Spring into spring

It was only recently it was minus degrees and snowing so no doubt you may be shocked it’s approaching Easter already. With Easter Weekend bridging the end of March and beginning of April, we can only hope for some warm weather and sunshine. With schools on holiday for two weeks, parents everywhere will be looking for ways to entertain their little ones. Meanwhile, showing Easter isn’t just for kids, there’s an adults-only guide to offers and events at the bottom.

• 25 March : Easter Egg Hunt @ Parsons Green Market

Pick up some clue questions and search the market for the Easter Eggs, with the chance to win chocolate prizes or a box of farmers market eggs. 10am-2pm. Thomas’s Academy, New King’s Road, Parsons Green, SW6 4LY. Nearest station: Parsons Green or Putney Bridge. For more information, visit the London Farmers Markets website.

• 26 March – 15 April : Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt @ Hampton Court Palace

Hunt for the Lindt gold chocolate bunny in the house and gardens at Hampton Court. Other family activities include a digital adventure around the palace, the magic garden and maze and workshops. Tickets (events inc with general admission): Adults from £19.20, Children from £9.60. 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.

• 29 March : Kids Easter Egg Painting @ Bluebird

Take the kids to an Easter egg painting class. For ages 3 and up (parents required to supervise). 3.30pm. Tickets: £15 per child. Bluebird, 350 King’s Road, Chelsea, SW3 5UU. Nearest stations: Fulham Broadway, South Kensington or Sloane Square. For more information, visit the Bluebird website.

• 29 March – 2 April : Easter Egg Hunt : St Katharine Docks

A special egg hunt around St Katharine Docks, which celebrates its 190th anniversary this year. Families can pick up Easter egg colouring-in sheets and a ‘Hunt Pack’ that will consist of crayons and activity sheet as they search for eggs around the central basin. From 10.30am-4pm (closed Easter Sunday). Free. St Katharine Docks, 50 St Katharine’s Way, E1W 1LA. Nearest station: Tower Hill or Tower Gateway. For more information, visit the St Kats website. To find out about the history of St Kats, click here.

• 29 March – 7 April : My First Ballet – Swan Lake

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.

• 30 – 31 March : Family Weekend @ Sadler’s Wells

BalletLORENT present their production of Rumpelstiltskin, follow a self-guided journey or enjoy a host of activities. Prices vary depending on event. Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell, EC1R 4TN. Nearest station: Angel. For booking, visit the Sadlers Wells website.

• 30 – 31 March and 1 – 2 April : Easter Quest @ Kenwood

Follow the clues to claim your chocolate reward in house and gardens of historic Kenwood House. 11am-3pm. Tickets: £1 per child. Kenwood House, Hampstead Lane, NW3 7JR. Nearest station: Hampstead or Highgate. For more information, visit the English Heritage website.

• 30 March – 2 April : Easter @ Battersea Park Zoo

Take part in a host of Easter-themed activities, including an Easter Egg search amongst the animals and a host of activities on Easter Bunny Day on 30 March. Open 10am-4.30pm. Visitors can purchase a £1.50 (including prize) quiz sheet upon entry and follow the trail. General admission: Adults £9.50, Children 2-15 yrs £7.50. Battersea Park Zoo, Battersea Park, Chelsea Embankment, Battersea, SW11 4NJ. Nearest station: Battersea Park. For more information, visit the Battersea Park Zoo website.

• 30 March – 15 April : A Big Day Out With Peter Rabbit @ Kew

Beatrix Potter and her animals come to Kew Gardens, featuring games, Peter Rabbit trail, and the late author’s links with Kew. Free to take part with normal admission. Tickets: Adults from £17.75, Children 4-16yrs £4. Kew Gardens, Brentford Gate, Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AB. Nearest station: Kew Gardens. For more information and tickets, visit the Kew Gardens website. 

• 30 March – 15 April : Easter @ WWT 

Take part in Dusty’s Giant Easter Duck Hunt, enjoy a spot of pond dipping or a Wild Play session. 10am-5pm. Tickets: Adults from £11.45, Children 4-16 yrs from £6.95 (more on the door). 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.

