Easter Weekend: Eggcellent Things to do in London

By Dom Bewley
Published: July 17, 2024
Easter bunny in a meadow

There tends to be a handful of things Brits look forward to every year. Birthdays, when you have to buy the whole office sweets. Christmas, because you can never have too many socks. And the first bank holiday of the year – marks four days of pure, unadulterated, chocolate-filled fun – lands on Easter weekend.

Planning a visit to London this Easter holiday weekend? We looked out our magnifying glasses and donned our Sherlock Holmes deerstalkers to investigate all the best things to do over Easter in London. Read on to discover the eggstraordinary selection of activities we discovered, including: 

  • Easter egg hunts 

  • Easter at Kew Gardens 

  • St Paul’s Cathedral’s Easter roster 

  • Cracking science experiments 

  • Regent’s Park running 

  • And… ice skating 

Child wearing bunny ears on an Easter egg hunt in the park

With spring in full bloom, it's a great time to visit London's gardens. Kew needs little introduction, a floral fiesta that’s known worldwide for its serene landscapes, kaleidoscopic collection of over 50,000 plants, and beautifully ornate glasshouses. With the sun (hopefully) shining down from above, it's the perfect place to relax with a family picnic after months of interminable five-day weeks. The kids can let off some steam too, with over 300 acres to run around in. 

Kew always turns up the volume over Easter, with gardens overflowing with spring favourites: buttery daffodils, carpets of glorious bluebells, a rainbow of tulips, crocuses, and more. You can also expect seasonal storytelling sessions for kids and adventure trails to explore. Not to mention the usual hardy perennials such as the Kew Explorer land train and dizzying Treetop Walkway.

Find out what’s on at Kew this Easter.

Natural History Museum

Perfect for kids of all ages, The Science Museum's Wonderlab contains around 50 interactive exhibits, shows, and demonstrations, designed to entertain everyone from toddlers to grandparents. It’s spread over multiple zones, each with a different scientific focus, and enough challenges and experiments to while away several hours.

Caught the science bug? The Science Museum also has its very own IMAX on-site, with fascinating 3D shows sure to keep the kids talking long after the Easter holidays are over. While you're in the area, why not check out the V&A and Natural History Museum, both just a short stroll away?

Many of these attractions (and then some) are available with a London Pass, which gets you access to tours, activities, and attractions across London for one money-saving price.

Easter Egg Hunts

Children on an Easter egg hunt in the park

  

When we were kids, Easter egg hunts tended to consist of a couple of Creme Eggs and chocolate Easter chicks shoved hastily into a hedge for questing kids to find and hurriedly scoff. But things have moved on somewhat since the Dark Ages, with 21st-century egg hunts that involve elaborate clue-led searches for elusive golden bunnies, and other eggstravagant events of the kind. London, of course, has some absolute crackers.

If there’s a grander location for an Easter egg hunt than Hampton Court Palace, we’ve yet to discover it. Gouty serial monogamist and keen hunter Henry VIII would surely approve of the event at his former pile, though thankfully the quarry here is a Lindt golden bunny, not a freshly shot deer. Simply tick off the golden statues hiding among the tulips and daffs to claim your sweet prize. Find out more about Hampton Court Palace’s Easter events here.

Similar events are held at Windsor Castle, which adds a bit of crafting fun into the mix, as well as the Herne Hill Velodrome, where the scavenger hunt is complemented by face painting and bike riding activities. Easter-week entry to London Zoo also includes a frankly roarsome chocolate hunt. Just find the colourful eggs and crack the code to find the golden egg and claim your chocolate treat.

More Eggcellent Easter Weekend Activities in London

St Paul's Cathedral

As you might expect, the mighty St Paul's Cathedral has a pretty packed Easter calendar. Every year, they have a whole host of holy offerings over the holidays, culminating in a series of special services on Easter Sunday. And thankfully, it's open to the public too. There are a number of services throughout the day, commencing with the Dawn Eucharist at, well, the crack of dawn, and moving through Holy Communion, Morning Prayer and the Sung Eucharist before lunch. The afternoon brings Evening Prayer followed by a final celebration at around 6pm. So, if you're looking for something wholesome to do this Easter Sunday, go check it out.

Marathon runners

If you've had a particularly choc-fueled Easter weekend, and want to burn off some of those added calories and all that shame, go for a run. And not just any run, but a 10k around Regent's Park kind of run. The annual Regent's Park's London Easter 10k has become a mainstay of the city's racing calendar. So, if you're feeling brave, why not enter? You don't often get to take the scenic route by default, and Regent's Park is positively brimming with lush vegetation that'll make it that much sweeter. And hey, if the 10k isn't for you, there are other ways to get involved: children can take part in a mini race, and there's also a shorter fun run for adults.

