Easter holidays are the ideal time to organize a trip to London. In the city there is an air of spring, and, during your stay, you can participate in characteristic themed events and appointments, discovering some of the traditions associated with this holiday. Having spent many Easter in London, if you are thinking of spending the Easter holidays in London, in this article you will find all the information you are looking for.
Discovering London during the Easter period is an opportunity to experience the city in a different way than usual and to learn about local customs and traditions. You can, for example, attend the spectacular re-enactment of Good Friday or participate with your children in a fun egg hunt.
Visiting London at Easter also means seeing the city at the ideal moment. Spring is one of the best seasons to reach the English capital: in fact, the days are getting longer, the climate is really nice and there are so many events not to be missed.
Since the offer is very varied, having lived in London for seven years, I thought I’d write this article to help you find your way around and to explain everything you can do if you decide to spend the Easter holidays in London.
What you will find in this article:
- How to get around London at Easter
- Museums and things to do at Easter in London
- Easter in London: what to do outdoor
- Events not to be missed at Easter in London
- What to do in London with kids at Easter
- Around London: where to go
- Where to eat at Easter in London
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How to get around London at Easter
In the UK, Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays. Public transport services could, therefore, be subject to reductions. To avoid surprises, plan your journey in advance by checking the Transport for London and National Rail websites.
Also keep in mind that many shops will be closed on Easter Sunday: don’t worry, I’ll give you many ideas on how to occupy Sunday and keep shopping for the other days!
Museums and things to do at Easter in London
A trip to London at Easter is of course an excellent opportunity to visit museums and attractions in the city. If you don’t know where to start, you can find all the information you need in my article dedicated to your first time in London.
Although in most cases they are also open during the Easter period, I advise you to check the closing times of museums, monuments and places of interest.
I would like to point out, in particular, that the British Museum will be affected by a strike from 6 to 12 April 2023. As indicated on the website, admission to the Museum on these dates will only be available to members and those in possession of a pre-booked ticket.
Keep in mind that many tourists will be reaching London for Easter. It may therefore be advisable to purchase tickets for some attractions in advance and book entry to free museums in time.
Easter in London: what to do outdoors
During the Easter period the climate in London is really pleasant. Why not take the opportunity to organize a picnic in one of the wonderful parks in the city?
Picnic in one of the London parks
The UK capital, with its parks, is the ideal place for an open-air lunch, indeed it is something that the British really like to do. Equip yourself with a towel and blanket and choose one of the London parks, you’ll be spoiled for choice.
In addition to the better known Hyde Park or Regents’ Park, I suggest you visit Holland Park, where you can also admire an example of a Japanese-style park (and there’s a wonderful playground for children).
If you’re in the Regent’s Park area, you can take part in a non-competitive 10km run on 10th April – it’s open to both adults and children during the morning and there are several Easter goodies to be won for those who make it to the finish line.
If you are not far from Chelsea, you could also go to Battersea Park, which is a neighborhood park, less touristy and where you can get a taste of local London life.
And then obviously there are Kew Gardens, if you have the time to invest a day to go there (they are located in zone 3 and deserve several hours of visit). It is the largest botanical garden in London and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Recommended to book to avoid queues.
If you like, read my article dedicated to Kew Gardens and find out what you need to organize a British-style picnic.
Egg hunt at Hampton Court Palace
As well as being a site steeped in history and beauty, they have a special Easter hunt planned throughout the first half of April. In collaboration with Lindt, we will go in search of the famous golden rabbits around the 60 hectares of the old ground trampled by Henry VIII.
Along with every bunny you find, you’ll also get a fascinating story, then at the end of the hunt you’ll be rewarded with some chocolate.
Hampton Court Palace is a royal residence located in the Borough of Richmond upon Thames, south London. You can get there in an hour from central London.
Easter in London 2023: what you shouldn’t miss
The Passion of Jesus in Trafalgar Square
Let me start by telling you about a very popular event, which you cannot miss if you have decided to spend your Easter holidays in London. Every year, in fact, on Good Friday, in Trafalgar Square, you can watch a spectacular representation of the Passion of Jesus. Actors, dancers and artists are members of the Wintershall association in London.
This year the staging of the Crucifixion of Christ will take place on Friday 7 April. Two performances are scheduled, one at 12:00 and one at 15:15.
The show lasts about an hour and a half and is free.
As you probably imagine, the event attracts a large number of people. In any case, keep in mind that, even if you won’t be able to grab a seat in the front rows, there are big screens that allow you to follow the event even if you are not very close to the stage.
