Chicks, chocolate and bunnies galore in London this Easter
© onefox/Pixabay

Easter is fast approaching! To many of us that means a long weekend, lots of chocolate and (hopefully) warmer temperatures. 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 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 (which is 14 – 17 April in case you’re wondering).

For a guide to what else is on in London in April, click here.

• 24 March – 23 April : George Irvin’s Funfairs

Travelling funfairs will be setting up camp at Crystal Palace (24 Mar – 9 Apr), Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (1 – 17 Apr), Clapham Common (1 – 23 Apr) and Hampton Court (13 – 18 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.

• 1 – 16 April : Bunny Hop and Seek for Easter @ Museum Of Brands

Hunt a parade of Easter bunnies around the museum and through the Time Tunnel. Tues-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm. Activities free with museum entrance: Adults £9, Children 7-16yrs £5. Museum Of Brands, 111-117 Lancaster Road, Notting Hill, W11 1QT. Nearest station: Ladbroke Grove. For more information, visit the Museum Of Brands website.

• 1 – 17 April : Moomin Adventures @ Kew Gardens

Explore Kew Gardens on an interactive trail before ending up at the magical Moomin Festival Camp in the wild woodland. There will also be the opportunity for craft workshops, sample the Moomins’ pancakes and visit the Hemulens’ Herbarium. There will also be Lindt chocolate treats for every visitor. Tickets: Adults: £14, Children £2.50. Kew Gardens, Brentford Gate, Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AB. Nearest station: Kew Gardens. For more information and tickets, visit the Kew Gardens website.

• 1 – 17 April : Jurassic Kingdom

Dinosaur fans will get the opportunity to see 30 life-sized installations of animated dinosaurs, which move and make noise. There will also be street food and drink vendors on site. 10am-6pm. Tickets: Adults – £13.50 (online), £15 (on the door), Children £11.50 (online), £13 (on the door). Osterley Park, Jersey Road, Isleworth, Middlesex, TW7 4RB. Nearest station: Osterley. For tickets, visit the Jurassic Kingdom website.

• 1 – 17 April : Easter Egg Hunt @ Battersea Park Zoo

Find out what zoo animals will be holding Easter eggs. Open 10am-4.30pm. 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 Zoo, Battersea Park, Chelsea Embankment, Battersea, SW11 4NJ. Nearest station: Battersea Park. For more information, visit the Battersea Park Zoo website.

• 1 – 17 April : Easter Family Fun @ Hampton Court Palace

Go on a Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt at the homes and gardens of King Henry VIII. Other activities include meet Princess Caroline, decorate your own chocolate cup and find out how Georgians used to drink their chocolate. Open 10am-6pm. Tickets: Adults £23 (£20.30 online), Children £11.50 (£10.20 online). Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU. Nearest station: Hampton Court (36 minutes from Waterloo). For more information, visit the Historic Royal Palaces website.

• 1 – 21 April : Easter @ WWT London Wetland Centre

Enjoy the Celebrity Dusty Duck Trail and Easter Giant Duck Hunt (1 – 17 April only) during the Easter Holidays. The trail (£1 entry) will feature 6ft sculpture of Dusty Duck with a chocolate prize at the end, while the hunt (£1 entry) will feature ducks hidden around the reserve with a prize at the end. Entrance tickets: Adult £12.26-£13.49, 4-16 years £6.75-£7.42, family tickets £34.36-£37.80. 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.

• 1 – 23 April : Easter Dragon @ Shrek’s Adventures

Search for rare dragons’ eggs around Far Far Away and visit the maternity ward full of dragons’ eggs and get to witness the birth of a fire-breather. Opening hours vary. Tickets: Adults £19-£27.50, Children £15.30-£22 (cheaper online). Shrek’s Adventures, Riverside Building, County Hall, South Bank, SE1 7PB. Nearest station: Waterloo or Westminster. For booking, visit the Shrek’s Adventures website.

• 3 – 7 and 10 – 14 April : Easter Holidays: Memory, Home and Family

Various activities are taking place over the Easter holidays, including a make-your-own-miniature-home workshop, photography and Good Luck Spirit workshops and Checkmate Interactive Tour. Open daily. Free admission. Museum Of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, E2 9PA. Nearest station: Bethnal Green. For more information, visit the Museum Of Childhood website.

