Heading to London in March? Coolcoolcool. Or maybe you live in London but you’re just after something fun to do after a dark and cold start to the year? Totally get it. I’ve got you covered with a bunch of cool things to do in London in March.
Weatherwise, March is still quite a cold month with temperatures between 4-10ºC and an average of 4 hours of daylight, so remember to pack warm clothes! We have a video on how you can stay warm when visiting London:
Below you can find a list of events happening in London during March, if you want to do something specific remember to get some tickets in advance as things usually sell out.
Photo Courtesy of My Old Dutch
1. Celebrate Pancake Day
Pancake Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday, is mostly celebrated by Christians and Catholics as it marks the day before Lent begins, when they give up something they love or frequently indulge in. To help you make the most out of the flipping awesome day (pun intended) check out our guide to Pancake Day in London. It includes the best pancake spots in London and other fun activities on the day.
Pancake Day always lands on the day before Ash Wednesday, so depending on the year it could take place in either February or March. This year (2023) Pancake Day is on Tuesday, 21st of February.
Image Courtesy of Mayor of London
2. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day isn’t celebrated QUITE as much in London as in Dublin or the US, but it’s still a fairly big deal, especially with our proximity to Ireland and large Irish population here. Expect parties, a parade through Central London, a 5k run through Hyde Park and tons of Guinness, obviously. There are also family-friendly things to do if you’ve got kids in tow.
St. Patrick’s Day is always on 17th March, but there is usually a weekend’s worth of fun in London.
Read our article: How To Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day In London | 17th of March
Image Courtesy of The Boat Race
3. The Boat Races
“The Boat Races” take place in southwest London, along the River Thames. A few hundred thousand people hit the banks of the river (and the nearby pubs) to watch Cambridge University and Oxford University row it out in the 180+ year rivalry. Both the men’s and women’s team compete within an hour of each other.
If you want a day out among proper Londoners having a great time, join in with The Boat Races. Warning– it can get a TAD rowdy, as it’s definitely a drink-filled event, but it’s all in good fun, especially if the weather is nice. I’d recommend taking the kids home after the race has passed you by.
This is definitely one of my favourite things to do in London in March, so if you’re here for it, I really think you should check it out.
The Boat Races | Southwest London | 26th of March 2023
4. Mother’s Day in London
In the UK, Mother’s Day, or what they sometimes call Mothering Day, falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent, usually in March. If you’re from the US, Mother’s Day here is pretty similar to back at home, with lots of shops having deals on gifts, and some restaurants having special menus or offerings for the celebration. Common gifts for mums include flowers, cards…the usual.
If you plan to eat out that day, book at least a few days ahead, even if you’re not actually celebrating Mother’s day, as of course, the good restaurants will book up quickly. For my top restaurant recommendations that are local-approved, get the 3-Day London Itinerary.
The fourth Sunday of Lent | This year (2023) it’s 19th March.
Image Courtesy of the Country to Country Music Festival
5. Attend the Country to Country Music Festival
Europe’s biggest country music festival will be in London during March 2023 at The O2. The festival this year will be headlined by stars like: Thomas Rhett, Lady A, Zac Brown Band, Jordan Davis, Midland and many more. They’ve also added an international series Introducing Nashville where artists take the stage to perform acoustic sets together and share stories about the creative process.
Country to Country Festival | Book Tickets | The O2 | 10th – 12th of March 2023
Image Courtesy of Re-Textured Festival
6. Attend the Re-Textured Festival
Re-Textured is a festival organised by Krankbrother, known for organising monthly London parties with underground electronic music. The festival happens over a period of almost a week and it is described as a “multi venue, multi-sensory festival for London and the UK”, combining experimental electronic music, modernist and industrial architecture and innovative lighting installations.
Even if you visit after the festival, check Krankbrother’s website to see if they have any parties scheduled when you’re in town.
Re-Textured Festival | 2023 dates coming soon!
Image Courtesy of the Handel Festival
7. Attend the London Handel Festival
If you are a fan of classical music then this festival is for your nerdy little heart. The London Handel Festival is an annual celebration of George Frideric Handel, the famous British-German composer of the eighteenth century, and it displays concerts, recitals, talks and walks for a few weeks between March and April.
