Top Things To Do in London Over Easter

Published: July 18, 2024

Spending Easter in London this year? There’s loads to keep you busy. Check out our list of top things to do in London over the Easter holidays. And many popular attractions take advantage of the long weekend by offering special events for everyone to enjoy. A few of our favorite activities and attractions include...

  • St. Paul’s Cathedral
  • Easter Egg Hunts in Spring Gardens
  • Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tours
  • Thames River Cruise
  • Easter Chocolate Hunts

1) St. Paul’s Cathedral

While a visit to this historic cathedral is special any time of year, it’s particularly meaningful to visit during the Easter season. As one of the most significant architectural landmarks in the entire city, St. Paul’s Cathedral is also an ideal place to visit for people who love art, architecture, and history. Wander around with the help of multimedia tablets, or join in a guided tour. There are many facets of this cathedral to explore, from tombs to galleries and beyond. If you’d like, you can also attend services during the week.

2) Kensington Palace Chocolate Bunny Hunt

Roam the rooms and gardens of the historic Kensington Palace during the Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt. You’ll follow clues on a map as you wind throughout the home and grounds in search of gold bunny statues that have been strategically hidden throughout. Along the way, visitors will learn about historic figures from Kensington’s past and enjoy the opportunity to tour this inspiring attraction. You can enjoy this event throughout April culminating on Easter Monday.

3) Thames River Cruise

Enjoy some lovely British spring weather (such as it is) with a leisurely cruise along the Thames. Your ticket is good for 24 hours, and you can hop on and off at your pleasure. You can choose from four stops, with cruises operating roughly every 40 minutes. Some of the highlights of your Thames River Cruise include Westminster and the Houses of Parliament, the Coca-Cola London Eye, the Tower Bridge, and Greenwich. Enjoy expert narration while on board, and explore to your heart’s content when you disembark.

4) Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

Relax and kick back as this informative hop-on hop-off bus tour escorts you throughout the city, past all the hotspots and top landmarks. It’s great for photo opportunities without any stress. You also have the option to disembark at places that interest you, so it’s the maximum in customizable explorations. Plus, you can choose from two different tour operators to completely personalize your trip. All in all -- a great introduction to London. Even if you’re from the city, it can be fun to spend some time getting to know your home a little bit better!

5) Explore Springtime Blooms

This is right about the time of year when everything starts to blossom, covering gardens and green spaces with an explosion of vibrant color. While you may think that urban London doesn’t have much in the way of spring blooms, however, you’re totally wrong. Visit one of the city’s many gardens to see these magnificent blooms this Easter weekend. From the humble, indigenous flowers to exotic flora, there’s much to see at venues like Kensington Gardens, Kew Gardens, and the Chelsea Physic Garden. Insider Tip: Kew Gardens hosts a chocolate hunt on Easter Sunday for the kids!

6) WWT London Wetland Centre: Easter Duck Hunt

Kids will relish the opportunity to participate in some good old-fashioned Easter fun away from home. Pay a visit to the delightful London Wetland Centre for a chance to see the blooms of springtime, meet baby animals everywhere, and get acquainted with nature. From April, guests have the opportunity to help the Centre find some missing ducklings. Follow the Easter GIANT Duck Trail around the nature reserve to discover the missing duckies. Then, enjoy an arts & crafts session to make your own springtime creations.

Don't forget to pick up a London Pass to save on the most popular family attractions in London.

