How much can you accomplish in a couple of hours? Play a football match, do the shopping or catch a film. Or here’s a far better idea: jump on the first flight to London and discover a city that never runs out of things to show you. Even at Easter.
London has long been one of the most popular Easter destinations for international travellers, and 2023 is no exception for Britain’s capital.
This year the calendar is particularly favourable for those choosing to spend Easter in London, as Easter Sunday falls on 9 April (early spring), with longer daylight hours thanks to British Summer Time.
Easter is one of the most significant Christian festivals in the United Kingdom, celebrated with truly distinctive rituals and customs, including particularly interesting folk events.
In London, as throughout the UK, two particularly important days are Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, when the major celebrations take place in the capital’s two most important churches: Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
On Maundy Thursday, you can witness the Ceremony of the Royal Maundy, a tradition dating back to the 13th century (the time of King Edward I) that has been celebrated annually by Her Majesty since 1952 (last year the ceremony took place at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, and this year Leicester Cathedral will welcome the Queen).
Good Friday is marked by celebrations of the Passion of Christ. The setting for this magnificent production is Trafalgar Square, where from noon a cast of around 100 actors performs for free, portraying the most significant moments of the Passion—from Judas’s betrayal and the arrest of Jesus Christ, through the trial before Pontius Pilate, to the crucifixion and resurrection.
The actors, dressed in period costumes, parade through the famous London square accompanied by horses, donkeys and doves, creating an unparalleled spectacle. On Good Friday in London, you can also sample traditional sweets for the occasion: hot cross buns.
Among activities to enjoy in London during Easter is the Giant Easter Egg Duck Hunt, a traditional event held at the WWT London Wetland Centre, where you can search for ducklings that have escaped from their mother’s care.
All the main London attractions will remain open on Easter Sunday.
One of the most interesting attractions for families is the Natural History Museum, open daily from 10am to 5:50pm.
The renowned British Museum will be open throughout the Easter holidays with free admission, showcasing works from all parts of the world with a collection of over 8 million objects spanning from prehistory to the present day.
At Easter you can also visit the beautiful National Gallery, which observes standard opening hours from 10am to 6pm, giving visitors access to over 2,300 paintings.
The London Eye, London’s impressive observation wheel, will also be operating as usual; given the enormous demand for this attraction in the heart of London, it’s advisable to book tickets in advance.
The Warner Bros Studio will also be open daily, allowing visitors to discover the magical world of Harry Potter by exploring film sets and costumes from the iconic wizard films. Again, advance booking is essential.
The Tower of London will observe normal opening hours (10am to 5:30pm), where visitors can admire the Crown Jewels exhibition.
Westminster Abbey, the magnificent Gothic-style abbey built in the 11th century, will be closed to the public on Easter Sunday but will reopen on Easter Monday.
London’s transport services will run normally on Easter Sunday, though between 7 and 10 April there will be some modifications to standard services. On the Underground, Whitechapel and Lancaster Gate stations will be closed during these days, and there will be no service between Wembley Park and Northwood / Uxbridge (though there will be additional trains on the Piccadilly line between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge).
Buses will run normally on Easter Sunday, following standard Sunday timetables, whilst London Overground will have some minor variations, including closure of Whitechapel station (as with the Underground). There will also be minor changes to National Rail services, with Heathrow Express connections running less frequently than usual.
London also celebrates Easter Monday. Londoners traditionally mark the bank holiday with a picnic in one of the capital’s many parks.
One of the most popular destinations on this day is Kew Gardens, the extensive complex of glasshouses and gardens that represents London’s largest UNESCO World Heritage site, offering visitors unique landscapes and views.
City Card allow you to save on public transport and / or on the entrances to the main tourist attractions.
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