Things to do this week is sponsored by Shoryu.
All week
EASTER HOLIDAYS: Looking for ways to keep children happy while school's shut? Our guide to the Easter holidays in London covers events, exhibitions, theatre shows and more for all ages — so you never have to hear 'I'm booooored' again. Until 22 April
UNDERBELLY FESTIVAL: When the purple tent appears on South Bank, you know summer's on the way. Underbelly Festival offers a wealth of theatre, comedy, spoken word, cabaret, circus and physical theatre shows, as well as plenty of family activities, and an outdoor food and drink area. Acts come from all over the world to perform, many treating it as a warm-up to Edinburgh Festival, so it's an opportunity to see decent acts at reasonable prices. South Bank, various prices, book ahead, until 29 September
MARY QUANT: Following the huge success of the Dior exhibition, V&A opens another fashion-centric show, this time focusing on London-based designer Mary Quant. Find out how the sixties icon revolutionised the high street before making it big in America too. V&A Museum, from £12, book ahead, until 16 February 2020
TULIP FESTIVAL: Bloomin' heck. 20,000 tulips should be coming into bloom in the grounds of Eltham Palace right about now, which should certainly help you rake in the Instagram likes. As well as admiring the colourful spectacle, there's a chance to go on tours with the expert gardeners. Eltham Palace, included in admission (£15.40 adult/£9.20 child), just turn up, 8-21 April
DINNER IS COMING: Winter is coming, as any Game of Thrones fan is well aware, but so is dinner. This immersive dining experience has a Game of Thrones theme — or at least, as close as it can get without being done for copyright infringement. The meal takes place at the wedding of the heir of the Several Kingdoms, Jaffrey Bearathon and Margarine Trywell and... well, we won't spoil it for you. The Vaults (Waterloo), £30-£55, book ahead, 9 April-2 June
Monday 8 April
FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY: Got a budding Bailey in the family? Take them along to this family photography day and learn about how your camera works, before putting your new knowledge into action on the spring colours that can currently be found in Greenwich. National Maritime Museum, £60 per adult and child, book ahead, 10.30am-4pm
LIFE WITH ELEPHANTS: Conservationist Saba Douglas Hamilton has dedicated her life to helping elephants. Hear her talk about her life in Kenya and share some of her best animal stories and anecdotes. Union Chapel (Islington), £27.50, book ahead, 7pm
ANNIE HALL: 1977 film Annie Hall — starring Woody Allen and Diane Keaton — is the story of the turbulent relationship between a New York TV writer and his aspiring actress/singer girlfriend from the Midwest. Watch the film, and get wine, snacks and film notes included with your ticket. Dulwich Picture Gallery, £10/£8, book ahead, 7pm
Tuesday 9 April
ALI SMITH: Author Ali Smith is in town to talk about her new book, Spring. It's the third in a quartet of books about the seasons, and weaves together Shakespeare, Brexit and the melancholy of lost time. Smith talks specifically about the problems of chronicling the stories of our time as they happen, Brexit being a prime example. Foyles Charing Cross Road, £20 including book/£8 without, book ahead, 7pm-8pm
SNOZZCUMBERS: Children's literature is full of references to and descriptions of food, both edible and not so edible. From magical midnight feasts to Roald Dahl's snozzcumbers, award-winning children's writer Katherine Rundell, food writer Tim Hayward and children’s literature critic Imogen Russell Williams join forces with children’s books expert Julia Eccleshare to discuss the role that food plays in childhood imaginations. British Library, £12/£8, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm
LIVING DEAD LIVE: If you thought 1968 film Night Of The Living Dead was thrilling, wait until you see this theatre show based on the movie. It tells the same story, of seven people trapped in a farmhouse surrounded by 'living dead' monsters, but with added music and even more brains. Oh, and you can choose a seat in the 'splatter zone' if you're so inclined. Pleasance Theatre (Islington), from £15, book ahead, 7.30pm (until 19 May)
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An eggcellent Easter treat for ramen-lovers
If you like noodles and all things kawaii, you'll love Hakata ramen specialists Shoryu's limited edition Easter menu. They've hatched a new collaboration with Gudetama — the adorable, anthropomorphised egg yolk from the creators of Hello Kitty that's taken the internet by storm.
From 1-21 April, you can feast on golden Shoryu buns, perfect bowls of ramen, and mochi ice-cream — all with a squee-inducing Gudetama twist. The three-course set menu costs just £24, including your choice of mango iced oolong tea, calpico, or mojito-flavoured calpico. And, because no Easter menu is complete without some choccy, you also get a special Shoryu X Gudetama chocolate bar handmade and wrapped in the UK by Creighton's Chocolaterie — while stocks last.
The set menu is exclusively available at Shoryu New Oxford Street and Shoryu Shoreditch. And if you fancy taking a slice of cuteness home with you, both restaurants are selling Gudetama treats, including aprons, spoons and a Gudetama goodie box — all featuring your new eggy friend.
