The best things to do in London over the Easter weekend
Do you know what you’re doing for the Easter weekend? If you’re going to be in London during the first bank holiday of 2019 (Friday 19th April – Monday 22nd April) you are in for a treat as it’s going to be hot! Wooo enjoy, how optimistic Londoners are when the sun shines. It’s not summer yet but we have to make the most of any good weather when it comes. It’s the perfect opportunity to get out and about, and good old London has loads to offer. Our jewellery shop and workshop are in Islington, North London and Stephen (Einhorn) and Jane (Best), our founders are Londoners to the core, so they know some of the best places to visit. We caught up with them to find out a few of their recommendations of what to see, where to eat and very importantly where to drink over the Easter bank holiday weekend… We have that Friday feeling!
Friday Feeling – Stephen Einhorn and Jane Best
What would you recommend seeing this weekend?
Juliet & Romeo by the Lost Dog company at the Linbury Theatre, which is an intimate much smaller theatre within the Royal Opera House. Come From Away at The Phoenix Theatre or Emilia at The Vaudeville.
The Dior exhibition at the V&A and you can also visit their newly reopened jewellery gallery. Stephen was invited to the opening and said it was lovely and worth a visit. For the first time you will be able to see Queen Victoria’s incredible sapphire and diamond coronet worth over £5 million. Alternatively, you could go to Sir John Soane’s Museum and wait to get shown the Hogarth’s that are there behind the panelling!
See Queen Victoria’s Sapphire & Diamond Coronet on display at The V&A
Where is your favourite place to eat?
In Islington, it’s Masala Zone or Japanese at Zen Mondo. Lots of restaurants come and go especially in Upper Street but these two places are consistently good.
Japanese at Zen Mondo in Islington – Photo by Sonya Metzler
Best spot for a cocktail?
The American Bar at the Savoy. You can’t beat it… old fashioned service, knowledgeable interested staff and great cocktails.
The American Bar at The Savoy
The museum or gallery we visit the most is…
The Barbican is our favourite place in London. It has exhibitions, theatre, music and cocktails – it’s fabulous. Also it’s really worth spending a bit of time mooching around the permanent collection at Tate Britain.
Barbican Theatre – image credit Peter Dazeley
You’ll find the best walk…
That’s really hard there are so many in London. Along the River Thames towards Richmond or the other way. The river is a great way to see a different side of London. There are pubs everywhere if you need to take a break. You can find great walks along the canals towards Bow too, you can get all the way to the Olympic Park. In the other direction you can walk from Islington to Regents Park as long as you can bear walking round the hordes at Camden Market. In the summer that part of London can be a bit horrendous.
Walk along the London canals
Your favourite places to shop
Islington is actually a great place to shop (after all we are here!). There are still independent boutiques here with lots of different things to buy… perfume, furniture, gifts, clothes and even saucepans! The Almeida Theatre is here as is The Screen on the Green. Great cocktail bars and a plethora of restaurants to choose from, we have it all!
Stephen Einhorn London Jewellery Store
If you do one thing in London this weekend…
Take a walk around Shoreditch, Spitalfields and Brick Lane. The Huguenot houses are beautiful. We love walking around the city, you get a real feeling of the history and if you plan your route carefully you can end up in Borough Market where there is lovely food. Make sure you’ve climbed up the Monument first or you won’t have earned it!
Freightliners City Farm in Islington
You live in Islington and that’s also where your jewellery shop and workshop is. Where are your favourite local spots?
One of our favourite spots for all the family is the Freightliners City Farm. We love it so much we made our Gertrude The Goat charm for them (£10 for every sale goes directly to the farm). The people who run it are really dedicated to working with the local community. It’s a lovely bit of paradise in the middle of Islington and the food is amazing and very good value. They have three new little pigs called Poppy, Wilfred and Owen. We will definitely be there over the Easter weekend.
Gertrude The Goat Charm made for Freightliners City Farm In Islington
Do you have any pearls of wisdom for ‘non Londoners’ who might be visiting for the weekend?
Try and stay away from the centre and explore other bits of London. You’ll get more of a feel of what London is really about if you do that. If you crave some green space take a trip to Richmond Park. It’s incredible. It’s like being in the country but you can see all the really tall buildings in the city in the distance. And there are deer!
Deer crossing Richmond Park
