When you think of Sundays, it’s easy to think of quiet streets and closed shops… But London is a city that doesn’t sleep! So, you can expect the crowds to be out in their masses with full shops, restaurants and pubs full of locals and tourists. Don’t worry if you’re only here for the weekend, you’ll find that London has plenty to offer on a Sunday.
How to spend a Sunday in London
Index of contents:
> Sunday Markets in London
> Tourist attractions open on a Sunday in London
> Museums, Shops and Restaurants
> Sunday Roast
> Guided tours
> Explore a different neighbourhood
> Indulge in a traditional Afternoon Tea
> More ideas
> What to avoid on a Sunday in London
Sunday Markets in London
If you are planning a trip to London, it’s worth planning your trip knowing that some of the best street markets in London are only open on Sundays, so don’t forget to include one of these in your itinerary:
- Spitalfields, Petticoat Lane and Brick Lane: One of the most famous markets in the East End of London is Brick Lane Market – which is only open on Sundays. Right next to it, is Petticoat Lane and Spitalfields Market – so why not visit all 3 in a day? Whether you’re looking for independent food stalls, vintage goods and crafts, London has it all. Find out more about these markets here.
- Columbia Road Flower Market: Enjoy the amazing colours and flowers at this sweet-smelling market in East London.
- Other markets to explore: Brixton Market, Camden Market and Maltby Street Market are also great markets to explore on a Sunday, even though they are also open on other days of the week.
- Farmer’s Markets in London: One of the best things to do at the weekend is to visit a Farmers Market, where you can enjoy the tastes and smells from the bakers, cheese makers, fruit farmers and butchers. Take a wander through the stalls and taste some samples. You can enjoy a great selection of meats, cakes, pies, cakes and of course, the delicious artisan breads. Some popular farmer’s markets include:
- Queen’s Park Farmers Market
- Marylebone Farmers Market
- Alexandra Palace Farmers Market
Tourist Attractions on a Sunday in London
The only tourist attractions that are closed on a Sunday in London are Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral which are both closed to visitors on a Sunday.
All the other important tourist attractions in London are open as usual on Sundays (except if Christmas day falls on a Sunday). This includes London’s most famous attractions like the London Eye, The View from the Shard, Madame Tussauds, the Sea Life London Aquarium, the Tower of London and Shakespeare’s Globe to name a few are all open on Sundays.
Sightseeing bus tours and Sightseeing River Cruises also operate on Sundays in London, and they can sometimes the best way to see London when the streets are crowded!
The Best Tourist Attractions in London
Museums, Shops and Restaurants open on a Sunday in London
All the famous museums in London are open on Sundays, such as the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Museum and the Tate Modern just to name a few!
If you’re looking for a little retail therapy, fear not because all the shops in central London will be open. Popular shopping areas like Oxford Street and Regent Street will still be bustling, however they will close earlier than they do during the week, usually at 6pm.
Famous big department stores such as Harrods, Fortnum and Mason and Liberty are open on Sundays. Westfield shopping centres (White City and Stratford) also open on Sundays.
Restaurants in central London are always open on Sundays (except if it happens to be Christmas Day!) band you can walk, shop and dine in the most popular tourist spots in London such as Regent Street, Oxford Street, Soho, Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus, just to name a few.
Treat yourself to a traditional Sunday roast
What better way to end the week than with lashings of gravy over beef or lamb or nut roast with all the trimmings of stuffing, parsnips, Yorkshire puddings and pigs in blankets. To experience a truly traditional roast dinner, one of the best places to go to is a pub. Some of the best spots are The Harwood Arms in Fulham, Blacklock Soho in Soho and Bike shed Motorcycle Club in Shoreditch. And of course, if you’re visiting Spitalfields Market, you’ll find plenty of pubs serving up roast dinners every Sunday.
Guided Tours available on a Sunday
Walking tours are available mostly during the weekends in London, some famous walking tours include Jack the Ripper walking tour or Changing of the guard walking tour or the famous Harry Potter locations walking tour.
Explore a different neighbourhood
Great places to explore on a Sunday include:
- A trip to Greenwich is perfect for exploring the stunning views, visiting the Royal Observatory and the Cutty Sark. You can also take to the air on one of the cable carts. Greenwich Market is only open Sundays, making it the perfect day to visit.
- Explore the area of Richmond, where you will also find a craft market on a Sunday.
- Explore the beautiful Hampstead neighbourhood where you can enjoy laid-back bars and explore the gorgeous Hampstead Heath – here you can see the London skyline from one of London’s highest points.
Enjoy an afternoon tea
One thing that Londoners certainly love to do, is a traditional afternoon tea! And there is a lot of variety, from fancy high-end hotel teas, to novelty science themes, chocolate themes and even afternoon teas on double decker buses.
Some of the best afternoon teas are:
- Afternoon Tea Cruise Enjoy a traditional afternoon tea with bubbles, finger sandwiches and cakes, whilst you admire London from the river Thames.
- B Afternoon Tea Bus Tour combines seeing all the top tourist sights like Big Ben and Buckingham Palace whist enjoying bubbles, finger sandwiches and cakes.
- Scoff & Banter Tea Rooms on Oxford Street is perfect for nibbles, Champagne and a wealth of teas after a long day of shopping on London’s most famous shopping street.
- Tale as Old as Time Tea at The Kensington, is a Disney lovers dream with Mrs Potts and Chip crockery, and cakes in the shape of the iconic characters from Beauty and the Beast. Those looking for something a little quirkier will love this.
Looking for more ideas?
A great way to spend a Sunday is by taking a stroll along the South Bank, taking in the sights of Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and the London Eye. Places like Covent Garden and Leicester Square make an excellent setting for a night time stroll. Explore the lights of China Town as well as enjoying the many street performances. You won’t be bored on a Sunday in London, there’s simply too much to do.
What to avoid on a Sunday in London
The only places we’d advise you to avoid at the weekend are the office parts of the city such as Moorgate, Farringdon and Bank. This is because during the weekend, they are pretty empty, and some shops and restaurants are even closed.