• 10 – 13 April : Easter @ Canary Wharf

Easter activities include decorate and design your own bunny ears head band and Easter egg treasure trail. 11am-5pm. Free. Jubilee Place, Canary Wharf, E14 5NY. Nearest station: Canary Wharf. For more information, visit the Canary Wharf website.

• 11 – 12 April : My First Ballet – Cinderella

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.

• 13 and 16 April : Easter @ Bluebird Chelsea

Bring the children to decorate and paint their own Easter egg to taken home, or they can go on a Easter Egg hunt in the courtyard. Egg painting 4pm on 13 April, Easter Egg Hunt 10am on 16 April. Tickets: Egg Painting £15, includes drink and a cookie; Egg hunt £10. Bluebird, 350 King’s Road, Chelsea, SW3 5UU. Nearest stations: Fulham Broadway, South Kensington or Sloane Square. For more information, visit the Bluebird website.

• 14 April : The Passion of Jesus

The Wintershall Players put on a production of The Passion Of Jesus on Good Friday in Trafalgar Square. There will be two 90 minute performances at 12pm and 3.15pm. Free. Trafalgar Square, Westminster, WC2N 5DN. Nearest stations: Charing Cross, Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus. For more information, visit the London.gov.uk website.

• 14 April : THATMuse treasure hunt @ British Museum

Enjoy a fun and games-themed treasure hunt around the capital’s iconic British Museum. Participants will seek, photograph themselves with and answer questions about treasures amongst the museum. 5.30pm-7.30pm. Tickets: Adults £15, Students £12, Children 5-13 years £10. British Museum, Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, WC1B 3DG. Nearest station: Tottenham Court Road or Goodge Street. For more information and booking, visit THATMuse website.

• 14 – 15 April : Family Weekend @ Sadler’s Wells

Award-winning company Aracaladanza present their show Vuelos, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s quest to make man fly. Tickets: Adults £18, Children £12. Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell, EC1R 4TN. Nearest station: Angel. For booking, visit the Sadlers Wells website.

• 14 – 16 April : Easter @ Boxpark Croydon

Foodie heaven Boxpark Croydon will be hosting special events over the Easter weekend, including a pop-up petting zoo, baby disco, soft play for children, acoustic sessions, vinyl exchange and live performance from the London Street Orchestra. Open Mon-Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 9am-10pm. Free entry. Boxpark Croydon, 99 George Street, Croydon, CR0 1LD. Nearest station: East Croydon. For more information, visit the Boxpark Croydon website.

• 14 – 17 April : Easter Adventure Quest @ Kenwood House

Search for clues with the help of a character from the past on a quest around the house and gardens with a chocolate prize at the end. 11am-5pm. Free entry. Kenwood House, Hampstead Lane, NW3 7JR. Nearest station: Hampstead or Highgate. For more information, visit the English Heritage website.

• 15 April : Easter Family Fun @ Gabriel’s Wharf

Family Easter activities by the Thames, including crafting sessions and scavenger hunt. 11am-6pm. Free. Gabriel’s Wharf, 56 Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1 9PP. Nearest station: Waterloo, Blackfriars or Southwark. For more information, visit the Coin Street website.

• 15 April : Easter Egg Hunt @ Hays Galleria

An Easter egg hunt for children aged 5-10, featuring clues, characters and crazy tasks. 12-4pm. Free, but register a place online. Hays Galleria (access from Tooley Street or Queen Walk), Borough, SE1 2HD. Nearest station: London Bridge. For more information, visit the London Bridge City website.

• 15 – 16 April : Horniman Easter Fair

Fair in the grounds of the Horniman Museum, featuring arts and crafts stalls, Easter egg trail, craft workshops, storytelling inspired by Alice In The Wonderland, face painting, tea cup rides and bouncy castle, Lindy Hop dance classes and Farmer’s Market (Sat 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.

Head to Brixton Windmill for an Easter Egg Hunt

• 16 April : 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 Sat 15 and Sun 16 (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.

• 17 April : Easter Egg Hunt @ Kensington Gardens

Search for Easter eggs in the rooftop gardens, before enjoying crafts and face-painting in the club house. There will also be fizz and Easter canapes for the parents. Time slots @ 10am and 2pm. Tickets: Adults £15, Children £10. 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.

