What to Do on Sunday in London

What to Do in London on Sunday

There is not much that can beat a weekend in London. Locals are so busy running the rat race all week that come the weekend, they are always up for leisurely activities. And tourists, well, they are usually game for anything, at anytime and especially when in London!

While the busy-ness of a weekend in London is high energy and full of excitement, it can sometimes feel overwhelming and knowing where to go to find pockets of calm for a slow Sunday can help to ease the weekend blues. Here I have put together a list of a few of my favourite things to do out and about on a Sunday in London, come rain or shine.

Victoria Park Sunday Market

Collage of street foods from Victoria Park Market, images sourced from VictoriaParkMarket.com

You can take your pick of the exquisite London parks all week round, but on a Sunday Victoria Park is easily your best bet. With areas catering to every activity level, the park is a real treat for families, friends or even a solo adventure.

Every Sunday morning I head down to the Victoria Park Market, open from 10am to 4pm on Sundays only. There, I grab a cuppa of my favourite coffee and a delicious freshly baked pastry from one of the local stalls, before finding a quiet spot on the grass to sit and devour them. A leisurely meander along the pathways, surrounded by fresh air and beautiful flora always makes a slow Sunday that much sweeter.

For those with kids or higher activity levels, there are many more offerings to explore. To get the heart rate up, you can go for a row or pedal on the Victoria Park Boating Lake – also great for a romantic date! If you are heading through as family with young children, be sure not to miss the Pools Playground, especially on those hot summer days!

MARKET OPENING HOURS: Sundays — 10am to 4pm
ADDRESS: Grove Rd, London E3 5TB, UK
Nearest Station: Cambridge Heath overground, Hackney Wick overground

Columbia Road Flower Market

Columbia Road Flower Market, image sourced from Air France Travel Guide

If you carry on strolling East from Victoria Park, in just over half an hour you will reach the famous Columbia Road Flower market. A must see simply for the unique energy, this market is a feast for the eyes and ears. With a myriad of flowers, plants and trees, you can get your weekend nature fix from Columbia Road alone!

While you may not be looking to make a long term investment in a house plant as a tourist, you will definitely be able to pick up a bunch of flowers or two to make your temporary accommodation feel a little more like home.

If you are on a budget, I would recommend heading down just before closing time, around 2pm. The crowds will have somewhat dwindled and it is time for the stall owners to make their last sales. Almost everything is cut to half price and the energy effectively doubles. After 3pm, the road clears and quiet returns until next Sunday, bright and early.

OPENING HOURS: Sundays – 8am to 3pm
ADDRESS: Columbia Rd, London E2 7RG, UK
Metro Station: Bethnal Green underground, Hoxton overground

Brick Lane Sunday Market

Brick Lane Market, image sourced from Visit London

An easy 15 minute walk from Columbia Road will you get you to Brick Lane. While Brick Lane’s shops and restaurants are around all week long, the market is only open on Sundays. And not one to be missed. With an array of gorgeous vintage and boutique fashion, furniture, jewellery and art, you will wish you had more luggage space.

To ensure that you don’t get hangry while browsing all the wares that Brick Lane has to offer, I would definitely recommend grabbing a curry beforehand. Brick Lane is a famous for its many curry restaurants and the authentic experiences they offer. Sheba is a great authentic and well priced option. If you can’t get in there, pop next door to vegan friendly, award winning City Spice.

If curry just isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other international options to be found at the Sunday market food stalls, including delights from the Mediterranean to Malaysia, Morocco and Ethiopia, among many more.

While in the area, why not take some time to explore the vibrancy of Shoreditch. A guided walking tour is a great way to really get to know the area and take in all the creative street art & culture it has to offer. Who knows, you may even spot a Banksy!

OPENING HOURS: Sundays – 10am to 5pm
ADDRESS: Brick Lane, Shoreditch,  E1 6QL
Nearest Station: Aldgate East Underground, Shoreditch High Street Overground

Sunday Roast in London

Meals served at Blacklock, images sourced from their instagram Blacklockchops

Everyone is familiar with the fact that it’s not always sunny in London Town. But don’t let that bog your Sunday down. I don’t think there is anything more British to do on a Sunday than enjoy a good old pub roast, Yorkshire puddings and all!

If you’re looking to get a little fancy after all the market meandering, The Albion in Islington is the place to head to for your Sunday roast. The upmarket pub style interior and roaring fireplace are the perfect components to a moody weathered Sunday. And if you are lucky enough for the sun to be out, you may prefer to enjoy your slow roast under the dappled shade of the floral awning in the garden.

Blacklock in Soho is a more central Sunday roast spot and a visit would pair well with a free guided walking tour of this trendy area. A stone’s throw away from Piccadilly Circus, this steak and chophouse offers “Sunday roasts almost as good as Mum’s”. And boy is that statement true. With vegetarian options too, this is a spot that everyone can enjoy any Sunday of the year!

OPENING HOURS: Sunday Lunch — 12pm to 6pm
ADDRESS: 24 Great Windmill St, Soho, London W1D 7LG, UK
Nearest Station: Picadilly Circus, Oxford Circus