Seasonal
Things to Do in London at Easter
Chocolate trails through royal gardens, magnolias in full flower and a long weekend built for slow mornings and big days out.
In short: our top picks are Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, The Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt at Hampton Court Palace and Zoonormous Egg Hunt at London Zoo. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Easter is the moment London shakes off winter, and the city knows it. The smart move is to point the long weekend outdoors, towards the great gardens and palaces where the spring planting peaks and the trails actually feel like adventures rather than a quick rummage round a car park. Book the headline trails in advance, because Good Friday and Easter Monday fill up fast at Hampton Court and Kew. Then keep Easter Sunday morning gentle, with a choral service or a slow garden walk before the crowds arrive.
| Place | Area |
|---|---|
| Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew | Kew, Richmond |
| The Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt at Hampton Court Palace | East Molesey, Surrey |
| Zoonormous Egg Hunt at London Zoo | |
| Easter Trail at Ham House and Garden | Ham, Richmond |
| Easter Trail at RHS Garden Wisley | Woking, Surrey |
| Easter Day Services at Westminster Abbey | Westminster |
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Editor’s choice
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Why we pick itA self-led Octonauts nature trail runs across the holidays as tulips, magnolias and cherry blossom hit their spring peak over 300 acres.
family trail, spring gardens
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The Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt at Hampton Court Palace
Why we pick itA self-led trail of about 90 minutes hunts twelve Lindt gold bunny statues through Henry VIII's gardens, with a chocolate bunny reward at the finish.
palace egg trail
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Zoonormous Egg Hunt at London Zoo
Why we pick itSix giant eggs hide letters of a secret code across the zoo, with stamps to collect at each one and a chocolate treat for cracking it.
zoo clue trail
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Easter Trail at Ham House and Garden
Why we pick itA riverside trail through a rare seventeenth-century house and formal gardens, ending with a UK-made chocolate egg for £3.50 on top of admission.
National Trust trail
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Easter Trail at RHS Garden Wisley
Why we pick itA clue-solving detective trail leads families through the RHS flagship garden as spring bulbs and blossom come into colour, with a chocolate prize at the end.
garden detective trail
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Easter Day Services at Westminster Abbey
Why we pick itSung Eucharist at 10.30am and Choral Evensong at 3pm on Easter Day fill the medieval abbey with one of the country's finest choirs, free to attend.
choral abbey service
Before you book
Easter 2026 falls on Sunday 5 April, with most trails running across the school holidays from late March into mid-April. Pre-book timed tickets online for Hampton Court, Kew and London Zoo; turning up on spec over the bank holiday rarely works. For the out-of-town garden at Wisley and the riverside National Trust house at Ham, drive or take the train early, as parking fills by mid-morning.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is our editor's choice: A self-led Octonauts nature trail runs across the holidays as tulips, magnolias and cherry blossom hit their spring peak over 300 acres. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, The Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt at Hampton Court Palace and Zoonormous Egg Hunt at London Zoo lead the guide, with 6 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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