• 30 March – 15 April : Easter @ Battersea Power Station

There will be a host of Easter activities over the long weekend, including an Easter Egg hunt and make-your-own Pom Poms and Easter bonnet workshops. Throughout the holidays, there will also be an Easter Roller Disco for families, Ping Pong tables and an Imagination Playground. 10am-4pm. Free. Circus West Village, Nine Elms, SW11 8NN. Nearest station: Battersea Park or Queenstown Road Battersea. For more information, visit the Battersea Power Station website.

• 30 March – 15 April : Jungle Survival Skills @ National Army Museum

Family friendly workshop teaches you survival skills needed for the jungle. Workshops from 10.30am-4.30pm. Free. National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, SW3 4HT. Nearest station: Sloane Square. For more information, visit the National Army Museum website.

Head to the Horniman Museum’s Easter Fair

• 30 March – 15 April : Superpowers Trail @ London Zoo

Follow the trail around the zoo to find the animals’ super powers, before taking on the ‘Capes of Confusion’ invisibility game and explore with a comic book. Tickets: Adults from £24.30, Children 3-15yrs from £18, Under 3s free. London Zoo, Outer Circle (Regent’s Park), NW1 4RY. Nearest stations: Camden Town or Regent’s Park. For more information and booking, visit the Zoological Society London website.

• 30 March – 7 May : George Irvin’s Funfairs

Travelling funfairs will be setting up camp at Clapham Common (30 Mar – 22 Apr), Hampton Court (30 Mar – 3 Apr) and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (30 Mar – 7 May) 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.

• 31 March : Easter Extravaganza @ Coin Street

Family day at Coin Street, featuring Easter egg hunt, children’s crafts, adults scavenger hunt, and live music from Daughters of Davis. 12pm-6pm. Gabriel’s Wharf, 56 Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1 9PP. Nearest station: Waterloo, Blackfriars or Southwark. For more information, visit the Coin Street website.

• 31 March : Easter Egg Hunt

Easter Egg Trail around London Bridge City, featuring tasks, characters, chocolate and clues. For children 5-10yrs. 12pm-5pm. Free. 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.

• 31 March – 1 April : Horniman Easter Fair

Easter Fair featuring a host of activities and events, including ‘The Ugly Duckling’ storytelling performances, an Easter trail, Animal Corner, workshops, face-painting, arts and craft market, farmers’ market, tea cup rides, bouncy castle and more. 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.

• 2 – 13 April : Easter Holidays @ Museum Of Childhood

A host of workshops and events will be taking place, including how to make pattern print, clayworld or animated clay creatures; listen to Nordic Folk Stories or pose in the Pop-Up Sister Brother Photo Studio (2 Apr). 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.

• 4 – 8 April : Disney On Ice – Worlds Of Entertainment

Disney On Ice’s latest production Worlds Of Entertainment comes to London. Times vary (including matinees on 7-8 April). Tickets from £19. The SSE Arena, Arena Square, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 OAA. Nearest station: Wembley Stadium or Wembley Park. For more information, visit the Disney On Ice website. 

• 4 – 15 April : An Egyptian Adventure with the Great Benzoni

An immersive storytelling adventure lead by the Great Belzoni, Italian strongman-turned-Egyptologist, around Sir John Soane’s Museum. Featuring amazing stories, a special tour of the museum’s secrets including a chance to handle artefacts and to see the real Sarcophagus of Seti I, unearthed by Belzoni and later bought by Sir John Soane for his home. For children aged 6 and up. Wed-Sun @ 2pm. Tickets: Adults £12, Children £6.50. Sir John’s Soane Museum, 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, Holborn, WC2A 3BP. Nearest station: Holborn. For more information, visit the Sir John Soane Museum website.

• 7 April : Trafalgar Square Games Festival

Games event as part of the London Games Festival 2018 features eSports, hands-on games, workshops plus augmented reality games. 10am-6pm. Free entry. Trafalgar Square, Westminster, WC2N 5DN. Nearest stations: Charing Cross, Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus. For more information, visit the London.gov.uk website.

• Now until 8 April : Winnie The Pooh – Exploring A Classic

AA Milne’s beloved bear is celebrated with sketches, letters, photographs, cartoons, ceramics and fashion. Open 10am-5.45pm. Tickets: Adults £8, Student 12-17, NUS £5, Children 0-11 free. Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, SW7 2RL. Nearest station: South Kensington. For more information, visit the V&A website.