Ice skaters

Or, you could do something completely unrelated to Easter and go ice skating in London. QUEENS Skate Dine Bowl is the capital's only all-year ice rink, so no matter the weather you're free to glide, skate and pirouette to your heart’s content. And, once you're done showing off, relax with a few games of bowling, or play the arcade machines. To top it all off, grab a sweet burger at the MEATliquor restaurant on site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Spring daffodils in front of the Houses of Parliament

What days are public holidays over Easter in the UK? The four-day bank holiday constitutes Good Friday, Saturday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday. Four days of blissful freedom.

Are museums and other attractions open on Easter Sunday? Generally, you can expect most attractions to be open on Easter Sunday. Certainly the ones on this list. However, if you're planning on going somewhere, it's best to check online before you set out. 

What season does Easter land on in London, and how should I dress? Easter lands in glorious spring, so hopefully, you'll get sunshine, temperatures around the mid-teens, and sundown will be after 6PM. However, glorious Britain is known for its… surprising changes in seasonal weather. April is often plagued by heavy showers, though in recent years they haven't hit as predictably. Best to check the weather ahead of time, and maybe pack an umbrella and scarf just in case. 

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Dom Bewley
London Travel Expert

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London Date Ideas: Activity Edition

Let’s go out. What do you want to do? Pub? No, let’s do something. Dinner? No, let’s do do something. Can’t we do dinner? No, something more active. Like do doing something? Yes, that’s what I said. I don’t have any London Date Ideas which involve doing things active. We need a list, a list of London Date Ideas which skews towards activities. A list of London Date Ideas which skews towards activities, including... The pick of the London activity bars best designed to impress Our favourite London immersive experiences, just waiting for a dating A smattering of evergreen London date ideas And much, much more London Date Ideas: Activity Bars Swingers The first of the big hitter activity bars on the list, Swingers is an adult-oriented rejig of crazy golf. As with all the activity bars on this list, it depends how competitive you feel like being on your first, second, or five hundred and fifty third date. It’s very pretty in there, with wooden course decorations, low lighting and fake grass. It certainly isn’t as gaudy as your traditional seaside town crazy golf. It’s like if Amelie was commissioned to design a crazy golf course. And the holes are well-designed, created to be open to all, letting everyone’s competitive streak flourish. But they require some nouse and, if you want to take it seriously, the pair of you could have quite the game on your hands. West End and City locations. For more information and to book, head HERE.  Flight Club Next up on the activity bar rundown, Flight Club is doing for darts what Swingers is doing for crazy golf: making it a night out activity and a game that feels like an event. Where Swingers is rescuing crazy golf from seaside town, broken windmill kiddydom, Flight Club are taking darts out of the you’re-kind-of-getting-in-everyone’s-way, only-one-dart-board nature of the pub dart setup. 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Whatever you want to call it, the fast-paced mini-tennis game finds its after-hours home at Bounce. The atmospheric basement venues have become popular for work-dos, birthdays and dates in the years since they opened. The music is loud, the lighting is right, there are balls flying everywhere. Sure, it’s pretty chaotic with all the dinging of the hollow balls on the tables, the clinking of hollow balls on the hard floor, the hollow balls now trampled under your feet. But they’ve made these spaces well, so you never feel like you’re in anyone’s way or like you’re playing on Centre Court, assembled masses surrounding you, critiquing your every shot, questioning your thin grip on the rules of the game. You’ve got space to focus on your game and, in between sets, your opponent/date. McEnroe and Borg might have had a better relationship were they to have played out their rivalry in a place such as Bounce. Farringdon and Old Street locations. For more information and to book, head HERE.  All Star Lanes The ultimate in date night activities, bowling has been given the London revamp at All Star Lanes. That is to say, it’s not a bowling alley on an industrial park beside an A-road with an Ikea on its left and a KFC on its right. And it looks the business inside. No sticky floors, too-loud arcade or too-bright lighting here. Nope, it’s all thoroughly retro-looking, drawing from a shared nostalgia for a 1950s American bowling scene we never knew, but we want desperately to return to. We’ve been plenty of times, and each visit there have been plenty of new couples taking to the lanes. All of them working out how seriously to take it. Once the things start falling down and the little animations come up on the screens—mocking you—it’s hard not to be swept up in the atmosphere of All Star Lanes. It’s a blast. 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St. Paul’s Cathedral Whispering Gallery Whisper sweet nothings in one of the most visited London attractions...and have no one but your date hear them. A quirk of Whispering Gallery of St. Paul’s means that a word whispered into one side of the dome will reach a listener on the other side. Remember, you’re trying to impress here, so be mature. No fart noises. Whisper it (actually, just shout it), but entry to St. Paul’s (including the Whispering Gallery) is included with The London Pass. Find out more about The London Pass below. St. Paul's Cathedral, St. Paul's Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD. For more info, head HERE. Banya No. 1 Getting thwacked with bunches of twigs and leaves doesn’t sound very pleasant. But do it with someone you’re dating and suddenly it doesn’t sound so bad. Because you’ll be getting violently attacked by bunches of branches together. 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Find out more about that little shooting star below. Columbia Road Flower Market Pick up a bouquet for your beau or belle at Columbia Road Flower Market. The historic market has an idiosyncratic feel to it, part relaxing, sweet smelling lazy Sunday, part chaotic, salt of the earth East London fun. It’s a combination that works at this Sunday flower market, where you can pick up cut flowers, readymade bouquets, houseplants, bedding plants, pot plants and herbs. Columbia Road is rich in independent businesses too. Family-owned restaurants, cute coffee shops and one-of-a-kind clothing, antique and gift stores. Head there early and make a day of it. Or go later if you’re thrifty. Plenty of stuff comes down to a fiver the closer you get to 4pm. Every Sunday, 8am - 4pm. Columbia Rd, London E2 7RG Kew Gardens There are few dreamier London date locations than Kew Gardens. Superbly beautiful walking routes to explore, wonderful areas of flowers and trees and succulents and water features, inside and out. And special events on throughout the year, highlighting the change in seasons, showcasing flora from across the planet. It’s a well-trodden path, for sure, but what a path. Entry to Kew Gardens comes included with The London Pass. Find out more about The London Pass below... That’s your lot, when it comes to activity-based London date ideas. That’s a wrap. Finito. Done and dusted. Got some active London date ideas to add to the mix? Let us know in the comments below. As ever, we’d love to hear from you. And, as ever, we’d love for you to check out what else we’ve been writing about recently. So here's our article, London Date Ideas: Drinks and Eats edition.

