Spring Break in London 2026: What to See, Do, and Watch on the West End

If you're planning a London trip during the spring school holidays, you've picked a great time. The city wakes up properly in late March and April, with longer days, parks coming into bloom, and the West End running a full schedule of shows for every taste and age group. The 2026 Easter break runs from around 30 March to mid-April for most UK schools, which means two full weeks of prime London visiting time.

Here's how to plan a spring break trip that combines the best of London's theatre with everything else the city has going for it.

West End Shows Worth Booking This Spring

The West End is at full strength during the school holidays, with both long-running classics and newer productions performing seven or eight shows a week. Here's what stands out for spring 2026.

For families with younger children, Disney's Hercules at Theatre Royal Drury Lane is an excellent pick. At just 2 hours 10 minutes, it's one of the shorter big musicals, the songs are instantly familiar, and the staging in that vast Drury Lane auditorium is genuinely spectacular. Under 4s aren't admitted. My Neighbour Totoro at the Gillian Lynne Theatre is a different kind of family show. Adapted from the Studio Ghibli film, it uses extraordinary puppetry to bring the forest spirits to life. It's gentler and more contemplative than most musicals, and works beautifully for ages 4 and up.

For the classic West End experience, The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre continues to astonish after 25 years. The opening number alone justifies the ticket price, and Julie Taymor's staging remains a theatrical landmark. It's 2 hours 30 minutes, suits ages 6 and up, and if you haven't seen it live, spring is a fine time to fix that.

Teenagers and older children have strong options too. Starlight Express at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre is reimagined with jaw-dropping rollerskating that wins over even reluctant theatre-goers. Wicked at the Apollo Victoria continues to draw huge audiences following the recent film, and the stage version offers a deeper, more nuanced take on the story. Back to the Future at the Adelphi Theatre delivers high-energy nostalgia with impressive practical effects.

If you're visiting as a couple or group of adults, the spring holidays can actually work in your favour. Families tend to cluster around matinees and weekends, which means weekday evening performances often have better availability. Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, and Moulin Rouge! at the Piccadilly Theatre are all excellent evening choices.

Beyond the West End: What Else to Do in London This Spring

A spring break in London isn't just about theatre. The city has an enormous amount going on during the school holidays, and the improving weather makes outdoor activities much more appealing.

London's Royal Parks are at their best in late March and April. St James's Park has pelicans that are fed daily at 2:30pm, and the walk from there through Green Park to Hyde Park takes about 40 minutes and passes Buckingham Palace along the way. Regent's Park opens its gorgeous avenue gardens, and the tree-lined paths around the boating lake are lovely once spring arrives properly.

The South Bank is one of the best stretches of London for a family day out, and it costs nothing to walk. Starting at the London Eye, you can stroll east along the Thames past the Southbank Centre (which runs free family events during school holidays), the National Theatre, the Tate Modern, and Shakespeare's Globe, all the way to Tower Bridge. The whole walk takes about an hour at a leisurely pace, with plenty of places to stop for food and drink.

For museums, London is hard to beat. The Natural History Museum, Science Museum, and V&A are all free, sit next to each other in South Kensington, and could easily fill a full day between them. The British Museum in Bloomsbury is similarly free and enormous. During school holidays these get busy, especially the Natural History Museum's dinosaur gallery, so arriving when doors open at 10am makes a real difference.

If the weather cooperates, a river cruise along the Thames is a brilliant way to see the city without exhausting young legs. Services run from Westminster Pier to Greenwich, passing the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and Canary Wharf. Greenwich itself is worth the trip for the Cutty Sark, the Royal Observatory (straddle the Prime Meridian), and Greenwich Park with its views back over the city.

Borough Market near London Bridge is open every day except Sunday and serves some of the best street food in London. It gets crowded, but the quality is genuine, and it's a good stop if you're exploring the South Bank area. Nearby, the food halls at Flat Iron Square offer a more relaxed alternative.

