SantoriniDave.com

London in March

London › March Guide
Updated: October 9, 2026 • By Santorini Dave

See Also

March is a good month to visit London, with fewer tourists and generally lower hotel prices than late spring and summer. The weather is still cool and unpredictable, but daylight improves quickly, daffodils appear in the parks, and magnolias and cherry blossoms begin flowering later in the month.

My favorite time to visit is mid-March. Early March is often cheaper but still feels like winter. Late March has longer evenings and more flowers, though Easter school holidays can bring larger crowds and higher hotel rates. For warmer weather and gardens in full bloom, choose April or May.

London in March: At a Glance

  • Weather: Cool and changeable, with afternoon temperatures around 10°C to 12°C (50°F to 54°F) and chilly mornings and evenings.
  • Rain: Expect occasional showers and drizzle. All-day rain is less common.
  • Daylight: Sunset moves from about 5:40 PM at the beginning of March to about 7:30 PM at the end, after the clocks change.
  • Crowds: Generally manageable. Easter school holidays make museums and family attractions busier.
  • Hotel Prices: Often lower than April, May, and summer, especially outside school holidays.
  • Spring Flowers: Daffodils and crocuses early in the month; magnolias and early cherry blossom later.
  • Best For: Museums, theater, sightseeing, walking, spring flowers, and good-value central hotels.
  • Main Drawbacks: Unpredictable weather, cold evenings, and possible Easter crowds.
  • Best Time to Visit: Mid-March for value and smaller crowds; late March for flowers and longer evenings.

Quick Hotel Picks for March

Early, Mid, and Late March

Early March

Often the cheapest and quietest part of the month. It still feels like winter, with cold mornings and the first daffodils appearing in the parks.

Mid-March

My favorite period. Longer days, spring flowers, manageable crowds, and generally good hotel value.

Late March

Best for magnolias, early cherry blossom, and longer evenings. Check Easter school-holiday dates before booking, as they can affect hotel prices and attraction crowds.

London Weather and Daylight in March

March temperatures average around 10°C to 12°C (50°F to 54°F) during the afternoon and 3°C to 5°C (37°F to 41°F) overnight. Some days are sunny and pleasant for walking; others are cold, windy, and wet. Snow is possible but uncommon in central London.

Daylight improves considerably during March. Sunset is around 5:40 PM at the beginning of the month, shortly after 6:00 PM in mid-March, and around 7:30 PM by the end. British Summer Time begins on the final Sunday of March, moving the clocks forward one hour.

Spring Flowers and Parks

March is a good month for daffodils, crocuses, and early magnolias. Cherry blossom becomes more common toward the end of the month, though flowering dates vary with the weather.

Best for Daffodils: St. James’s Park and Green Park

St. James’s Park is my favorite place to see spring flowers while sightseeing. Daffodils appear around the lake and lawns, with Buckingham Palace, Westminster, and Trafalgar Square nearby. Allow 30 to 60 minutes for a walk through the park.

Green Park is another excellent choice, with large displays of daffodils and fewer visitors than St. James’s Park.

Best for Magnolias: Notting Hill and Kensington

Magnolias begin flowering along residential streets in Notting Hill, Kensington, and Chelsea during March, usually with the best displays in the second half of the month.

Notting Hill is particularly good for combining a flower walk with Portobello Road and Westbourne Grove. Saturday has the fullest market but also the largest crowds. Flowering can vary by several weeks, so don’t plan an entire day around seeing a particular tree in bloom.

Best for Gardens: Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens is London’s best destination for spring flowers, with crocuses, daffodils, magnolias, and early blossom. Late March generally offers more color than early March.

Allow three to five hours in the gardens, plus travel from central London. Choose a dry day if possible, as much of the visit is outdoors.

For a first visit to London lasting only three days, I would prioritize central sightseeing over Kew. It’s a worthwhile trip for garden enthusiasts and visitors who have already seen the major London sights.

Best Central Park Walk: Regent’s Park

Regent’s Park is good for daffodils and spring bulbs, and easy to combine with Marylebone, Camden, or the Wallace Collection.

