The best Easter events and activities in London

Wintershall Players return with their huge open-air re-enactment of ‘The Passion Of Jesus’ on Good Friday, marking the day the big man is believed to have been crucified by the Romans. Two 90-minute performances will be delivered by a cast of more than 100 actors and volunteers – plus a true menagerie of horses, donkeys and doves. Huge crowds usually gather for this event, but big screens ensure you won’t miss any crucial moments. The crucifixion scene is described as a ‘realistic interpretation’ – aka bracingly gory – so parental guidance is advised.

Apart from during the Blitz and the pandemic, this Good Friday performance has taken place every Easter weekend since 1876, and 2025 marks its 149th year. The Royal Choral Society’s rendition of Handel’s ‘Messiah’ (an English-language composition written way back in 1741) is without a doubt one of London’s greatest Easter traditions, and thanks to its accompaniment by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, it promises to be a rather wonderful way to spend Good Friday afternoon.

The emotional highs and lows of Christian Easter ritual have inspired some of the greatest classical music ever written. Discover the highlights of this sombre, joyful repertoire at this Sinfonia Smith Square's eclectic line-up of Easter concerts, including a Rachmaninoff all-night vigil, a Maundy Thursday organ vigil, an Easter gospel concert, and a Fauré’s Requiem performed entirely from memory.

The bucolic gardens Hampton Court Palace will once again be the setting for this Easter adventure. As you hunt for the Lindt Gold Bunnies that are dotted throughout the historic grounds, you can learn all about the legendary figures who have made their mark throughout the decades of this London landmark. The trail takes around 90 minutes and is self-led. Once you've found all the Lindt Gold Bunny statues, you'll be rewarded with your very own edible gold bunny (or non-chocolate treat). Suitable for kids aged between 3 and 12.

What’s better than a load of chocolate for Easter? A load of hard, cold cash of course! And that’s what Walthamstow’s expansive beer hall Big Penny Social is offering up this Easter Sunday when one lucky team in its Big Easter Quiz will be taking home a big cash jackpot. And there’s plenty more to win, besides the wonga. Each team taking part will receive a chocolatey prize, and there’ll also be bar tabs, rounds of drinks and various other treats on the line. 

Sunday lunch. There’s nothing quite like it. An elemental meal that Londoners take incredibly seriously, debates about what constitutes the ‘perfect’ Sunday roast have been known to last for hours. There is no shortage of top roasts in London. We’ve rounded up the city’s best Sunday meals from a host of homely pubs and restaurants all around town. From snug neighbourhood staples to more bijou gastropubs. A lot of these places get quite busy, by the way. So you’re always advised to book ahead to avoid disappointment. 

Richmond’s 17th-century Ham House and Garden is hosting an Easter egg hunt in the run up to – and across – Easter weekend, with a special trail taking you around the grounds. The trail was inspired by the English Civil Wars and features activities along the way for the whole family to take part in. Make your way around 10 game stations and find out by the end if you’ve managed to save Ham House. Even if you fail, you’ll still get a yummy Easter egg to enjoy, with dairy, vegan and Free From options available.

London’s botany HQ should be booming with blooms in April, making it the perfect spot for an Easter weekend walk. From its Cherry Walk lined with pink-blossomed Japanese cherry trees to its primrose and crocus-filled woodland garden, there’s plenty of pretty petals to spot here. 

Highbury wine bar Top Cuvée’s seems to outdo itself year after year with its ever-popular Easter egg hunt for grown-ups, and 2026 is no different. The enfants terribles of London’s natty wine scene have once again partnered with ethical choccie purveyor Tony’s Chocolonely for the sixth edition of their cult event, with full-sized Tony’s Easter eggs (going for twelve quid in the supermarkets) and a Top Cuvée tote on offer for up to 1000 hunters who complete the trail, and a covetable grand prize. There’ll also be sandos, plenty of wine and a few surprises throughout the day. Simply sign up online and rock up to Top Cuvée from midday on Easter Sunday to be in with a shout of taking home the goodies. Happy hunting!

Head to the Chelsea Physic Garden this Easter weekend and let the little ones unleash their creativity on the venue’s self-led art trail. As they make their way around, they’ll be able to fill out their trail booklet and learn about the plants and animals that call the garden their home. Reach the end of the trail and each kid will be given a small chocolate treat and invited to take part in a crafty workshop, where they can flex their artistic skills.

Yes, it's the weekend after Easter. But the Horniman Museum and Gardens’ Spring Fair is maybe the most efficient way to cram as much spring fun into a single day as possible. The gardens will be taken over by kid-friendly fun galore: in previous years, that's meant Easter bonnet parades, animal walks, craft tables, bubbles, and plenty of street food from stalls on the terrace. This is an outdoor event that'll take place whatever the weather, so bring a brolly if it looks like rain. 

There's nothing wrong with a Cadbury's egg, or a whimsical Waitrose offering (this year's almond croissant number is set to be a smash). But why not support the independents this Easter and find an egg that's totally unique? You'll find flower-decked fantasias, deliciously dark offerings drizzled with abstract splashes, and quaint animals at this city's chocolate shops, but get cracking - they're likely to sell out before the big day.