If the stacks of drool-inducing chocolate eggs lining the shelves, sudden influx of cute bunny pictures on Instagram and the (sporadic) appearance of the sun is any indication then the Easter weekend is on its way. Looking for some inspiration of fun things to do over the long weekend – which kicks off on April 7? Then you might want to take a gander at the list below. In a matter of weeks you could be enjoying bottomless drinks, an immersive exhibition, or even learning ho to make egg-celent pasta dishes.
1. Track down some hidden gems on the BucketRace: Easter Scavenger Hunt.
The Easter eggs you’ll find on this scavenger hunt aren’t the type you can eat. Instead, BucketRace aims for their Easter Scavenger Hunt to help you find London’s hidden gems as well as celebrate some of its more iconic locations. You’ll compete in teams to complete a set of challenges that’ll have you bouncing around the Capital for some light hearted fun to earn yourself points. Challenges can range from photobombing a selfie in front of Buckingham Palace to having a space hopper race. Once the 4 hours of fun come to a close, the team with the most points wins. There will be a little ceremony where winners are crowned and everyone gets the chance to have a laugh and see what the other teams were getting up to.
2. Transport yourself to a distant land where drinking is key to your survival
Sound too good to be true? Well, it’s not. At Avora, cocktails are a key part of the immersive world they’ve created that takes you into a bioluminescent, flora filled dimension via the clinically convincing Roscorp Laboratory. You’ll enjoy a trio of cocktails that involve an immersive element to them – that could be anything from foraging for ingredients to creating your own unique mix. You obviously, aren’t just limited to those three cocktails you can always grab a drink at the bar. Aside from enjoying the cocktails, you’ll be thrust into a story which puts you at the centre of the fate of Avora – so it’s all down to you how things end up.
3. Go on a Wild Goose Chase at Leadenhall Market
This might be the only Easter egg hunt where you can take part for free to potentially come out with a 500 quid prize as well as a trophy. It won’t be easy though. Great Leadenhall Market is bringing back its team based Easter challenges inspired by the original 1920s treasure hunts put on by Bright Young Things. 20 teams will take part in 100 challenges across the month of April all in the hopes of securing the coveted Old Tom’s Golden Egg trophy & £500 to spend at the Leadenhall Market outlet of their choice. All you have to do if you’re up for it is sign up and create or select a team to be a part of. Good luck, and egg-spect to have all your skills put to the test.
4. Celebrate cuteness and class with Hilton London Bankside
If you weren’t already planning on it, you might want to add the Hilton London Bankside to your Easter itinerary. Especially if you’re tired of just scrolling through cute animal TikToks and want to see the fluffy, feathered friends up close. On April 9 there will be a Pop-Up Bunny & Chick Petting Zoo taking place in the hotel lobby from 9am to 12pm. Guests will think they have fallen into a cute animal calendar as they meet and greet a host of bunnies and chicks, all under the watchful eye of five-star animal welfare company, Living Things. The Petting Zoo is free to attend for those staying at the hotel, brunching at Hilton London Bankside’s neighbourhood eatery, OXBO Bankside or dining at its Distillery Bar, The Distillery Bankside.
5. Enjoy the wonderful works of Van Gogh like never before
If you haven’t been to the Van Gogh exhibition yet, what have you been doing? It’s become a staple exhibition in London since its arrival and has seen several extensions, including most recently an extension that sees the event open until May 7th. That makes the Easter bank holiday the perfect time to enjoy the works of the great Vincent Van Gogh in a truly unique way before the exhibition leaves. You won’t just see the images, you can literally step into them. From Starry Night to Wheatfield with Crows, you’ll see a whole host of his images across the exhibition, which includes a stunning 360° immersive room and a VR experience that takes you through a day in the life of the painter.
