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.

Dance your way through the Easter bank hol at one of The Cause's famed day parties. Norwegian disco king Todd Terje tops the expansive bill, which spans the globe and includes Chicago house and techno expert Hiroko Yamamura, rising Canadian star Honeydrip, and Berlin exports Sugar Free. There’ll also be heaps of London talent on the decks, too, including the return of Dalston party crew Disco Bloodbath, who’ll be performing together for the first time in nearly eight years. You’ll need sustenance to make it through all 14 hours of this party, and there’ll be plenty of scran on hand from a range of food vendors to help keep you in ship shape for a big start to your four-day weekend. 

Step away from the mess of consoles in your bedroom and get immersed in the latest experimental games from across the world at Somerset House’s video-gaming extravaganza Now Play This. Into 8-bit 1-uping or cutting-edge new releases? The fest is all about interacting with thoughtful, inventive games that draw from the world we live in. It’s the 11th edition this year and, as ever, it will be showcasing games around a particular theme – this year: ‘Folk Games: the stories we play together’, which will be exploring community and identity through creativity and play.

In ARCADE, a set of dance games will task people with performing spontaneous choreography to a bouncy electronic soundtrack. The Strand Avian Society will lead players on an architectural mystery through the streets of London, or make your own game in one of the Game Design Workshops and listen to talks and roundtables. Whether you’re a hardcore gamer or have never even held an Xbox, there’s loads of fun to be had here.

Sinfonia Smith Square Hall is once again celebrating Easter with a week packed full of concerts showcasing some of London’s finest classical music stars. The programme features a mix of choral masterpieces and instrumental works, with each giving space for listeners to reflect and connect with the music and those around them.

German house and techno DJ Paul Van Dyk knows how to throw a party, and he’s coming back to London to proof it this Easter weekend. ‘The World Is Ours’ will see the award-winning producer turning up the atmosphere at The Cause for an outdoor daytime blowout, where you can be safe in the knowledge you’ve still got one more day left to recover before reality comes calling again.

Easter is the perfect excuse to visit one of London's bougiest bakeries and score a batch of freshly baked hot cross buns: visit the likes of St John, Popham's or Toklas for rich, dense takes on a classic. Or go rogue at Gelupo, which is serving them stuffed with delectable ice cream eggs. Here's our rundown of this city's finest.

With GoBoat in Paddington, you can hire and self-drive your own boat make your way across London’s canals. Depending on how good your steering skills are, you’ll be travelling past London Zoo, through Regent’s Park and Camden Lock. Prices start at £95 for one hour. Sound good? Each GoBoat can have a micro crew of up to six people. Your days as a lonely sea captain are over. 

The Horniman Museum and Gardens’ Spring Fair is maybe the most efficient way to cram as much Easter fun into a single day as possible. The gardens will be taken over by a ridiculously busy programme, with everything from an Animal Walk to an Easter Bonnet Parade. But there’s plenty more: think circus skills, singalongs, fete games and seed planting, all fuelled by some cracking cuisine from the roster of food stalls.

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. 

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.