Easter gives the UK its longest guaranteed long weekend. London makes every hour count. This festival in London is seriously underrated. While everyone is busy talking about Christmas markets and New Year’s fireworks, Easter quietly rolls in with four days off, mild spring weather, and a city that has genuinely got a lot going on.
| London drew 21.7 million visitors in 2024, and Easter, with four days off and a city in full bloom, is peak London. |
Whether you are travelling in from abroad, hopping on a train from somewhere else in the UK, or just looking to finally do something different with your long weekend, there is no shortage of things to do on Easter break in London. Egg hunts, royal palaces, free world-class museums, West End shows, spring brunches, take your pick.
Here is a guide put together to help you plan a proper Easter weekend, covering the best events, family activities, attractions, and a few handy tips to make the whole thing run smoothly.
Easter Holiday and Its Importance in London
Easter has been part of London’s calendar for centuries. At its core, it is one of the most important dates in the Christian faith, marking the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday. In the UK, those two days are public bank holidays, which means most people get a four-day weekend. That is a big deal in a country where long weekends are precious.
In London specifically, the religious side of Easter is still very much alive. Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, and hundreds of parish churches hold special services throughout the weekend. The Wintershall Players have been performing their free open-air re-enactment of The Passion of Jesus in Trafalgar Square for years now, and it draws enormous crowds every Good Friday.
But Easter in London England has also taken on a life of its own beyond religion. The parks come alive, the chocolate shops go absolutely wild, and the whole city feels like it has shaken off winter for good. Schools break up from 30th March, which means families are out in force. It is busy, yes, but in that good, energetic kind of way.
1. Attend Easter Sunday Events in London
Easter Sunday 2026 lands on 5th April, and the city has lined up some brilliant events across the whole weekend, making it the perfect time to explore some of the best London attractions Sunday visitors and locals can enjoy. Here are five you should genuinely consider:
| # | Event | Location | Date | Time | Cost |
| 1 | The Passion of Jesus | Trafalgar Square | Good Friday3rd April | Two performances arrive early | Free |
| 2 | Easter Parade | Covent Garden | Easter Sunday5th April | Arrive early for good spot | Free |
| 3 | Handel’s Messiah | Royal Albert Hall | Good Friday3rd April | Evening | Ticketed |
| 4 | Easter Trail | Waterlow Park, Highgate | Easter Sunday 5th April | Morning | Free |
| 5 | Big Easter Quiz | Big Penny Social, Walthamstow | Easter Sunday5th April | Evening | Ticketed |
i. The Passion of Jesus
Trafalgar Square (Good Friday, 3rd April)
If you have never seen this, make 2026 the year you do. The Wintershall Players take over Trafalgar Square on Good Friday with a full-scale, free open-air performance of The Passion of Jesus. A cast of over 100 performers, horses included, in a production that stops you in your tracks, completely free. There are two performances on the day. Show up early, it gets packed.
ii. Easter Parade
Covent Garden (Easter Sunday, 5th April)
Covent Garden does Easter properly. The Easter Sunday parade is free, colourful, and genuinely fun for all ages. Costumes, street performers, live entertainment, the whole square gets involved. Grab a good spot early and let the kids soak it all in.
iii. Handel’s Messiah
Royal Albert Hall (Good Friday, 3rd April)
For its 150th consecutive performance, the Royal Choral Society takes the stage at the Royal Albert Hall with Handel’s Messiah. If you want something a little more elevated for your Good Friday evening, this is it, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, a top-notch cast of soloists, and one of the world’s most iconic concert halls.
iv. Easter Trail
Waterlow Park, Highgate (Easter Sunday, 5th April)
Waterlow Park in Highgate is one of North London’s best kept secrets, and Lauderdale House makes it even better over Easter with a free trail for families. Kids get a treasure map, follow the clues around the park, and the first 100 to finish get a chocolate prize. It is free, it is relaxed, and it is a lovely way to spend Easter Sunday morning.
v. Big Easter Quiz
Big Penny Social, Walthamstow
Not every Easter plan needs to involve an egg hunt. Big Penny Social in Walthamstow runs a Big Easter Quiz on Easter Sunday with a real cash jackpot for the winning team. There are also chocolate prizes, bar tabs, and a lively crowd. Great shout for a group of friends who want something a bit different.
