The Easter break has arrived and with it a whole host of exciting family friendly activities to help parents keep their little ones thoroughly entertained over the coming weeks.

There is so much to choose from this year, with London communities wholeheartedly embracing the celebratory spirit of Easter. Here’s our top picks…

EASTER IN WONDERLAND

On Saturday 16th Elephant and Castle have a free Easter in Wonderland event to help you celebrate the Easter long weekend and it's inspired by the fairy tale Alice in Wonderland.

Castle Square will be transformed into a Wonderland filled with plenty of activities, workshops, performances, music and food for all ages to get stuck into. Visitors will also be able to visit the Rabbit Hole (or an Instagrammable Easter in Wonderland themed dome) to join the White Rabbit Easter Bunny and Mad Hatter for a tea party and take a selfie!

You will not want to miss the Mad Hatter, who will be giving out ‘Eat me’, ‘Drink me’ and ‘Treat me’ vouchers to exchange with the traders of Castle Square. The vouchers will include a variety of sweet and savoury treats ranging from Hot Chocolate’s from Coma Y Beba to popcorn from Ayca Sweet and Nuts. There will also be lots of chocolate up for grabs, for those who are brave enough to follow the Easter Bunny down the rabbit hole into the Wonderland dome!

Along with sweet treats and workshops, from 12pm there will be a whole line-up of performances from the Elephant and Castle Community Hub Choir, Frogprince Kids Music Concert, Upside Down Street Dance and SuperArts Dance Academy to celebrate the Easter festivities.

When: Saturday 16th April from 11am-5pm

Where: Castle Square, 40 Elephant Rd, London SE17 1AY

Booking info: www.communityhubse1.co.uk

THE SMARTEST GIANT IN TOWN

Artsdepot in North Finchley is hosting a musical adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's book, The Smartest Giant in Town. It's about George, who treats himself to some new giant-sized clothes, before bumping into animals who need his help.

When: 2nd-5th April

Where: Artsdepot 5 Nether Street Tally Ho Corner North Finchley London N12 0

Booking info: www.smartestgiantonstage.co.uk

BOOK BUZZ

For the little bookworms out there we recommend Book Buzz. This Easter there will be storytelling, workshops, craft activities and their legendary book swap. Entrance is free and no booking is required. Visitors are encouraged to go dressed as their favourite book characters, and a panel of special judges will be awarding prizes for their favourites. Activities will include:I Like To Put Food In My Welly, Crazy Rhyming Fun with Jason Korsner, Puppet Making for Storytelling, Drag Storytelling with Carrot Drag and much more.

When: Sun 3 Apr

Where: Artsdepot 5 Nether Street Tally Ho Corner North Finchley London N12 0

Booking info: www.artsdepot.co.uk/family-easter-holidays/book-buzz-0

DISCOVERY DAY: SPRING SURPRISES

Head to Hyde Park for a free, family-friendly discovery day, themed on spring happenings in the park. Kids can learn about plants, insects and wildlife, and make their own clay bird and eggs to take home.

When: 5-7 April

Where: Hyde Park

Booking info: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/whats-on/upcoming-events/discovery-day-spring-surprises

PARENTS AND KIDS RECYCLED ACETATE JEWELRY WORKSHOP

In this workshop, you'll be taken through the basics of working with acetate - a semi-synthetic material made primarily from a plant base of tree pulp and cotton. Working with Master Maker, Jason, learn how to cut, shape, mould and polish acetate into beautiful and unique jewelry.

When: 18 April 2022

Where: MMY Elephant Park, 1 Walworth Square, London, SE17 1GA

Booking info: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/parents-kids-recycled-acetate-jewellery-workshop-mmy-elephant-tickets-275749272497

FAMILY EASTER CHOCOLATE WORKSHOP

Chelsea Physic Garden holds two family Easter chocolate workshops, offering an insight into the sweet treat. Find out how cacao beans are grown, and make your own chocolate treat using different herbs, spices and flavours.

When: 7th April/12th April

Where: Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Rd, London SW3 4HS

Booking info: www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/event/family-easter-chocolate-workshop

ZOG AND THE FLYING DOCTORS

Southbank Centre is hosting performances of Zog and the Flying Doctors, a story in which Zog becomes an air ambulance, attending to a sunburnt mermaid, a unicorn with too many horns and a lion with the flu.

When: 8th-10th April

Where: Southbank Center, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX

Booking info: www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/family-young-people/zog-and-flying-doctors?eventId=895104

MARVELLOUS MAMMALS

Celebrate the changing of the season with the family and get outdoors to enjoy fun nature-inspired activities! Discover the marvellous mammals that live in our parks such as the hedgehogs in The Regent's Park. Learn about how to look after them and play some animal survival games. Children will be asked to search for mammal tracks in the garden before cosying up to stories about adventurous animals and getting involved in some nature crafting.

When: 12th-14th April

Where: Hyde Park, W2 2UH

Booking info: www.royalparks.org.uk/whats-on/upcoming-events/discovery-day-marvellous-mammals4

MEAL ONE

Based on a children’s book by Ivor Cutler and Helen Oxenbury, Meal One is a show filled with breathtaking projections, music, dance and augmented reality. The performance is British Sign Language interpreted and all performances are Captioned and are Relaxed Performances which means that it will be an informal atmosphere particularly suited to anyone who feels more comfortable in a relaxed environment which allows for noise and movement, or exit/re-entry when needed.

When: 15 April

Where: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX

Booking info: www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/family-young-people/meal-one

CHELSEA EASTER TRAIL

Starting on Good Friday and across Easter Sunday and Monday, Chelsea Physic Garden is home to an Easter trail around the four-acre grounds, with a chance to learn more about the plants as you go, and a chocolate treat or prize at the end.

When: 15-18 April

Where: Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Rd, London SW3 4HS

Booking info: www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/event/easter-trail-good-friday/

HORNIMAN SPRING FAIR

Join in with seasonal fun and games at the Horniman Spring Fair this Easter, with live music, crafty workshops, tours and more.

The day will include live music and performances compered by Comedian Jamie Allerton. Your children can create something crafty in their workshops, march in the Spring Bonnet parade and enjoy tours from the Horniman Gardens Team.

When: 16th April

Where: Horniman Museum & Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 3PQ

Booking: www.horniman.ac.uk/event/horniman-spring-fair

WATERLOW PARK EASTER TRAIL

Head to Waterlow Park for some chicken counting, riddle solving and giant bunny hunting in a free Easter Trail. There will be an information table and marquee set up on the Tea Lawn at the back of the House where you can collect a treasure map and there will be a small chocolate surprise for the first 100 people to complete the trail!

When: 17th April

Where: Lauderdale House, Waterlow Park, Highgate Hill, London, N6 5HG

Booking info: www.lauderdalehouse.org.uk/whats-on/easter-trail-2022

If you visit any of these Easter Holiday Hotspots this spring let us know by tagging @londonlivingblog in your post!

Happy Easter

from

The London Living Editorial Team

12 Egg-citing Family Activities In London This Easter