Wednesday 10 April
MAGIC SHOW: Not to sound like a Haribo advert, but kids and adults alike give rave reviews of Morgan & West's Magic Show For Kids And Childish Grown-Ups. Today the eccentric time-travelling duo rock up in 21st century east London with magic, tricks, hyper-reality and illusions. Wiltons (Limehouse), £2-£8.50, book ahead, 12pm
GYNAECOMEDY: Nope, not a typo. Gynaecology meets comedy in this on-off show, raising money for The Eve Appeal, a gynaecological cancer charity. Comedy actress Helen Lederer hosts, with appearances by Adam Kay, Luisa Omielan, and Shazia Mirza, among others. Conway Hall (Holborn), £20, book ahead, 8pm-10pm
ABSINTHE TASTING: Throw caution to the wind and get stuck into a Wednesday night date with the 'Green Fairy'. Over the course of this tasting, sample rare and exclusive varieties of absinthe, and learn more about its chequered past. Best cancel all your Thursday plans now. The Last Tuesday Society (Hackney), £20, book ahead, 7pm-9pm
Thursday 11 April
LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN: The Oscar Wilde play ran at the Vaudeville Theatre for three months last year, starring Jennifer Saunders as The Duchess of Berwick. If you missed it, there's a chance to see a pre-recorded performance screened at the cinema today. Barbican Cinema, £10.50, book ahead, 2pm
MAJOR TOM'S WAR: Author Vee Walker, the great-great-niece of former Bishop of London Arthur Foley Winnington-Ingram, talks about her debut novel Major Tom's War. It tells the story of her grandparents Tom and Evie Winnington-Ingram during the first world war. Fulham Palace, £10/£8, book ahead, 6pm-8pm
PUNCH AND PUDDINGS: Visit the Dickens Museum after hours for an evening with food historian and guest curator Pen Vogler. Tuck into Dickensian treats such as gingerbread cake, almond cake and punch as you learn about why food was so emotionally important for the author himself, as well as the characters in his novels. Dickens Museum (Bloomsbury), £20, book ahead, 6.30pm
Friday 12 April
GREENWICH PARK: Kids and their families can get an insight into spring in the Royal Parks on an exploration of Greenwich Park with the Field Studies Council. Learn how to identify different species using charts, and find out what various creatures are up to at this time of year. Greenwich Park, £6, book ahead, 10am
THE VAMPYRE: Described as an 'overlooked Gothic classic', it's 200 years since John Polidori's novel The Vampyre was published. A panel of experts mark the occasion with a discussion about how it created the legend of the vampire, and shaped the representation of them that we still see today. British Library, £12/£8, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm
MYWINEHOUSE: A tribute night to late singer Amy Winehouse takes place in Putney tonight. MyWinehouse is formed of singer Laura Jane Butler —whose uncanny likeness to Winehouse has won the approval of Winehouse's own parents — and a six piece band. The Half Moon (Putney), £14, book ahead, 8pm
Saturday 13 April
GLASS GARDENS: American glass artist Dale Chihuly installs some of his stunning pieces of work at Kew Gardens. The mesmerising sculptures appear to 'bloom' in flower beds, lakes and greenhouses. Kew Gardens, included in admission, 13 April-27 October
BIG CAT FEST: Broadcaster Chris Packham, former Christian the lion owners John Rendall and Derek Cattani, and several other conservation experts are all on the line-up at the Bradt Big Cat Festival. It's a celebration of the majestic creatures and an insight into what can be done to protect them. The day consists of talks and practical workshops. Royal Geographical Society (Kensington), £25-£40, book ahead, 10am-6.30pm
BAG OF GOLD: It's a tour of Bloomsbury, but not as you know it. Guide Peter Berthoud makes no mention of the area's famous literary connections or garden squares, and completely ignores the British Museum. Instead, plan your own funeral, do some grocery shopping, experience a divorce, puzzle at a magic square and more importantly, share and spend a bag of gold. Oh, and there are pub stops too. Russell Square, £25, book ahead, 11.30am-3.30pm
WEIRD WALK: Faery and science, madness and ecstasy, take a walk through Arthur Machen's London. Part-tour, part-theatre, The Thin Veil of London takes you through the lesser-known corners of Holborn and Bloomsbury into other worlds. We've done this walk by Minimum Labyrinth, and can hugely recommend. £17.50/£12.50, book ahead, 3pm/6pm
CURIOSITY KINO: Lost Lectures' new event takes a cinematic twist, inviting visitors into 'a vast cinema, reopened after 30 long years' for a fascinating programme of events. Hear from Oscar-winning visual effects artist Andrew Whitehurst, data journalist David McCandless, and several other experts in highly interesting fields. Secret zone 2 location, £30-£42, book ahead, 7pm-11pm
Sunday 14 April
CROSSNESS: Visit Crossness Pumping Station — once described as a 'cathedral of sewage' — and see inside the building. Get a closer look at the machines, and learn more about the Victorian sewage system that still serves London to this day. Crossness (Abbey Wood), £6/£2, just turn up, 10.30am-4pm
DICKENSIAN WALK: London Walking Tours and the Dickens Museum partner up to offer a guided tour through Dickensian London. Visit the area around Southwark that Dickens knew himself, and that inspired many of his novels, including Marchelsea Prison, where his father was incarcerated for debt. Borough station, £10, book ahead, 11am
BRAVING THE ELEMENTS: The whole family's invited to this lecture — with plenty of lively demonstrations — about the periodic table, which is 150 years old this year. Royal Institution (Mayfair), £16/£10/£7, book ahead, 6pm-7.15pm
