Egg-cellent guide to what’s on in London this Easter 2016
It may not feel very spring-like, but the new season is well and truly upon us with the start of the Easter Holidays. With parents searching for ways to entertain their children, a host of London attractions have curated special activities over the break. My monthly ‘what’s on guides’ include many activities on in the capital during March and April, however for those looking for more family and Easter-centric ideas of what’s on during the holidays, here’s listings of things to keep you occupied. However, it’s not all for the kids, with a special section at the bottom with adults-only Easter fun over the Bank Holiday weekend.
For a guide to what else is on in London in April, click here.
- 18 – 28 March : Find Your London Festival
An 11 day festival celebrating the capital’s outdoor spaces, from gardens to parks, high streets to marketplaces. Featuring over 100 events, including yoga in the park, cycle trails, treasure hunts, beekeeping and an Alice in Wonderland Tea Party. For more information, visit London.gov website.
- 19 March – 10 April : Easter @ Kew – Chocolate Sensations with Lindt Gold Bunny
There will be a host of Easter-themed fun at Kew over the holidays, including Lindt Gold Bunny Flavour Trail, Chocolution – bean to bar workshops, story-telling, face-painting and more. Tickets (regular entrance): Adults: £14, Children £3.50. Kew Gardens, Brentford Gate, Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AB. Nearest station: Kew Gardens. For more information and tickets, visit the Kew Gardens website.
- 19 March – 10 April : Easter @ Design Museum
Over Easter, the Design Museum will be hosting a series of family-friendly events around the Cycle Revolution exhibition, including Pedal Powered Cinema, Colouring Competition and an Easter Egg Hunt. Tickets (general entrance): Adult £13.65, Children £6.85. Design Museum, 28 Shad Thames, SE1 2YD. Nearest station: London Bridge or Tower Hill. For tickets, visit the Design Museum website.
- 19 March – 10 April : Where’s Wally @ View From The Shard
Kids can search for explorers Wally, Wenda, Woof, Wizard Whitebeard and Odlaw as they explore the viewing platforms at View From The Shard. From 10am until sunset. Family tickets (2 adults, 2 children): £74.95 (advance) or £79.95 (on the door). The View From The Shard, Joiner Street, SE1 9SP. Nearest station: London Bridge. For more information, visit the View From The Shard website. For Metro Girl’s review of View From The Shard, click here.
- 24 March – 2 April : My First Ballet – Sleeping Beauty
Introduce your child to ballet with the English National Ballet and English National Ballet School production of this classic fairytale. Performance times vary. Tickets: £10-£25. Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, Holborn, WC2A 2HT. Nearest station: Holborn or Temple. For more information and booking, visit the Sadler’s Wells website.
- 24 March – 10 April : George Irvin’s Funfairs
Travelling funfairs will be setting up camp at Shepherds Bush Green (24 Mar – 10 Apr), Hampton Court (25 – 29 Mar), Clapham Common (25 Mar – 10 Apr) and Crystal Palace (1 – 10 Apr) over the Easter break. Rides include Big Apple Coaster, Dodgems, Bungee Trampolines, Tea Cups, Waltzer, Inflatable Slide and Carousel, among many others. For more information, visit the Irvin Leisure website.
- 25 – 28 March : Easter Egg Hunt @ Battersea Park Zoo
Find out what zoo animals will be holding Easter eggs? Visitors can purchase a £1.50 (including prize) quiz sheet upon entry and follow the trail. General admission: Adults £8.95, Children 2-15 yrs £6.95. Battersea Park, Chelsea Embankment, Battersea, SW11 4NJ. Nearest station: Battersea Park. For more information, visit the Battersea Park Zoo website.
- 25 March – 8 April : Spring Holidays @ Museum Of Childhood
Various activities are taking place over the Easter holidays, including a small film marathon, Dragons and Unicorns Puppet, Make Do and Mend Critters, Lost and Found, Moving Drawings and Cosmic Shoebox workshops. Open daily except 2 – 3 April. Admission is free. Museum Of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, E2 9PA. Nearest tube: Bethnal Green. For more information, visit the Museum Of Childhood website.
- 25 March – 10 April : Easter Giant Duck Hunt @ WWT London Wetland Centre
The London Wetland Centre are hosting several activities over Easter including a giant Easter duck hunt and build a Lego duckling. General admission tickets: Adult £11.91, 4-16 years £6.55, family tickets £33.27. London Wetland Centre, Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes, SW13 9WT. Nearest station: Barnes or Barnes Bridge. For more information, visit the London Wetland Centre website.
- 25 March – 10 April : Easter @ Royal Museums Greenwich
A host of family and Easter activities will be taking place across National Maritime Museum, Royal Observatory Greenwich, Cutty Sark and the Queen’s House. Events include Easter Egg Hunt, Space Cadets and Cutty Sark Characters, among others. Ticket prices vary. The museums are all situated in close proximity in Greenwich, SE10 9HT. Nearest stations: Cutty Sark (DLR) or Greenwich. For more information, visit the Royal Museums Greenwich website.
- 26 March : Easter Family Fun @ Gabriel’s Wharf
An exciting Easter Egg hunt for children will be dotted around Gabriel’s Wharf. There will also be a free Easter crafting session and Gabriel’s Wharf Scavenger Hunt for adults. 12-3pm. Gabriel’s Wharf, 56 Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1 9PP. Nearest station: Waterloo, Blackfriars or Southwark. For more information, visit the Coin Street website.
