Easter is just around the corner and that means school holiday fun to plan.
As kids break up for Easter book some great days out, classes and activities for them to enjoy. From egg hunts (with a twist) and exciting new child-friendly exhibitions, to cultural outings for little ones and creative holiday camps for all ages, here are a selection of wonderful ways to entertain your children this Easter.
Ages 0 To Four
Hampton Court Lindt Bunny Hunt
What could be cuter at Easter time than watching your little one toddle around an egg hunt? The perfect thing for young children with plenty of energy to burn, the Hampton Court Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt must surely be one of the best you’ll find in and around London. Once you have downloaded or picked up a copy of the Bunny Trail Map, children can scamper around the stunning grounds of Henry VIII’s former home while keeping their eyes peeled for elusive Lindt Gold Bunny statues peeking out from daffodils and tulips and learning fascinating facts about the historic palace along the way. When you think you’ve spotted all 12, simply head to the Clore Learning Centre (clearly marked on the map) to collect your delicious Lindt Bunny chocolate prize, which is included in the cost of your entry ticket.
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Bookstart Rhymetime Sessions at the Barbican
If April showers strike, take your little ones to the wonderful Barbican Library for one of their Bookstart Rhymetime sessions. Every Monday, Friday and Saturday morning, children can listen to stories, join in with songs and nursery rhymes and immersive themselves in a world of appropriate literature, with sessions lasting around 30 to 45 minutes. Visiting authors are sometimes there to read to the children, plus there are toys on hand and a café to pop into afterwards. The perfect way to while away a rainy day with young children and still feel that you’ve managed to sneak in something cultural.
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Play Sessions at My Gym
Award-winning company My Gym offers a huge selection of energy-busting classes for children aged as young as six months, allowing them to explore movement in their amazing soft play centres. Experienced teachers tailor their classes such as the Tiny Tikes (six to 13 months) and Waddlers (14 to 22 months) to meet their physical and cognitive developmental stages through fun stretch activities, singing and dancing. Each class lasts around an hour, and they run throughout the week. They also run Sibling and Friends classes designed for all children between the ages nine months to five years old – perfect if you have more than one child or want to attend with friends of different ages. Expect a mix of games and fun to suit all.
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Ages Five to 11
Strings Club Holiday Clubs
Tune into little musicians by enrolling them in one of the excellent Strings Club holiday camps. Running daily during the Easter break in locations all over London such as Fulham, Pimlico, and Balham, these wonderfully creative classes and workshops aim to introduce youngsters to all kinds of instruments, from the drums and the piano to the violin and guitar. They will learn how to make music as well as enjoy discovering new sounds and songs. Qualified music teachers run the themed workshops and at the end of the week there is a concert for parents to watch. So, whether your little one is new to an instrument or has already had lessons, all are welcome to join in at their own level. Each camp venues are EYFS Ofsted-registered, ensuring exceptional levels of childcare as well as musical fun.
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The Southbank Centre
The Southbank Centre is a truly wonderful resource for all ages, but their line up for children is particularly excellent. Throughout the Easter break, the calendar is packed with theatre, workshops, and activities for youngsters to enjoy, including the Spring Garden morning which invites families with very young children to drop in and explore the Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden to celebrate spring as the garden comes to life with a host of artist-led activities. Or Paddington Film in Concert where you can watch the 2014 film on a giant HD screen, as the London Concert Orchestra plays Nick Urata’s calypso-infused score live. It’s a relaxed performance so children can feel free to chat, snack and move around. It’s a great spot for days out.
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Zoonormous Egg Hunt at London Zoo
For an Easter Egg Hunt with a difference that will capture the imagination of slightly older children who require more than just the promise of chocolate to keep them entertained, head to London Zoo and take part in the Zoonormous Egg Hunt. Weave your way around the enclosures spotting magnificent animals and learning about difference species along the way as you follow the family trail that guides children to where eggs of all sizes and colours are waiting to be discovered. Designed to be really engaging, there are clues to be solved at each checkpoint to crack the code, to reveal the ‘Golden Egg’ in a special, hidden location where all explorers will be rewarded with a delicious treat. With over 10,000 animals to see and a number of Easter-themed exhibits, this is the hunt to go on for so much more than just than just sweets.
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Spring Family Festival at the National Portrait Gallery
Welcoming spring with all its might is the National Portrait Gallery. While the events cater to all the family, the full programme works perfectly for this age group with a series of events inspired by seasonal colours, textures and patterns throughout the Gallery. Discover the remarkable stories of individuals making a positive difference for the planet and let the kids create their own pieces of art. From seasonal stories with storyteller Olivia Armstrong including the tale of a gardening family, to experimenting with natural materials including beetroot and turmeric, charcoal and coffee, to play with and create their own drawings.
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Age 12 Upwards
Lift 109 at Battersea Power Station
As kids get a bit older it can become trickier to keep them entertained in the school holidays. Prize them away from screens for a super-cool outing to take in the view from the top of Battersea Power Station with Lift 109, a glass elevator in the iconic building’s north west chimney. The ascent from the entrance to the top of the chimney is 109 metres, reaching in a matter of seconds, as you travel through the hollow chimney and arrive at the top to find a spectacular 360°, bird’s-eye view of the London skyline. An awesome location for a day out for tweens and teens, the Power Station is packed with trendy restaurants and amazing big-brand shops as well as a cinema so it’s bound to get the seal of approval from even the most reluctant of youngster.
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Art-K Classes
Budding artists will just love the amazing holiday classes from Art-K provides. With workshops all over the country, including many in and around London, from Clapham Hampstead to Kingston, these workshops aim to give children a rounded art education in drawing, painting and 3D modelling, all in a encouraging and inclusive environment. All abilities are welcome, and everyone works at their own pace as they are taught by expert art teachers, using watercolours, acrylic paint and clay. Classes are for children aged as young as six and go right up to 16. Older children with a passion for art are bound to enjoy the variety of mediums available. All they have to bring is an apron and a packed lunch – everything else is provided. At the end of the course (which can be one or two weeks), kids can take home a masterpiece to be proud of.
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Art of the Brick Exhibition
A love of Lego is something kids never really grow out of. While they might not build quite so much of it anymore, as children get older, they are often still wowed by the amazing structures such tiny bricks can create. To see this to its greatest effect, book tickets to the new Lego exhibition, Art of the Brick. Just opened in London after touring over 100 cities in 24 countries, this outstanding exhibit immerses the visitor in a cheerful and colourful world of the much-loved toy. The artist used more than a million bricks, creating over 100+ works of art that range from giant dinosaurs to castles. Plus, there is a play and build area to create your own LEGO sculptures and a great gift shop to so you get to work at home too. Perfect for kids (and adults!) of all ages who love Lego.
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