Richmond Park and Hampstead Heath are better for longer countryside-style walks, but some unpaved paths can be muddy after rain.

Easter and School-Holiday Crowds

Easter is the biggest factor affecting March crowds and hotel prices. Easter Sunday can fall in late March or April, and school holidays vary by school and local authority. Some begin before Easter weekend.

During the school holidays:

  • Family attractions and major museums become busier, especially on rainy days.
  • Hotel prices can increase, particularly for family rooms and centrally located hotels.
  • Warner Bros. Studio Tour and popular timed attractions can sell out well in advance.
  • Rail services may be disrupted by Easter engineering work.

Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays in England. Large shops must close on Easter Sunday, though smaller shops are exempt. Restaurants, museums, and attractions set their own holiday hours.

If you have flexible dates, visit before the school holidays.

Best Things to Do in London in March

Visit London’s Museums

March is a good time for the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, Victoria and Albert Museum, Wallace Collection, Courtauld Gallery, and Sir John Soane’s Museum. Weekdays outside school holidays are generally quieter than weekends. Reserve tickets for popular temporary exhibitions.

See a West End Show

Compare weekday and matinee prices, which can be considerably lower than Friday and Saturday evening performances. Book major musicals and limited-run productions ahead.

Explore Borough Market and Bankside

Borough Market is one of London’s best food markets and easy to combine with Southwark Cathedral, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe, and a walk along the Thames. Go before noon on a weekday to avoid the worst crowds. Saturday is the busiest day. Check market hours before visiting, particularly on Sunday.

Take a Thames Boat to Greenwich

Scheduled river boats have enclosed seating and provide views of Westminster, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, and Canary Wharf. In Greenwich, visit the Old Royal Naval College, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich Market, and the park. The viewpoint near the Royal Observatory is one of London’s best. Allow at least half a day for Greenwich, including the boat journey.

Explore Hampstead

Hampstead is one of London’s nicest neighborhoods for a walk, with old streets, independent shops, cafés, pubs, and access to Hampstead Heath. A good route starts at Hampstead station, follows Flask Walk through the village, and continues onto the Heath for excellent views of London.

Visit an Indoor Viewpoint

Sky Garden and Horizon 22 offer free admission options. The View from The Shard is expensive but has excellent views. Visibility matters more than rain. Low clouds and fog can spoil the views even when it’s not raining. Reserve free viewpoints in advance and check cancellation policies before paying for The Shard.

Have Afternoon Tea

The Savoy, Claridge’s, The Ritz, and Fortnum & Mason are among London’s best-known afternoon tea venues. Book well ahead for weekends and Mothering Sunday. Afternoon tea is substantial, often with sandwiches, scones, and pastries. I would schedule it instead of lunch rather than between lunch and dinner.

Take a Day Trip to Oxford

Oxford is my favorite day trip from London in March. Its compact center combines historic colleges, libraries, museums, cafés, and pubs, so there’s plenty to do even when the weather is poor. Direct trains from Paddington take about an hour. Services also run from Marylebone, generally taking a little longer.

Bath is another excellent day trip, though train tickets are often more expensive. The Cotswolds are harder to explore without a car or organized tour, especially on a single day trip from London.

Where to Stay in London in March

For a first visit, I would stay in Covent Garden, Soho, or Bloomsbury. All three are central, convenient for sightseeing, and have plenty of restaurants within walking distance.

See my complete guide to the best places to stay in London and use the London hotel map to compare neighborhoods.

Covent Garden and Soho: Best for First-Time Visitors

Covent Garden and Soho are excellent for theater, restaurants, shopping, and walking to Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery, and much of the West End.

NoMad London is my favorite upscale choice. Z Hotel Soho and The Z Hotel Covent Garden are cheaper, but rooms are extremely small. Both neighborhoods are busy, and street noise can be an issue, particularly in Soho.

Bloomsbury: Best for Museums

Bloomsbury is quieter than Covent Garden and close to the British Museum, Russell Square, and several major universities. Covent Garden and Soho are within walking distance, and transport connections are excellent.

