The best family days out in London and beyond rated by kids and teens
The Easter Holidays are a great time for chocolate eggs and bunnies and chicks, and, quite frankly, anything vaguely springlike that can be made into chocolate.. not that we’re complaining! They’re also a great time to do things in London and the rest of the UK, so we’ve gathered together some of the best activities to get stuck into over the break.
This April, the Southbank celebrates art and artists inspired by the city. The concrete playground is taken over by breakdancing battles, dance residencies, workshops, free family events and parties showcasing the best in street culture.
The annual exhibition returns as the Museum erects its tropical butterfly house on the lawn. A firm favourite with kids, visitors will be able to take on butterfly challenges, games and activities as they witness one of the planet’s most amazing life cycles and experience the magic of walking among hundreds of free-flying tropical butterflies.
There are lots of brilliant events and activities to choose from at Cutty Sark, the Royal Observatory Greenwich and the National Maritime Museum. Will you be a sailor, an astronaut or a pirate? The Easter weekend sees Greenwich host the Tall Ships Festival
Birds of prey have been associated with the Royal Air Force since its foundation. The Eagle has been given pride of place on the Royal Air Force’s badge. Its aircraft, from the Kittyhawk to the Harrier, have been regular named after these predators to convey their dexterity in the air and their precision when chasing down the enemy. Its airfields, throughout their history, have been regularly protected by these hunters in order to prevent bird strikes as RAF jets take off or come into land. To celebrate the contribution that these magnificent birds have made to the RAF we will be showcasing amazing displays in our Dermot Boyle wing, free of charge.
Back for it’s 9th year is The Goat Race which sees two goats – one representing ‘Oxford’, the other ‘Cambridge’ – racing around Spitalfields City Farm. Gates open at midday and there’s food, drink, music and other fun. The race is scheduled between 2pm and 5pm and is dependent on the mood of the goats. Check availability as this event sells out fast.
ZIPPOS CIRCUS: The circus is in town. Zippos sets up camp in Blackheath with horse riding, motorbike daredevils, knife throwing and trapeze acts all forming part of the show. £7.50-£26,
Bad Eggs at the London Dungeon
The London Dungeon is holding at ‘Bad Eggs’ Trail, the alternative Easter Egg hunt. Join in the hunt for the chance to win a Merlin Annual Pass, get sweets and meet new cast member, the fearsome Eggcecutioner.From 5th to 27th April
DEAR ZOO: Remember Dear Zoo? Rod Campbell’s children’s book is 35 years old, and London Zoo is celebrating. Follow an interactive trail around the zoo collecting stamps, take part in storytelling sessions and claim your badge — oh, and don’t forget to visit London Zoo’s animals while you’re there. Included in zoo admission,
Discover the NEW Celebrity Dusty Ducks arriving at WWT London Wetland Centre this Easter. World famous Aardman studios designed Dusty Duck to celebrate WWT’s 70th anniversary. These exciting new sculptures take you around the beautiful grounds at London Wetland Centre and form part of our Easter activities which also include the GIANT Duck Hunt from Sunday 1 to Monday 17 April.
The magical garden at Hampton Court Palace.
The sun is out so why not take a trip to Hampton Court Palace where, not only can your kids learn loads about history, but they can now also have fun at the Magic Garden. Described as a place of discovery and exploration for kids aged 2-13, it looks amazing.
With courses for kids from 4 to 12, if you want to give your kids a head start to coding and all things computers blue{shift}coding camps are the thing to book for Easter. Kids can create create robots and laser guitars.
Issy gives the Horniman a K-Rating of 10
Horniman Museum’s exhibition, The Robot Zoo, offers an insight into the mechanisms that give animals their amazing abilities. Find out how chameleons change colour, and how grasshoppers leap so high. £7/£4.
VELVETEEN RABBIT: The Velveteen Rabbit is adapted for the stage at Unicorn Theatre. Follow the story of the shy toy rabbit who wants to become real. Fans can also take afternoon tea with Rabbit on certain days. Age 5+. 17 March-15 April 2017
ALICE IN WONDERLAND: Singing flowers and a search for the white rabbit are all part of Sutton House’s Alice in Wonderland themed Easter offerings. Craft activities and an Alice photography exhibition also feature. Included in admission price, just turn up, 1-16 April
GEOMETRIC PLAYGROUND: This is a playground with a difference; kids and adults alike can get hands on with the cogs, levers and pendulums of the Geometric Playground at Artsdepot. Free, just turn up, 2-15 April 2017 (closed Good Friday)
FIRE! FIRE!: Museum of London’s 2016 blockbuster exhibition burns on, telling the story of the Great Fire of London — a great way to get older kids interested in the history of their city. £4-£8, book in advance, until 17 April 2017
ART OF THE BRICK: A life-sized Batmobile made from Lego has appeared on South Bank, along with recreations of Superman, Wonder Woman and the like in the famous plastic bricks. Art of the Brick takes on DC Comics superheroes. £16.50, book ahead, until 3 September
BUNNY HIDE AND SEEK: Parents will probably have as much fun as kids looking for rabbits in the Museum of Brands Time Tunnel. From the Duracell bunny to the Nesquik rabbit, how many will you find? Included in museum admission, just turn up, 1-16 April
THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR: Everyone’s favourite larva comes to the stage at Artsdepot in North Finchley. Eric Carle’s children’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar is brought to life with the help of 75 colourful puppets — and four of Carle’s other stories are told too. Aimed at age 3+. £8-£12, book ahead, 3-6 April
