The best ways to celebrate Easter in London

We can’t wait to indulge in some Easter eggs (Picture: Supplied)

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It’s that time again. That time when we guzzle chocolate guilt-free, the calendar rapidly becomes rammed with plans to see family or old friends, and it’s socially acceptable to hunt for Easter eggs despite being well into adulthood.

But don’t just join any Easter egg hunt. There’s a 70s-inspired Italian one from Big Mamma group’s Barbarella, where you can win way more than just chocolates in foil. Or head to Spitalfields for an Easter shopping trail designed especially for grown-ups, and don’t miss south London’s island twist on your traditional lamb roast dinner. 

That’s not all that’s going on in town. We went straight down to the recently re-opened British institution Simpson’s in the Strand, where Courtney indulged in ‘low-and-slow’ cooked beef and saw the Dame Joan Collins. Read all about it below.

See you next week!

Things to do this week in London

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, here are 10 of the best activities, dining, and drinking spots in the capital.

1. Dine at reopened British institution Simpson’s in the Strand

Simpson’s is well-known for its roast beef trolleys (Picture: David Loftus)

By Courtney Pochin

I’m sipping a glass of Provence rosé as Dame Joan Collins walks by me. Hair perfectly coiffured, with a leopard print fur coat draped around her shoulders, she’s every bit as fabulous as you’d expect. No one else batted an eyelid at her arrival, though, as celebrity dinner guests are par for the course at London’s most legendary restaurant.

Jeremy King has taken the reins and revived Simpson’s in the Strand, but its Edwardian charm and opulence remain. There are original chandeliers, classic wood panelling, and the pièce de résistance: the roast trolleys have returned.

I can confirm the meat is wonderful – I’d go as far as to say it’s the best roast beef I’ve ever had. Devonshire Ruby Red beef is cooked low-and-slow for nine hours before being wheeled to your table, where a master carver cuts off two very generous slices and adds them to a plate alongside a giant Yorkshire Pudding (a tad overcooked for my liking), rosemary roast potatoes, chunky parsnips, carrots, and greens. It’s a very traditional meal in terms of style and flavour – as is everything else on the menu. Think Hovis-style loaves of bread, prawn cocktails, bubble & squeak, and spotted dick.

If you’re after bold, innovative dishes, this isn’t going to be the place for you. But if you want to feel like you’ve waltzed straight into another era and enjoy a little dinnertime theatre while doing it, you’ll love Simpson’s.

Courtney tells you more about Simpson’s in the Strand here.

Hot trolley with all the roast trimmings, £39.50. Other mains from £19.75, starters from £9.75, sides from £5.75. 100 Strand, The Strand, WC2R 0EZ. Book here.

2. Try some brand new dishes on the menu at Dishoom’s sister restaurant Permit Room

By Lola Christina Alao

If you didn’t already know, Dishoom has a sister restaurant called Permit Room. It’s just as delicious, so I was shocked to arrive on a Monday to no queue. But don’t let that fool you, the food here is just as good as Dishoom’s. And they have some new dishes on the menu: generously spiced onion bhajia and punchy mouthfuls of chilli cheese garlic naan bites. The lamb samosas aren’t exactly new… but it just doesn’t feel right not ordering them. They are little parcels of heaven you’d be mad not to try. The drinks menu gets an upgrade too – say hello to new sips like the Blushing Dawn Paloma and Golden Gloaming Fizzer.

Snacks from £5.20, small-ish plates from £7.70, Ruby Murray from £13.90. 186 Portobello Rd, Notting Hill, W11 1LA. Book here.

3. Grab a slice of NYC style pizza at Alley Cats Pizza as it goes West in Notting Hill

Yum! (Picture: Supplied)

By Brooke Davies

Alley Cats Pizza’s new restaurant is a refreshingly relaxing (and adorably cat-themed) dining option on the iconic Portobello Road. You are greeted with The Simpsons projected onto the wall, but those looking for a more subdued space can head on upstairs for a calmer vibe. The pizzas are simple but effective and if you prefer a thicker, breadier base this is the place for you.

The margherita is warming, but not being able to resist a bit of spice, my favourite is the pepperoni and jalapeno. On top of the doughier base, it adds a kick as well as a bit of sweetness with the honey drizzled on top. That means you don’t have to love heat to enjoy the flavour. With a ‘quick and easy’ vibe, beer options are a bottle house brew or a Mexican lager, which gets it just right.

Starters from £5. Main pizzas from £17. 223 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, W11 1LT. Book here.

4. Hop into Easter with these fun things to do

Get lucky in Barbarella’s Italian Disco Easter Giveaway

Best for: throwing it back 

Barbarella has created a special Easter egg hunt with some pretty impressive prizes up for grabs. They’re partnering with London-based disco ball artist Sophie Lopez to design 20 quirky and sparkly Italian-themed Easter eggs filled with vouchers. And with those vouchers, you can get anything from a free dessert to a full meal for two to be redeemed at Barbarella. Keep an eye out Barbarella’s Instagram, where they’ll be dropping cues on the hidden locations of their eggs from 11am on 5 April. 

