From Easter activities to art exhibitions, Roman parades to Viking festivals, we bring you the best free events happening near you in the month of April
Who says you need to spend money to have a great time? All year round, there are brilliant free events happening across the UK, enabling you to live life to the max without spending a bean. April is no exception, and to help you fill your calendar, we’ve rounded up the best free festivals, shows, exhibitions and sporting spectacles happening over the course of the month.
You’ll notice that a few of the listed events are for Boundless members only. Not yet a member? If you're working in or retired from the public sector or civil service, Boundless has two great membership options to choose from: Boundless and Boundless Plus. Boundless members enjoy unlimited access or discounted entry to many of the UK’s top attractions, as well as year-round deals on restaurants, holidays, shopping and much more.
Simply click on a link below to jump straight to:
- Free nationwide events
- Free events in London & the South East
- Free events in the South West & Wales
- Free events in the Midlands & East
- Free events in the North of England
- Free events in Scotland & Northern Ireland
- Free online events
Free nationwide events
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Catch some shooting stars
Lyrid Meteor Shower, nationwide, mid to end of April
Shooting stars are the kind of thing you usually only see in movies – but during April, you can glimpse these awesome phenomena simply by looking upwards. Occurring throughout the second half of the month – and especially around the 21st/22nd – the Lyrid Meteor Shower is an annual celestial event that sees debris from Comet Thatcher cascading across the sky at a rate of 10-18 meteors per hour. Best viewed in the early hours of the morning, it’s one firework display you won’t want to miss.
Enrich your soul
Blossom season, nationwide, throughout April
Pretty in pink, ravishing in red, wonderful in white… No matter what the colour, blossom trees are always a welcome sight at this time of year. And wherever you are in the UK, you should be able to appreciate these fabulous flora at your local park or nature reserve. One of the best places to see blossom trees is at the Kew Gardens, whose glorious landscapes will be awash with colour and fragrance in early April.
Boundless offer: Members get unlimited access to Kew and Wakehurst. Guests can also take up to five children per visit, all year round, and an additional adult for half price.
Free events in London & the South East
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Watch an Easter epic
The Passion of Jesus, London, 3 April
This is the time of year when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ – and you can watch this Biblical event unfold in front of your very eyes courtesy of the Wintershall theatre group.
Taking place in London’s Trafalgar Square, their production of The Passion of Jesus will see around 100 actors bring the moving story of Jesus’s final days to life. Open to all ages and faiths, it’s sure to be a breathtaking show.
Source some culinary inspiration
Broadstairs Food Festival, Kent, 3-5 April
Before you fill up on chocolate eggs, head down to the fabulous Broadstairs Food Festival, which takes place every year on the clifftop overlooking Viking Bay.
Spanning three days, the 2026 event will feature a packed programme of cooking demonstrations, family activities and live entertainment, along with numerous stalls stocked with local treats. Note that, while admission is free, you’ll have to pay for meals, drinks and the like.
Gain some tips from a fab photographer
Wildlife in Epping Forest by Peter Warne, Cheshunt, 14 April
If you like taking pictures of wildlife, then Peter Warne’s talk at Bishops College in Cheshunt is a must.
Hosted by the North East London Boundless Group, it’ll see Peter Warne discussing his magnificent macro photography, in which he captures the stunning flora and fauna in and around Epping Forest. Peter’s work often features in the British Wildlife Photography Awards, so who better to learn from!
Enjoy a Sikh celebration
Vaisakhi on the Square, London, 18 April
London’s vibrant Sikh community invite you to join them for a day of celebration in Trafalgar Square as they mark one of the most important days in their calendar – the Vaisakhi harvest festival. With everything from music and dancing to family activities and vegetarian food on the itinerary – all of it free of charge – you’re guaranteed to leave with a smile on your face.
Get set for some sporting action
London Marathon, London, 26 April
First held in 1981, the London Marathon is now one of the world’s most famous sporting spectacles, with everyone from professional athletes to costumed fun-runners lining up to compete in the 26-mile race.
While it’s too late to take part in this year’s event, watching from the sidelines is always an exhilarating experience. Take your place along the route (from Greenwich Park to The Mall) and cheer till you’re hoarse.