Easter services
If you’re planning to spend Easter in London, you could attend a service in one of the city’s beautiful historic churches.
Extremely suggestive are the beautiful Westminster Abbey, site of royal coronations, and the imposing St. Paul’s Cathedral.
If you are interested, here is a link to the Lent, Holy Week and Easter services at St Paul’s Cathedral.
While, you can click here to find out what the Holy Week and Easter services are at Westminster Abbey.
Do you know the Egg Rollling race?
Alternatively, during your Easter holiday in London, you could participate in a strange tradition widespread in the United Kingdom: Egg Rolling.
It is a game that consists of rolling eggs on a carpet of grass or down a hill. The eggs are first boiled and decorated. After that, the race to the fastest egg in the downhill begins.
If you have decided to participate, you can bring your egg to Box Hill, April 7-10, 2023, at 11am or 3pm.
The best decorated egg will win a prize. Keep in mind that since prizes are awarded early on, if you want to visit the decorating station before rolling your egg, you’ll need to get to Box Hill soon enough.
Once the race is over, you can enjoy some of Surrey’s best vantage points and explore its woodland on a spring walk along the family play trail.
If I’ve intrigued you by talking about this strange Easter tradition, you can read my full article dedicated to the Easter Traditions in the UK.
Easter in London 2023 with kids
Egg Hunt 2023
Egg hunting is a well-known Anglo-Saxon tradition, now very widespread in Italy too. All children in England engage in this activity on Easter Sunday.
To find out more, you can read my article dedicated to egg hunting.
Lots of Easter Egg Hunts are organized in London. If you are at Easter in London with the children, therefore, you cannot fail to let them participate in one of these activities.
I recommend two!
La caccia al Coniglietto d’oro Lindt negli Historic Royal Palaces
Take your kids to look for the Lindt GOLD BUNNY in Hampton Court Palace and discover with them the stories of those who have visited, lived and worked here. Children will be able to run freely in the 60 acres of the gardens of Henry VIII in search of the hidden statuettes. With every Lindt GOLD BUNNY, you will discover a new fascinating story together. When you’re done, you’ll be rewarded with a delicious Lindt GOLD BUNNY (10g).
Keep in mind that the egg hunt is meant for children ages 3-12. The activity is included in paid admission to Hampton Court Palace from 1 to 16 April 2023 (booking recommended).
Zoonormous Egg Hunt – Pasqua allo Zoo di Londra
Take part, together with your children, in the Zoonormous Egg Hunt at the ZSL London Zoo. Here, among birds, reptiles, fish and butterflies, there are eggs of all sizes and colours. You will decipher clues and riddles to find the location of a secret golden egg and, in the process, you will learn about some incredible animals.
From 1 to 16 April 2023, the Easter activity is included in the paid admission to the Zoo. Advance booking is recommended.
Duck Dectectives at WWT di Londra
During your Easter break in London, your children can spend a fun day at WWT London and test their detective skills. To complete the Easter route and be successful as a duck detective, you’ll have to get closer than ever to nature, investigate its mysteries and follow its tracks.
There are several activities scheduled from 1 to 16 April 2023. Find all the details here.
English Heritage Easter Adventure Quest
If during your Easter trip to London, you would like to introduce your children to the traditions of the United Kingdom or enjoy a fun day out with your family, I suggest you embark on an adventurous quest.
Children will have to explore grounds and gardens in search of clues, face challenges and try their hand at traditional Easter games.
If they find the eggs, they will be rewarded with an adventurer certificate and a tasty chocolate treat.
The quest costs just £2, which you can pay on the spot, on top of the normal ticket price.
Where?
- Eltham Palace and Gardens, Court Yard, Eltham, Greenwich, SE9 5NP for Sat Nav – from 1st of April to Sunday the 16th of April 2023;
- Kenwood, Hampstead Lane, Hampstead, NW3 7JR – from 1st of April to Sunday the 16th of April 2023;
- Marble Hill House, Richmond Road, Twickenham, TW1 2NL – 1-2, 5-9 and 12-16 April 2023.
Family Kokedama Workshop – Chelsea Physic Garden
The Family Kokedama Workshop at Chelsea Physic Garden is another fun activity you could take part in during your Easter trip to London.
Kokedama is a plant that grows from a ball of mud, covered with moss. This practice comes from Japan and allows plants to grow without the need for pots.
By participating in this workshop, suitable for ages 7 and up, you can create your own Kokedama together.
The activity is paid and is scheduled for Thursday 6 April 2023.
Alternatively, you could take a look at the other activities on offer at Chelsea Physic Garden over Easter.
