Easter holidays activities for kids in London

Be among the first to check out ZSL’s Secret Life of Reptiles and Amphibians, its brand-new exhibit which opens this Easter holidays. 

For the first time in its 92-year history, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has opened its doors in March. And it’s absolutely worth it: the deliciously bonkers, endlessly inventive, and extremely funny ‘Bear Snores On’ is one of the best kids’ shows London has seen in an age…

London will soon be blessed with an enormous immersive LEGO experience, thanks to Exhibition Hub (the ones behind the Van Gogh Immersive Experience). In partnership with events company Fever, ‘The Art of the Brick’ will feature 90 works by Nathan Sawaya, an artist who creates sculptures and mosaics entirely out of LEGO bricks. 

Life in the Roman Empire was as mundane as life in 2024. ‘Legion’ tells the story of a single Roman soldier, recounting a life of hard work, ambition, disappointment and unreachable goals. Take out all the blood and swords, swap the marching for a commute from Stevenage, and it could be the life of any present-day office worker…

If you haven't taken the kids to Wimbledon's Polka Theatre yet, this Easter is a golden-yolked opportunity. As well as two kids shows (‘Three Billy Goats Gruff’ for little ones, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ for 9-12 year olds) there are tons of special events over the holidays. These include ‘Hop Lola Hop Storytime’, an interactive sesh for under-fours, as well as full-day workshops where older kids can learn mask-making, rapping, or how to make their own mini-musical. 

Nurture your kids' green fingers (or at least discourage them from trampling your precious blooms) by taking them to this botanical-themed Easter trail (Mar 29-Apr 1). For £5 per head (on top of normal garden admission), you'll get a map that leads you round Chelsea Physic Garden, learning plant-themed facts and earning a choccy treat at the end. 

Take your cheeky monkeys on a wild adventure this Easter, courtesy of London Zoo's Zoonormous trail (free with zoo admission). Solve riddles, collect clues, and hunt down the coveted golden egg as you encounter some real-life egg-laying critters, including reptiles and butterflies.

You can rarely go too long at the Horniman without encountering some form of prehistoric life. ‘Dinosaur rEvolution’ is based around five showstopping animatronic models – including a seven-metre-long T-Rex – the general idea is that it’s compliant with current scientific thinking on what these creatures looked like: so lots of feathers, basically, alongside quills, spikes and all sorts of vibrant colours. 

Hyde Park's popular drop-in discovery days are a chance to get to know this manicured green space's wilder side. This Easter hols edition (April 2-4) is an opportunity to find minibeasts on a pond-dipping session, do a spring nature trail round the wildlife garden, or join in an outdoor storytelling sesh. There's no need to book in advance: just turn up at the Hyde Park Learning Centre and join the fun. 

Captain your own vessel and cruise through the heart of London in the city’s first self-driving boat experience – GoBoat. Pick your crew – up to eight people can fit into the eco-friendly boats and chart your way across London’s canals traveling past London Zoo, through Regents Park, see Camden Lock or you can even experience the 250m long Maida Hill Tunnel. The boats are available for anyone to hire and run on Regents Canal. Prices: £89 for 1 hour, £129 for two and £169 for three hours.