March is a good time to head to London's parks

What to do in London in March

By Ian Packham

London in March welcomes the spring – announcing itself with a flurry of flowerheads and chirruping of bird song. Brighter, sunnier skies begin to hint at the months ahead and the return of British Summer Time means evenings are lighter for longer. All the better for enjoying London’s many attractions and events, including the St Patrick’s Day celebrations and the University Boat Race.

What is the weather like in London in March?

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Don’t be fooled by the sudden addition of color to the streets of London in March, the start of the month can still be chilly. March 1 will usually see daytime temperatures of around 8°C, before they begin to steadily increase as the month goes on. By its end, they’ve jumped by roughly a third to about 13°C. Putting this into context, it’s just 3°C below temperatures frequently recorded at the height of summer. On occasion they can jump still further – the March all-time record stands at no less than 23°C.

Given this fact, snow is – perhaps unbelievably – still an outside possibility. However, your main concern will be rain showers, which can sweep in at any time to break up the growing periods of sun. On the plus side, dusk creeps back day after day, providing visitors to London with longer daylight hours to spend amidst the treasures of the British capital.

Enjoy London’s parks

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The grass turns a fresh shade of green, the flower beds erupt in blooms and the sun – hopefully – shines. This makes March in London a good month for getting outside and exploring the city’s many parks, gardens and green spaces.

A visit to the gates of Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard ceremony can easily be combined with time in the capital’s Royal Parks. St James’s, Green and Hyde Parks form a near-continuous expanse of greenery from the River Thames to Notting Hill. More than just parklands, they contain various monuments, lakes and even an art gallery – The Serpentine.

Not all that far away in Lambeth is the Garden Museum. The only museum of its kind in the country, it uses its base of a converted church dated to the Norman Conquest to record the history of the garden in the UK psyche.

Get ready to party

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The color green is also an integral part of one of March’s main events. He may not be the capital’s patron saint (that’s Saint Paul) but this doesn’t stop Londoners from celebrating St Patrick’s Day on March 17. The main festivities generally take place on the weekend nearest the date, and kick off on Piccadilly Circus.

It’s from here a parade of floats, performers and marching bands take over the streets on route to Trafalgar Square. But the festivities don’t stop there. The statue of Nelson atop its column looks down on a specially-constructed stage that sees performances from a wealth of acts with a connection to the Emerald Isle. Pall Mall hosts a range of family zone activities suitable for younger visitors.

It’s the banks of the Thames that are the location for The University Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge. First fought in 1829, somewhere in the region of a quarter of a million people line the winding 4.2 mile west London course each year to cheer on the rowing eights. The finish line at Chiswick Bridge is a favored vantage point for obvious reasons.

Refresh your wardrobe

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Browsing the new season trends is on many people’s lists of things to do in London in March, and for good reason. The British capital’s range of retail opportunities is well-known, offering everything from off the peg items to department stores holding royal warrants to supply the Queen and Prince of Wales.

Whilst it’s Oxford Street where you’ll find many household names, neighboring Regent’s Street blends high-end couture with an independent streak sometimes missing from the streets of the capital. Children’s eyes will bulge wide at the very sight of Hamleys’, whose seven stories make it the biggest toyshop in the world. Meanwhile, adults are sure to find something that delights at Liberty’s, whose mock-Tudor edifice stretches from Kingly Street to the boutique stores of Carnaby Street, and has championed designers from William Morris to Manolo Blahnik.

The seven streets that together form, surprise-surprise, Seven Dials, between Soho and Covent Garden is perhaps easier on the wallet but certainly doesn’t hold back on the cool. Playing host to almost 150 stores and places to eat, it’s a good place to head whether you’re looking for a new pair of jeans or a block of locally-produced cheese. If there’s a bookworm in the family, a trip to the secondhand bookshops of Charing Cross Road will be in order.

Explore the wider world

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Amid the splendor of the National Maritime Museum and Queen’s House, Greenwich, stand the masts of the last remaining tea clipper, the Cutty Sark. A simply stunning addition to the east London skyline under the clear skies of March, she was built in 1869 and moored at the Thames as a museum ship in 1954.