2. Visit London Attractions Easter Sunday
Here is some good news, the vast majority of London’s top attractions stay open over Easter weekend. A few of them even put on special Easter experiences. Here are five worth building your weekend around. And remember, getting between attractions is much easier when you have a private transfer from My London Transfers rather than navigating a busy tube on a bank holiday.
| # | Attraction | Location | Easter Dates | Cost |
| 1 | Hampton Court Palace, Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt | Hampton Court | 21st March to 12th April | Ticketed |
| 2 | The British Museum | Bloomsbury | Open over Easter | Free |
| 3 | Natural History Museum | South Kensington | Open over Easter | Free |
| 4 | Kew Gardens | Richmond | Open over Easter | Ticketed |
| 5 | London Zoo Zoonormous Egg Hunt | Regent’s Park | Easter holidays | Included in entry |
i. Hampton Court Palace
Running from 21st March to 12th April 2026, the Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt at Hampton Court Palace is one of the best Easter experiences in the country. Kids follow clues to track down bunny statues hidden across the palace grounds, with each one tied to a real historical figure from the palace’s past. At the end, everyone gets a real Lindt Gold Bunny to take home. Brilliant for ages 3 to 12.
ii. The British Museum
Free to enter, open over Easter, and genuinely one of the greatest museums on the planet. The British Museum holds over 8 million objects, from the Rosetta Stone to Egyptian mummies to the Sutton Hoo helmet. You could go back ten times and still find something new. If you have not been in a while, Easter weekend is a perfect excuse.
iii. Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum in South Kensington is always a favourite, the blue whale skeleton alone is worth the trip. It gets busy over Easter, so book a free timed entry slot in advance and you will walk straight in while others are queuing outside.
iv. Kew Gardens
If you go to Kew Gardens at any point this year, make it Easter. Spring is when the whole place absolutely pops, cherry blossoms, tulips, bluebells, and one of the most beautiful gardens in Europe looking its absolute best. There are Easter trails and seasonal activities on top of everything else.
v. Zoonormous Egg Hunt
London Zoo’s Zoonormous Egg Hunt is included in your entry ticket and runs throughout the Easter holidays. The kids hunt for eggs while wandering past gorillas, giraffes, and meerkats, which is a pretty solid way to spend an afternoon. Book online in advance, it fills up.
3. Enjoy Easter Break Activities for Families
Schools are out from 30th March, so if you are looking for things to do in London with family during the Easter break, the city has you well covered. Here are five activities that will keep the kids happy and, honestly, the adults too.
| # | Activity | Location | Dates | Cost |
| 1 | Ham House Easter Egg Hunt | Richmond | 28th March to 6th April | Ticketed |
| 2 | Disney On Ice Into the Magic | OVO Arena Wembley | Easter weekend | Ticketed |
| 3 | Inside Aardman | Young V&A, Bethnal Green | Until November 2026 | Ticketed |
| 4 | Chelsea Physic Garden Easter Art Trail | Chelsea | Easter weekend | Ticketed |
| 5 | Go Ape Treetop Challenge | Battersea Park | Easter weekend | Ticketed |
i. Ham House Easter Egg Hunt
Ham House and Garden in Richmond is one of those places that feels magical even on an ordinary day. Over Easter, the National Trust runs an egg hunt trail from 28th March to 6th April inspired by the English Civil Wars, 10 game stations spread across 17th-century gardens. It is the kind of thing kids talk about for weeks afterwards.
ii. Disney On Ice
Disney On Ice is at the OVO Arena Wembley over Easter with Into the Magic, featuring Moana, Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, and Tangled all on one stage. If you have small children, this is probably the highlight of their entire year. Book now, it will sell out.
iii. Young V&A
The Young V&A in Bethnal Green is running Inside Aardman until November 2026, a celebration of 50 years of the studio behind Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, and Morph. Kids can explore original sets, see how stop-motion works, and have a go themselves. One of the best family exhibitions in London right now.
iv. Chelsea Physic Garden Easter Art Trail
For something quieter, the Chelsea Physic Garden’s self-led Easter art trail is a gem. Kids fill in a trail booklet as they explore the garden, learning about plants and wildlife along the way. There is a crafts workshop at the end, plus chocolate. It is calm, educational, and genuinely lovely, especially for younger children.
v. Go Ape Battersea Park
Got older kids who need burning off? Go Ape at Battersea Park sorts that out. High ropes, zip wires, and treetop obstacles, it is proper outdoor fun and a great change of pace from museums and parades. Book your slot ahead of time.
