Easter holidays: what to do with kids in London

Take them to see Tabby McTat at the Southbank Centre

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's beloved Tabby McTat will be at the Queen Elizabeth Hall this April - the latest in a long line of hit Donaldson/Scheffler stage adaptations from Freckle Productions. Expect plenty of songs - and fabulous rhymes - in this sweet story about a busker's cat who gets separated from his best friend Fred and finds a new life and home. Ideal for kids of all ages, if you miss it the first time around, it'll be on tour around the UK this summer.

Embrace all things STEAM at the Institute of Imagination

Parents keen to get their schoolkids interested in STEAM should head over to the Imagination Lab in Lambeth this April, where the Institute of Imagination has plenty to inspire the budding coder/creator/technology-obsessive. There are three day-long robotics and coding workshops for 7-12-year-olds to choose from; Lab Liftoff: Bricks & Code features LEGO building challenges based on real-world issues; Robot Zoo camp explores coding using the BBC micro:bit computer as kids build their own robotic animal and Game and Code helps kids develop their coding skills through technology and gaming, where they'll make musical instruments and code and create music. Now, this is where magic happens.

Make a day of it at the Easter Canopy Market at King's Cross

Which London destination will have a petting zoo with rabbits, guinea pigs, chicks and ducks, Easter egg hunt, kids' workshops, plus delicious hot cross buns, Simnel Cake and chocolate? King's Cross, of course. Workshops include animal wellbeing with Royal Veterinary College and climate science with Imperial College (who needs school to be in session to learn?). The Let’s Play: Easter Festival is also on at Coal Drop's Yard, with face painting, balloon art and crafts activities throughout the month.

credit: John Sturrock

Outdoor movie fun with Hop at Merchant Square

Nothing beats outdoor cinema on a glorious day, and Merchant Square's Big Screen on the Lawn will be hosting Easter-themed animation Hop for kiddos on Wednesday, 17th April. Bonus: it's free.

If you're in the area the following day, there's an Easter egg hunt on at Merchant Square with choccie bunnies aplenty to discover, and prizes to be won, from restaurant vouchers to paddleboarding lessons.

Pet the animals at Battersea Power Station

Battersea Power Station has a fantastic, kid-friendly April lineup, which includes a petting zoo with chickens, ducks, ferrets and llamas, courtesy of Sharky & George, biscuit decorating with Biscuiteers and theatre for kids, including Skewbald Theatre's The Pied Piper - A Ratty Tale and Chickenshed's Tales from the Shed. Activities are on throughout the month.

Be zookeeper for a day at ZSL London Zoo

This Easter, why not let your kids get their hands dirty? ZSL London Zoo is inviting kids to role-play as zoo keepers, with a series of immersive events: kids will arrive to work through a secret zoo entrance, where they'll be given a uniform and will receive a daily list of tasks, which includes helping zookeepers muck out the animal enclosures, make lunch for the squirrel monkeys and entertain the meerkats with some games. There are also plenty of activities and hands-on demos to delight your zookeepers-in-training throughout the month, like prepping veg for the lowland gorillas and cleaning up after the penguins on Penguin Beach.

Have them learn the art of origami - while munching on free sushi - at Yo! Sushi

We don't need any excuse for sushi but we'll most certainly take a free meal for our under-12s - available at Yo! Sushi locations around London this month, where kids can enjoy a starter, main and drink from the Mini Ninja's menu for free (dishes include avocado maki and chicken teriyaki). Crafts are also on the menu at Yo! Sushi's High Street Ken outpost, where kids can create Japanese hanas (flowers) out of paper and learn all about the art of origami. Hopefully they can also master a few flying birds for our Easter table.

Go see their favourite bunny in Where Is Peter Rabbit? at Theatre Royal Haymarket

There are bunny hunts and there bunny hunts: the real rabbit treasure, as everyone knows, is Peter Rabbit. He comes to life - with some other Beatrix Potter faves - in a new show at Theatre Royal Haymarket this April.

Enter the gaming zone at Somerset House

Annual gaming festival Now Play This is back at Somerset House this April, with a series of gaming installations exploring solo and collaborative play and how communities are forged among gamers. There's something for everyone, from immersive karaoke to a chance to play super-popular interactive gaming love story, Florence. We think kids will be especially keen on the free outdoor offerings: an adventurous, interactive trail courtesy of Viviane Schwarz and game designer Kevan Davis and a giant labyrinth to explore from Zach Gage. Game on.

Credit: Tim Bowditch

Introduce them to a superhero at Hamleys

Hamleys’ flagship Regent Street store has plenty going on this Easter, like an Easter Egg Hunt across all seven floors, with a grand prize of winning a birthday party at Hamleys, as well as puppet shows and story time at 1pm.

There are plenty of cool superheroes for the kids to meet, including Iron-Man, Captain America, Black Panther and Spider Man (there's a free LEGO Marvel Super Heroes mini figure with purchase, too). For more LEGO fun, Fantastic Beasts obsessives can check out the latest LEGO Niffler model, made from 11,000 LEGO bricks. There will also be a chance to build a LEGO Easter basket between 19-22 April and take it home - for free.

Crafts, egg hunts and more at Battersea Park Zoo

It's a month packed with eggs-cellent kids options at Battersea Park Zoo, including an Easter egg hunt throughout April, Hedgehog Day (9 April: the chance to meet a hedgehog and take part in plenty of hedgehog arts and crafts), Honey Bee Day (11 April, with candle rolling, face painting and story time), Eggstravaganza Day (16 April: kids can check out the eggs laid by zoo animals and make egg-themed crafts) and Cocoa Day (18 April), where kids can make their own chocolate animal. There's Easter sorted then.