5 April, from 11am. Find out more.

Take on the Great Adult Easter Egg Hunt with The Chai Girls

Best for: teamwork!

Find not just eggs, but clues, challenges, and prizes hidden all over Old Spitalfields Market’s independent stalls. The fun begins at 1pm on 3 April where you’ll be put into small teams and given your first clue. From there, expect puzzle-solving and plenty of competitive chaos. It’s also the perfect opportunity to support local independent businesses. Come ready to think on your toes and get into the Easter spirit!

Spitalfields Market, 65 Brushfield Street. Tickets, £15. Book here. 

Tuck into a Caribbean roast at 2210 by NattyCanCook

Best for: an Easter roast with a twist

We could never get bored of roasts, and definitely not this one. Nathaniel Mortley serves up his famous Caribbean roasts every Sunday at his debut restaurant 2210 by NattyCanCook in Herne Hill. Bajan, Jamaican and Guyanese flavours come together to reimagine the British classic. For the meat eaters, there are slow-roasted meats like Jerk Chicken, Lamp Rump or Turkey Wing, served alongside all the trimmings: Scotch chimichurri roasties, jollof rice, yorkies. But the veggies haven’t been forgotten about, as there’s a vegetarian roast that proves everyone get excited about 2210. 

Mains from £25, add ons from £5.50. 75 Norwood Road, Herne Hill. Book here.

5. Try some of the UK’s best burgers at Burger Fest UK 2026

We love a good old juicy burger done well, so it’s music to our ears to hear that a huge burger festival is landing in Richmond this summer. Get ready to taste delicious patties and buns from the UK and Ireland’s most hyped traders, sip on craft beer and cocktails, and vibe to DJs. 12-14 June. Tickets here.

6. Get your tickets early for Taste of London, one of the biggest foodie events of the year

There’s more where that came from: Taste of London is back on 17-21 June with some of London’s best-loved restaurants like luxe Chinese restaurant Hakkasan and Syrian hotspot Aram. If you prefer to sit back and learn how to brush up your own culinary skills, look forward to hearing from rapper-foodie Big Zuu and chef Sarit Packer. Get your tickets here. 

7. Save some money on beautifully made dishes from Cinnamon Club as they celebrate 25 years

They’re throwing it back to 2001 (Picture: Supplied)

If you didn’t catch The Cinnamon Club’s 25th anniversary ‘Retro Menu’, you’ve been given another chance. You can munch on dishes priced as they were at the original 2001 opening, which means serious savings on some beautifully cooked dishes. Find out more and secure your booking here.

8. Munch on huge sandwiches at Mondo Sando’s grab and go spin off, MONDO TO GO

Exciting news! (Picture: Supplied)

Mondo Sando are opening MONDO TO GO on 10 April. It’s a grab and go sarnie shop with Deptford-only specials just in time for Spring, plus the signatures Mondo Frango, Everything Cutlet and more. And they’re treating you to a soft launch offer of 50% off food from 10-12 April!

9. Sip on Central and Eastern European wines at brand new opening sova

sova, a brand new wine and vinyl bar comes to Notting Hill next week. Expect a focus on wine from Georgia, Armenia and Ukraine and a menu of  tasty Slavic-inspired sharing plates. Look out for The Slice’s review coming soon.

10. Head to the Horniman Gardens for all things plants

A plant fair comes to the beautiful Horniman Gardens in south east London on 4 April. It’s your chance to buy plants from small and independent nurseries: cottage-garden favourites, alpines, trees and shrubs. And if you’re a plant parent with any queries, knowledgeable growers will be on hand for help and advice. Find out more.

11. See Summerfolk at the National Theatre

By John Nathan

★★★★

You know a revival of an old play is working when it makes you think of now as much as then. Although Maxim Gorky’s provocative work was first seen in 1905 and is populated by members of Russia’s middle class, the whole shebang teeters on the familiar sense that big change is coming. And not just any change but a massive and possibly violent disruption.

The plot is as slow-moving as the river in which his characters bathe their feet during a baking hot Russian summer. Yet the hand-wringing unhappiness of this privileged bunch is never less than fascinating to watch. The time flies by. All three hours of it. At the centre of this listless self-pitying flock of humanity is the unlikeable lawyer Bassov (played by Motherland’s Paul Ready) who delights in the unhappiness of those he hosts, and his wife even unhappier wife Vavara (Peaky Blinders’ Sophie Rundle).

Gorky’s disdain for his characters is palpable. This can be a problem, insofar as when a playwright doesn’t care about the fate of his characters, it can be difficult for an audience to see why they should. But here, the loss of bourgeoisie lifestyle feels more like comeuppance, just as Gorky intended. We don’t so much care as are fascinated, as if watching the last party on the Titanic.

Olivier Theatre, South Bank. Until 29 April. Book here. 

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