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Valentine’s Day in London

Valentine’s Day in London isn’t just for the loved up. It can be for those in couples, sure. But it’s increasingly a day that caters to those looking for love. And those giving love the cold shoulder this year, tired of dating and the hype and the ceremony of it all. Those who say things like, “Valentine’s Day was just invented by greetings card companies.” Those who don’t. If you take it seriously, red heart balloons and all. Or if you go round popping said balloons. There’s something for you this Valentine’s Day in London. So dig into our guide on what to do this Valentine’s Day in London, including... Romantic Thames cruises for couples An evening under the stars, straight out of the movies A couple of unique twists on traditional speed dating, for those looking for love A murder mystery evening for those who are looking for a suspect And much, much more... The View from The Shard The View from The Shard are hosting a super special Valentine's Day event this year. Book as a couple and head up to London's highest viewing platform to catch the sunset, taking in incredible views across the city. Enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne to the soothing sounds of a live harpist. You'll get a souvenir digital photograph and a single red rose too. Outside of special event times, a trip up to see the View from The Shard is included with The London Pass. Click the button below to discover how you can see The View from The Shard with The London Pass, along with many, many other top London attractions. The View from The Shard, 32 London Bridge St, London SE1 9SG. For more details and to book, head HERE. theviewfromtheshard.com[/caption] Valentine’s Day Thames River Cruises with City Cruises For plenty of people, a Thames River cruise on Valentine’s Day is as romantic as it gets. Getting out on the water, seeing the city’s most famous landmarks pass by, drifting off into the sunset. It’s hard to think of a more classically romantic way to spend Valentine’s Day in London. City Cruises are offering three different cruise options on 14th February. Take it slow with an afternoon tea cruise, enjoying sandwiches and cakes to a soundtrack of smooth, smooth jazz. Or treat one another to a three course dinner with a live band for company. Finally, the evening cruise is the best option for those looking to dance off into the sunset together. Interested in a sightseeing Thames River Boat Cruise without the Valentiney twist? 24 hour access to City Cruises’ main services is included with The London Pass. Find out more about Thames River Boat Cruises available with The London Pass below. 14th February. To find out more about the three special Valentine's Day cruises run by City Cruises and to book, head HERE. citycruises.com[/caption] London's Rooftop Bars For many, there’s nothing more romantic than a rooftop bar. Cocktails and heights just do it for lots of people. You can survey all those beneath you, say, “Look, there’s my office,” and watch the sun go down. They’re usually pretty swanked up. For places lucky enough to have roof space, it’s good London real estate worth spending a penny or two on. Have a read of our article on the best rooftop bars in London to find your perfect date location for Valentine’s Day in London. Valentine’s Evening with the Stars, Royal Observatory Greenwich Ross and Rachel and the juice box. The two jazzed up lovers in La La Land. That scene in Manhattan. Planetariums are romantic, guys. Head up to the Royal Observatory Greenwich for a romance themed planetarium show, the chance to see space through an 18-tonne Victorian telescope and some time holding hands across the Greenwich Meridian. These special lates take place on February 8th and 14th, with tickets costing £24 for adults. To visit the Royal Observatory Greenwich during normal opening hours, get yourself The London Pass. Entry to the attraction, and many more of London's finest, is included with the pass. 14th February. Royal Observatory Greenwich, Blackheath Ave, Greenwich, London SE10 8XJ. To find out more and to book, head HERE. [caption id="attachment_6260" align="alignnone" width="1000"] rmg.co.uk[/caption] London Valentine’s Speed Duetting Night Find someone you can truly harmonise with at this unique speed dating event. You’ll be split into groups, then paired up in a private karaoke booth to have a go singing a classic duet. It might go a little flat and fail to hit the high notes, or it might be the moment you find the Sonny to your Cher, the Simon to your Garfunkel. If you’re looking to take a chance doing something completely different this Valentine’s