Visitors are able to discover the cramped conditions crew sailing between China and England had to endure below deck. Since a major restoration project, it’s now also possible to walk beneath the hull to view its original planking and ironwork, before admiring the world’s largest collection of ship’s figureheads.

Containing one of the largest collections of living creatures in the UK, ZSL London Zoo has been educating the public and conserving the world’s wildlife for nearly two centuries. Amongst its 20,000 individual animals are 650 species including lions, lemurs and Komodo dragons. Each live in enclosures attempting to mimic their natural habitats as closely as possible, to the extent that many include other species from the same region.

Save on March London attraction admission

The start of spring ensures there are a huge array of things to do in London in March. But seeing so many attractions can soon get expensive. Go City helps ease the burden by including reduced admission to many of London’s top attractions, whilst doing away with paper ticketing but not the flexibility you’ll want on a visit to the British capital.

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One week in London: your ultimate itinerary

London isn’t just a list of landmarks to tick off but a living entity which has been constantly evolving for over 2000 years. Hugely diverse in origin, Londoners shop, work and worship amidst world-beating attractions. Spend enough time in the capital, and you’ll realize that behind their frosty exterior most of London’s nine million people are also a friendly – if modest – bunch worth taking the time to get to know properly. A week in London it is then! Plan it well and a London 7 day itinerary can provide you with a view of the British capital it’s not possible to get with a two or three day visit. As Samuel Johnson once said, when you’re tired of London, you’re tired of life. Your first day in London With your camera battery fully charged and SD cards empty, ease yourself into the next 7 days in London at Piccadilly Circus. At the junction between the thoroughfare simply known as Piccadilly and Regent Street, it’s a spot that has spun with black cabs, red double decker buses and advertising hoardings for decades, with the Statue of Eros acting as the starting point for countless romances. Piccadilly has its fair share of famous storefronts should you want to start the souvenir shopping early, with Fortnum & Mason as evocative of time in London as afternoon tea at The Ritz a few doors down. Spend the rest of the day taking in the views of Buckingham Palace from the roof of Wellington Arch – once home to London’s smallest police station – and admiring the collections of Apsley House. Also known as No 1 London, it was the home of the Duke of Wellington, victor over Napoleon. A day by the river The views at the Tower of London extend back close to 1000 years. A fortification built by William the Conqueror around 1066 which became a prison to Anne Boleyn, Guy Fawkes and The Kray twins, the tower is now best known for its ravens, yeomen wardens (beefeaters) and crown jewels. Together they provide an unforgettable morning of heritage, wit and bling. Cross the Thames by Tower Bridge to reach the south side of the river. Opening on average three times a day, with a week in London you can afford to hang around the area for a while just in case, perhaps taking in HMS Belfast at the same time. With nine decks to explore, it’s one of the most detailed displays of life in the navy during peace and war time you’ll encounter. End the day looking down on London from The View from The Shard. Western Europe’s tallest building, The Shard’s observation floors stand 250 meters above the riverside, providing panoramas capable of transporting you 40 miles in any direction. The bar makes an extra-special spot from which to enjoy London’s sunsets too. The rainy day The weather in London is fickle enough that you could experience a rainy day at any time of year. But don’t worry, there’s plenty indoors that will keep you busy without them feeling like second-rate options. The Natural History Museum, Science Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum are located side by side in Kensington, though with such extensive collections you’re better off sticking to the one that interests you most. Whilst the first two museums are relatively self-explanatory, the Victoria and Albert Museum name doesn’t give much away. Funded by the profits of Hyde Park’s 