions 1 and 2 of the National Ice Hockey League play in six matches across the weekend, with one ticket giving you access to watch them all. 6-7 April

NOW PLAY THIS: Tying in with the ongoing London Games Festival (9-25 April), Somerset House hosts Now Play This 2024 , a festival of experimental games featuring interactive exhibitions, live shows, and plenty of chances to test drive some of those games, beginning on Saturday. 6-14 April

Saturday 6 April

RELAXED ROMANS: The British Museum opens its doors early, for a relaxed look at its Roman Britain galleries . The event is designed for anyone — adults and children — who are autistic, learning disabled, or have mental health conditions. As the museum won't be open to the public, it'll be quieter and less crowded than normal, and there are sensory activities in some of the galleries. FREE, 8am-10am

VELVETEEN RABBIT: Beloved children's book The Velveteen Rabbit comes to life in ballet form on stage, as part of dance company BalletLORENT's 30th anniversary celebrations at Sadler's Wells. Storytelling, music and dance all features as a nursery of toys comes to life. 11am/2pm

RUBBISH SHAKESPEARE: Intended as an introduction to Shakespeare — or theatre as a whole — the Rubbish Shakespeare Company brings its take on Romeo and Juliet to the Leicester Square Theatre. Three actors attempt to stage the famous tragedy using limited props and costumes, with comedic results. Suitable for all ages. 11.30am/2pm

VAISAKHI FESTIVAL: Vaisakhi — the colourful Sikh and Punjabi cultural festival — takes place on 13 April this year, but London's main celebration returns to Trafalgar Square today. The free festival features live entertainment and performances, martial arts demonstrations, a showcase of Sikh art, plus food and drink stalls. FREE, 12pm-6pm

SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS: The Cinema Museum in Kennington marks the 50th anniversary of the Swallows and Amazons film , with a special screening hosted by writer and broadcaster Brian Sibley. Cast members including Simon West, Sophie Neville, Stephen Grendon and Suzanna Hamilton are present — and there's a Q&A after the film. 2pm

SEWING MACHINE MUSEUM: The monthly opening of London's Sewing Machine Museum — located in Balham — takes place today, offering you a chance to see inside one man's collection of the machines. Many of them are historic, including one which belonged to Queen Victoria's daughter. Here's some more background on the little-known museum . 2pm-5pm

MINISTRY OF SOUND: Though better known for its lively club nights, Ministry of Sound tackles classical music in two special concerts this evening. Head to the Royal Albert Hall for orchestral renditions of the greatest dance compilations of all time, including tunes by the likes of The Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim. 6pm/9.45pm

BLACKSTAGE PRESENTS: COMMUNITY: Pole dancers of colour are in the spotlight at Blackstage Presents: Community , an international pole dancing competition at Clapham Grand. Blackstage is a Black Queer sex worker-led company centring BPOC pole dancers. 6.30pm-10pm

BRUCE JUICE: Brilliantly-named Bruce Springsteen tribute act Bruce Juice rocks out the Half Moon in Putney . Spend three hours singing and dancing to tunes by The Boss, from the well-known, to rare, live arrangements from the 1970s. 7.15pm

Sunday 7 April

MINIATURE RAILWAY: Brockwell Park's miniature railway is up and running for the season — you can ride it every Sunday, so long as the weather's not utterly miserable, in which case it won't open. Why not fold in a ride with a visit to the newly refurbished Florence . 11am-4pm

MAKER'S MARKET: Big Penny Social in Walthamstow brings together local traders for the Maker's Market . Focus is on high-quality products spanning illustration, vintage bric-a-brac, plants, jewellery, food, ceramics, candles and more. 11am-5pm

CEILIDH DANCING: Folk Dance Remixed host a family-friendly Ceilidh Jam on the Riverside Terrace at Southbank Centre. Take part in maypole and ceilidh dancing and street dance. No experience necessary, you can learn the moves on the day. FREE, 12pm

HAT WALK: Show up at St James's Church, Piccadilly at 1pm today, and you'll be greeted by a multitude of people all wearing hats. This is London Hat Walk — part of an international clutch of such walks taking place across Europe. It's unclear at time of writing where the walk will head, but it ends up back at the church at 2.30pm. FREE, 1pm

BANNED BLACK FILMS: Black History Walks teams up with film club The African Odysseys for an  afternoon of Black films which have been banned . Find out about at least 20 films, including what they were about, why they were banned and the current methods of suppressing Black films that challenge Hollywood stereotypes. Takes places at the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton. 1.30pm-4.30pm

FREE JAZZ: Round off the weekend at Kentish Town's MAP Studio Cafe with a cup of coffee/glass of wine, and the sweet sounds of the Equinox Jazz Quartet , laying on some suitably smooth grooves. FREE, 2pm

SKETCH-OFF FINAL: Watch sketch artists and comedy character acts go head to head in the Sketch Off 2024 final at Leicester Square Theatre. The winner receives a cash prize and their own comedy showcase. Age 14+. 7pm

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Bags in museums, churches, etc. - London Forum

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Bags in museums, churches, etc.

