Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) and Houses of Parliament at sunset, seen over a field of bright yellow daffodils.

London Newsletter - March 2026

Spring arrives in London this March 2026. Read our guide to International Women's Day events, St Patrick's Day festivities, and current art exhibitions.

Newsletter • 5 min. read

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus! That is Happy St David's Day to our Welsh friends, marking the start of a fresh month in the capital. Spring is definitely coming: the weather is shifting, and London feels lively without being too busy just yet. And March is full of wonderful things to do! International Women's Day takes place on March 8; you can celebrate at the Royal Albert Hall with WOW at 15, featuring music, discussion, and activist Angela Davis. Later in the month, the city turns green for St Patrick's Day on March 17, a widespread celebration of Irish culture (and if you need tips for a good pub to get a pint of Guinness, our guides have done their research).

For art lovers, the calendar is particularly rich this month. You can visit the National Gallery to see Caravaggio's Cupid, a free exhibition displaying his masterpiece 'Victorious Cupid' alongside sculptures that inspired it. Beginning March 12, Serpentine North presents David Hockney, showcasing his digital frieze and recent works. If you are interested in the subconscious workings of the mind, the Opera Gallery is hosting Dreaming in Colour, where emerging artists reinterpret Surrealism, while the Freud Museum opens Leonora Carrington – The Symptomatic Surreal later in the month on March 25. Don't say London doesn't spoil you!

There are some distinct performance highlights to look out for as well. On March 13, the Duke of York’s Theatre hosts a revival of the play Teeth 'n' Smiles, featuring Rebecca Lucy Taylor (Self Esteem) in a story about a rock band's collapse. For a more cinematic audio-visual experience, Academy Award–winning composer Hildur Guðnadóttir brings her album Where to From to the stage on March 21 with immersive sound and light.

If you are looking for something a little more left-field, head to Alexandra Palace on March 15 for the London Festival of Railway Modelling to see intricately built railway sets from over 35 exhibitors. Alternatively, nature enthusiasts can catch the Kew Gardens Orchid Festival at the Princess of Wales Conservatory. But now that the sun has started to show its face — and the summer crowds of people haven't yet shown theirs — it's a great time for a walk around the best-known sites of London, so make sure to join us on our Welcome to London! Westminster Walking Tour.

Date	Event	Category
March 6-9	The Other Art Fair Browse affordable original artwork, immersive installations, live performances, and enjoy a bar at the Old Truman Brewery.	📅 Other	More details →
March 15-16	London Festival of Railway Modelling Explore over 35 exhibitors' model railway layouts and pick up rarer scales and gauges at Alexandra Palace.	📅 Other	More details →
March 1-31	Literary Footprints Festival Join guided walks and virtual tours exploring literature from Wolf Hall, Virginia Woolf, Charles Dickens, and Monica Ali's Brick Lane.	🎪 Festival	More details →
March 8	International Women's Day A global observance often marked in London by talks, networking events, and cultural exhibitions.	🎪 Festival	More details →
March 8	WOW at 15 Celebrate 15 years of the Women of the World Festival with music, discussion, and activist Angela Davis at the Royal Albert Hall.	🎪 Festival	More details →
March 17	St Patrick's Day A celebration of Irish culture; while the specific parade date may vary, the holiday itself falls on this date.	🎪 Festival	More details →
March 13 - June 6	Teeth 'n' Smiles Rock out with Rebecca Lucy Taylor (Self Esteem) in this 50th-anniversary revival of David Hare’s play set during a 1960s rock band's collapse at Duke of York’s Theatre.	🎵 Concert	More details →
March 21-21	Hildur Guðnadóttir: Where to From Academy Award–winning composer Hildur Guðnadóttir brings her album Where to From to life on stage in a performance with immersive sound and light.	🎵 Concert	More details →
November 26 - April 12	Caravaggio's Cupid This free exhibition features Caravaggio's masterpiece 'Victorious Cupid', displayed alongside ancient Roman sculptures to recreate the spirit of the 17th-century Giustiniani collection.	🖼️ Exhibition	More details →
February 7 - March 8	Kew Gardens Orchid Festival An annual botanical display at the Princess of Wales Conservatory featuring orchids and tropical plants.	🖼️ Exhibition	More details →
March 5 - April 6	Dreaming in Colour Discover over 20 emerging artists reinterpreting Surrealism through painting, multimedia, and digital practices exploring dreams and the subconscious at Opera Gallery London, free daily during gallery hours.	🖼️ Exhibition	More details →
March 12 - May 31	Stubbs: Portrait of a Horse The National Gallery presents an exhibition focused on George Stubbs' equine portraiture. It explores the artist's anatomical precision and artistic legacy.	🖼️ Exhibition	More details →
March 12 - August 23	David Hockney Experience David Hockney’s digital frieze and recent works at Serpentine North, free entry daily 10am-6pm.	🖼️ Exhibition	More details →
March 25 - June 28	Leonora Carrington – The Symptomatic Surreal Delve into Leonora Carrington's surreal works revealing her psychological and mystical visions at Freud Museum, check website for hours, admission details available online.	🖼️ Exhibition	More details →
March 26 - November 29	The Coming of Age Engage with diverse works from sculpture and photography to historical etchings on perceptions of ageing at Wellcome Collection, free entry daily 10am-6pm.	🖼️ Exhibition	More details →

London Newsletter - March 2026

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