Easter time in the U.K.
Oct 26th, 2005, 06:59 AM
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Easter time in the U.K.
We've thinking of visiting London during Easter/Passover school vacation. Are most restaurants, stores and attractions closed on Easter? What about Good Friday and Easter Monday - are most things closed on those days also? I don't want to waste vacation time sitting around a hotel room.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Oct 26th, 2005, 07:26 AM
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Shops over 3,000 sq feet must close on Easter Sunday. Some museums close on Good Friday.
Some restaurants that depend on these places' traffic may close at the same time. Otherwise, that's about it, though all sorts of places have all sorts of individual quirks.
Unlike Christmas, when everything closes because the tradition is to be at home with the family, most things open normally over Easter because the tradition is to get out and about. The Continental tradition of elaborate religious and/or family gatherings is unusual here.
Some restaurants that depend on these places' traffic may close at the same time. Otherwise, that's about it, though all sorts of places have all sorts of individual quirks.
Unlike Christmas, when everything closes because the tradition is to be at home with the family, most things open normally over Easter because the tradition is to get out and about. The Continental tradition of elaborate religious and/or family gatherings is unusual here.
Oct 26th, 2005, 07:29 AM
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Very little will be closed. These days, Easter is a mainly secular festival seemingly dedicated to the household god known as DIY, so there's plenty of commercial activity, but it also tends to be a time for getting out and about if you possibly can; though the weather isn't always as springlike as it should be, Easter 2006 is quite late (14-16 April) so the chances are the weather will be quite pleasant. Public transport will be on Sunday timetables on both the Friday and the Monday, though, and the airports will be crowded.
Oct 26th, 2005, 07:58 AM
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You'll find a lot of places of interest and tourist attractions will be running special events over Easter...mostly for kids, but not all. You'll find a lot of Easter Egg hunts...
It doesn't really get treated as a religious festival by many here in the UK, it is a big weekend to shop, go out as a family, and consume lots of chocolate eggs! Easter weekend is also the traditional first opening date for attractions, such as theme parks, that close over the winter.
It doesn't really get treated as a religious festival by many here in the UK, it is a big weekend to shop, go out as a family, and consume lots of chocolate eggs! Easter weekend is also the traditional first opening date for attractions, such as theme parks, that close over the winter.
Oct 26th, 2005, 03:40 PM
#5
The Londoners above have spelled things out well. You definitely won't have to stay around the hotel. None of the main tourist attractions will be closed - But many will be VERY crowded. Besides the normal foreign visitors, places like the Tower, major museums etc will also be full of local families.
Oct 27th, 2005, 07:41 AM
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Thanks to everyone for your responses!
Are schools closed in Britain around Easter time?
I remember taking my daughter to the Metropolitan Museum of Art during the Xmas holiday last year and I swore never again as everyone had the same idea!
Are schools closed in Britain around Easter time?
I remember taking my daughter to the Metropolitan Museum of Art during the Xmas holiday last year and I swore never again as everyone had the same idea!
Oct 27th, 2005, 12:47 PM
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Kate, I find your reply rather rude! School is closed 8 days where I live but not every school in the country or even in the tri-state area where I live is the same. Some schools are closed for Spring break which is usually March and then only for a day or two around Easter.
I'm not sure I want to visit London at this time if the same attractions I want to visit will be very crowded. I usually try to schedule vacations for off peak times.
I'm not sure I want to visit London at this time if the same attractions I want to visit will be very crowded. I usually try to schedule vacations for off peak times.
Oct 27th, 2005, 01:23 PM
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I can't even begin to see what's rude about Kate's reply.
For what it's worth, schools are on holiday over Easter. But where does that get you? Museums don't fill up when kids aren't going to school: they're at their worst when crocodiles of reluctant brats - especially from the near Continent - are being dragged round them in term time.
Indeed, while going into the BM last Sunday morning (The Persians: 6/10 for content and 1/10 for comfort),two things struck me forcibly:
- How astonishingly crowded exhibitions in London can get, and how spectacularly inconveniently most adults position themselves
- How wonderful and uncrowded, by comparison, the open areas of the museum were, precisely because of the hundreds of excited kids - in parties of 1 or 2 - scurrying around following trails, doing projects and sketching exhibits. And all avoiding standing in other people's way.
But, however you feel about museums' different audiences, London's cultural attractions are precisely that: places that attract people. If you don't like crowds, London is the wrong city to visit at any time.
For what it's worth, schools are on holiday over Easter. But where does that get you? Museums don't fill up when kids aren't going to school: they're at their worst when crocodiles of reluctant brats - especially from the near Continent - are being dragged round them in term time.
Indeed, while going into the BM last Sunday morning (The Persians: 6/10 for content and 1/10 for comfort),two things struck me forcibly:
- How astonishingly crowded exhibitions in London can get, and how spectacularly inconveniently most adults position themselves
- How wonderful and uncrowded, by comparison, the open areas of the museum were, precisely because of the hundreds of excited kids - in parties of 1 or 2 - scurrying around following trails, doing projects and sketching exhibits. And all avoiding standing in other people's way.
But, however you feel about museums' different audiences, London's cultural attractions are precisely that: places that attract people. If you don't like crowds, London is the wrong city to visit at any time.
Oct 27th, 2005, 02:25 PM
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As an aside, this was something I only thought of while trying to organise something for Thanksgiving.
The major holidays in the US are based around July 4th and Thanksgiving. Non religious - 'We're proud to be American!' celebrations
In Europe - since we don't celebrate either of the above - Christmas and Easter are the main holdays.
Christmas in the US is one day and the schools (at least in my area) only have a weeks vacation, called 'Winter Recess'- in the UK schools get 2 weeks. Easter is generally also a one day celebration, this year my son is getting a week vacation but it's called 'Spring Recess'.
That's where the confusion comes from - Boxing day isn't celebrated in the US neither is Easter Monday.
It's all cultural
The major holidays in the US are based around July 4th and Thanksgiving. Non religious - 'We're proud to be American!' celebrations
In Europe - since we don't celebrate either of the above - Christmas and Easter are the main holdays.
Christmas in the US is one day and the schools (at least in my area) only have a weeks vacation, called 'Winter Recess'- in the UK schools get 2 weeks. Easter is generally also a one day celebration, this year my son is getting a week vacation but it's called 'Spring Recess'.
That's where the confusion comes from - Boxing day isn't celebrated in the US neither is Easter Monday.
It's all cultural
Oct 27th, 2005, 07:59 PM
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Keith,
What religion would that be?
Other than that the day after Thanksgiving is the biggest shopping day here in the US? Apparently it's when most people start their Christmas shopping
I suppose some people could call shopping a 'religious experience'
What religion would that be?
Other than that the day after Thanksgiving is the biggest shopping day here in the US? Apparently it's when most people start their Christmas shopping
I suppose some people could call shopping a 'religious experience'