4. Plan Easter Holiday Activities London for Adults & Couples
Not travelling with kids? Good, London’s Easter weekend has plenty for adults too. Here are five ideas that lean more grown-up.
| # | Activity | Location | Date | Cost |
| 1 | Top Cuvee Adult Easter Egg Hunt | Highbury | Easter Sunday from midday | Free |
| 2 | West End Theatre | West End | Easter weekend | Ticketed |
| 3 | Easter Sunday Roast | Various | Easter Sunday | Varies |
| 4 | Sakura Brunch | Sticks’n’Sushi, Shoreditch | Easter bank holiday | Ticketed |
| 5 | Rooftop Bars & Spring Parks | Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, South Bank | Easter weekend | Free |
i. Top Cuvee Easter Egg Hunt
Yes, an adult Easter egg hunt is a real thing, and Top Cuvee in Highbury does it brilliantly. Partnering with Tony’s Chocolonely, they run a hunt on Easter Sunday from midday, with a full-sized egg and a tote bag as prizes, plus natural wine, sandwiches, and a grand prize for the overall winner. It is free, it is fun, and it is very London.
ii. West End Theatre
Easter weekend is one of the best times of year to catch a West End show. Wicked, Hamilton, The Lion King, Matilda the Musical, Operation Mincemeat, there is something for every taste. Just do not leave booking until the last minute, Easter performances go fast.
iii. Easter Sunday Roast
There are few things more satisfying than a proper Sunday roast, and London’s pubs and restaurants go all out for Easter. Special menus, longer lunch sittings, all the trimmings. Book your table well in advance, the best spots fill up weeks ahead for Easter Sunday.
iv. Sticks’n’Sushi, Shoreditch
Sticks’n’Sushi in Shoreditch is running their Sakura edition of the All You Can Sip Brunch over the Easter bank holiday. Japanese food, bottomless drinks, cherry blossom vibes, a really nice way to spend an Easter weekend afternoon with someone you like.
v. Rooftop Bars and Spring Parks
Sometimes the best plan is no plan. Longer days, hopefully some April sunshine, a walk through Hyde Park or Regent’s Park, and a drink at one of the South Bank’s outdoor bars. Head up to Primrose Hill for the view. Wander through Notting Hill. London in spring does not need a lot of organizing, just get out in it.
Top 5 London Easter Weekend Itinerary Ideas
Four days goes faster than you think. Here are five ready-made itineraries depending on what kind of Easter you are after, and for any of them, a pre-booked transfer with My London Transfers will save you a lot of faff getting around between stops.
i. The Classic Family Weekend
Four days, four unforgettable experiences, live performances, royal egg hunts, Easter parades, and animals. All you need to do is show up and book ahead.
- Good Friday: The Passion of Jesus at Trafalgar Square, then lunch in Covent Garden.
- Saturday: Hampton Court Palace Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt.
- Sunday: Covent Garden Easter parade, then an afternoon at Kew Gardens.
- Monday: London Zoo Zoonormous Egg Hunt. Sorted.
ii. The Culture Lover’s Weekend
From Handel’s Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall to the Tate Modern and Young V&A four days of world-class culture, most of it free.
- Good Friday: Handel’s Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall.
- Saturday: British Museum in the morning, National Gallery in the afternoon.
- Sunday: Tate Modern, then a walk along the South Bank.
- Monday: Young V&A and Inside Aardman.
iii. The Foodie Weekend
East End Street food, Borough Market, a proper Easter Sunday roast, and a bottomless sushi brunch, London’s Easter menu does not disappoint.
- Good Friday: East End Street food tour, dinner in Brick Lane.
- Saturday: Borough Market in the morning, Easter brunch somewhere special.
- Sunday: A proper Easter Sunday roast at a great London pub.