1851 Great Exhibition, it concentrates on the decorative arts, from ceramics to tapestries and jewelry. The site of performances throughout the year, the Royal Albert Hall really comes into its own in August and September, when it welcomes the Proms. But even when there’s no scheduled performance you can still take in its main auditorium with a behind the scenes tour. Span a millennium in a day For a trip beneath the world’s oceans without the price tag to match, start the fourth day of your London week itinerary at SEA LIFE Center London Aquarium. As well as a coral reef and a shark tunnel, visitors are able to watch the antics of a small colony of penguins. Just outside, the steady rotation of the London Eye has become an irresistible part of anyone’s London experience. The world’s first cantilever Ferris wheel – supported on just one side – its location means it provides some of the clearest views of the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey beyond. With origins predating the Norman Conquest of 1066, the abbey has witnessed some of the most important events in British history, from the coronation of over 40 kings and queens, to royal marriages, memorials to national treasures and the burial of the unknown soldier at the end of the First World War. Royal brides continue to place their bouquet on its black marble surface in honor of the fallen. Spend a day at Kew The list of public green spaces that were once the private property of the British monarch extends to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. A cherished part of west London, the gardens have gained international recognition through their UNESCO World Heritage status and continuing work to save botany’s rarest plants from extinction. Nor does it matter when you plan to visit London, since Kew provides all-year color and interest. Spring sees tulips, daffodils and cherry blossom take centerstage, before the summer months present its follies – including a ten story Chinese pagoda – in all their glory. Fall sees Kew’s 14,000 trees from around the world turn stunning shades of sunset whilst even the winter isn’t lacking in attractions thanks to its multiple glasshouses and February orchid festival. So slip on a good pair of walking shoes and discover for yourself what Kew is all about! A day in the City of London Begin Day 6 of your odyssey at the northern end of London Bridge. Once the only crossing over the Thames in the city, the current version dates from the 1960s and is a little underwhelming compared to London’s other crossings – but does have clear views towards Tower Bridge and The Shard. Head north from the city of London into the City of London – which has its own police force and ancient ways though not much over two kilometers square – for one of London’s quirkier attractions – The Monument. Located on an easy-to-miss side street, it commemorates the Great Fire of 1666, reputed to have started in Pudding Lane opposite. The ‘new’ St Paul’s Cathedral rose from the ashes of the fire. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, its sightlines are protected by law and its interior considered one of architecture's greatest achievements. End your day in and around the Museum of London, which tells the story of the capital from the time of the mammoths to the latest archeological discoveries. A day of live performances Make sure you haven’t missed anything by spending the morning enjoying the commentary and day ticket opportunities of a Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour through the heart of the capital. Follow this up with a matinee performance at one of the West End’s top theaters, where dramas, musicals and comedies switch between coming from and going to New York’s Broadway and attract big names in television and cinema to their stages. On a bright summer night the open-air amphitheater forming Regent’s Park Theater ensures each show is unique, whilst an afternoon at ZSL London Zoo provides another type of entertainment. Its 750 species, from aardvarks to zebra, never fail to charm. A week in London with Go City Capture the essence of the living and breathing British capital with one week in London. Its range of attractions are extensive, but that doesn’t mean you have to watch your bank balance drain. Travel with Go City to take advantage of massive savings on admission to many top attractions!
Ian Packham
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Thorpe Park or Chessington World of Adventures Resort Comparison