Also remember the British Museum, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Museum Of London, V&A Museum, Science Museum, and Natural History Museum are all free at any time.

Easter fun for adults only

• 13 April : The Jam Tree Chelsea’s 6th Birthday

No work on Friday means a late-night Thursday. To celebrate their 6th birthday, the Chelsea pub will be hosting a complimentary hog roast, a bellini reception, fruity cocktails, and music from DJ Alex Mytton (Made In Chelsea) and DJ J C Rose. 12pm until late. Free entry. The Jam Tree, 541 King’s Road, Chelsea, SW6 2EB. Nearest station: Fulham Broadway or Imperial Wharf. For more information, visit The Jam Tree Chelsea website.

• 14 April : The Sailors’ Ball @ Cutty Sark

Dance underneath the Cutty Sark’s hull at an informal Sailors’ Ball, featuring swing dance lessons with Swing Patrol, Down for the Count Swing Orchestra performing ’40s and ’50s classics, before ending the night with DJs playing electric swing. Dress code: Vintage sailor chic. 7.15pm-11.30pm. Tickets: £25-£39. Cutty Sark, King William Walk, Greenwich, SE10 9HT. Nearest station: Cutty Sark (DLR) or Greenwich. For booking, visit the Royal Museums Greenwich website.

• 14 – 16 April : Mad Hatter’s Cocktail Party

The all-singing, all-dancing Archer Street in Soho will be hosting Alice in Wonderland-inspired fun and frolics, featuring entertainment and Easter cocktail menu including a signature Alice in Archer Street, Queen of Hearts, The Mad Hatter and The White Rabbit. Archer Street, 3-4 Archer Street, Soho, W1D 7AP. Nearest station: Piccadilly Circus. For more information, visit the Archer Street website.

• 15 April : Secret Garden Afternoon Tea @ Kensington Roof Gardens

Enjoy Afternoon Tea 100ft above London at the stunning surrounds of the Roof Gardens. Featuring sandwiches, scones, cakes, tea, coffee and fizz. 12-5pm. Tickets: £38pp. 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.

• 15 April : Uncle Barts’ Easter Playboy Bunnies Party @ Barts

Chelsea speakeasy Barts will be hosting an Easter party, featuring Playboy bunnies and cocktails served in Easter eggs. 6pm-1am. Barts, Chelsea Cloisters, 87 Sloane Avenue, Chelsea, SW3 3DW. Nearest station: South Kensington or Sloane Square. For more information, visit the Barts website. For Metro Girl’s review of Barts’ new comic book menu, click here.

• 15 April : Chicken Fest @ The Signal

The Forest Hill gastropub will be serving Caribbean food, including jerk chicken, with music from a steel band and reggae DJ. The Signal, 7 Devonshire Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3HE. Nearest station: Forest Hill. For more information, visit The Signal’s website.

• 16 April : East End Easter Egg Hunt @ South Place Hotel

Adult-friendly Easter Egg hunt around the South Place Hotel in the City of London, with cryptic clues in Cockney rhyming slang. 2.30pm-3pm. Tickets: £15. South Place Hotel, 3 South Place, City of London, EC2M 2AF. Nearest station: Moorgate or Liverpool Street.  For more information, visit the South Place Hotel website.

• 16 April : Festive Easter Feast Masterclass at Corrigan’s

Guests can work alongside top chefs to learn the tricks of the trade, making the ultimate Easter Sunday lunch, followed by the chance to decorate your own Easter egg and other chocolate desserts. Following the feast, you’ll be able to take home a goodie bag, including signed copy of Richard Corrigan’s latest cookbook, recipe cards and Richard’’s famous soda bread. Corrigan’s Mayfair, 28 Upper Grosvenor Street, Mayfair, W1K 7EH. Nearest station: Marble Arch or Hyde Park Corner. For more information, visit the Corrigans website.

• 16 April : Bank Holiday Sunday Supper Club @ Bunga Bunga

Enjoy two hours of Prosecco and pizza, enjoy the dressing up box and belt out some hits on the karaoke stage. 6pm-2am. £35 pp for unlimited pizza and prosecco. Bunga Bunga, 37 Battersea Bridge Road, SW11 3BA. Nearest station: Clapham Junction, Queenstown Road Battersea or Battersea Park. For more information, visit the Bunga Bunga website.

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