Looking forward to Mother’s Day?
We’re aware that this year will bring a socially-distant Mother’s Day, without its usual brunches, afternoon teas and family outings.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate Mum!
If you’re based in London, we’ve rounded up our favourite things to do with Mum in our nation’s capital. Even though we can’t take part in these right now, it’s always fun to plan for the future, and gift Mum with something to look forward to.
Read on to find out our top picks!
1. London Fashion Through the Ages Tour - £75
It's fair to say that fashion has changed a lot over the decades, but what influences the change? Who calls the shots? Why do some trends become so popular and others fall by the wayside? Answer all these questions and more on the London Fashion Through the Ages Tour, joining an expert stylist for an in-depth exploration of British fashion history.
You'll walk the streets of Mayfair and St. James around the many boutiques, outlets and couture houses, discussing how fabrics and styles have evolved over the years, and the iconic designers who reinvented fashion time and time again. The British Fashion History Tour of London is the perfect gift for fashion-forward mums!
2. Afternoon Tea
There’s no shortage of fantastic, classy venues to go to for afternoon tea in London.
We’ve rounded up a few of our favourites below.
Interested in something a little different? Sketch is famous amongst Londoners and tourists alike for its unusual, artistic interiors and innovative menu.
Celebrate Mum in a setting as individual as she is! With afternoon tea classics like Coronation chicken finger sandwiches and Victoria sponge cake on the menu, Mum will not go hungry. If she's vegan or vegetarian, there's options for that too - including a vegan Coronation 'chicken' sandwich!
For a traditional afternoon tea in a classy, opulent setting, take Mum to The Lanesborough Hotel.
The Lanesborough Hotel has two different rooms in which to enjoy their afternoon tea menus; The Celeste dining room is decorated in a traditional style and covered by a dome glass roof.
For a cosier experience, take afternoon tea in the The Withdrawing Room. Featuring hand-painted marble and decadent chandeliers, you and Mum will feel like the picture of class as you relax over finger sandwiches, elegant sweet treats and plenty of tea.
Wherever you choose to dine, you can expect to enjoy classic favourites like egg and cress sandwiches, a selection of cakes and homemade scones with fruit preserves and clotted cream. Vegans and gluten-free diners are also catered for here!
For a truly unforgettable, classy and quintessentially London experience, you have to head over to the kings of afternoon tea: Fortnum and Mason.
Their beautiful tea salon is the perfect place for Mum to feel truly pampered, with a full afternoon tea menu.
Although most places have a vegan menu these days, sometimes you really want to leave it up to the experts. Café Forty One is a fully vegan patisserie set inside an elegant hotel. If Mum avoids meat and dairy, she can still indulge in all the afternoon tea classics, including vegan scones and mock egg and cress made out of tofu!
3. Spa Day
We know that a spa day is a bit of a stereotypical Mother’s Day activity, and not all mums are necessarily interested in being wrapped in seaweed, massaged, scrubbed or waxed.
However, if your mum is a fan of being preened and pampered, there really isn’t a better gift.
You might think it’s hard to find a little slice of tranquillity in busy, bustling London – but in fact, the city boasts plenty of upmarket spas, perfect for a breath of fresh air in the middle of city life.
Head to the Oriental Hotel in Hyde Park to make Mum feel like royalty. Flanked by red-coated doormen in top hats and tails, this grand, imposing building makes quite an impression. Once inside, you and Mum can enjoy a range of treatments including aromatherapy massages, Oriental body scrubs, Hydrosol Facials and many more besides. Fair warning, this extravagant spa will be a strain on the purse strings, so is decidedly not a budget-friendly option!
Linnaean Spa features beautiful soft, feminine interiors guaranteed to relax you as soon as you step foot inside.
On the menu is a huge range of indulgent spa treatments; treat Mum to a high-tech facial or deep tissue massage to make her feel like a whole new person!
Cowshed is a city spa nestled in the centre of London with a few locations throughout the city, and is well-known for its range of popular skin and haircare products.
Now you can treat Mum to the authentic Cowshed London spa experience for Mother’s Day. Cowshed treatments can have you pampered from head to toe… whether Mum wants her eyelashes tinted, her legs waxed or her feet scrubbed, there’s bound to be a treatment that suits her needs.