Encourage their love of movement with Funky Moves

Looking for a twist on the usual kids' camp this Easter? Then try Funky Moves, which offers hip-hop dance workshops with a dose of arts and crafts and plenty of music inspired by movies like Trolls, The Greatest Showman, School of Rock and more. Choose from one-off workshops or four-day holiday courses in locations across south London and watch their moves evolve beyond The Floss.

Check out Family Sundays at the Royal Opera House

How to get your kid interested in ballet and opera? Take them to the source, naturally. Book in for Sunday 14 April, when the theme is Staggering Seafarers and the kids can explore maritime myths, sing with the Royal Opera Chorus, build nautical props, dance like sea creatures and try to spot the ghost ship from Wagner's The Flying Dutchman.

Nike lands at KidZania (and WWE Academy celebrates Wrestlemania 35)

Every kid's favourite destination, KidZania, will have sneaker-heads and wrestling fans covered this Easter, with Nike's pop-up shop, Department of Unimaginable, landing for the month of April. Kids 8 can learn all about Nike's innovation process, from engineering to design, as well as creating their own kicks - there's even a trip to Nike HQ in Portland up for grabs.

In celebration of Wrestlemania 35, wrestling fans can enter the ring at the WWE Academy to design their own WrestleMania Superstar, as well as going behind the scenes at KidZania theatre to see what it takes to create a live show (lighting, sound, costumes). Blow their minds with your own wrestling knowledge and tell them The Rock is now Maui in Moana.

Family fun with Easter egg hunts in London

Follow your kids as they explore woodland trails in search of ducks (rubber and real), eggs (chocolate and painted) and general merriment. Check out some of the top Easter trails to try...

Yum! Chocolate-hunting at London's coolest chocolate shops

It doesn't have to be Easter Sunday for you and the kiddos to start hunting for some eggs. Or truffles, bars or macarons, for that matter. Whether you happen to be in Bow or Borough Market, Covent Garden or Chelsea, there's a chocolate shop for you. Many have delish hot chocolate for your mini-me to sample as well.

Celebrate Easter at Hever Castle

From carrot hunting on the Easter trail to spot the bunnies, escape London this Easter and head to Anne Boleyn's childhood home of Hever Castle (an hour's train ride from London Bridge). They can also decorate an Easter bonnet at daily crafts workshops and participate in an Easter parade with prizes for the best bonnets. Hever Castle also has some of the most glorious gardens, so it's worth the day trip to check them out. Kids will love the Tudor Towers adventure playground (for ages 7-14), the Acorn Dell for the youngsters and the Yew Maze – will you find your way out of the labyrinth?

Enjoy a show at the Unicorn Theatre

The lengthy Easter hols allow for plenty of opportunity to take in a show at the Unicorn, which has something for kids of all ages. On this April? The Show In Which Hopefully Nothing Happens introduces kids to the wonders of absurdist theatre while younger kids can enjoy The Polar Bears: Go, Go, Go!, following two hapless polar bears on their holiday adventures.

Unleash their inner dancer at Sadler's Wells

Sadler’s Wells Family Weekend includes a performance from Spanish dance troupe Aracaladanza. Before and after the show there will also be plenty of fun to be had with games, crafts and activities, as well as dance workshops for children. Don't fear – no prior experience required! The workshops are inspired by the music and dance at the heart of Arcaladanza’s Play. Suitable for ages 4 .

Go back in time with Ice Age: The Lost Kingdom

Mammoths, sabre-tooth tigers, giant sloths – oh my! Ice Age: The Lost Kingdom brings these prehistoric beasts of yore to life in an outdoor animatronic family show that brings your little ones closer than they ever imagined to beasts that roamed the earth 70,000 years ago. Happy hunting...

Watch other people eating sweets at Watermans' Hansel & Gretel show

The 3-and-up set can only handle so much Easter chocolate, but Easter shows? They can never have enough of those. They'll love the stage retelling of Hansel & Gretel from Goody and Story and Norwich Puppet Theatre, featuring music and puppetry, at West London's arts centre, Watermans.

Get your gaming on with Power UP at the Science Museum

Gaming can be educational AND fun, as the Science Museum shows with its hugely popular interactive gaming event, Power UP, back for a fourth year. Covering four decades of gaming history, you can enjoy a walk down memory lane as you show the kids the retro consoles and beloved games you used to play (we're looking at you, Space Invaders!) through to the future of gaming tech with the latest in VR. Look out for Pacman and Sonic, Super Mario Bros and Lara Croft - and Playstations, Xboxes and classic arcade games, oh my! This is one you're not going to want to miss - and parents may enjoy it as much as the kiddos. In fact, the museum is betting on it with adult-only sessions on 10 and 17 April, where you can crush your partner/friends/colleagues in DOOM, Grand Theft Auto and Resident Evil. Now to remedy that gamer's thumb injury quickly...

Take your Easter hunt out on the water with GoBoat

If you've done the whole Easter hunt in the garden thing one too many times and are looking to jazz up your Easter egg trail fun, then why not try an Easter Egg hunt on the water with GoBoat? You and the kiddos - and a few friends (there's room for up to eight people) can spot the eggs as you enjoy a boat ride along the Grand Union canal. Bring a picnic, your pet pooch and children of any age - there are life jackets to fit all, including infants.

Have breakfast with Bunny at the Hard Rock Cafe

London's Hard Rock Cafe is getting into the Easter spirit with a breakfast with the Easter bunny, where guests can enjoy an American-style breakfast (waffles, bacon, sausages, eggs and more) as well as games, an Easter egg hunt and a goodie bag. Sounds scrumptious.