Things To Do In London Over The Bank Holiday Weekend

Things To Do In London Over The Bank Holiday Weekend
Bank holiday weekend things to do in London: two young boys looking down over Greenwich Park towards Canary Wharf in the sunshine
Got a whole bank holiday weekend stretching out ahead of you? Photo: Fas Khan via Unsplash

Long bank holiday weekend ahead of you and looking for things to do in London to fill the time? Take a gander at our suggestions below for activities in the capital and beyond, whatever the weather and whatever your budget.

Note: it's worth checking the opening hours of places mentioned here, as they sometimes do odd things (or close completely) over bank holiday weekends — and check public transport too, as bank hols are a favourite time for engineering works.

Cultural days out

Bank holiday weekend things to do in London: people on a guided walking tour around London
Do a Black History Walks guided tour

WALKING TOURS: Stretch your legs while learning something new about London on a walking tour. They're not just for tourists, y'know, and can cover extremely niche and little-known areas of London's geography and history. Among our favourite tours are Look Up London, Black History Walks and Footprints of London.

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES: Find out about the latest exhibitions in London's museums and galleries, and read our latest reviews, here. Been to all the well-known museums and galleries, and looking for somewhere new to explore? Here's our guide to cheaper, quieter, smaller and lesser-known alternatives to London's big venues.

CINEMA: Whether you're in the mood for the latest blockbuster, or something a little more arthouse, London's independent cinemas are flourishing. These are our favourite indy cinemas to kick back in.

COMEDY: London's one of the funniest places in the world: have a giggle at one of these comedy venues.

London walking routes

Bank holiday weekend things to do in London: 
 The dome of St Paul's against a bright blue sky, with green leaves at the front of the shot
Wander through the pocket parks of the Square Mile

POCKET PARKS: The City of London tends to be fairly sleepy at weekends, making it an excellent time to follow this walking route through the Square Mile's pocket parks — small, green spaces squeezed in between the buildings, bristling with nature and history.

WEEKEND WALKS: Our weekend walks are aimed at both casual strollers and super-keen hikers, ranging from two to 10 miles in length, and taking in parks, rivers, canals, windmills and more. From Hayes, to Richmond, to Hampstead to the Lea Valley, as well as Royal Parks — we've got all corners of London covered. See the full list and pick a route.

A STROLL TO KENT: You can travel all the way from London to Kent coast on this walking route, which passes nature reserves and marshes, forts and wartime pillboxes — and the gargantuan QEII Bridge at Dartford. Just a warning before you set off — it's 47 miles long. Maybe spread it out across the whole of the bank holiday weekend. Similarly, the Essex section of the English Coastal Path is easily reachable from London.

Great outdoors

Bank holiday weekend things to do in London:  A butterfly lands on a pink flower at River Lee Country Park
Get close to nature in the River Lee Country Park

GREEN SPACES: Looking for somewhere to kick back in the sun with a book, meet friends for a picnic, or just be around nature for a while? You need our guide to London's green spaces. It covers parks and commons across the capital — make this bank holiday weekend the one you discover somewhere new.

BOATING: If splashing about on London's waterways tickles your oar, get yourself down to your nearest boating lake. Parks across the capital have rowboats and pedalos available to hire — just pick your co-sailor carefully, or you'll be doing all the work yourself.

COUNTRY PARK: Mere metres from the Overground terminus at Cheshunt, River Lee Country Park is a 1,000 acre oasis, ideal for immersing yourself firmly in nature. Fish, dragonflies and butterflies are among the wildlife to be spotted at various times of year, with lakes, marshland and mature trees to navigate, plus sculptures and artworks. Admission is free.

BOTANICAL GARDEN: No, not Kew. Not event Chelsea Physic Garden. We're talking about Myddelton House Gardens, one of London's most northerly attractions, with eight acres to explore. It's become something of an architectural salvage ground — and we mean that in the best possible way — with parts of old London Bridge, rubble from the Victoria line excavations, and the former Enfield Market Cross all ending up here at one time or another. A truly fascinating place.

CYCLE ROUTES: If you want to get a bit further under your own steam, why not try one of these cycle routes?

SECRET GARDENS: Want to see a little corner of London you've never seen before? These little gardens should give you some inspiration. Take your book, pack a picnic and bask in the greenery.

Sporting pursuits

Bank holiday weekend things to do in London: 
 Inside the Aquatics Centre, looking down from the spectator seats to the pool
Swim in the London 2012 Olympics pool

SWIMMING: Looking for somewhere to get a few laps in? Have a look at our pick of London's best indoor swimming pools, from an Olympic pool to a former church.

OUTDOOR SWIMMING: If the weather's on your side, splash your way into one of London's refreshing lidos and outdoor swimming pools. On particularly warm bank holiday weekends, you might need to book in advance.