Free events in the South West & Wales
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Get that (Good) Friday feeling
Waterfront Easter Fun Day, Swansea, 3 April
Start the Easter weekend in style by attending this Good Friday extravaganza at Swansea’s National Waterfront Museum. Over the course of the afternoon, there will be live music, kids’ craft activities and a quirky gallery trail.
While you’re there, don’t forget to explore the museum itself – with information and artefacts covering 300 years of Welsh industry, this free attraction offers a great day out for the family.
Discover some horticultural history
National Garden Scheme by Ros Ford, Swindon, 16 April
It’s become a cherished institution across Great Britain, but how did the National Garden Scheme first come about? Hosted by the Swindon Boundless Group at the town’s Holiday Inn hotel, this talk by Ros Ford uncovers the history of the NGS, detailing how it started as a way of funding nursing in the area, and how it now provides visitors with access to over 3,000 gardens up and down the country.
Pay tribute to a famous engineer
Camborne Trevithick Day, Cornwall, 25 April
Every year, the people of Camborne in Cornwall throw a street party in honour of local legend Richard Trevithick – famed for inventing the world’s first steam-powered locomotive.
Following a procession of traction engines, musicians and dancers, visitors peruse the assembled stalls while sampling delicious food and drink from local producers. Why not pop along and soak up the community spirit.
Witness a centuries-old parade
Barley Saturday, Cardigan, 25 April
In the 19th century, the last Saturday in April was the day when farmers would gather in the centre of Cardigan to hire workers and inspect stallions that could be put out to stud. Fast-forward to modern times and that tradition is remembered every year with a special celebration in which horses of all shapes and sizes lead a parade through the streets of the Welsh town. With vintage cars, bikes and other vehicles also joining the procession, it’s quite a sight!
Free events in the Midlands & the East
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Get on your broomstick
Witches and Witch Hunting in East Anglia, Norwich, 9 April
You don’t hear much about witches these days, but in 17th-century East Anglia, barely a day went by without someone or other being accused of practising the dark arts.
Hosted by the Norwich Boundless Group at the city’s George Hotel, this talk recalls those deeply superstitious times, when Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins and his team of vigilantes set about cleansing the streets of sorceresses.
Watch the past come to life
Sheringham Viking Festival, Norfolk, 11 April
When the Vikings first landed on these shores in the 8th century, they ravaged the local populations, bringing terror and tyranny wherever they went. Over a thousand years later, the Norfolk town of Sheringham hosts an annual festival to remember these Nordic invaders, with boat-burning ceremonies, battle re-enactments and much more on the agenda. If you love history, you’ll want to be there!
Do as the Romans do
Old Town Festival, Leicester, 26 & 27 April
Last year, archaeologists found Roman remains beneath a Leicester market site – and that amazing discovery provides the inspiration for this year’s Old Town Festival. The packed programme of activities includes a Roman parade, Roman warrior training and themed face painting. You can also join the biggest public building project in Leicester, which will see the city’s long-lost Roman forum recreated using cardboard boxes!
Giddy up for a free art show
Society of Equestrian Artists Spring Exhibition, Newmarket, 29 April – 21 May
If you love horses, then you won’t want to miss this free event, which showcases a huge range of equestrian art. Held annually at the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket, the Spring Exhibition features paintings from both contemporary and historic artists – and this year, you’ll even get a rare chance to see an original work by Sir Alfred Munnings, one of England’s best-loved painters of horses.
Boundless offer: If you love art, don’t forget to make the most of your National Art Pass. Included with Boundless Plus membership, it gives you access to over 200 galleries, museums and historic houses, as well as half-price entry to major exhibitions.
Free events in the North of England
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Immerse yourself in chivalry
Medieval Easter, Leeds, 1, 2 & 7-19 April
Gallant knights and gleaming swords will be very much on the menu at Leeds Royal Armouries’ free Medieval Easter event. Taking place through most of April, this action-packed exhibition will feature everything from combat demonstrations to themed activities, with the museum’s amazing collection of arms and armour also available to browse. In between, there will be an international jousting tournament, featuring costumed competitors from across the globe (fees apply).
Name that tune
Wild Walk: Whose Song is That?, Washington, 4 April
Birdsong never fails to raise the spirits – but are you able to identify which melody belongs to which species? The Wild Walk at WWT Washington Wetland Centre will help you. During the hour-long stroll, expert wardens will be on hand to offer tips and answer your questions. There will be lots of opportunities to take pictures, too, so don’t forget to bring your camera.