Planning Your Spring Break Theatre Trip

Combining a show with a wider London itinerary takes a bit of planning, but it's straightforward once you know how the days fit together.

For a matinee day, plan your morning activity within easy reach of your theatre. Most West End theatres are around Covent Garden, Leicester Square, and Soho. The British Museum is 10 minutes' walk from many of them. A morning at the museum followed by a quick lunch and a 2:30pm show makes a full, satisfying day without any rushing.

For an evening show, spend the day exploring further afield, perhaps South Kensington museums, Greenwich, or the South Bank, then head to the theatre district in the late afternoon. Pre-theatre menus at restaurants around Covent Garden and Soho start from around 4:30pm and are designed to get you to your seat on time.

If you're spending several days in London, spread your shows out. Seeing a show every day sounds exciting but leads to theatre fatigue remarkably quickly, especially with children. One or two shows across a week-long stay, with plenty of non-theatre days in between, gives each performance the space it deserves.

Practical Tips for a Spring Break London Visit

Buy an Oyster card or use contactless payment for all public transport. London's buses and Tube are the easiest way to get around, and there's a daily cap on contactless fares, so you won't overspend. Children under 11 travel free on the Tube and buses when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket.

London's weather in late March and April is unpredictable. Pack layers and a waterproof jacket regardless of the forecast. You might get sunshine and 18 degrees one day and rain and 8 degrees the next. Indoor attractions like museums and theatres are useful backup plans for wet days.

Book your West End tickets before you arrive. The school holidays are one of the busiest periods for London theatres, and the best seats go quickly. Booking a few weeks in advance gives you the widest selection of seats and often better prices than buying last minute.

Restaurants near theatres get booked up during the holidays too. If you want pre-theatre dining at a specific spot, reserve a table when you book your show tickets. Most restaurants around the theatre district are used to the pre-theatre rush and will note your curtain-up time when you book.

For families, consider the Tube at off-peak times. Central London stations like Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus get very busy during school holidays. Travelling before 10am or after 7pm is noticeably calmer. Alternatively, many theatre district locations are walkable from Waterloo, Charing Cross, or King's Cross if you're arriving by mainline train.

Spring Break Experiences Beyond London

If you're spending a full week or two in the UK for spring break, London makes an excellent base for day trips.

The Eurostar from St Pancras can have you in Paris in just over two hours, and tickadoo offers Paris attractions and experiences including Disneyland Paris tickets. With Disney Adventure World and the new World of Frozen opening on 29 March 2026, the timing couldn't be better for a day trip or overnight stay. You can book Disneyland Paris day tickets or combined train and park ticket packages through tickadoo.

Closer to home, Windsor Castle is under an hour by train from Paddington, Bath is 90 minutes from Paddington, and Brighton is just under an hour from Victoria. All make excellent day trips that give you a break from the city while staying within easy reach of your London base.

What to Know Before You Go

London during the school holidays is busier than a regular week, but it's also livelier. Street performers fill Covent Garden, the Southbank Centre runs outdoor events, and the parks are full of families. It's London at its most energetic.

Accommodation prices do increase during the school holidays, especially around the Easter bank holiday weekend. If you're flexible on dates, the tail end of the holidays (second week of April) tends to be slightly cheaper than the first week. Hotels in zones 2 and 3 offer better value than central London while still being well connected by Tube.

If you're visiting from overseas, remember that the UK uses three-pin plugs, the currency is pounds sterling, and tipping in restaurants is typically 10-12.5% (often added to the bill automatically). Most places accept contactless card payments, including market stalls and street food vendors.

Spring daylight in London runs from roughly 6:30am to 7:30pm in late March, extending to around 6am to 8pm by mid-April. That's plenty of light for sightseeing after a matinee show.

Book Your Spring Break

Ready to plan? Browse all West End shows on tickadoo, explore Paris experiences, and join the free tickadoo+ membership to earn rewards on every booking, whether that's theatre tickets, Disneyland Paris, or your next city break.