ICE SKATING: Ice skating's not just for Christmas you know — the capital has a few indoor ice rinks which offer public sessions year round, from Ally Pally up north to Streatham down south — plus one slap-bang in central London.

CLIMBING: The only way is up — at London's best climbing centres. Bouldering, top-rope climbing and lead climbing are all possible in the capital, with routes available for absolute beginners and more advanced climbers.

HORSE RIDING: You might be surprised quite how centrally you can try your hand at horse riding in London — lessons are available in Hyde Park, as well as Beckton, Richmond, Ealing, and several other places in between.

WINTER SPORTS: Fancy giving skiing, snowboarding, ice skating or curling a go? You'll be needing our guide to trying out winter sports in London — just be aware that they may not all be available year round.

ROLLER SKATING: Whether you're a keen skater or roller skating is on your bucket list, why not have a go this bank holiday? We've written a guide to roller skating in London featuring the best places to skate, where to buy skates, and plenty more.

Where to eat and drink

Bank holiday weekend things to do in London: 
Three pints of beer on a table
Find your nearest boozer in our pub guide

PUB: We flippin' love a pub, which is why we've pulled together many of our favourite London boozers into this pub guide. Search for pubs by area or by what it does best — fireplace, pub quiz, pool table, dog-friendly — you name it.

COCKTAILS: If it's more sophisticated supping you're after, try one of London's best cocktail bars, spread out across town from Dalston, Bethnal Green and Peckham to Covent Garden and Soho. Make ours a dry martini.

SUNDAY ROASTS: Because nothing says super-duper bank holiday weekend like a cracking Sunday roast — think fluffy spuds and towering Yorkshires. These are our favourites from venues all across town, and if you're veggie or vegan, we've got you covered too.

BEAUTIFUL RESTAURANTS: Treat your taste buds and your peepers (and whoever usually does the cooking...) by eating out at one of London's most beautiful restaurants, including one with a Starry Nights-inspired ceiling.

Family-friendly fun for the bank holiday

Bank holiday weekend things to do in London:  A little girl plays on an orange, train-shaped metal climbing frame in one of London's playgrounds
Find a playground in central London

PLAYGROUNDS: "I want to go on the sliiiiide". If that's a refrain overly familiar to you, you'll be wanting to bookmark our map of playgrounds in central London. A multitude of swings, slides and roundabouts are tucked away in the city centre. We've even got our mini Londonists to test some.

TEENAGERS: Teenagers can be tricky to entertain. Fear not — we've got 25 ideas for days out in London with teenagers, from sports to street art to shopping.

CRAZY GOLF: Tee off en famille at these family-friendly places to play crazy golf. Dinosaurs, dragons, whales and more dinosaurs (lots of dinosaurs) feature on the novelty nine- (and 18-) holers.

KING'S CROSS: Perhaps you're on your way to catch a train out of town, or to meet family or friends arriving here. Either way, if you find yourself in the King's Cross/St Pancras (or even Euston) area and need to keep the tiddlies happy, pick one of these 16 things to do with kids near King's Cross station.

FAIRY WOOD: I do believe in fairies, I do, I do. How could you not, when there's a fairy wood right here in London? Enough said.

RAINY DAY: This is England, and more often that not, bank holiday = rain. Doesn't mean you need to spend the day at home with Peppa Pig on repeat though. Here are our tips for things to do with kids on a rainy day in London.

ANIMALS: From city farms to wildlife reserves, London is a great place to see animals — often for free. We've mapped London's best animal spotting locations.

CAVES: Deep below Chislehurst in southeast London, 22 miles of manmade caves wait to be explored. Even in the height of summer, it's worth wrapping up warm for a visit to the caves, as it gets nippy below ground.

Free and cheap things to do

Bank holiday weekend things to do in London: 
 An arrow-shaped red neon sign with 'Thrills' written in the middle of it, on display at God's Own Junkyard in Walthamstow
Thrills: God's Own Junkyard is full of 'em. Photo: Laura Reynolds/Londonist

102 OF THEM: London's expensive: fact. Or at least, it is if you don't know about these 102 free things to do in the city, from museums and galleries to gardens and kids' activities.

Particular favourites of ours for a budget-friendly bank holiday weekend include:

BARBICAN CONSERVATORY: A glasshouse bursting with tropical plants (and terrapins!) within a brutalist housing estate in the City of London. Rather special.

GOD'S OWN JUNKYARD: London's own answer to Las Vegas, a Walthamstow warehouse packed to the rafters with neon signs of all shapes, sizes and colours. Some are a bit... saucy. There's also a cafe-bar inside, if the trip to the end of the Victoria line has left you parched.

