Easter weekend in London is one of the best times of year to be in the city. Londoners are buzzing about their two free days off and there’s a feeling of joy about the city that would put anyone in the best of moods. There are tons of awesome things to do in London for bank holiday, from quiet, sunny strolls to Sunday drinks without thinking about the Monday blues. Whatever the vibe you’re feeling, London has it all! But there’s one thing for sure, a London bank holiday leaves no time for lazy days in - make the most of being in the most exciting city in the world and check out these great things to do for bank holiday weekend in London!
WALK THROUGH ONE OF LONDON’S PRETTY PARKS
London may be one of the busiest cities in the world, but the quiet, green pockets will give the feeling of being transported to the British countryside in an instant. Head out for a breath of fresh air on a brisk walk through one of London’s most beautiful parks - the patches of green further away from the city centre will be the most peaceful. Take the District line out to Richmond Park (the largest of London’s green spaces) to spot herds of deer followed by a riverside walk towards Richmond town. Or get the short train from London Bridge to walk up the hill through Greenwich Park and take in a spectacular city view of Canary Wharf. Pack a picnic, a book and pause to enjoy the serene side of London.
BOOK A BANK HOLIDAY BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH
Young Londoners love a bottomless brunch for being the best value way to fill up AND get daytime tipsy with your friends. There’s no better time to do so than bank holiday weekend. Rather than struggling through the week after a boozy Sunday brunch, use your free Monday off to cure the weekend hangover with a relaxing stroll rather than an extra strong coffee at your desk! A lot of London’s bottomless brunches are also pretty cheap, too. You can check out the .
HAVE A TRULY BRITISH AFTERNOON TEA
If boozy brunches aren’t your thing, skip the alcohol and head to one of London’s many great places for a quintessentially British afternoon tea. Finger sandwiches, dainty pastries and a seriously pot of good old English tea? You’ll feel like royalty as you indulge in the Queen’s daily routine! Check out , the ideal spots to sit back and make the most of a well-deserved Monday off.
INDULGE IN A STREET FOOD MARKET
London has its fair share of food markets, but it’s actually the lesser known ones that we think could top the street food chart. We’re not saying we don’t love Borough Market (because we definitely do), but to avoid battling through crowds for the best foodie offerings, try a different market that’s also great, just nowhere near as busy. Maltby Street Market is less than a 20 minute walk from Borough Market, with traders like the Gyoza Guys, the Cheese Truck and Bad Brownies set up every Saturday and Sunday. Southbank Centre Market and Brixton Village are two other amazing street food spots that a lot of foodies miss out on!
BEST HAPPY HOURS IN LONDON
Don’t splash all your cash on full-priced drinks. London’s packed with bars, and loads of them do their own Happy Hour so you can drink for way less. Get a group together or meet up with a friend and head to one of the best bars in London for Happy Hour for one of your bank holiday weekends. From swanky rooftop cocktails to great value pints with a side of live music, London has it all!
GET TO KNOW A NEW AREA OF LONDON
Even if you’ve lived in London your whole life, there must be at least one area of the city that you barely know. Use your day off to get to know a part of London you might have overlooked. Walk around the historic Greenwich or capture some amazing photos of Notting Hill’s quaint and colourful streets. Exploring little pockets of your home city that you haven’t before might allow you to discover your new favourite place. Don’t underestimate the underrated parts of London!
HIRE A BORIS BIKE AND RIDE AROUND THE QUIETER STREETS
When the sun is shining, it’s the perfect excuse to hire out a Boris bike for a while. In our opinion, cycling around central London isn’t much fun, but when you’re on the quieter side of the city it can be one of the best activities to do! Cycle around Holland Park’s beautiful streets, along the canals of Little Venice and surrounding Notting Hill. West London has so many pretty, quiet areas you could happily get lost between when on two wheels.
CATCH A GAME AT BELUSHI’S
Sports fans, get down to your nearest Belushi’s to watch a football game on the big screens. Belushi’s bars are dotted all over London, and will be showing all the biggest games live over the bank holiday weekends. They’re the best places to watch sports in the city, with big, juicy burgers on the menu and a massive selection of international beers so you’re guaranteed to find at least one of your favourites!
FILL UP ON ONE OF THE BEST ROAST DINNERS IN LONDON
A bank holiday weekend isn’t done right without a giant roast dinner on a Sunday. Juicy roast chicken, stuffing, seasonal vegetables and Yorkshire puddings the size of your plate - there’s no home comfort quite like it. And with the following day off work, you may as well order a large glass of wine to go with it! There are loads of pubs around London that do the proper British Sunday tradition to perfection, but unfortunately they’re not always that cheap. Check out the that are both easy on the wallet and VERY easy on the taste buds…
DRINKS ON THE RIVER
Fingers crossed for a sunny few weeks, because one of the best things to do in London on bank holiday weekend is to stop by the Thames for some riverside drinks. Hammersmith and Richmond are two great spots to do this, with pubs and bars right by the river where you can take your drink and relax with a sea breeze. Head to the Blue Boat or the Blue Anchor in Hammersmith for a G&T, or Pitcher and Piano in Richmond for a pint with stunning river views. If you’re more towards central London, The Anchor right by London Bridge is a lovely little spot. It doesn’t matter which London riverside pub you’re at because when the sun is shining, a buzzing atmosphere is always guaranteed.