CHILDREN’S BOOK DAY: Celebrate International Children’s Book Day at Keats House in Hampstead, where kids can make their own book, and hear well-loved children’s stories being read out. Free, just turn up, 2pm-3pm
LONDON’S LAYERS: Museum of London hosts an archaeology-themed workshop for under fives and their parents — an ideal chance to get them interested in London’s history and what’s going on under their feet at an early age. Free, just turn up, 10.30am/1pm
SCAVENGER HUNT: Get to know Hyde Park a bit better with this family scavenger hunt. Show off your knowledge of the history of the park, collecting points and taking photos as you go. £20 per team (maximum six people), book ahead, 10.30am
EASTER STORY TIME: Egg hunts, card making and Easter stories — all with a side of chocolate treats. What more could you want at Foyles in Westfield Stratford? Free, book ahead, 2pm-3pm
HEDGEHOG HEROES: Get spiky at Hyde Park’s hedgehog day with activities including designing a hedgehog habitat, making a hedgehog from a paper plate and taking part in a hedgehog discovery trail. Free, 11am-3pm (repeated tomorrow)
GANESHA: Celebrate all things to do with the Hindu elephant god Ganesha at Horniman Museum. Watch a musical puppet show, take a storytelling tour around the museum, and make decorations for the museum’s Easter fair. Free, just turn up, 11am-3.30pm
MYSTERY MESSAGES: Follow a trail around Forty Hall in Enfield to decipher a mystery message, and make a quill pen to write your own secret message. Ages 4-11. £4/£5, book ahead, 10.30am/12.30pm/2.30pm
THE WIGGLY WILD SHOW: Get up close to hermit crabs, giant millipedes, corn snakes and the like in The Wiggly Wild Show at Chelsea Physic Garden. Find out more about the creatures, and, if you’re feeling brave, hold them. £10, book ahead, 10.30am-noon
LITTLE RED HEN: Move over dinosaurs — birds are taking over at the Natural History Museum. Little Red Hen and Chicken Licken are the theme of this interactive puppet show. Free, book ahead, noon/1.30pm
CHECKMATE: Kids who love dressing up will be enthralled by this tour/treasure hunt at the Museum of Childhood. turn yourself into a chess piece and go in search of the missing White Queen chess piece. £7 for one adult and child (additional tickets £2 each), book ahead, 11.15am/1.15pm/2.30pm
BONNET WORKSHOP: Easter wouldn’t be Easter without a silly hat, so head to Foyles in Stratford for an Easter bonnet making workshop led by children’s author Laura Hughes. Free, book ahead, 11am-noon
TONGUE FU: Spoken word experts Tongue Fu put on a children-friendly show at Southbank Centre, aimed at ages 7-10. Poems, stories, songs, games and improvisation all feature in the hour-long performance. £10, book ahead, 3pm
NATURE EXPLORERS: 8-11 year olds can spend the day getting to know Hyde Park a little better, including looking for tadpoles in a private pond, and learning how birds build nests. £15, book ahead, 10am-3pm
RIVER THAMES DISCOVERY: Get muddy on the Thames Foreshore in Chiswick at this family workshop. Learn about the wildlife that lives along the Thames, count the birds you see — and maybe even catch a crab or two. £8/£5, book ahead, 10am
DISCOVERY DAY: Pond dipping, a nature trail and arts and crafts are just some of the activities on offer at Hyde Park’s Spring-themed family fun day. Free, just turn up, 11am-3pm (repeated tomorrow)
LOTIONS AND POTIONS: Take a break from all the chocolate and find out which plants are poisonous and which have healing powers at Chelsea Physic Garden. Learn how to make your own low cost remedies and take a mini medicinal garden home. Age 7+. £13, book ahead, 10.30am-2.30pm
EGG HUNT: Head to Foyles in Westfield Stratford City for an Easter egg hunt that doesn’t rely on decent weather. As well as the in-store hunt, kids can make Easter cards and hear Easter themed stories. Free, book ahead, 11am-noon
NATURE EXPLORERS: Go on safari without leaving London. Horniman Museum’s minibeast safari takes place on the nature trail in the museum’s grounds. £3, buy tickets on the day, 11am/noon/2pm/3pm
EASTER EGG HUNT: London’s not short of Easter egg hunts this weekend but we like the sound of this offering at Forty Hall in Enfield. Keep the kids occupied with a trail around the Hall before they get their chocolate reward. £1, just turn up, 14-17 April
MAD HATTER’S TEA PARTY: Create your own Wonderland at Forty Hall’s Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, with craft activities, games, juice and biscuits. Ages 6-11. £10, book ahead, various timeslots
EASTER BUNNY DAY: If your little ones are excited at the thought of the Easter Bunny visiting, take them to Battersea Park Zoo where they can become the Easter Bunny themselves, making their own ears and getting whiskers painted on. £1 + entrance fee, 11am/1.30pm
MESSY TIME: If your children like nothing better than making a mess, take them along to BFI Southbank where they can get stuck in making stop-motion animations. Other craft activities include a chance to make Easter eggs and Easter bunnies. £5/£4, book ahead, 11am
FAMILY DAY: Spend your Easter Sunday tracking down bunnies in the gardens of Keats House in Hampstead. Kids can also make their own carrot cone, which they can carry their chocolate prize home in. £1 donation suggested, just turn up, 1pm-4pm
THE GREAT EGG ROLL: How far can you roll an egg? Head to Lauderdale House to create and decorate your egg before taking part in the egg rolling contest. There’s also an Easter egg hunt in the grounds. £8.50, book ahead, 11am
A WORLD OF STORIES: Wind down the Easter holidays with a storytelling session at Horniman Museum. Hear tales of faraway places, inspired by the museum’s exhibitions. Age 5+. Free, just turn up, various timeslots (also takes place on Good Friday).
