From Easter egg hunts to themed afternoon teas, we’ve got everything you need to have a fun-packed bank holiday Easter weekend.
Four-day weekend, you say? There’s no better opportunity than Easter to spend quality time with family and friends, whether that be through hunting for chocolate or racing around the capital. So, we’ve compiled our top picks of the best things to do with the kids, with your partner or with your friends this Easter in London.
Where to eat in London over the Easter bank holiday
Easter afternoon tea at the Royal Lancaster London
A bank holiday weekend is always a sweet deal. But Easter not only brings two days off work and school, but also a perfect excuse to overindulge in sweet treats and chocolates. At the Royal Lancaster London, you can do all this and more with its decadent Easter afternoon tea, available from 29 March to 8 April. The hotel has put a spring twist on its classic offering with innovations such as a chocolate egg with a dark chocolate mousse, a carrot cake bunny and some dainty desserts decorated with flowers. This will, of course, be accompanied by an assortment of crafted sandwiches, warm scones and a great selection of teas. There are vegan options, too. £45 per person from Monday to Friday. £49 per person on Saturday and Sunday. royallancaster.com
UK cherry blossoms at Sticks ‘n’ Sushi
When you think of Easter, sushi may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But Sticks ‘n’ Sushi is celebrating sakura season with a series of cherry blossom installations and specials across its UK restaurants, perfectly timed to coincide with Easter festivities. Each restaurant will put on a beautiful display of the symbolic flower of spring, representing renewal. When it comes to the food, the menus will showcase limited-edition specials from 22–31 March, including a cherry fondant dessert with a luscious pink buttercream and chocolate centre and a sakura cocktail, containing cherry blossom, strawberry and umeshu plum wine. After your meal, the little ones can try their hands at origami, and each child will receive an Easter egg to add some joy to their holiday weekend. sticksnsushi.com
A chocolate factory experience at Bagatelle
If you witnessed the shambles that was the Willy Wonka experience in Glasgow, you may be itching for a chocolate factory experience that’s actually worthwhile, and Bagatelle has you covered. The restaurant is on a mission to transport guests into a world of pure imagination, wonder and fun through installations and menu specials. Between Sunday 31 March and Sunday 7 April, the venue will transform into a vibrant chocolate factory wonderland, complete with oversized candies and whimsical decorations. Indulge your sweet tooth with an irresistible assortment of chocolate treats, candy cocktails and whimsical delights inspired by Bagatelle’s very own Wonka, the Bagatelle Group’s corporate chef Rocco Seminara. Each night, Bagatelle will be handing out Wonka-inspired chocolate bars, for a chance to win a ‘golden ticket’. If you get your hands on this, you’ll enjoy a dinner for four with a special bottle. bagatelle.com
Easter egg hunts in London
108 Brasserie and Marylebone Hotel
Hop on down to Marylebone Village on Easter Saturday to embark on an Easter egg hunt that promises just as many treats for the adults as it does for the kids. Starting at 11am, take part in a magical hunt for 108 exquisitely branded eggs hidden among the distinctive collection of shops and boutiques in the charming Marylebone Village. Within each egg you’ll find a fabulous prize, from a private Pilates class and a £100 shopping voucher to a bottle of 108 Gin and an overnight stay in the Terrace Suite at The Marylebone Hotel. To discover which wonder you’ve won and to claim your prize, simply take your egg and numbered piece of paper to The Marylebone and hand it in at reception, then enjoy your extra-special Easter surprise. 108brasserie.com
Mr Fogg’s treasure hunt in Soho
Part of a collection of adventurous and immersive bars inspired by the renowned explorer, Phileas Fogg, Mr Fogg’s in Soho will be given a makeover this Easter weekend on Saturday 30 at 2pm and 3pm and on 31 March at 3pm. You’ll be offered a botanical cocktail before being briefed on the treasure hunt that will take you on a journey through Soho, including Chinatown and Leicester Square, as you solve clues centred around the area. Along your journey, you’ll uncover local secrets alongside mini Easter eggs, before heading back to the bar to enjoy another cocktail and find out who has won the £75 bar tab and Easter egg prize. £65 per person. mr-foggs.com
Chelsea Physic Garden Easter Trail
In keeping with the theme of botanicals, if you prefer a hunt amid greenery rather than London’s lively streets, worry not: we’ve got trails for you, too. This Easter weekend (Friday, Sunday and Monday), you can take part in Chelsea Physic Garden’s annual self-guided trail. The trail will guide you round the four-acre garden, where you and your family will discover the amazing world of plants. At the end of the trail, each child will receive a chocolate treat. £5 plus general admission. chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk
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What to do over the four-day Easter weekend
Regents Park Easter 10k
Calling all avid runners, we’ve got the event for you. On the 1 of April, set your marks, get set and race around London’s verdant Regents Park. Whether you’re looking to join the 10k route, the Easter Fun Run or the Children’s Race, there’ll be something for everyone to join and get active. While you walk, jog or sprint, make sure to take in the park’s sights, including the boating lake, money fountain as well as passing alongside London Zoo. nice-work.org.uk
City Experiences Thames Cruise
If you’re not sure how to spend your Bank Holiday weekend, a tour around London with the family is always a good shout. Not only will you visit the capital’s most famous attractions in a single day, but you’ll be cruising along the Thames in a riverboat. From witnessing the famous changing of guard ceremony and visiting the Royal Crown Jewels to skipping the queues at the Tower of London and calling on the royals at Buckingham Palace, you’ll well and truly see it all. Prices start from £147per person for adults and £137per person for children aged two to 14. Infants, under two go free. cityexperiences.com
Paddington in Concert
If you asked me for a film that delights children and adults alike, Paddington is the first that comes to mind. This Spring, you and your family can follow the story of this charming (and lost) bear on a giant HD screen, accompanied by The London Concert Orchestra playing the score live. Running from the 30 of March to the 13 of April across the UK, this will be the perfect conclusion to an Easter weekend filled with lots of family fun. Suitable for ages seven and up. rg.live/events/paddington-in-concert
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