Looking for family-friendly things to do in London during the Easter holidays? Check out our guide to Easter fun in the capital. From exhibitions to stage shows to craft activities, there's plenty going on while school's out.
School holiday dates vary from borough to borough and school to school, but the Easter holidays fall roughly between Saturday 28 March-Sunday 12 April 2026 for most schools. Easter Weekend is 3-6 April 2026 (check out our Easter weekend events guide).
Easter holiday events in London
ZOONORMOUS EGG HUNT: Take your family to see the animals at London Zoo during the Easter holidays, and there's the added bonus of a Zoonormous Egg Hunt to keep younger visitors entertained — it's included in your entry ticket. Pick up a trail card, and as you wander around, find the missing letters to crack a secret password. There are also Easter craft activities throughout the holidays. 28 March-12 April 2026
SPECTACULAR SPACE: 6-12 year-olds and their families are invited to the Royal Institution's Family Fun Day themed on space. Volunteers, scientists and engineers run a range of age-appropriate activities on topics including galaxies, moons, telescopes and space toilets. 28 March 2026
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An egg-citing adventure aboard Cutty Sark
Step aboard Cutty Sark in Greenwich over the long weekend, and take part in an Easter Egg Trail throughout the historic ship.
Discover fascinating facts about Cutty Sark's epic voyages, while you explore the decks — and keep your eyes peeled for the hidden eggs.
Each egg has a letter on it — find them all and unscramble a secret nautical code. Cracked it? Head to the Cutty Sark café located beneath the hull to claim a free chocolatey treat.
The Cutty Sark Easter Egg Trail takes place 3-6 April 2026. It's free with entry to the ship, and anyone can take part, though it's most suitable for young explorers age five+ and their families.
Family-friendly exhibitions in the Easter holidays
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY: Older kids and teenagers — especially those who love animals or are handy with a camera — might enjoy Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. It's one of our annual favourites, and this year more than 100 stunning snaps are on show from all over the world. Until 12 July 2026
VOYAGE TO THE DEEP: The Horniman Museum's latest exhibition, Voyage to the Deep, is inspired by Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas, and invites you to command the Nautilus submarine, meet deep-sea creatures, and test your submariner skills. Until 1 November 2026
WALLACE & GROMIT: Morph, Shaun the Sheep and Wallace & Gromit star in the Young V&A's current exhibition, Inside Aardman, which delves into the animation studio's 50-year history. View original storyboards, sets and props, and — most exciting for younger visitors — get hands on playing around with sketching, lighting, and recording your own stop-motion sequence. Until 15 November 2026
Family-friendly theatre shows in the Easter holidays
Fancy a trip to the theatre? Have a look at our pick of family-friendly shows in London to book this spring.
DISNEY ON ICE: Stories of courage, love and adventure take centre stage in Disney On Ice's latest show, Into The Magic, which skates into the OVO Arena Wembley to get the Easter holidays started in style. Go on a high-sea adventure with Moana and journey across the Marigold Bridge with Miguel — along with performances by the characters of Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, and Tangled. 25-29 March 2026
THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD: Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's award-winning picture book The Gruffalo's Child comes to life on stage at Artsdepot in Finchley. Watch as the Gruffalo's Child ignores her father's warnings and ventures out into the Deep, Dark Wood. Age three+. 3-9 April 2026
THE BOY AT THE BACK OF THE CLASS: Onjali Q. Raúf's novel The Boy At The Back Of The Class has been adapted for the stage, and is performed at Southbank Centre, suitable for ages seven+. When a new boy arrives at school from a war-torn country, his new classmates come up with a magnificent plan to reunite Ahmet with his family. 7-12 April 2026
MIDNIGHT IN THE TOYSHOP: Created with all ages in mind, Midnight in the Toyshop at St Martin's Theatre brings a magical toyshop to life as the clock strikes 12, and the toys face an uncertain future when an entrepreneur wants to replace their cosy home with a high-tech AI adventure. Catchy songs and dances are thrown in. 7-12 April 2026
Free things to do in London in the Easter holidays
ELEPHANT TRAIL: A trail of 21 elephant sculptures marches into Battersea Power Station. Let the kids hunt out the colourful creations, each one designed by a different artist, and tick them off on a mobile app to win rewards and prizes. FREE, 26 March-26 April 2026
THE PASSION OF JESUS: One of London's annual traditions is the Wintershall Players' free open-air performance of The Passion Of Jesus, taking place in Trafalgar Square on Good Friday. It tells the story of the last few days of Jesus' life and it's very popular — thousands turn up to watch so it's well worth getting there early for a decent view. It features a crucifixion scene, so may not be suitable for younger kids. We chatted with the guy who plays Jesus back in 2019 — though a new actor has now taken on the role. There are two performances on the day. FREE, 3 April 2026
PLAYGROUNDS: If the weather's playing nice, few things bring a smile to children's faces like a playground — and they're usually free, so it's a win for parents and carers too. Check out our map of playgrounds in central London — there are more than you might think, and many are located handily near tourist attractions so you can burn off excess energy on a day out.
FILM STATUES: If you find yourself in central London, and need something free to entertain the family, head to Leicester Square and let them hunt out these bronze sculptures of film stars. Sure, you might have to explain Gene Kelly or Laurel and Hardy to younger members of the family, but Paddington, Bugs Bunny and Mary Poppins will surely charm them.
MUSEUMS: Plenty of London's museums are free entry all year round, and while you may have to pay for temporary exhibitions, there's generally plenty to entertain all ages in the permanent collections. Try Science Museum for aeroplanes and space, Natural History Museum for animals and London Museum Docklands for the Mudlarks interactive gallery.
FREE MAZE: Ever been to the Brent Lodge Park Millennium Maze? The labyrinth is constructed of 2,000 yew trees, has been around for more than two decades, and is free to visit. It's a 10-minute walk from Hanwell station on the Elizabeth line, and there's a free playground, plus Hanwell Zoo (small entry fee) right next door.
Family-friendly activities in London in the Easter holidays
SWIMMING: A kiddie favourite, London has plenty of options for swimming, whatever the weather. From an Olympic venue to local leisure centres, these are some of London's best indoor pools (we also have our pick of London's outdoor pools and lidos — but maybe save that one for the summer holidays, eh?)
ICE SKATING: Forget waiting until Christmas — London has year-round ice skating rinks, including one slap bang in the middle of the Central line.
DAY TRIPS: Fancy getting out of London for a day or two? Take a gander at our Beyond London section for inspiration. Particularly child-friendly is a visit to the real-life Hundred Acre Wood, as featured in AA Milne's Winnie the Pooh books. Wellington Country Park is also an excellent bet for energetic kids. Otherwise, wear them out by sending them searching for the dozens of frogs hidden down this back street, or the entire solar system within sight of the M25.
AUTISTIC KIDS: Looking for things to do over the school holidays with autistic children? Check out our guide, which includes museums, theatres, sensory rooms and more.
TEENAGERS: Older kids and teenagers can be trickier to entertain, so have a read of our things to do in London with teenagers, covering everything from museums and exhibitions to shopping trips, a little-known neon art gallery, street art and more adventurous days out.