Day in London, this could be the show-stopping event you’re looking for. For daters aged 24 to 38. Lucky Voice Holborn, 84 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1DL. For more information and to book, head HERE. [caption id="attachment_6261" align="alignnone" width="1000"] luckyvoice.com[/caption] Valentine's Vegan Speed Dating at Fortnum's Find love under the guidance of an eggless Eros at this vegan speed dating night. Another twist on the speed dating format, this event seeks to pair up like-minded meat and dairy-free singles. If you get beyond chatting about how long you’ve been a vegan, and start coming up with your favourite London vegan restaurants for a possible second date, you’ll know you’ve met your meatless match. Fortnum and Mason provide the perfect finger food accompaniment to this evening of green romance. 11th February. Fortnum's Bar and Restaurant, The Royal Exchange, The Courtyard, London EC3V 3LR. For more details and to book, head HERE. Love Letters Live This special take on the Letters Live series sees a host of famous faces and voices read out love letters sent by some of history and popular culture’s most interesting and important thinkers, artists, revolutionaries and lovers. From professions of love to confessions of heartbreak, interrogations of love and odes to its power, the letters read here approach love from every direction, offering new perspectives on the lives and thoughts of those who penned them. Letters Live has previously seen the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie read letters written by David Bowie, Che Guevara and Maya Angelou. This special event is raising money for the charity Help Refugees. 14th February. Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old St, Hackney, London EC1V 9LT. For more information and to book, head HERE. [caption id="attachment_6262" align="alignnone" width="1000"] letterslive.com[/caption] 'Cooking With Cupid' Valentine’s Cookery Class What’s on the menu tonight? It’s love, of course. With a side of green beans. This couples cookery class is designed to add a bit of spice back into the kitchen. People flirt with food. A date at a fancy restaurant. Planning a romantic meal where you cook that one thing you know how to cook. But cooking with and for your partner can quickly collapse into a question of who’s going to boil the pasta this evening and who forgot to get the milk and why did you put the carton back in the fridge if it’s empty and fine, just forget it, let’s get a takeaway and for goodness sake can you just make up your mind where you want to order from and it not take an hour and a half. This Valentine’s cookery class is looking to change all that. And it includes bottomless booze. Which is sure to turn even the most reluctant cooks into accomplished, artistically minded, flamboyant chefs. For the night, at least. 14th February. The Avenue Cookery School, 3 Enterprise Way, Wandsworth, London SW18 1FZ. For more information and to book, head HERE. [caption id="attachment_6263" align="alignnone" width="1000"] theavenuecookeryschool.com[/caption] Valentine’s Heart in a Jar Class Tired of the ephemerality of love? Jaded by the over-commercialisation of romance? Into taxidermy? Stuck for Valentine’s Day gift ideas again this year? Then this heart pickling class is for you. Spend the afternoon learning how to dissect and preserve an animal heart, then take your very own specimen home with you in a glass jar. Give it to your partner. If they love it, you were meant to be together. If they hate it, well, they can always regift it come Christmas. 16th February. The British Academy of Taxidermy, Islington Arts Factory, 2 Parkhurst Road, London N7OSF. For more information and to book, head HERE. Anti-Valentine’s Day Murder Mystery in the Sky Head up to the London Sky Bar for this inventive antidote to Valentine’s Day: a murder mystery evening set in a Prohibition era speakeasy. The bar’s proprietor has been found murdered. It’s your job to piece together all the evidence, interrogating suspects and working together to get to the truth. Find out who did him in, on Valentine’s Day of all days. When you’ve closed the case, take in the views from this wonderful vantage point, 29 floors up and overlooking the Thames. 14th February. London Sky Bar, Millbank Tower, 21-24 Millbank, Westminster, London SW1P 4QP. For more information and to book, head HERE. Right, that’s your lot. However you spend your Valentine’s Day in London this year, we hope you have a swell time. And let us know of any alternative ideas you’re cooking up in the comment box below.

Matthew Pearson

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