6. Experience art colliding with the most advanced immersive technology at Dali : Cybernetics
Enter the metaverse and interact with your fellow guests in the first immersive VR experience from the team behind the world renowned Van Gogh immersive exhibition. At Dali : Cybernetics, the blend of technology and art is really pushed to its limits with the most cutting edge technology used to create an experience that words can’t truly do justice. Leaning into Dali’s penchant for the surreal this exhibition seeks to stimulate your imagination in ways you wouldn’t traditionally expect. We won’t spoil too much but just be ready to enjoy the maestro’s works in a number of different ways – some more interactive than others. Tickets are already on sale and whilst there is limited availability across April, there are still plenty of slots available over the Easter bank holiday weekend.
7. Get boozy at a Barrio Bottomless Brunch
With no need to worry about being hungover for a little longer than usual, a bottomless brunch is almost a must for any bank holiday weekend. Whatever your vibe is, Barrio probably has something for you. Across their four locations across London, you can experience the magic of the 80s at La Isla Bonita, enjoy The Notorious B.I.N.G.O, have a Cardi B.Runch, or a brunch hosted by the human beatbox La Bamba. You’ll be getting boozy and sinking into some delightful dishes as well as competing for prizes in anything from bingo to twerk offs.
8. Soak up the beautiful spring flowers at Kew Gardens.
In between filling up on a delicious roast and a variety of delectable sweet treats you might fancy stretching your legs, breathing in the fragrance of fresh flowers and admiring the vibrant colours of flora and fauna. This bank holiday weekend, you can (literally) smell the roses – plus a variety of gorgeous spring flowers such as cherry blossom, tulips and daffodils – at Kew Gardens.
9. Have a real Easter feast at chop-connoisseurs Blacklock.
The picture above alone is enough to make your stomach rumble. This Easter, you can finish off your Sunday the right way with a succulent dinner at chophouse Blacklock. Their mum-worthy roasts are among the best in the city and will no doubt leave you in foodie daze once you’ve devoured the juicy and tender cuts of meat. Choose from beef, lamb or pork – or go for all three – loosen your belt and expect the chatter to be replaced with clinking cutlery and satisfied ‘mmmm’s. You can find Blacklock at four different locations in London, but you better book fast cause they’ll no doubt fill up quick.
10. Try your hand at an egg-citing pasta making masterclass
Pasta Evangelists have teamed up with one of the best British egg suppliers, Clarence Court, for a special series of pasta making masterclasses. There are four sessions across Easter weekend where you will be trained by a private chef from beginner to egg-spert when it comes to making fresh egg pasta. Not only will you learn the skills, you will also be getting a fresh pasta meal and a Clarence Court goody bag to take home with you. So why not switch things up a little, treat yourself to a laidback masterclass and enjoy some melt in the mouth pasta dishes whilst you do it?
11. Secure some sweet treats whilst solving this Gourmaze challenge
If you want something a little more grown up than an Easter egg hunt but still want to do a little work for your treats, Gourmaze is the perfect thing for you. Taking its cues from escape rooms and food walking tours it’s blended the two together to create a gourmet adventure like no other. For Easter, it’s only right that you make a Sweet Escape. You’ll be tasked with solving riddles sent directly to your phone that will lead you to a selection of 3 carefully curated sweet treats. Whilst it’s definitely one we’d recommend for Easter, the Gourmaze experience is available year round and they also have The Talisman Treats trail from April 21-30.
12. Enjoy an Easter treat from London’s very own Donutelier
The new home of luxury donuts in London, Donutelier, has cooked up some special treats for this Easter. Inspired by the greatest fashion ateliers in terms of their intricate approach towards design, they stay true to the traditional approach when it comes to the dough and techniques involved. For Easter, you can pick up three new limited edition flavours. Gianduja Chocolate Eggs is for chocolate lovers – it features a chocolate hazelnut crust, a chocolate ganache nest with gianduja flakes, and milk chocolate chantilly cream. If that’s not your vibe then maybe the slightly more subtle flavours of Springtime Pistachio or Easter Vanilla Dreams will be the one for you. You can only get these in store but you can order them for click and collect to guarantee you get just the flavours you want.