Museums of London during Easter with kids
During a holiday in London, there are many attractions to visit. To make the journey even more enjoyable for children, it is important to find activities that involve them.
While visiting Tower Bridge, you might want to seek out Bella the Tower Bridge cat and characters from award-winning books together on the Tower Bridge Cat Trail. The Bridge Master and his friends will help you complete tasks and answer key questions about the bridge’s history. The activity is included with the paid admission (reservation recommended).
Furthermore, activities and workshops for children are often organized in the main museums of London. The Easter period is no exception. During your trip you could bring your children to participate in one of these activities. I have selected a few!
Events for kids in the London museums
In London’s Transport Museum, children aged 7 to 14 can build their own futuristic time travel vehicle in an interactive craft workshop. The activity is included in the paid admission ticket. It will be possible to participate in the laboratory from 1 to 16 April 2023 (Monday to Friday, from 10:30 to 16:00).
At the Museum of London Docklands, however, from 1 to 16 April 2023, in Tail Trail, children (from 3 years old) will have to help Riley Ratcliffe locate the members of her furry family and discover what life was like in the past for these little Londoners. The event is free.
Psst: Don’t forget to book in advance for the FREE Mudlarks Kids Play Gallery. Reservations open at 10:00 the day before the visit.
At the Imperial War Museums, by participating in the Story Seekers: Chocolate Edition, children (from 7 years old) will discover how chocolate helped feed the nation and the strange ways people satisfied their sweet tooth during rationing. They will challenge themselves with real artifacts, explore the galleries and receive a chocolate reward for completing the task. The event is free and will be held on 1-6 and 11-16 April 2023.
At Tate Britain we play with clay! Inspired by the collections on display, your children will be able to explore, play and create. The clay workshop is scheduled from 1 to 16 April 2023, from 10:30-16:30 and is free.
Finally, at the National Maritime Museum, you can try your hand at “Easter Holidays, ways into drawing“, an activity for the whole family, inspired by the exhibition “The Van de Veldes: Greenwich, Art and the Sea”. The workshop is free, but booking admission to the museum is recommended.
Easter in London: one day trip
If you’re staying in the city for a long time, you could take advantage of your Easter trip to London to take a day trip close by.
There are several convenient, easily reachable destinations in a day, to consider.
You could go to the Stonehenge site, Windsor Castle or a university town, such as Oxford (click here for a tour made by the Uni alumni) and Cambridge. Alternatively, you could visit Canterbury or Bath, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Here the info for a one day tour from London to the Cotswolds.
Finally, you could arrive in Brighton, a seaside town located just an hour by train from London. To find out what to see in Brighton with children, read my article.
Where to eat in London at Easter
All London restaurants and chains offer a special Easter menu. Of course, all good Londoners who don’t dine at home book early so make sure there’s room.
Given the main readers of this blog, I thought I’d tell you where kids eat for free:
- Preto is a Brazilian steakhouse chain and children under 10 can eat for free and enjoy the taste of South America. All you have to do is fill in the child voucher form. Preto has three offices in Queensway, Victoria and Mayfair.
- Bill’s is a chain of restaurants with typically English food: we often came here if we wanted to have a quick brunch with the children. During the Easter holidays, children eat for free and the offer is valid all day: that is, breakfast, lunch and dinner . You can find it in different areas of London, we went to a comfortable one just outside High Street Kensington station, but I point out that it is also found in Covent Garden, Greenwich and Soho.
- Purezza, the popular vegan pizza chain allows children under the age of 10 to eat a la la for free. This offer comes with a paying adult only. The restaurant is located in Camden and is a three minute walk from Camden tube station. If you come here, don’t miss the chocolate pizza
- Also at Gordon Ramsey’s restaurants, children can eat for free at Easter when they order a main course from the children’s menu, with the option of adding a sweet treat for £3.50. Only for children under 8 years old. Where they are: Heddon Street Kitche, Bread Street Kitchen & Bars (On The River, Battersea, The City, Southwark, St Pauls, Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill (Park Walk)
Easter holidays: small treat for those who are in a flat
If you are in an apartment and want to receive an English-style Easter breakfast directly at home, I can only recommend Abel & Cole, where we used to shop online. I embrace their sustainability and zero waste project, and for the Easter period, they can deliver typical English Easter recipes to your home ready to heat up like their Easter Roast Boxes, try the typical English hot cross buns from the bakery for Easter. They also have a large selection of vegan dishes.
I hope you found this article interesting! Now you know everything you need to know to spend your Easter holidays in London.
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With love
Francesca
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