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This forum has been so helpful!

My family and I are planning a visit this summer. My husband and I will both carry a small belt bag (aka fanny pack) as we go around the city. Smaller than most purses.

However, we might want to carry a small daypack backpack for water, umbrellas, hats, etc for us and the kids.

I have this 10L backpack: https://a.co/d/cQWY9FX and it is much more comfortable than a similar size crossbody bag.

11 replies to this topic

However, if I were you I would never put anything of value on your back. Pickpockets on the tube or in any crowded place can get in that and take a phone or wallet in no time.

My husband carried our backpack, and we only put rain jackets , sweaters, and water bottles in it. My wallet, phone, etc were always in my lockable crossbody purse.

You should be fine. There will be a bag search as you enter but a small rucksack will be allowed.

Agreed that a small daypack is highly unlikely to be a problem. Can’t remember which museum it was, but I do remember someone being asked to wear a more medium-sized rucksack back to front, across their chest, recently.

Separated by a common language - it looks like you may already know, but they’re not called fanny packs over here, due to the different slang meaning of the word. Instead they’re colloquially known as bum bags, because that’s the equivalent slang word.

Even small packs can be dangerous indoors, so please take them off or wear them in front

I would forget umbrellas they are a liability

Most of the time a small bag won't be a problem. In some places they'll ask you to wear them on your front. In others they will have lockers to put your bags in.

IME small backpacks, if carried in the hand, are usually treated the same way as, say, a tote bag and allowed. I get the impression that most indoor places don't want you wearing bags of any size on your back while inside. Some places have lockers or a storage area, many don't.

At the John Soane’s Museum you are asked to put your belongings, including handbags and rucksacks, into a clear plastic carrier bag which they supply. Anything too large for the bag must be left at the cloakroom.

I've never had a problem with my small backpack which 'I too use instead of a purse. I generally carry it over one shoulder and keep it tucked close to my body--no swinging around!

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Map reveals where in the UK you can see the 2024 solar eclipse

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There is a chance you can see the upcoming solar eclipse right here in the UK – Americans aren’t getting all the fun.  

On Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse is sweeping across North America , starting in Mexico and travelling across the US and into northeast Canada .

However, the tail end of this most magical of spectacles will be visible in parts of the UK and Ireland, as a partial eclipse sneaks into view. 

According to timeanddate.com, the start of the partial eclipse is predicted to be at 7.52pm and end at 8.51pm.

Can you see the solar eclipse in the UK in 2024?

The partial solar eclipse will pass across Scotland, Ireland and the north of England. 

Cities that can catch a glimpse of the eclipse include Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Belfast, Inverness, Stornoway, Dublin, Galway, Cork and Limerick. 

If you can’t whisk yourself away to the north for the chance of a partial solar eclipse, Nasa will be live-streaming the whole event on its official YouTube channel or its site , or you can catch it below. 

However, we are talking the UK and Ireland here, so it should be noted that the chance of seeing a partial solar eclipse is heavily dependent on the weather – let’s hope for clear skies.

Where can you see the partial solar eclipse in the UK and Ireland?

• Stornoway: 22.5% coverage 
• Inverness: 16% 
• Edinburgh: 6.1% 
• Glasgow: 11.2% 
• Belfast: 17.2% 
• Liverpool: 0.64% 
• Manchester: 0.82%
• Dublin: 15.4% 
• Galway: 34.5% 
• Cork: 19.5%
• Limerick: 20%

Why is this total solar eclipse special? 

Total solar eclipses are special as they are only supposed to happen every once in 375 years in the same place in the world. 

However, for those lucky enough to be in the US states of Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky, this will be the second time in seven years a total eclipse has crossed them. 

Seeing a total solar eclipse in the same locations is incredibly rare. 

When is the next total solar eclipse in the UK? 

People in the UK have a long time to wait until the next total solar eclipse. 

Whilst a partial eclipse will be viewed across 90% of the country in 2026, the next total eclipse won’t be until 2081 in the Channel Islands or 2090 in the South West.

The last total solar eclipse seen in the UK was in 1999, and was spotted over Cornwall and parts of Devon, as well as the English Channel and the island of Alderney.

However, in a typical British fashion, clouds covered it from other areas it should have been visible in. 

Total solar eclipses generally occur every 18 months or so, but partial ones take place between two and five times a year.

MORE : Map shows where bird flu is spreading in US amid new warning

MORE : Prisoners win fight to watch solar eclipse and will be given viewing glasses

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