The perfect things to do in London on Sunday might be all about the food and the fun. How about taking romantic park strolls with a partner and gathering your family for the most leisurely part of the weekend. Sunday activities in London take you to thriving markets, afternoon matinee showings at the theatre and the smell of roasts wafting out of pubs, all of which are easily accessible from our two hotels, located by Charing Cross and Victoria stations. Here’s a roundup of our favourite Sunday activities in London.
Columbia Road Flower Market, Tower Hamlets
Columbia Road Flower Market is a wonderful slice of London life and the perfect place to visit on a Sunday morning. The market is an East End institution and thrills the senses with fresh flowers while stallholders, who’ve been selling here for generations, call out their prices. The market opens at 8am, selling seasonal blooms, house plants, cacti and dried flowers that line Columbia Road, and ends at 3pm. But there are independent shops and pubs here open till later that are worth popping into. Browse the vintage vinyl and restored record players at Play Vinyl, pick up a ceramic vase at PotLuck and escape the crowds for a Sunday lunch at The Royal Oak. If flower markets are your thing, we’ve got a few more for you. Now, back to the Sunday lunch…
Sunday lunch at the pub
Another British tradition is the Sunday roast with all the trimmings: roast potatoes, plenty of vegetables, heaps of gravy and large Yorkshire puddings. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan roast options too. Just a short stroll from Columbia Road Flower Market is The Marksman in Hackney, which has a reputation for excellent roasts and delicious fish. We recommend booking ahead here.
Another fantastic Sunday lunch spot is The Drapers Arms in Islington – it does delicious sharing roasts. For a Central London spot for Sunday lunch, head to The Duchess in Marylebone, which doesn’t skimp on portions either. Then you can walk off some of your food with a stroll through nearby Hyde Park. We’ve got more Sunday Roast ideas for you here.
Speaker’s Corner, Hyde Park
Speaker’s Corner by Marble Arch is at the northeast edge of Hyde Park, and every Sunday morning (and sometimes in the afternoons), you can listen to speakers airing their views from their soapbox. This spot symbolises free speech, which began here in the 1800s when prisoners would make a last speech before being hanged on the Tyburn Gallows. It’s here Suffragettes gathered for meetings, and Speaker’s Corner also became the focal point of the massive protest rally against the 2003 Iraq War. The subject up for discussion is as varied as those who stand there, so go along and see what the topic is this Sunday.
A Sunday musical matinee
If it’s raining, or you just fancy some live entertainment, London has plenty of Sunday matinee performances. Show times are usually between 3pm and 4pm, giving you plenty of time to get lunch and make your way to the theatre. There are top West End shows, like Frozen the Musical at Theatre Royal Drury Lane and The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre. If you’re an Abba fan, you can also see the spectacular Abba Voyage at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Matinee tickets can be cheaper, and you still have your evening ahead of you afterwards.
Spend your Sundays with us at The Clermont, Victoria or The Clermont, Charing Cross where you can relax in comfort or step outside where all of London awaits.