We like the look of the CBD Massage, a truly unique treatment that will be perfect if she’s been stressed out and in need of deep relaxation.
4. London River Cruise - £65 +
If Mum is a fan of a cruise, we think she’ll love this London River Cruise from London Shell Co. This is an unforgettable dining experience on board the Prince Regent boat, which will take you and Mum on a scenic journey through North West London’s beautiful canals.
You can opt for either lunch or dinner at £65 a ticket, and expect an extensive menu of perfectly cooked sea food whipped up by expert onboard chefs.
A truly magical London experience for fans of seafood, or anyone looking to get away from the chaos of city living for a nautical escape!
5. Personal Shopping Experience at Selfridges
If Mum is looking to upgrade her wardrobe, a personal shopping experience at the prestigious Selfridges makes a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift. She’ll meet with an expert in-store stylist, and they’ll be able to recommend her some beautiful pieces based on her personal style, body type and comfort level.
These stylists have plenty of experience dressing people from all different backgrounds, shapes, sizes and styles, so no matter what Mum loves to wear, she’s bound to walk out feeling fabulous.
At the end of her personal shopping experience, she’ll come away with a few brand new pieces that will diversify her wardrobe and make her feel like a million bucks!
6. Independent Cinema
If you’re on a slightly tighter budget, nothing can beat a trip to a local independent cinema. London is full of them, so pull up a squashy velvet chair, dig into a bag of artisanal popcorn and sip on a craft beer while you and Mum enjoy classic and contemporary films hand-selected by discerning film snobs, so you know you’re getting the best of the best.
We love the BFI on London’s Southbank, which always has something fun and different going on and is in the perfect location for out-of-towners, just a short walk from London Waterloo station!
Or, try the Electric Cinema for a quirky, hipster hangout.
These are just two of many independents in London; the sky is really the limit!
7. Wander Around Borough Market
Another budget-friendly option for a Mother’s Day activity in London, a trip to Borough market will keep you and Mum entertained for hours.
There’s an infinite number of local traders to visit, making Borough Market the ultimate playground for foodies. Feast on local cheese, enjoy handmade chocolates, indulge in beautiful Mediterranean olives, or sample a selection of fine wines… all in the heart of London!
You don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy a day out at the market, and Mum is guaranteed to love this food-filled day out.
8. Visit The Shard
The Shard is a great place to visit if Mum is a fan of great heights and even greater views!
Whether you and Mum sit down and enjoy an afternoon tea, toast with Champagne at the top, or simply stand back and enjoy looking out over London together, the Shard provides visitors with incredible panoramic views of the city.
From your vantage point at the top of the Shard, you can spot sights like the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London and St Paul's Cathedral, amongst others!
A visit to The Shard is a great option for tourists and first-time visitors to London, as it’s a quick way to see a lot of the sights in one go!
9. ZSL London Zoo – £26.00 +
Is Mum an animal lover?
ZSL is a little piece of the wild right in the middle of urban life, based near Camden in London and easily accessible by tube!
One minute, you’re walking through the busy London streets; the next, you’re surrounded by species of adorable wildlife from all over the world. Amongst the giraffes, meerkats, penguins, gorillas and other animals, you’ll also find butterflies and other exotic insects – plus plenty of idyllic gardens to sit down in and places to eat.
You could spend a full day wandering around ZSL London Zoo, and with tickets starting at just £26, there's no reason not to!
10. Shakespeare's Globe – £17 +
If Mum is a literature lover, or just interested in London’s rich history, a trip to Shakespeare’s Globe makes an informative and sophisticated London day out.
Guided tour tickets start at just £17, and take you on an incredible journey through Shakespeare’s famous theatre. Your guide will tell you the story of the theatre's origin in 1599, and you’ll be able to visit exhibitions that will give you an idea of what it was really like to be a Shakespearean actor, including costumes and photography.
Thanks for reading!
Thanks for reading our guide to things to do with Mum in London!
Whether you are looking for a unique Mother’s Day gift, something for Mum to look forward to post-lockdown, or just a fun day out, we hope one of our picks suits you.
From all of us here at Experience Gifts, happy Mother’s Day for 14th March!