- Monday: Sticks’n’Sushi Sakura Brunch in Shoreditch.
iv. The Budget Weekend
You can genuinely have a brilliant four days in London for almost nothing.
- Good Friday: The Passion of Jesus at Trafalgar Square, one of London’s most spectacular free events.
- Saturday: British Museum in the morning, Natural History Museum in the afternoon, both world-class, both free.
- Sunday: Waterlow Park Easter Trail with the kids, then a long walk through Hyde Park.
- Monday: Regent’s Park in full spring bloom, then up to Primrose Hill for the best free view in London.
v. The Couples’ Weekend
Kew Gardens, Notting Hill, an adult egg hunt, and a West End show, four days that feel like a proper mini-break without leaving the city.
- Good Friday: Kew Gardens in the afternoon, West End show in the evening.
- Saturday: Notting Hill and Portobello Road market.
- Sunday: Easter Sunday roast, then the Top Cuvee adult egg hunt.
- Monday: Rooftop drinks, walk along the Thames, and a transfer home with My London Transfers.
5 Tips for Finding the Best Things to Do on Easter Break in London
Easter weekend moves fast and London gets busy. A little planning now saves a lot of frustration later. Here are five tips to make sure your Easter break runs smoothly from start to finish.
i. Book Early
Easter in London gets busy. West End shows, popular restaurants, Hampton Court, London Zoo, they all fill up. If something is on your list, book it now. The week before Easter is too late for most of the good stuff.
ii. Know What Is Closed on Easter Sunday
Large supermarkets and major retailers are legally required to close on Easter Sunday in England. Tourist attractions and restaurants are mostly open, but always double-check the venue’s website before you head out. Stock up on anything you need on Saturday.
iii. Sort Your Transport in Advance
Public transport runs on a reduced timetable over the bank holiday weekend, and some tube lines have engineering works. If you want a more convenient way to get around, especially with kids, luggage, or a group, My London Transfers offers private minibuses across London and to all major airports, stations, and attractions. No waiting, no crowded carriages, no bank holiday headaches.
iv. Get There Early
The free museums in South Kensington, Hampton Court, and Kew Gardens all get very busy from mid-morning onwards over Easter. If you want space to actually enjoy them, particularly with young children, aim to be there when the doors open. You will have a completely different experience.
v. Pack for Spring Weather
April in London is unpredictable. One hour it is warm and sunny, the next it is grey and drizzly. Wear layers, throw a compact umbrella in your bag, and you will be fine whatever happens. The upside? Even a rainy day in London is a good day in London.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, very much so. Easter brings two bank holidays, Good Friday and Easter Monday, giving most people a four-day weekend. The city fills up with events, egg hunts, theatre shows, and outdoor activities. Schools are out for two weeks, so it is one of the busiest and most festive times of year in London.
One of the best, honestly. The weather is mild, the parks and gardens are in full bloom, and there is a packed schedule of things to see and do. It is busy, but not in a stressful way, more in a lively, spring-has-arrived kind of way. Just book your accommodation and tickets ahead of time.
Most attractions, museums, restaurants, and tourist venues are open across the Easter weekend. The one exception is Easter Sunday, when large supermarkets and major retailers must close by law. Tourist attractions stay open. Always check the venue’s website to confirm before you visit.
Seven brilliant free options over Easter: The British Museum, Natural History Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, Science Museum, and Waterlow Park Easter Trail. All completely free to enter, and all genuinely world-class.
Smaller independent shops, convenience stores, and tourist-area retailers can open on Easter Sunday. Large supermarkets and major chains cannot, it is the law in England. Restaurants, cafes, and attractions are generally open. Do your shopping on Saturday if you need supplies for the weekend.
Conclusion
London at Easter really is something special. The city feels fresh, the events are genuinely good, the parks are at their best, and there is that rare sense of everyone just being happy to be out and enjoying themselves. Four days feels like plenty, and it also somehow never feels like enough.
Start planning your things to do on Easter break now, lock in the things you most want to do, and leave a bit of room for the unexpected. That is usually where the best moments happen anyway.
Arriving for Easter and want travel sorted in minutes?
My London Transfers gives you private, comfortable rides across London and day-trip routes. Book now and start your long weekend the smooth way.
