Guide to Easter in London: festivals, events, things to do

There is always plenty to do during the Easter season in London, and while most of the planned activities take place over the bank holiday weekend, events often take place over a two-week period (to coincide with the holidays). Easter schoolchildren).

Easter is a Christian festival that gives the UK two public holidays: Good Friday and Easter Monday. School children in the UK have two weeks off, so you can expect London’s top attractions to be busier. Also, while most people celebrate Easter by eating too many chocolate Easter eggs, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy this spring break on your trip to England this year.

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Attend church services

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Because Easter is a religious holiday and London is a city of many churches, you can expect to find a host of great services throughout the city in honor of Easter this year.

Whether you are religious or not, you should consider attending an Easter Service at one of the iconic places of worship such as Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral or Southwark Cathedral, even if you don’t celebrate the spirit of the holiday. You will be amazed by the magnificent architecture and ceremonial grandeur of a religious mass. Additionally, St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church in Trafalgar Square generally has a line of events with live choral and orchestral music during Easter.

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Buy locally made chocolate easter eggs

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+44 20 7836 8503

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If you are looking for a place to satisfy your craving for chocolate treats, London is home to a host of independent chocolate shops, as well as several mass marketing producers and department stores selling all of your favorite national and international brands.

Whether you just want to stop by a Liberty department store or stop at the Chocolat Hotel for an extra thick chocolate egg, you are sure to find exactly what you are looking for in London this year. However, if you are looking for independent London chocolate shops, you surely don’t want to miss Melt, Paul A. Young, Melange and Rococo, which is an entire school dedicated to the art of making chocolate.

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Witness a unique Hot Cross Bun ceremony

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+44 20 3069 7426

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Widow’s Son pub in Bromley-by-Bow, East London, is known for the strange tradition it has every year for Good Friday, where a hot, fresh cross bun is hung at the bar. As part of the annual tradition, a sailor adds another bow to the existing collection in honor of the bar’s eponymous widow, who is rumored to have lost her only child at sea during the Napoleonic Wars.

Although you can stop by the bar anytime on Good Friday for a drink, you must reserve a table in advance to witness Widow’s Bun’s unique ceremony. However, while you’re there, you can also enjoy a meal or infused cocktail at the bar; Alternatively, you can also take a walking tour of the Bow neighborhood.

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Watch the London Harness Horse Parade

The London Harness Horse Parade is an annual event whose origins date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. The event takes place every year on Easter Monday at the South of England Showground in West Sussex, which is a short London train ride.

Although this equestrian event may be a bit further out than other Easter celebrations, it is a wonderful opportunity to see workhorses, including Harrods Friesian horses. Guests to the parade will also be able to witness a living timeline of the progress made in the transportation industry throughout British history as they learn how the British used to carry everything from beer to eggs across the country.

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Try family activities at London attractions

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+44 20 7942 2000

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All of London’s top attractions have special events for children during the Easter holiday season. From egg hunts to hands-on activities like basket and decorating, there are many unique events that you and your family can attend this year.

Some attractions like the National Gallery and the British Museum offer egg hunts or egg decorating activities, which are fun pastimes for the whole family. You should also try the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Tate Modern if you are looking for a fun way to learn while enjoying the holidays this year.

If you are looking to save money on your trip and want to visit more than one attraction, you should consider purchasing the London Pass for your trip, which allows you to pack a ton of sightseeing without spending a fortune. Whether you’re bringing the whole family or planning to visit multiple places on your own, the pass gives you the freedom to try hundreds of activities for a fixed price.

However, most of these attractions also require advanced registration to attend events such as egg hunts and workshops, so be sure to visit the appropriate website for each location for more information on how to participate in the Easter celebrations during your travel.

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Take a walking tour of London

Since Easter generally falls later in the spring season, the weather in London should be pleasant enough at this time of year that you can take one of the many walking tours offered in the city throughout the year with relative comfort. Whether you decide to join a guided tour or simply download your own self-guided tour, you are sure to find many unique adventures in London this time of year, especially if you are on tour during Easter week.

However, the City Tour of London’s financial district is a good option during the Easter weekend as the area will be relatively quiet as many of the offices are closed for the holidays. The financial district is also home to tons of historic architecture, unique boutiques, and a variety of restaurants that range in price from cheap to moderately expensive, meaning there is no shortage of things to do and see on your walking tour.

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Ir a Zippos Circus en Blackheath

One of the best events in London during the Easter season that has nothing to do with the holidays is the Zippos Circus at Blackheath, which takes place in April on Shooters Hill Road in the London Borough of Lewisham.

Featuring a variety of circus acts, including the riding of Boris Borissov with his stunning white horses and human skills by Brazilian Alex Michael, one of the few trapeze artists in the world who works without a safety net far above the ring of circus, this show may even be better than Cirque du Soleil.

On the lighter side, visitors can enjoy the comical antics of the new Italian clown Mr. Lorenz and the unique comedy style of Alex the Fireman, and it’s all presented by Norman Barrett MBE, emcee extraordinaire with his budgie parakeets.

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Attend The Spot Egg Brands at the Bank of England Museum

Family activities take over the Bank of England Museum for ‘Eggs Marks The Spot’, their annual Easter celebration, April 8-18, 2019. During the celebration, you can follow a brightly colored path through the exhibits with her children, who will be in charge of finding brightly decorated eggs hidden around the museum.

The museum will also host daily Easter crafting sessions throughout the week, including finger puppet-making and egg decorating, as well as some special exhibits focusing on the traditions of this religious holiday. All events and museum admission are free, but reservations must be made in advance if you wish to participate in the egg hunt.

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Passion of Jesus in Trafalgar Square

On Good Friday, Trafalgar Square has the Wintershall players perform “The Passion of Jesus” twice in honor of the holiday. First seen on the plaza in 2010, this 90-minute outdoor play is now viewed by around 20,000 people each year.

The cast is large with 78 actors, two horses, and a donkey, but a large screen is featured so that all attendees can get great views of the performance and not miss any details. This event is completely free to view and attend, but you will need to remember to bring appropriate clothing for the outdoor show.

Please note: The Passion of Jesus has a realistic interpretation of the crucifixion, so parental guidance is recommended.