Boundless offer: Members get unlimited access to all nine WWT sites across the UK.
Hear an incredible wartime yarn
Beskids to the Pennines by Maria Demkowicz, York, 29 April
For Maria Demkowicz’s father, the Calder Valley in Yorkshire was an idyllic place to call home. But getting there was far from smooth. In the talk, hosted by the York Boundless Group at the Mercure York Fairfield Manor Hotel, Maria details the incredible journey he made at the start of WWI, from a tiny village in the Polish mountains, through Siberia, the Middle East and Italy, to a peaceful life in the Pennines.
Have a giggle
Crippled with Laughter, Manchester, 30 April
Comics such as Rosie Jones and Suzi Ruffell have shown that you don’t have to be able-bodied to be funny, and this groundbreaking event aims to further raise the profile of disabled comedians. Hosted by Wheels and the Legman at Manchester’s Aviva Studios, it’ll see a range of performers bringing their unique, and often hilarious, experiences to the stage.
Free events in Scotland & Northern Ireland
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Feel the music
Ards International Guitar Festival, Newtownards, 15-19 April
From rock to classical, Spanish to bluegrass, guitar music is the gift that just keeps on giving. Indeed, it’s quite literally a gift at this annual festival, as many of the fringe shows can be attended for free. The full line-up hasn’t been released yet, but expect solo performers, duos and even full bands, with gigs happening at various venues across Newtownards.
Admire some awesome art
Nuart Aberdeen, Aberdeen, 22-26 April
From marvellous murals to striking graffiti, street art has the ability to surprise and inspire. And you’ll see an abundance of it at Nuart Aberdeen. Described as “the best festival of its kind in the world”, this award-winning event sees some of the world’s most talented creatives transform the Scottish city with their wondrous creations. This year’s theme is ‘Poetry is in the Streets’ – prepare to be dazzled.
Take part in a thrilling fundraiser
Race the Tram, Edinburgh, 26 April
You’ve heard of people running for the bus. Well, this unique event sees people running across Edinburgh to try and beat the city’s tram. Last year, over 130 competitors took part, with a large sum of money being raised for charity – and this year’s event promises to be even bigger and better. Whether you want to take part yourself or shout support from the sidelines, it’s sure to be an adrenaline rush.
Free online events
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Unravel a notorious crime case
The Potton Poisoner, 14 April
In 1843, Sarah Dazley was hanged for murdering two of her husbands and her infant child by poisoning. But was she wrongly condemned? In this online talk – exclusive to Boundless members – you’ll play judge and jury as podcaster Nat Doig presents all the evidence from one of the 19th century’s most hotly debated cases. Was Dazley the UK’s first female serial killer, or did she die for no reason? You decide!
Listen to a scientific talk
Borrowed Time: The Science of How and Why We Age, 21 April
Growing old is seen as a fact of life – but why do humans transition from being youthful to mature? In this fascinating online talk – exclusive to Boundless members – author and broadcaster Sue Armstrong unravels the science behind ageing, exploring what it is that makes our skin wrinkle and our memory fade over time. You may not be much older by the time it’s finished, but you’ll be a lot wiser.
Get some priceless financial advice
Understanding Inheritance Tax, 28 April
Whether you’ve just been left a chunk of money or you want to pass down some of your wealth to your next of kin, inheritance tax (IHT) is something you need to know about. In this online talk – exclusive to Boundless members – financial adviser Pawan Thaker explains the most important points, from the common mistakes that people make to how future policy might affect how much we’ll have to pay.
Do more with Boundless
If you're working in or retired from the public sector or civil service, Boundless has two great membership options to choose from: Boundless and Boundless Plus.
With Boundless, you get unlimited access or discounted entry to many of the UK’s top attractions including Kew Gardens and Wakehurst and WWT centres across the UK, as well as year-round deals on restaurants, holidays, shopping and much more. With Boundless Plus, you can enjoy additional benefits including unlimited access to Historic Royal Palaces sites, National Trust for Scotland places, access to the Ramblers' extensive group walks and routes, and peace of mind with roadside assistance and local recovery by Britannia Rescue.