London Handel Festival | Various dates between February, March and April
Image Courtesy of The Other Art Fair
8. Attend The Other Art Fair
The Other Art Fair is organised by Saatchi Art with a purpose is to support independent artists, so all the art that you’ll see exhibited is made by the best local emerging artists. The fair attracts thousands of art lovers and you can buy directly from the exhibiting artists, even if you are new to the art world.
The Other Art Fair | Brick Lane | 9th – 12th of March 2023
Image Courtesy of the Eat & Drink Festival
9. Attend the Eat & Drink Festival
For all the food-lovers, this one’s for you! An indoor food festival celebrating the best in modern cuisine, mixology and independent produce at Olympia London. You’ll be able to learn new culinary skills; discover new spirits, wine and beer; see chefs cooking their best dishes; get advice from experts on how to pair drinks and food; shop fresh produce and much more. It’s basically guaranteed that you’ll be in food heaven.
Eat & Drink Festival | West Kensington | 17th of March – 2nd of April 2023
10. View the cherry blossom trees
Between March and May is London’s stunning cherry blossom season. Usually the colder the Spring is, the later they bloom. These beautiful trees bloom for only about two weeks, and you can spot some at these places: Greenwich Park, Kew Gardens, Kyoto Garden at Holland Park, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Kensington Gardens, Regent’s Park, Battersea Park and St. James Park.
View from late March until early May (depending on the weather)
Image Courtesy of Mary Poppins
11. Catch a theatre show
If you want to do something a bit more culturally enriching and far away from the chilly temps, then try the world-famous West End theatre district to see a spectacular play or musical. Some of our show recommendations include: Back to the Future, &Juliet and Only Fools and Horses.
Image Courtesy of London Transport Museum
12. Visit a Museum Exhibition
Head to one of London’s MANY museums and check out one of their special exhibitions for a unique experience. No matter when you plan to visit London, just check each museum’s website to see if there are any special exhibitions that catch your eye and be sure to book a ticket in advance if needed, as the most popular ones end up sometimes selling out.
We also have a list of 15 unique museums in London that you should check out, they are mostly open all year round with permanent exhibitions as well.
Image Courtesy of Wembley Stadium
13. Watch a Football Game or do a Stadium tour
If you or someone you’re visiting London with is a football enthusiast, then try to catch a football game at one of the many stadiums in London. Or you can book a tour of the Emirates Stadium or Wembley Stadium.
14. Attend an event from the London Borough of Culture
London Borough of Culture is a competition between the 32 boroughs of the city in which they bid for more than £1 million to organise a programme of local cultural events and initiatives. The winner of 2023 was the borough of Croydon, so they are working on lots of fun events. Check their website to see what’s happening when you’re in town (this link will bring you to a list of events no matter what year you’re reading this!)
London Borough of Culture | Croydon
Image Courtesy of The Mall Tavern
15. Go for a Sunday roast
The British are very proud of their tradition of Sunday roast. It usually consists of roasted meat, potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and gravy, but there are some variants, including vegetarian and vegan versions. Brits will sometimes cook this at home but it’s super popular for Londoners to head to a pub on a Sunday and have a roast there. They’re generally served during lunch and dinner time.
Some of our favourite spots for Sunday roast in London are:
The Mall Tavern in Notting Hill has fabulous sunday roast options, and a really nice new menu with a top London chef. A favourite among the locals and well-known for its large selection of local and foreign beers on tap and in cans.
The Hemingway near Victoria Park is a neighbourhood pub serving a good Sunday roast made with locally sourced ingredients. It has beautiful interiors and is very affordable.
Vaulty Towers in Waterloo, it’s the self-proclaimed “quirkiest bar in Waterloo”, this playful tavern serves a great veggie and vegan Sunday roast.
16. Attend one of our tours and experiences
Explore London in a bit of a different way with our curated selection of tours and experiences. From a feminist walking tour, to a vintage bike excursion and the city’s only vegan food experience, you’ll see London from a unique perspective (unlike those cookie-cutter 3-hour walking tours of Westminster).
There’s your list of what to do in London in March. Have a great time in London and be sure to tag @Loveandlondon on IG if you do any of our suggestions.
Read Next:
- What To Do in London In February
- 10 Hidden Gems to See with Three Days in London
- 14 Cheap Eats in London You Have to Try
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