Katie Sagal
Go City Travel Expert

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The Lastminute.com London Eye. Image © The London Eye 2024 all rights reserved. Conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects.
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Ultimate Guide to Lastminute.com London Eye

The London Eye requires little introduction. Born as the Millennium Wheel at the tail-end of the last century and opened to the public as the London Eye in March 2000, it has become as recognizable a part of the skyline as city stalwarts like the medieval Tower of London, 18th-century St Paul’s Cathedral and Victorian Big Ben clock tower. Read on for our ultimate guide to the London Eye including what to expect, when to visit, and how to get hold of tickets… London Eye: The Lowdown Towering some 135 meters (443 feet) over the Thames’ South Bank, the London Eye more than lives up to its name, with epic views of major landmarks including Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, The Shard, Tower Bridge and even, on a clear day, the regal turrets of Windsor Castle on the far horizon. As well as millions of annual visitors, the Eye has attracted some big-name sponsors in its time, most recently, lastminute.com. It was, for several years, the tallest Ferris wheel on the planet, before being superseded by China’s Star of Nanchang (160 meters) in 2006, and several times since, by the likes of the Singapore Flyer (165 meters), Las Vegas High Roller (167 meters) and – daddy of them all – the Ain Dubai, at a nerve-jangling 250 meters tall. None of which is to detract from the OG London Eye’s unique appeal. Here’s where, aboard one of 32 capsules (that’s one for each London borough, fact fans), you can experience an awe-inspiring 30-minute rotation that reveals increasingly spectacular city views as you rise and fall. Each capsule holds up to 25 people but you can, of course, go private – book direct for a romantic pod ride for two (including champagne and truffles) which will set you back a cool £775. The London Eye: When to Visit Opening times for the London Eye vary throughout the year. For most of the time, it’s 10AM–6PM on weekdays, with late openings until 8.30PM Friday to Sunday. But from late May to early September, it stays open until 8.30PM all week long. There are also special late openings at seasonal holidays including Halloween. Hit up the official website to get the most up-to-date opening info. Let’s not beat about the proverbial bush here: the London Eye is one of London’s most popular attractions, so you should expect to queue at peak times. It tends to be at its least busy immediately after opening and just before closing, and you can lock in a time slot to reduce your waiting time by booking in advance. Also not to be sniffed at is the opportunity to ride the wheel towards closing time in winter, when the city below is all a-twinkle with lights and – in November and December – glittering festive decorations. London Eye Tickets One of the best ways to experience the London Eye is with an attraction pass from Go City. Choose from an Explorer pass, which gives you 60 days to experience up to seven London tours, activities and attractions. Or opt for the All-Inclusive, where you can take up to 10 (consecutive) days to fill your boots with as many London sightseeing must-dos as you physically can. Both passes offer savings opportunities of up to 50%, and give you access to bucket-listers including the London Eye (of course), plus Madame Tussauds, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, SEA LIFE London Aquarium, St Paul’s Cathedral and, well, the list goes on. Be sure to check the official site for info on the most up-to-date attractions on each pass. You can also, of course, book direct, with various options available, from standard tickets right up to private pods for proposing to your better half. You’ll need deep pockets for this one though – at £1600 it won’t leave you much for an engagement ring. Better be sure he/she is going to say ‘yes’ too. Otherwise that 15-minute descent is going to be… awkward. The London Eye: Fun Facts The London Eye doesn’t actually stop rotating as you board and disembark (unless you have reduced mobility). On the plus side, it’s moving slowly enough that most people can step on and off with ease. There have been no reports of associated injuries in a quarter-century of operation. Triskaidekaphobics have nothing to fear from the London Eye: there’s no number 13 capsule and the 32 pods are instead numbered from 1-12 then 14-33. It may not be the highest Ferris wheel in the world any more, but it does retain the title of tallest cantilevered observation wheel. In other words, its frame only supports it on one side, rather than both, which makes it something of an architectural anomaly in its own right.  Closest Transport Links to The London Eye You’ll find the nearest Tube and rail connections at Waterloo and Charing Cross stations, both a short walk from the London Eye, with access to multiple lines on the London Underground between them. There are also many bus routes servicing the area. More About London and The London Eye The best observation decks in London, including the London Eye! London walks that take in the London Eye. More things to do on London’s South Bank. How to visit London on a budget & things to do in London. All images © The London Eye 2024 all rights reserved. Conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects. Save on London Tours, Activities and Attractions Save on admission to 100+ London attractions with an Explorer or All-Inclusive pass from Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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