Things to do in London over the Easter weekend 2026
Easter Weekend 2026 in London runs from Friday 3 to Monday 6 April, offering the perfect opportunity to make the most of the capital. Fancy mastering your own hot cross buns, enjoying a moving Easter concert, or discovering Soho’s newest underground jazz club? Here is our guide to the best things to do over Easter Weekend 2026.
Art exhibitions
The long weekend is the perfect time for gallery hopping and enjoying the capital’s rich cultural offerings, from exciting new openings in March and city-wide exhibitions celebrating female artists during International Women’s Month, to photography and fashion exhibitions.
Behind the scenes of Schiaparelli Fashion Becomes Art at V&A South Kensington. Image credit Jamie Stoker.
Image courtesy of Bread Ahead
Hot Cross Bun Experience at Bread Ahead
Bread Ahead is ringing in hot cross bun season for 2026 with their beloved Easter classic, available from the day after Shrove Tuesday. This year, they’re also launching a brand-new shorter-format workshop, the Hot Cross Bun Experience, perfect for those short on time but keen to master one signature bake. In this 90-minute hands-on session, participants will learn to mix, shape, and glaze their own buns under the guidance of expert bakers, enjoy their freshly baked creations with tea or coffee, and take some home to share. The workshop offers a fun and practical way to recreate Bread Ahead’s iconic buns at home, making it a perfect pre-Easter treat.
Date: runs through the lead-up to Easter 2026. Location: Bread Ahead, Borough Market, 9–15 Stoney Street, London SE1 9AA. Price: £35 per person. Book now
Image credit Larisa Birta
Easter at Wigmore Hall
Easter at Wigmore Hall presents a reflective series of concerts exploring the drama and meaning of the season through music and poetry. The series opens on 1 April with Vox Luminis, directed by Lionel Meunier, performing works by Sebastiani and Steffani that explore the human drama of Christ’s Passion. On Friday 3 April, Haydn’s Seven Last Words is paired with readings by poet Ruth Padel, creating a thoughtful dialogue between music and spoken word. On Saturday 4 April, the day begins with Schütz’s Seven Last Words, performed by an outstanding vocal ensemble with Fretwork, before concluding at 3:00pm with Schütz’s Resurrection History, an uplifting and powerful finale. Click here for programme details.
Date: 1 April – 4 April 2026. Location: Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore Street, London W1U 2BP, United Kingdom. Price: from £18 to £50.
Image courtesy of the Flamingo Club
The Flamingo Club
Soho’s new Flamingo Club in Kingly Court brings live jazz, funk, soul and disco to a stylish underground setting, with classic drinks and snacks. The club hosts B SIDES Jam Sessions on the last Tuesday of every month, where emerging London jazz artists improvise alongside the records that inspired them. The next session takes place on 31 March, a lively, spontaneous night and a great way to kick off the long weekend!
Location: 50 Kingly Court, Carnaby Street, Soho, London W1F 9PY. Website: flamingoclubsoho.com. Instagram: @flamingoclubsoho
Speaking Aloud / Conversation’s Over, exploring feminist self-representation through film, will be on show at the Barbican this week.
Easter Weekend Theatre
For the Easter long weekend, the theatre is a fantastic way to spend your time in the capital. Highlights include The Authenticator and Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the National Theatre, A Doll’s House at the Almeida Theatre, and the opening of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest at The Old Vic.
Tracey Emin, I whisper to My Past Do I have Another Choice 2010. © Tracey Emin.
Julie’s Easter Egg Hunt
Julie’s in Holland Park offers a delightful way to celebrate Easter, with a charming neighbourhood egg hunt featuring homemade chocolate. Alongside the festivities, guests can enjoy a classic three-course Easter Sunday menu, including roast spring lamb with seasonal vegetables and mint sauce. It’s an ideal choice for a family gathering, with a touch of fun for the children.
Date: Sunday 5 April 2026. Location: Julie’s, Holland Park, 135 Portland Road, London W11 4LW. Price: £50 per person. Book now
Shakespeare at the Globe
The Globe Theatre offers an exciting series of Shakespearean events throughout the long weekend for all ages, including a staging of Romeo and Juliet exploring love and rivalry, interactive family workshops for Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, and The Tempest, a Young Actors Short Course for aspiring performers, thrilling sword fighting demonstrations, and the Ghosts and Ghouls Family Tour exploring Shakespeare’s supernatural tales and historical folklore. This programme brings the Bard’s world to life through performance, play, and hands-on experiences.
Date: 5 March – 31 October 2026. Location: Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London SE1 9DT
Image courtesy of the Royal Albert Hall
Messiah on Good Friday at the Royal Albert Hall
This Good Friday, the Royal Choral Society marks 150 years of performing Handel’s Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall with a landmark concert that honours a long-standing Easter tradition. Since the first performance on 14 April 1876, the annual Good Friday Messiah has become a cherished event, interrupted only by the Blitz and the Covid-19 pandemic. Experience the iconic choruses performed live by the Royal Choral Society, accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and a quartet of soloists, all under the baton of Music Director Richard Cooke. Set within the magnificent surroundings of London’s famous concert hall, this is a bucket-list Easter experience for music lovers.
Date: Friday 3 April 2026. Location: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP. Price: from £24. Book now