With nearly 100 attractions between them, including thrill-a-second roller coasters, splash rides, a zoo, an aquarium and more, it’s no wonder that Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures are two of the UK’s most popular theme parks. We took a closer look to see how these entertainment titans measure up…
Stuart Bak
Colorful shopfronts of Neal's Yard Covent Garden
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Things to do in Covent Garden London

Part of London’s West End leisure district, Covent Garden is a lively mix of museums, performance spaces, independent traders and traditional British boozers (pubs). Seemingly a contraction of ‘convent garden’, the area comprised orchards and farmland owned by the church until Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries, after which a fruit and vegetable market flourished until the 1970s. It is also a part of London’s ‘theatreland’, second only to Broadway in scope and talent. Although best-known for the street performers that occupy its pedestrianized piazza each day bar December 25, there are many more things to do in Covent Garden London and ways to spend your time. These are some of our favorites. Take in the market stalls The era of fruit and vegetable sales may be well and truly in the past – with New Covent Garden Market in Nine Elms fulfilling this function – but that doesn’t mean the neighborhood has said goodbye to its traders completely. Almost all the images you’ll see of Covent Garden are of the green-painted ironwork and glazing of the Apple Market, dating to its reconstruction in the 19th Century. Along its flanks are stores recognizable from any British high street, with its center given over to stall holders selling a range of gifts, clothes and antiques. The Jubilee Hall Market, completed in 1904, sits on the south side of the piazza with another pick of stalls. Their goods range from the so-bad-they’re-good souvenirs to genuine antiques. Open daily, Mondays are dedicated to the antiques trade whilst Saturdays and Sundays are given over to London’s artists and craftspeople. The rest of the week you can expect an assortment of stalls. Towards the neighborhood’s northern reaches lies Seven Dials, incorporating Neal’s Yard. This area’s stores can come as something of a shock to those used to the grand stone facades of much of London. That’s because their mishmash of brickwork and colorful exteriors are an indication of their independent ownership and style. Delve into the museums On the east side of the piazza you’ll find the flower market turned London Transport Museum. Packed with old buses, trams (streetcars) and trains, as well as era-defining imagery and early versions of the London Underground map, this child-friendly celebration of transportation isn’t just for nerds. One of the newest things to do in Covent Garden is visit the London Film Museum, first opened in 2008. Dedicated to the movie industry, its collection includes a variety of costumes and props you’ll recognize from the big screen, with the James Bond franchise one of dozens of movies represented. But for the lowdown on London’s top cameo appearances, you’ll want to join a Brit Movie Tour. With 10 different tours to pick from, now’s the chance you’ve been waiting for to enter the world of movies such as Harry Potter or James Bond and television hits including Downton Abbey and Killing Eve. Straddling the southwest corner of the neighborhood is Trafalgar Square. Constructed to commemorate the victory over Napoleon in 1805, Nelson’s Column was erected by public subscription in the 1860s. It stands in pride of place outside of the National Gallery and connected National Portrait Gallery. Together they form one of the world’s most important art collections. Paintings by Vincent Van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci and Johannes Vermeer are joined by the many greats of British painting, from John Constable to J M W Turner. Enjoy a night at the theater Back in the heart of Covent Garden, the Royal Opera House began life in the 1730s as one of just two spaces in London permitted by the king to put on plays. Several rebirths later, it was chosen by Germano-British composer – and favorite of George III – George Frideric Handel as the auditorium to debut many of his works and has also been the home of the Royal Ballet since 1946. To take a peek inside when there’s no performance scheduled opt for a guided tour instead. Another big name in the neighborhood linked to the arts is the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane – the oldest theater in London to be in continuous use as a playhouse. It has a history that dates back to 1663 and includes performances by Nell Gwyn – the actress mistress of Charles II – and comedy troupe Monty Python. The latest big name in comedy might well be discovered on the cobblestones of the piazza, since its street performers have to audition in front of Covent Garden’s management before being given a location and time slot in which to hit the heady heights of stardom or flop into oblivion. Admire Covent Garden’s architecture Not to be confused with the nearby cathedral, St Paul’s Church is literally unmissable since it stands immediately opposite the Apple Market. Also known as the actors’ church because of its close association with the neighborhood’s theaters – it hosts its very own acting company. Originally designed by Inigo Jones alongside the piazza, its small churchyard provides a much-needed area of greenery too. In an area so rich in architecture it can be difficult to see the wood for the trees – or the sculpture for the stone – but somewhere you’re not going to want to miss Somerset House. Its central courtyard has been widely-adopted by the public, with fountains and movie screenings in the summer and an ice rink during the Christmas period. Inside, the main exhibition space to look out for belongs to the Courtauld Institute. Spanning several centuries of European art, its bright galleries contain works by Botticelli and Bruegel. Uncover Covent Garden with Go City If you’ve been wondering about the things to do in Covent Garden London, here’s you answer. Still home to market stalls as it has been for centuries, there’s also historic performance spaces like the Royal Opera House and museums including those dedicated to art, transportation and the movie industry. That’s a lot to add to your London itinerary! Travel with Go City for substantial savings on admission to many of the top attractions. It not only covers Covent Garden but the entire British capital from Hampton Court Palace in the west to the Tower of London in the east to ensure you don’t face any nasty credit card bills when your return home!
Ian Packham

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