- 26 March : All Aboard the Easter Express
Board the Easter train for a whole heap of family fun in King’s Cross. As well as a road train ride, there will also be giant Easter bunnies, an egg hunt, egg decorating competition and tours of the Skip Garden. 10am-4pm. Free. Granary Square, King’s Cross, N1. Nearest station: King’s Cross St Pancras. For more information, visit the King’s Cross website.
- 26 – 27 March : Horniman Easter Fair
Fair in the grounds of the Horniman Museum, featuring arts and crafts stalls, Easter egg trail, the Horniman Bunny, Farmer’s Market (Sat only) and live music (Sun only). 10.30am-4.30pm. Free entry. Horniman Museum, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ. Nearest station: Forest Hill. For more information, visit the Horniman Museum website.
- 27 March : Easter Egg Hunt @ Brixton Windmill
The kids can hunt for Easter eggs and enjoy arts and crafts in the gardens of one of London’s only surviving windmills. 2-4pm. £1 per child. The Windmill will also be open for tours on 26 and 27 March (book in advance). Windmill Gardens (west end of Blenheim Gardens, off Brixton Hill), Brixton, SW2 5EU. Nearest station: Brixton. for more information, visit the Brixton Windmill website.
Also remember the British Museum, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, V&A Museum, Science Museum, and Natural History Museum are all free at any time.
Easter fun for adults only
- 21 March : Rum & Chocolate Easter Tastings @ Barrio
Liven up the Monday before Easter with some rum and chocolate tastings at Mexican bar Barrio in Soho. Guests will be walked through El Dorado’s world-renowned 12yr, 15yr & 21yr rums, alongside speciality chocolates from Rococo, to discover how the distinctive flavours of rum and chocolate can be matched and contrasted. 6.30-8.30pm. Tickets: £20. Barrio Soho, 6 Poland Street, Soho, W1F 8PS. Nearest station: Oxford Circus or Piccadilly Circus. For booking, visit Billetto.
- 25 March : A ‘Very Good Friday’ @ Kensington Roof Gardens
Search for treats 100ft above London in the three themed gardens with prizes for those who find the Easter ducks, before drinking and dancing the night away at the club. 7pm until late. Complimentary entry before 11pm. Kensington Roof Gardens, 99 Kensington High Street (entrance on Derry Street), Kensington, W8 5SA. Nearest station: High Street Kensington. For more information and booking, visit the Roof Gardens website.
- 26 – 27 March : Cahoots presents an Easter Squiffy Picnic Fete
Head underground for some Easter revelry with a difference. Sift through the fancy dress box for fabulous Forties accessories before sitting down to your vintage wicker hampers with British cuisine and cocktails circa 1946, and a special Easter surprise. Play vintage games such as Spin the Wheel and Dont Touch the Wire!, with lots of fun prizes, and a bric-a-brac stall. Sittings from 1.45pm-3.15pm. From £46pp. Cahoots, 13 Kingly Court, Soho, W1B 5PW. Nearest station: Oxford Circus or Piccadilly Circus. For more information, visit the Cahoots website. For Metro Girl’s review of Cahoots, click here.
- 27 March : Easter Tipsy Tea Party @ Mr Fogg’s Residence
A twist on their Mr Fogg’s Tipsy Tea, featuring hot cross buns, macaroons, sandwiches and chocolate eggs, paired with Veuve Clicquot RICH champagne cocktails or Hendricks gin teas. Starts from £38pp. Mr Fogg’s, 15 Bruton Lane, Mayfair, W1J 6JD. Nearest tube: Green Park. For more information, visit the Mr Fogg’s website.
- 27 March : Easter Pyjama Party @ Barts
Guests are invited to wear their finest sleepwear to celebrate Easter, with teacup cocktails, midnight snacks, hidden easter eggs and pillow fights. Among the special cocktails on offer will be Sweet Dreams (camomile, Russian Standard, lemon, and egg white) and the Champions Breakfast (almond milk, coffee infused with bourbon, amaretto, and aromatic bitters). Barts, Sloane Avenue, Chelsea, SW3 3DW. Nearest station: Sloane Square or South Kensington. For more information, visit the Barts website.
- Throughout Easter : Hot Cross Bunny @ Bunnychow
South African street food eaterie Bunnychow are serving a special Easter ‘Bunny’, a soft mini brioche, filled with a sumptuous dark chocolate ganache core and topped with matcha green tea bread crumbs. Bunnychow, 74 Wardour Street, Soho, W1F 0TE. Nearest station: Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus or Leicester Square. For more information, visit the Bunnychow website. Read Metro Girl’s review of Bunnychow here.
- Throughout Easter : Eggsperimental cocktail cup @ Cocktail Trading Co
Both branches will be serving a special Easter cocktail. The cocktail includes Breakfast Brandy, peach, blood orange, fresh tarragon and sparkling wine, with a garnish of cheerio brittle, served with an egg shell filled with panna cotta (£9). Cocktail Trading Co, 68 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E1 6GQ. Nearest station: Shoreditch High Street. 50-52 Long Lane, Smithfields, EC1A 9EJ. Nearest station: Farringdon. For more information, visit the Cocktail Trading Co website.
Posted on 20 Mar 2016, in Activities, Entertainment, Festivals, London, Nightlife, Tourist Attractions and tagged Easter Holidays, Families, London, school holidays, Things to do in London, What's On Guide. Bookmark the permalink. 1 Comment.