13. Make your way up the O2 to win an egg-cellent prize
Adrenaline junkies, chocolate lovers, and anyone who loves a good view we’ve got just the thing for you – Up at The O2. Take a stroll to the top of one of the most iconic music venues in the UK between Friday 7 April and Monday 10 April and you’ll be gifted a free full sized easter egg to enjoy for your efforts. I say a stroll but really it’s an exhilarating outdoor climb that when you’re at its peak will have you 52m above ground level with breathtaking 360° views of the capital. You won’t be alone though, you’ll have an expert guide to walk you through every step and even fill you in with interesting facts about the local areas which they have an almost encyclopediac of. We’d suggest that you book before you go though as it can get busy pretty quick.
14. The Mad Hatter’s cordially invites you to a Bottomless Brunch at The Piano Works
It’s time to go down the rabbit hole and enter this wonderland of brunch at The Piano Works West End this Easter Sunday. There will be musical madness, Drink Me potions, Eat Me sweet treats and talented musicians playing all the bangers, chosen by you. On top of that if you bump into the Mad Hatter, try and draw the Queen of Hearts from his deck for the chance to win a meal for two. You’ll have plenty of brunch options regardless of your dietary preferences and when it comes to the bottomless drinks you can choose from passion fruit spritz, mojitos and rum punch. If brunch timings don’t work for you, don’t worry about it – the Mad Hatter has arranged for an extra brunch to take place at dinner time.
15. The Brick Lane Block Party
Ain’t no party like a Brick Lane (Block) Party…or whatever S Club said. For the bank holiday, Brick Lane is bringing back their iconic multi-venue Block Party. It’s going to be a 10 hour music marathon across Cafe 1000, Werkhaus, Brick Lane Tap Room and Sleazy Pizza and musically will cover a whole range of dance music. Headliners include Maurice Fulton, Loose Legs, and DJ Storm with support from the likes of Rinse FM’s Emerald and Ehua as well as community station Voices Radio.
16. Enjoy some seasonal fun and games at Horniman Spring Fair.
Brighten up your bank holiday weekend with a visit to the Horniman Museum Spring Fair. Perfect for a family outing, kids can transform into tigers at face painting then unleash their imagination with an array of free craft workshops while the adults can soak up the idyllic wilderness on a garden tour, admiring a kaleidoscope of spring flowers. The fair takes place on Saturday 8 from 10.30am to 4.30pm, with two live music performances from South London Samba across the day.
17. Relax with live Jazz at Big Penny Social
If you want to enjoy the ambience of live music for a chilled afternoon on Easter Sunday look no further than Big Penny Social. From 2-6pm, The Rick Simpson Trio will be playing soothing jazz for all and the best part is that entry is completely free! If you fancy it though, book a table and enjoy a scrumptious Sunday Roast alongside it with options from Roast Stripling Beef & Roast Chicken through to Mushroom Wellington as well as plenty of kids options.
18. Experience when (Big) Mamma met Tony (Chocolonely)
From April 5-12 Big Mamma Group and Tony’s Chocolonely have partnered up for an eggs-rated Easter chocolate mousse. It’s a triple decker delight with dark chocolate fondant, airy chocolate mousse and smooth coffee cream that is topped with chocolate shavings. If the decadent dessert wasn’t enough on its own, you’ll take home an extra bar of chocolate free of charge. The cherry on top, for every dessert sold £1 will be going to Tony’s Chocolonely Foundation, which aims to eradicate modern slavery – particularly in relation to the chocolate industry. You can try the luxuriant dessert at Gloria, Circolo Popolare and Ave Mario.
