Ben Walsh brings you a roundup of how to keep the whole family entertained in London this Easter and beyond
Easter in London is bursting with family-friendly fun, from chocolate-fuelled treasure hunts to hands-on adventures that will spark young imaginations. Whether your little ones dream of role-playing as postal workers, exploring the magical world of Harry Potter, or diving into the whimsical mind of Tim Burton, there’s something for every age. As the holidays unfold, expect dazzling stage productions, heart-racing thrills and plenty of outdoor escapades to keep kids entertained – and off their screens!
Mini explorers
London is a paradise for families, boasting fabulous parks and stellar attractions packed with toddler-friendly activities. Start with an Easter visit to Hampton Court Palace, once home to King Henry VIII, where you can embark on the Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt (to 21 Apr). Alternatively, celebrate egg-laying creatures and join the Zoononnous Egg Hunt at ZSL London Zoo (to 21 Apr) in pretty, spacious Regent’s Park. Children under eight can embrace role play in a mini town at Sorted! The Postal Play Space at The Postal Museum. Over at the Horniman Museum & Gardens, don’t miss The Robot Zoo (to 2 Nov), where oversized robotic animals demonstrate how their real-life counterparts see, eat, hunt and hide.
If you fancy a scenic stroll, soak up the fresh spring air in Hyde Park, where you may even spot the Household Cavalry en route to the Changing the Guard ceremony. Alternatively, explore neighbouring Kensington Gardens, home to the beloved Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground. Everyone’s favourite marmalade-munching character is celebrated at The Paddington Bear Experience on the South Bank, where little ones can encounter famous locations from Michael Bond’s stories while embarking on a fun and interactive journey full of gameplay.
Meanwhile, celebrate everyone’s favourite ogre at Shrek’s Adventure! London, where kids can head to the Castle of Duloc, dress in a coat of arms for a royal photo opportunity and enjoy a game of donkey-inspired horseshoes. For an unforgettable spectacle, head to the West End. Disney’s The Lion King dazzles with breathtaking puppetry and special effects, while the energetic and heartwarming Matilda the Musical brings Roald Dahl’s classic tale to life with an outstanding score and brilliant performances. As bold young Matilda would say, ‘Never do anything by halves if you want to get away with it. Be outrageous’, and these stage productions are outrageously good.
Young adventurers
Slightly older children crave excitement and hands-on experiences, and London delivers in abundance. The excellent Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter is an other-worldly place to start, where Magical Mischief showcases the spellbinding film trickery seen in the series (to 28 Apr). For fans of the fantastical, the Design Museum’s The World of Tim Burton (to 26 May) offers a deep dive into the director’s distinctive universe, featuring trademark works from the likes of Beetlejuice and Corpse Bride.
Aspiring archaeologists can unearth history at London Museum Docklands’ Secrets of the Thames: Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures (from 4 Apr), an absorbing display of more than 350 recent discoveries from the banks of the River Thames including a Viking-era dagger, a medieval gold ring and an 18th-century set of false teeth. Meanwhile, Fixing Our Broken Planet Gallery at the Natural History Museum (from 3 Apr) explores the planet’s biggest challenges and what we can do to overcome them.
Creative young minds will love the Young V&A’s exhibition Making Egypt (to 2 Nov), a dazzling exploration of Ancient Egypt’s creativity and its influence on art, design and popular culture today. For potential poets, there’s Poet’s Predicament at the Tower of London (to 29 Jun), where the poet Geoffrey Chaucer once worked as Clerk of the King’s Works.
Testy teens
Teens can be tricky to impress, but London offers plenty to keep them entertained. Fashion enthusiasts will love the highly interactive Versailles: Science and Splendour at the Science Museum (to 21 Apr), a riveting exhibition exploring the French palace’s role in scientific advancement, featuring remarkable objects such as Marie Antoinette’s world-famous watch and Louis XV’s rhinoceros. Art and history lovers can soon enjoy Stratford’s new public space, V&A East Storehouse (from 31 May), which delivers access to objects, archives, books and more, spanning 5,000 years. Look out for everything from Elton John’s outlandish costumes to Roman frescoes.
Meanwhile, adrenaline seekers can take on the Dare Skywalk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where they’ll scale dizzying heights before stepping onto a glass apex 50m above Spurs’ pitch. Or zip down to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and enjoy the Zip World London slide down the ArcelorMittal Orbit, London’s tallest sculpture at 114m high. For something even more dramatic, head to the West End’s fiendishly funny The Play That Goes Wrong, a slapstick comedy about a drama society staging a 1920s murder mystery, or consider (yourself) a trip to the celebrated musical Oliver!, which has been reconceived by Matthew Bourne. It stars Billy Byers (Watch on the Rhine) as the Artful Dodger and Simon Lipkin (Guys and Dolls) as Fagin.
History buffs will be intrigued by The Story of Soldier Magazine at the National Army Museum (to 6 Jul), which highlights the contributions of wartime journalists. And if all else fails? There’s always the ever-reliable Madame Tussauds, where teens can snap selfies with Taylor Swift and Kendall Jenner before diving into the thrilling Marvel Universe 4D experience, featuring wind, water and motion effects.
Coming soon to Lightroom
From 9 July, the vast King’s Cross exhibition space Lightroom unveils Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs, an immersive, technology-driven adventure bringing Apple TV +’s acclaimed series to life with breathtaking visuals and compelling storytelling. You will be guided on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, exploring the fascinating role dinosaurs played in shaping our world from a staggering 66 million years ago until now. Through this epic journey, you will encounter a legion of dinosaurs at the most pivotal moments of their lives. Visitors can expect to meet Tyrannosaurus rex, Alamosaurus, Hatzegopteryx, Isisaurus, Tuarangisaurus and many, many more!
To book, visit lightroom.uk.
