Try our eclectic selection of family friendly Easter activities around town.
The Just So Stories are brought to life at Pleasance Islington between 8-25 April. Perfect for children aged 4+ "Cushions, pillows, and duvets await for your little ones to snuggle into and watch in wonder as ordinary household items are turned into an entire world of magical storytelling on stage in front of them." Shows at 11.30am and 1.30pm. Tickets £10 adults, £7 conc.
There's free play in Gillett Square, Dalston every day between 8-25 April between 2-5.30pm.
Visit Battersea Park Children's Zoo between 9-24 April and for an extra £1.50 the kids get a quiz sheet for an easter egg hunt. Zoo admission adults £7.95, kids £6.50. NB this place has ring-tailed lemurs, hoorah!
Museum of London has a whole raft of creative free sessions for families between 9-25 April including puppets, seasonal story telling about Spring Heeled Jack and a focus on things Victorian. Over in Docklands learn about the tiger of Wapping, look at bones and make peg pirates.
Kew Gardens takes the chocolatey approach to the Easter holidays with chocolate workshops, tours and trails, a focus on the cocoa tree, chocolate sculptures and an Easter Egg hunt between 9 April - 2 May. Admission charges apply.
Send your over-8s to Kentish Town City Farm to help muck out and work on the farm. Over Easter Weekend, reward them with pony rides, egg blowing and decorating and a treasure hunt.
In south London, Deen City Farm in Merton Hall Park also runs a Young Farmers Programme over the holidays and their first lambs have already arrived. Visiting the farm is free.
Throughout the Easter holidays the Grant Museum is exploring the world of 'eggy' animals. Beyond that, there's lots more to see in their new home. Between 11-20 April the museum will be open Monday to Friday, 1-5pm. Admission is free. Find the museum's new home at Rockefeller Building, University Street, WC1E 6DE.
Family fun at London Transport Museum revolves around the new bus for London between 11-25 April with workshops, storytelling and dressing up. The family workshops are free but there is an admission charge to the museum.
CoolTan Arts lead the free Mad Hatters Walk, exploring perception and delusion round Southwark whilst sharing April fools, hoaxes, jokes and tales and sending the kids on an Easter egg hun in the park. Part of Southwark's Silver festival for older people, grandparents and grandchildren are encouraged to join the walk which starts at 12noon on Saturday 16 April at the Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, SE5 8AZ, and ends at Tate Modern on the Southbank.
Spitalfields City Farm runs an Easter Playscheme for 8-13 year olds between 18-21 April.
If you've got older children, could they handle the thrill of Lee Valley White Water Centre, which opens on 22 April? If not, Lee Valley Park Farm has got Petunia the Pig to mastermind an Eastery quiz and Easter egg hunt between 22-25 April. Farm entry: adults £7.50, kids £6, family £5 per person.
There's a fun fair at Hampton Court Palace. This fun fair has happened at Hampton Court every year for 150 years, even during the two World Wars. Free admission and low cost for rides between 22-26 April.
On Saturday 23 and Monday 25 the Golden Hinde goes all 'ooo arrrr' with Pirate Fun Days. Go dressed up for a guided tour and tall tales from the rogues aboard. Adults £7, kids £5, family £20: buy tickets.
On the Southbank Easter weekend marks the opening of the new Festival of Britain. The Real Food Street Market will be on all weekend. Will the kids like the Moroccan acrobatics of Chouf Ouchouf?
Mudchute Farm usually holds an Easter Parade. There's no info available at present but keep an eye on their website. A visit to the farm is free, anyway, and the surrounding parkland is perfect for rambling in with great views of Docklands on the horizon.
What have we missed? Feel free to add events in the comments.
For more ideas:
Read our Top 10 London Tourist Attractions That Don't Suck
Check out our latest Things to do in London on the Cheap and at the Weekend posts.