19. Just Follow Your Senses
If you’re looking for something family friendly for Easter the Follow Your Senses art trail in Aberfeldy Village, East London. The trail explores the senses of sight, touch, and sound and was designed by local artist Ellen Rock who has displayed work at London & Jakarta Fashion Week as well as in Nepal and Guatemala for global projects. You navigate the trail via a free hand drawn map and worksheet with completed worksheets earning an Ellen Rock badge.
20. Take a trip to the Transport Museum
Get yourself down to the Transport Museum and discover the momentous moments that have shaped London’s transport systems. Along the way, you’ll meet a time travelling cast as well as have a chance to climb aboard historic trains, trams and buses. From April 1-16, kids go free and there is plenty for them to do ranging from learning how to drive an Elizabeth Line train to interactive crafts workshops. Any adult that books a ticket during that same time frame will receive free return entry for a year, so that’s even more reason to get down there this Easter.
21. Saunter through nature with this Easter trail
If you head down to the Chelsea Physic Garden on Good Friday, Easter Sunday or Easter Monday, you’re in for a treat. You’ll explore a 4 ace trail that takes you through the oldest Botanic garden in London and even better once you finish you get a chocolate treat or a prize. Take your chance to enjoy the Spring weather with a nice stroll through one of the most naturally beautiful locations in the Capital this Easter bank holiday weekend. The only catch here is, you need to book your ticket in advance and make sure you select the Easter Trail add on when you do.
22. Channel your inner Lara Croft for this relic hunt
Whilst adventure and Easter might not be your first combination of words together when you think about it, it kind of makes sense. An Easter egg hunt feels like a given, so why not add a little feel of adventure to it – right? Well, that’s exactly what Tomb Raider: The Live Experience is doing this Easter. You’ll be ziplining through the Costa Rican jungle, discovering an ancient tomb, escape a sinking ship all whilst trying to foil the plans of a secret order in the adrenaline-fuelled attraction. Just don’t forget to pick up any golden relics as you make it through the challenges and puzzles as anybody who’s got them at the end will be rewarded with an Easter treat.
23. Have a rooftop tipple that’ll have you feeling lucky
After being closed for the winter, Camden’s The Lucky Club is opening it’s doors again with a five day celebration across the Easter Bank holiday weekend. The terrace has new food & cocktail menus but even better they’ve got happy hour running non stop alongside amazing live DJs, goodie bags with Easter treats and even free fizz for the first 100 booked in. What’s going to have you feeling really lucky though is the unique ways you can order a drink. Roll the dice for ‘The Lucky Hours’ and if you pull out lucky number 7 you’ll get your drink on the house. If you prefer a shot, leave it up to the new Lucky 8 ball cocktail decider which also gets you a tequila shot if it shows a ‘YOU WIN’ after a shake.
24. Get a kinder bueno inspired treat at the Discount Suit Company
Yes, you read that right. The Discount Suit Company. That’s not where you go to update your smart wear on the cheap, instead it’s the East London watering hole that is serving up an Easter special that should probably become permanent. Paying homage to the iconic (and best chocolate bar) Kinder Bueno, for the full month of April you’ll be able to try the Kyrö Bueno for only nine quid there and at sister location The Umbrella Boundary. The Kyrö Bueno is Kyrö Dairy Cream Liqueur, hazelnut eau de vie, VSOP cognac and a Swiss chocolate liqueur garnished with handmade dark cocoa star cookies made by the cult artisan baker Lily Vanilli.
25. Enjoy an Easter-themed Middle Eastern feast
Mayfair’s Jeru boasts a varied menu that brings together high quality British produce and marvelous Middle Eastern flavours; between April 3–15, you can indulge in their decadent Easter menu.
At the heart of this menu is a shoulder of milk-fed lamb, cooked in milk, with a creamy milk and truffle jus. However, that’s not all. Alongside this grand main, there is a selection of fantastic meze to enjoy – think fermented potato bread with chickpea miso butter, black chickpeas hummus, and tuna ceviche – and a caramel cherry chocolate dome dessert. It’s not Easter without an Easter egg, after all.
Also published on Medium.