Planning a last-minute trip to London with kids this Easter? There’s still time to book on to (or just turn up at) loads of family-friendly events happening in the capital over the Easter holidays. I wrote a top ten for Time Out’s Easter magazine but it seemed a shame not to do anything with all the events that I didn’t use, so here’s the whole list in all its glory. It’s a bit rough and ready, but all these lovely events will go to waste on my desktop if I wait for a time when I actually get a chance to write these out properly and proofread everything. So… Enjoy!
20 Family Events In London This Easter (That Aren’t Booked Up Yet!)
Let’s Play Easter Festival at Canopy Market, West handyside Canopy, King’s Cross.
April 6-22, Let’s Play Easter, King’s Cross:
There’s absolutely loads going on as part of this festival at King’s Cross, including a petting zoo, face painting, a land train and an Easter egg hunt. Handy if you’re getting the train in to St Pancras.
https://www.kingscross.co.uk/lets-play-easter-festival
April 13 & 14 (and 16 & 21), Museum of London Docklands workshops:
Kids age 5+ can learn Morse code at Museum of London Docklands this Easter, and it’s free. Wohoo.
https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london/event-detail?id=192811 for Morse code, and this one about newspapers also looks fun: https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london/event-detail?id=193409
Until April 14, London Games Festival – all over London:
The London Games Festival – that’s gaming and cosplay rather than sports or board games – runs until Sunday 14th at venues all over London, including Now Play This at Somerset House. There’s also cool stuff happening for kids and families at Trafalgar Square on Saturday 13th.
Go to http://games.london/ for the schedule or https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/whats-on/now-play-this-2019 for the Somerset House thing.
April 14, Braving the Elements lecture, Royal Institution:
To celebrate 150 years of the periodic table (which surely you are celebrating, yes?), go to this kid-friendly Easter lecture at the Royal Institute that takes you through the elements (age 7+):
http://www.rigb.org/whats-on/events-2019/april/family-braving-the-elements-1
April 16 & 17, Imagination Lab tech camps, Lambeth:
Kids can hone their tech and creativity skills at Lambeth’s Imagination Lab day camps, which look really cool. The website says ‘Join us for a full day skills camp for children 7-12 learning to code and remix content through playful technology’. It costs £65 and you need to book in advance.
https://ioi.london/
April 19 (Good Friday), Passion of Jesus in Trafalgar Square:
Does what it says on the tin, really. Rock up early to get a good spot for this one.
https://www.wintershall.org.uk/passion-jesus-london
April 20, Moomins at Barbican Family Cinema Club:
Moomins are back, big time. This is a screening of Moomins and the Comet Chase (U*) and the listing says grown-ups aren’t allowed if they’re not accompanied by a child. Soz.
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2019/event/ffc-moomins-and-the-comet-chase-u
The Sunken Garden at the Horniman Museum and Gardens, photo Laura Mtungwazi
Saturday April 20 and Sunday April 21, Easter Fair, Horniman Museum:
I really want to go to the Horniman’s Easter Fair – it looks amazing and there’s also the Brick Wonders LEGO exhibition to see at the same time.
https://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/horniman-easter-fair-1402 for the fair and https://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/brick-wonders#image-0 for Brick Wonders, which runs until October.
April 22, Easter Egg Hunt, Buckingham Palace Royal Mews:
Fancy a posh trip to Buckingham Palace? You may as well join the Royal Mews Easter Extravaganza egg hunt. Looks like a nice one for littles.
https://www.rct.uk/event/easter-extravaganza-04-2019#/
April 21, Lauderdale House egg roll, Lauderdale House (Highgate):
I’m reliably told the Lauderdale House egg roll sells out early, so book in advance for this one, which also looks great for younger kids.
https://www.lauderdalehouse.org.uk/whats-on/easter-egg-decorating-great-egg-roll
April 22, London Easter 10k, Regent’s Park:
Run the children’s 800m race at the London Easter 10k in Regent’s Park. Kids can pre-register or just turn up (arrive early though – it starts around 10.15). The children’s Race entry fee is £3.00.
https://www.nice-work.org.uk/races/london-easter-10k
Easter and beyond, Beasts of London, Museum of London:
Beasts of London is a new digital interactive exhibition at the Museum of London which looks fun. Also check out The Railway Children storytime on April 19th.
It’s https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london/whats-on/exhibitions/beastsoflondon for Beasts of London and https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london/event-detail?id=193213 for The Railway Children
Easter and beyond, The Magic Garden, Hampton Court Palace
The Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace has reopened for summer, and would be a lovely one for a sunny – or just not rainy – day. The maze and garden are included with palace admission or you can just pay for them separately. Play is limited to 90 minutes if it’s crazy busy.
https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/explore/the-magic-garden/
Easter and beyond, The Golden Hinde pirate ship, near London Bridge:
There are events onboard The Golden Hinde all over Easter if you have small pirate-like people in your clan. Also, did you know you could sleep over on a pirate ship? Me either. Looks cool and there’s one every month as far as I can see.
Try https://www.goldenhinde.co.uk/whats-on# for events and https://www.goldenhinde.co.uk/whats-on#activity-whats-on-9-family-event-108-the-golden-hinde-night-voyage-7 for The Night Voyage. It’s for ages 6-11 and costs £45 per person.
Junior Doctors at Body Worlds. Photo c Jeff Moore.
Easter and beyond, Junior Doctors at Body Worlds London:
They’ll get a lab coat and tour the Body Worlds exhibition with a real-life scientist for this one. https://bodyworlds.co.uk/juniordoctor
Easter and beyond, Underbelly, South Bank:
There’s a full season of shows and events starting this Easter as part of Family Fest at the Southbank’s Underbelly festival. If you’re south of the river, take a look.
http://www.underbellyfestival.com/whats-on/category/family#stq=&stp=1
Easter and beyond, wildlife events at Hyde Park (and other Royal Parks):
There’s lots going on at London’s Royal Parks stuff including things like discovery days about ‘marvelous mammals’ at Hyde Park and a wild expedition where you can drop the kids and run off for a coffee on April 16.
Take a look at https://www.royalparks.org.uk/whats-on/upcoming-events and also https://www.royalparks.org.uk/whats-on/upcoming-events/nature-explorers-wild-expedition
Easter and beyond, Chelsea Physic Garden:
Although the Chocolate Tuesday event over Easter has sold out, I’m leaving it on here because it looks really fun and runs at other times, plus there are other bits and bobs going on. Mainly I just really want an excuse to go here because it’s full of medicinal plants and looks really cool.
Go here for what’s on: https://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/Pages/Events/Category/family-activities
Easter and beyond, Craft & Graft: Making Science Happen:
Sciency kids? They might like The Francis Crick Institute’s new exhibition, Craft & Graft: Making Science Happen.
https://www.crick.ac.uk/news/2018-12-04_new-exhibition-reveals-the-unseen-side-of-science
May 26, Harry Potter all-night cinema marathon, Prince Charles Cinema:
Another cinema one… this time for older kids. It’s an all-night Harry Potter marathon with all eight films, back to back. So no sleep. At all. The April one has just sold out, but the next one is Sunday May 26 which is the start of half-term for most of us. Good luck.
https://princecharlescinema.com/PrinceCharlesCinema.dll/WhatsOn?f=1311953
Psst. Got to get some work done during your jaunt to London? For child-friendly coworking spaces and ideas, take a look at my post 15 places in London where you can work with kids in tow...
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