55 ways to have an amazing Easter Bank Holiday weekend in London

[Families on the South Bank. Pic: Sarah Melhuish]

Got the Friday feeling… on a Thursday? That’s because workplaces are getting ready to shut down for a four day weekend Easter extravaganza. WOOP! Here’s what you should be doing when you’re not BBQing, recovering from the previous night’s antics or stuffing your face with chocolate…

All Bank Holiday

Four days of fun = four days of funfair! Regress on the rides at the Hampton Court Easter Funfair.

Hear the coursing currents at Trinity Buoy Wharf translated into music at John Eacott’s Floodtide: Listening Post.

The Royal Kitchens at Kew Palace are being brought back to life for the Easter weekend with Live Georgian Cookery.

Newly opened exhibitions: Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs, Tate Modern, Bankside; Andreas Gursky: Early Landscapes at Sprüth Magers, Mayfair; and Chris Marker at the Whitechapel Gallery.

Mini music fest: ‘60s inspired action at Modstock, Shacklewell Arms, Dalston, with bands, films, and a record fair.

Kid-friendly specials: Family Weekend at Sadler’s Wells, Angel; Disney on Ice at Wembley Park; and Easter at the Discovery Story Centre, Stratford.

Weekend-long egg hunts at Kensington Palace; Brogdale Farm, Faversham; Lee Valley Park Farms; Morden Hall Park; Osterly Park; Museum of Childhood; The Horniman Museum, and more.

Friday

Have a sleepover – spend the night with the Morning Glory crew, Oval Space.

The Wintershall Players are back with horses, donkeys and doves to perform The Passion of Christ, Trafalgar Square.

Gigs: Denovali Swingfest at Village Underground, Shoreditch; Terakaft at Rich mix, Brick Lane; Atari Teenage Riot at Heaven, Charing Cross and 13 more.

Saturday

Check out the vinyl and bands at Berwick Street’s Record Store Day.

Then compare the cover art at Secret 7”, Mother, Shoreditch.

Learn how to brine and salt at a food smoking course at Hackney City Farm. Scrummy salmon here we come!

Dance Nuyorican salsa and boogaloo at Floridita, Soho.

Gigs: Adam Ant at Hammersmith Apollo; September Girls at the Hoxton Bar & Kitchen; Fletch’s Brew at Ronnie Scott’s, Soho and 28 more.

Sunday

Dress as Jesus – or Judas, if you prefer – and drink for charity at Christathon, The Trinity pub, Borough.

Jump on board the Rock’n'Roll Route Master Bus Tour, loading up at Walthamstow.

Easter egg hunts at: Keats House, Hampstead; The Fashion & Textile Museum, Bermondsey; The Brixton Windmill and the Kensington Roof Gardens.

Gigs: Bellowhead at the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington; Dill Katz at the 606 Club, Chelsea; The Sha La La’s at 100 Club, Soho and 15 more.

Monday

Music, food and Morris dancing: The Feast of St George, Trafalgar Square.

To go, or not to go? Go! To Shakespeare’s 450th Birthday Party, The Globe, South Bank.

Visit Every Street in Soho, learn a load of stories, and drink in a fair few pubs en route too!

Knights on horseback, dog races, and flying displays at the Easter Country Fair at Lee Valley Park.

Gigs: Gallon Drunk at The Lexington, Angel; Metamorphic + Jason Singh at Vortex, Dalston; Jamie Lenman at Islington Assembly Hall and 15 more.

Other ideas

Music, art and BBQ at Yard Life Festival (Sat-Sun), at the Islington Metal Works.

Easter weekend film releases: ’The Amazing Spider-man 2‘, ‘Magic Magic‘, ‘Love Punch‘.

Last chance to stop by: Art on the Underground Print Shop pop-up at Piccadilly (until Sat); the Toast Army, at the Royal Artillery Museum, Woolwich (until Sat); and the Jameel Prize 3 exhibition at the V&A (until Mon).

Comedy: See Adam Buxton – Kernel Panic at the Duchess Theatre, Covent Garden; Susan Calman – The 68 Comeback Tour at Udderbelly, Waterloo; Tony Law – Nonsense Overdrive at Udderbelly, Waterloo.

Eat everything from fried chicken to frogs legs and souvlaki to sushi at the Urban Food Fest, the Euro Car Park, Shoreditch (from Sat).

And don’t miss the best of the blog! 

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Barking mad! Would you pay £60 for some Dalston twigs?

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