Also remember the British Museum, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Museum Of London, National Army Museum, V&A Museum, Science Museum, and Natural History Museum are all free at any time (apart from special exhibitions which may cost).

Easter fun for adults

• 21 March – 2 April : Easter Choctails @ Dirty Martini
  

  A Vegan Easter Choctail at Dirty Martini

Dirty Martini will be whipping up some boozy Easter concoctions. The limited-edition Easter Choctail menu will feature a choice of The CocoBunny (a Vegan cocktail with Absolut Vanilla Vodka, Crème De Cacao, cacao powder, Oatly cream, Oatly chocolate drink and topped with Vegan coconut cream foam and Ombar chocolate buttons); White Chocolate Martini (Absolut Vodka, Courvoisier VS, Crème de Cacao Blanc, White Chocolate Mozart Liqueur with double cream and Aztec Chocolate Bitters); and Chocolate Martini (Absolut Vanilla Vodka, Briottet Crème de Cacao and Frangelico Hazelnut Liqueur with double cream and chocolate powder). Available at branches in Bishopsgate, Covent Garden, Hanover Square, Islington, Minories, Monument and St Paul’s. For more information, visit the Dirty Martini website.

• 26 March – 2 April : Covent Garden’’s Ultimate Easter Egg Hunt

Mexican restaurant Cantina Laredo is hiding 101 Easter eggs around Covent Garden. ‘Find the Cascarón’ will give Londoners a chance to win a host of prizes, from free margaritas, one of ‘the Great Eight Guacamoles’ or even a complimentary dinner worth £200 at Cantina Laredo. If you find a winning egg, take it to Cantina Laredo to exchange it for a prize. Cantina Laredo, 10 Upper St Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden, WC2H 9FB. Nearest station: Covent Garden or Leicester Square. For more information, visit Cantina Laredo’s website.

• 30 – 31 March : Nine Lost Eggs @ Nine Lives

Nine Lives are hosting an adults-only Easter egg hunt in their neighbourhood bar. Order the Ostara cocktail to activate the clues to the location of one of nine lost eggs, located around the bar or garden, with the chance to win anything from a bottle of booze to a bar tab. Open 6pm until late. Nine Lives, 8 Holyrood Street, London Bridge, SE1 2EL. Nearest station: London Bridge. For more information, visit the Nine Lives website. Read Metro Girl’s review of Nine Lives here.

• 30 March – 2 April : Easter Egg-travaganza @ Queens

An Easter twist on a bowling competition sees players use Easter egg shaped bowling bowls in a bid to win a limited edition, 55cm chocolate Easter egg. Queens, 17 Queensway, W2 4PQ. Nearest station: Queensway or Bayswater. For more information, check out the Queens website. Read Metro Girl’s review of Queens here.

• 30 March – 2 April : Easter Egg Box Cocktail Surprise @ Mr Fogg’s Residence

Enjoy an egg-stravagant cocktail flight for two to share, presented in real eggs in an actual egg box. There will also be a special Easter Egg cocktail, made from vodka, rum or gin. There will also be some Easter treats to those who order the Tipsy Tea. Mr Foggs Residence, 15 Bruton Lane, Mayfair, W1J 6JD. Nearest station: Green Park or Bond Street. For more information, visit the Mr Foggs website.

• 31 March : South Place Cinema presents Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory

Enjoy a two-course meal and a screening of Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory with welcome cocktail and popcorn in the Secret Garden. Film screening starts at 3.30pm. Tickets: £49pp (includes meal, screening, cocktail and snacks). South Place Hotel, 3 South Place, City of London, EC2M 2AF. Nearest station: Moorgate. For more information, visit the South Place Cinema website.

• 1 April : Project Midnight & Beyond – A Spring Festival

Easter Sunday party featuring live music, DJs, creative cocktails and Easter Egg hunt. Eggs will be hidden around the venue, with revellers invited to take them to the bar for a crack to find out if you’ve won a prize. 8pm-4am. Tickets: 0.88p! Studio 88, Clareville House, 47 Whitcomb Street, Westminster, WC2H 7DH. Nearest station: Piccadilly Circus. For tickets, visit DesignMyNight.

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

Follow my blog with Bloglovin