Escape Zone 1

Bank holiday weekend things to do in London: 
 Looking up at the top half of the Severndroog Castle tower, with battlements and flagpole at the top
Explore this little-known castle in south east London.

SOUTH EAST LONDON: Caves, castles and topiary are all waiting to be explored in the south east of London.

SOUTH WEST LONDON: Did you know that London is home to windmills? And a gothic castle? Get out west and get exploring.

NORTH EAST LONDON: Parks, nature reserves and a manor house dominate north east London. Oh, and there's a pub crawl thrown in too.

NORTH WEST LONDON: Give your Oyster card a workout and take it out into the depths of north west London, where temples, museums and cemeteries await.

Easy day trips and weekend breaks from London

Bank holiday weekend things to do in London:  A row of pastel coloured beach huts on a sandy beach at Mersea Island, Essex
When the sun comes out, you'll be begging for Mersea. Photo: Londonist

We love London, but occasionally the world beyond the M25 beckons. That's why we've launched our Beyond London section with day trip ideas ranging from quaint villages to seaside towns, little-known museums and lakeside walks. You'll also find weekend guides to cities including Bristol, York and Lisbon. Overwhelmed with choice? Let us help you out with some of our favourites:

CASTLES: Who doesn't love a castle? Turrets, battlements, suits of armour... the works. Pick from these 15 beautiful castles in Kent (hello, Hever), five historic castles in Essex, or eight charming castles in Sussex (including the Hogwarts-esque Herstmonceux). Yeah, we really, really like castles.

SEASIDE: The sun in your eyes, the sand in your shoes, a cheeky seagull after your '99. Smashing. Pick between seaside towns in Kent, Essex or Sussex for your next seafaring escape from London. Brighton and Mersea Island are particular favourites.

QUIRKY MUSEUMS: They'll open a museum about anything these days... If you've visited the big-hitters and fancy something a little more off-piste, may we suggest one of these 19 fantastically niche and quirky museums near London. Teapots, sea shells, dog collars and Winnie the Pooh all feature.

MODEL VILLAGE: A mere hop outside the M25 is Bekonscot Model Village, an absolute gem of a place that's almost a century old. Pretend to be a giant as you stomp past replicas of tube stations and London Zoo. A more charming day out you'll struggle to find.

Shopping in London

Bank holiday weekend things to do in London:  A sign reading 'books' with a finger pointing towards books on a table on the pavement outside a shop.
Oh, go on then.

Got a few quid burning a hole in your pocket, or want to spend your extra bank holiday free time having a mooch around the shops? These are some of our favourites:

CRAFTS: Knitting, sewing, jewellery-making, calligraphy and paper crafts are among the hobbies covered by our favourite craft shops in London. Whether you need a new ball of wool for your latest project, or advice for a complete beginner, find somewhere you can get it.

BOOKS: If you ask us, bank holidays were made for reading — ideally in the sun in the park, but we'll settle for over a pint in the pub if that's what the weather dictates. Either way, you'll be in need of reading material, which these independent London bookshops all have by the shelf load.

SECOND HAND BOOKS: Whether for environmental or financial reasons (or just because you love that old book smell), we've got pre-loved books covered too, with our guide to shopping for second hand books in London — including one inside a former tube station.

CHOCOLATES: It's a bank holiday, and you deserve a sweet treat. So head to one of London's best chocolate shops — they range from historic boutiques, to the store which inspired Roald Dahl, to the modern shop which invented salted caramel (to who we give thanks on a daily basis).

FLOWERS: Brighten up your home with a cheeky trip to your local florist — these are our favourites across town.

Staying at home

Bank holiday weekend things to do in London:  A close-up of part of the tube map
Think you know the tube? Prove it with these quizzes

If weather's stopped play, or you just need a chilled, restorative weekend without leaving the house, that's not a problem.

PUZZLES AND QUIZZES: Get those little grey cells going with our collection of quizzes about London. From history and transport trivia to emoji, picture and anagram rounds, they're great for keeping you occupied, or going head-to-head with family and friends. Just keep it civil, eh?

Bank holiday weekend things to do in London: 
 Front cover of Londonist Mapped book
A jolly good read, if we may say so ourselves.

BOOKS: Need a new read? Might we point you in the direction of our own books, Londonist Mapped and Londonist Drinks. We pooled our knowledge about the best of London, combined it with some truly talented artists and cartographers and ended up with a couple of rather lovely tomes. Londonist Editor-at-Large Matt Brown has also been fairly busy writing books, including the mythbusting Everything You Know About London Is Wrong, and Atlas of Imagined Places. Plus, there's Routemasters of the Universe by Londonist contributor Harry Rosehill.

Phew. That little lot should see you through the weekend, right?

Last Updated 20 March 2024