Kimpton Fitzroy London overlooks Russell Square and sits beside a Piccadilly line station with direct trains to Heathrow. Bloomsbury is often better value than Covent Garden and a good choice for visitors who prefer a quieter hotel location.

St. James’s and Mayfair: Best for Luxury Hotels and Shopping

St. James’s and Mayfair are excellent for luxury hotels, shopping, afternoon tea, and easy access to Green Park, St. James’s Park, Buckingham Palace, and Regent Street. Both neighborhoods are expensive.

South Bank and Waterloo: Best for Families

The Westminster Bridge and Waterloo end of the South Bank is close to the London Eye, SEA LIFE London Aquarium, Southbank Centre, Westminster, and river boats.

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge has family rooms and an indoor pool. The Westminster Bridge area is busy and touristy. Bankside, farther east toward Tate Modern and Borough Market, has a better restaurant scene and is a little less hectic.

King’s Cross and St Pancras: Best for Eurostar

King’s Cross and St Pancras are best for Eurostar arrivals and onward rail travel, with excellent Tube connections. St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel is attached to St Pancras International. I would stay here for a late arrival or early departure, but prefer Covent Garden or Bloomsbury for a longer sightseeing visit.

Tower Hill and the City: Best Value

The City often has lower weekend hotel prices because business travel demand falls. Tower Hill is particularly convenient for the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and riverside walks.

Motel One Tower Hill offers a good combination of comfort, transport connections, and price. Parts of the City are quiet on weekends and after office hours. Tower Hill has more visitor activity, but neither area matches Soho or Covent Garden for nightlife.

March Events That Affect Your Trip

St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations

London’s main St. Patrick’s Day festival is usually held on a weekend close to March 17, with a parade through central London and performances, food, and music around Trafalgar Square. Expect crowds and some road closures along the parade route.

Mothering Sunday

Mothering Sunday, the British equivalent of Mother’s Day, falls three weeks before Easter Sunday. It’s a busy day for Sunday roasts, afternoon tea, and special restaurant meals. Reserve several weeks ahead if you want a popular restaurant or hotel afternoon tea.

Head of the River Race

The Head of the River Race is a major rowing event on the Thames, traditionally held in March. Crews race from Mortlake to Putney, in the opposite direction from the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race. Check the annual race calendar for the date.

What to Pack for London in March

  • Waterproof jacket: Preferably windproof and large enough to fit over a sweater.
  • Removable layers: Useful when moving between cold streets and warm indoor attractions.
  • Comfortable walking shoes: Preferably water-resistant.
  • Light scarf: Useful on windy days and cold evenings.
  • Compact umbrella: Good for drizzle, though a hood is better in strong wind.
  • Light gloves: Worth packing, particularly for early March.

What to Book Ahead

  • Easter: Hotels, Warner Bros. Studio Tour, and popular family attractions.
  • Mothering Sunday: Restaurants and afternoon tea.
  • West End: Popular musicals and limited-run productions.
  • Timed Attractions: Major temporary exhibitions and free viewpoints.

Public Transport in March

London’s Tube, buses, and trains operate normally in March. Pay with a contactless bank card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Oyster, and use the same card or device throughout your trip to receive the correct fare caps. Check planned rail closures before weekend airport journeys, especially over Easter.

London in March vs February and April

  • February: Colder, quieter, and often cheaper. Best for museums, theater, and avoiding crowds.
  • March: Longer days, early spring flowers, and generally good hotel value. Mid-March is my favorite period.
  • April: Warmer, greener, and better for gardens and outdoor sightseeing, but often busier and more expensive, especially around Easter.

About Santorini Dave

Santorini Dave in Athens, Greece Santorini Dave was started in 2011 when I posted a short guide to visiting Santorini with kids. Now, my site publishes regularly updated guides to Santorini, Naxos, Paros, Mykonos, Crete, Athens, and all of Greece.

Questions? Email me at dave@santorinidave.com.