Mothering Sunday is coming up on 15 March, a wonderful opportunity to show the mother figures in your life – be they mothers, grandmothers, wives, aunties or godmothers – just how much you appreciate them.
Here are some ideas for how and where to celebrate in South Bank this year to get you inspired.
The perfect gift for all those hard-working mums who might never give themselves a day off to enjoy a moment of rest and relaxation. Let mum take a well-deserved break and enjoy a tranquil spa escape that will leave her feeling pampered, relaxed and revitalised.
agua spa is the chic urban spa at the luxurious Sea Containers London hotel. Described as ‘curated, quirky and convivial’, the spa emphasises spirituality, well-being and the mind-body connection. There’s a choice of exclusive agua treatments and massages as well as facials, manicures and pedicures. Book mum in for a treatment or buy a gift voucher online and don't forget to include some signature Hedgerow beauty products from the spa shop! Find out more here.
Encourage mum to kick back and relax with an indulgent treatment at the Mandara Spa in the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel. Pampering packages include The Royal Retreat, a relaxing experience combining age-old tradition with the finest European skin care that includes an Aroma Reflex Foot Ritual, Balinese massage and your choice of ELEMIS Facial. Find out more and book here.
There are few things as splendidly decadent as a classic British afternoon tea. Relaxing for hours in grand surroundings with an opulent spread before you and perhaps even a glass of bubbly too to toast the occasion – what a treat!
The perfect venue for a classic afternoon tea experience with a magnificent riverside view. The Library at the Marriott County Hall is an Edwardian-era wood-panelled reading room in the heart of this historic building with grand windows looking across the river to Big Ben. The afternoon tea spread is a wonderfully classic British display, complete with fluffy scones, cucumber sandwiches and the daintiest petit fours, accompanied by fantastic single-origin and single-harvest teas produced by independent artisan farmers.
Available daily from 12pm–5pm. Find out more and book here.
For a contemporary twist book for OXO Tower Restaurant’s afternoon tea. Located on the 7th floor rooftop of the Oxo Tower Wharf, this venue is famous for its impressive riverside views of St Paul's Cathedral. The afternoon tea offering mixes classic and contemporary British flavours with a wide selection of finger sandwiches including favourites like smoked salmon, slow-cooked Coronation chicken with curry mayonnaise, and roast beef with truffle cheese and horseradish, fluffy scones with jam and cream and dainty patisserie. A vegetarian afternoon tea is also available that features several vegan dishes.
Available daily from 2pm–4:30pm. Booking essential. Find out more and book here.
Dinner and a world-class theatre show at one of London’s top theatres is always a winning way to celebrate a special occasion in style. For one of the most immersive whodunnit theatre experiences – staged inside an actual century-old debating chamber no less – the gripping production of Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution at County Hall is superb.
For dinner before the show you are spoiled for choice and most South Bank restaurants run special pre-theatre set menus. Popular destinations include Forza Wine and Lasdun at the National Theatre (closed Sunday), The Archduke, Gillray’s Steakhouse at County Hall, the Locale pizzeria (located right in front of County Hall), and restaurants like Comptoir Libanais, La Gamba, Skylon, Côte Brasserie or Brasserie Blanc at Southbank Centre. See our full pre-theatre dining guide here for more ideas!
Is Mum a fan of flowers and gardening? If the answer is yes, then a visit to the brilliant Garden Museum next to Lambeth Palace Bridge is a must! Housed in what was once a medieval church, this charming museum explores and celebrates British gardens, gardening and garden design through the ages. The museum also hosts beautifully curated art exhibitions themed around gardens and the natural world and there’s a lovely little museum gift shop if you’d like to pick up some gardening gifts.
After visiting the museum, stay on for lunch at the excellent Garden Café, truly a ‘hidden gem’ of the neighbourhood The cafe is very popular and reservations are recommended.
Get the family together in South Bank for a Mother’s Day Sunday roast lunch! Many of South Bank's restaurants are running special Mothering Sunday menus that will provide you with the perfect amount of fuel for a long, lazy stroll along London's iconic riverside promenade after lunch.
Make Mother’s Day unforgettable at Sea Containers Restaurant. Treat her to stunning views, a 3-course menu, and a glass of Laurent-Perrier Champagne for £49. Enjoy starters like English coastal oysters or beetroot tartare, mains like wild mushroom wellington or slow-roasted lamb shoulder, and desserts like lemon meringue tart or molten chocolate cake. And for that little something extra, the Mother's Day meal also comes with a complimentary gift from agua Spa to keep the pampering going at home. Find out more and book.
This elegant French spot behind Royal Festival Hall prides itself on serving classic dishes that showcase the best British seasonal ingredients, and their Sunday roast offering is no exception. Choose from Apricot stuffed pork belly roulade, roast rump of pork, roast chicken or for a meat-free option try the beetroot and smoked cheddar parcel. Sunday roasts are all about those sides, and this one comes with cauliflower cheese, roast seasonal vegetables, savoy cabbage and bottomless roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and gravy. Find out more and book here.
Celebrate Mother's Day with a delicious Lebanese mezze feast. The colourful Comptoir Libanais restaurant at Southbank Centre is treating mums and all the mother figures in our lives to a free dessert and a rose mint tea on Sunday 15 March! The offer is valid with at least two people ordering mezze and one large plate each. Dessert options include orange and almond cake, mango and vanilla cheesecake and orange blossom mouhalabia. Make sure to book online to take advantage of this offer!
Celebrate Mother’s Day with a relaxed Sunday lunch at the gloriously grand and modernist Skylon restaurant at Royal Festival Hall. Treat her to lunch with beautiful riverside views, or stop in for a cocktail at the bar in time for sunset. Skylon's Sunday menu is a celebration of the classic British roast, with options including pork rack, rolled rib of beef, roast half chicken or cauliflower cheese as a vegetarian option. Alternatively, for something a bit lighter, on Sundays you can also book for the two or three-course Festival of Britain set menu (from £30) or opt for a la carte.
You don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy a great day out sightseeing in South Bank.
