The Easter Holidays 2019 Activities Guide: How to Keep the Kids Happy

If you’re on the look out for child-friendly activities to keep the kids happy this Easter school holidays, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve rounded up the best special events and nationwide diary dates to keep the little ones in good spirits for the April break. With kids’ afternoon tea activities and outdoors winter pursuits, there’s something for everyone… 

Things to Do this Easter School Holidays

Easter Kids Events in London

LONDON: The Lanesborough in Full Bloom

The stunning Michelin-star restaurant at The Lanesborough, Celeste, is set to transform into an enchanted, Narnia-inspired woodland for family fun this Easter. The event will be in collaboration with Nikki Tibbles of Wild at Heart, with beautiful floristry displays completely transforming the interiors. Little ones will be able to run through the enchanted wilderness hunting Easter eggs in the woodland and through rabbit tunnels and rope swings. There will be cake and puddings provided by Elizabeth’s Cake Emporium, plus face painting and Easter arts and crafts. At the end of the event, guests will receive a goodie-bag packed with presents from children’s outfitter La Stupenderia to take home.

HOW? Tickets for The Lanesborough’s Easter Event on 14 April 2019 cost £50 per child (aged four to 10 years old) and £75 per adult. oetkercollection.com

LONDON: Body Worlds Junior Doctor Programme

Calling all future doctors (or Operation fans). Body Worlds museum in London has a new hands on anatomy workshop to give young visitors the chance to see real bodies and body parts close up. The Junior Doctor Programme will run throughout the Easter holidays and is designed for children aged 8-12, to inspire them with a fun, interactive and educational tour. This is the kind of classroom they’ll never want to leave.

HOW? 10am – 12.30pm every Sunday and every day in the Easter holidays, 6-22 April 2019 | £25 | bodyworlds.co.uk

LONDON: The Egg-sperience Battersea Power Station

To celebrate Easter, Battersea Power Station will be putting on a series of fun events to get the whole family involved. There’s nothing cuter at Easter than getting up close and personal with some fluffy chicks, but it can be hard to do when you’re in the middle of the city. In collaboration with children’s party planners and experts in all things kids fun Sharky & George, Battersea Power Station will be hosting a Mobile Farm with llamas, chickens, ducks and ferrets! You can also bring budding bakers for an afternoon of Easter decorating with Biscuteers, or for a spot of entertainment catch the performance of the classic tale of The Pied Piper of Hamilen. Adults can browse the riverside weekend ‘Food and Craft market’ which features food, sweets, artisan breads, cured meats and farmhouse cheeses. The Power Station’s offering has something for everyone, whatever their age.

HOW? Events are running throughout April. More information and bookings at batterseapowerstation.co.uk

LONDON: Children’s Afternoon Tea and Activities at Fortnum and Mason

This special afternoon tea at the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon at Fortnum and Mason’s flagship Picadilly store is a treat for parents and their little ones. Finger sandwiches, scones, and a plate of Easter eggs, chocolate and passionfruit marshmallow, raspberry and white chocolate jelly and of course, the classic jammy dodger, will keep even the pickiest of tummies happy. After filling up on finger food, head to the Fortnum’s Parlour where children are invited for a day of crafts and imaginative fun.

HOW? Children’s activities taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday (16 – 17 April). Children’s afternoon tea from £26, and activities prices at £25 | fortnumandmason.com

LONDON: Trash to Treasure at The RA

Families can be inspired by Phyllida Barlow RA’s impressive cul-de-sac exhibition and turn trash into treasure this Easter. In opposition to the view that art should be made from new and precious materials, young visitors can create collaborative sculptures from recycled and everyday materials.

HOW? Family Studio: Trash to Treasure takes place on Sunday 21 April from 11am – 3pm | no booking required | royalacademy.org.uk

LONDON: Easter Egg Ball Pit, Covent Garden

Belgian chocolate brand Godiva will be popping up on Covent Garden’s East Piazza from 15 to 22 April with the Godiva Easter Garden, featuring a giant ball pit. Sounds like eggcellent fun, no? Visitors will be able to search for a golden egg in the ball pit, and on finding one, to claim a chocolate prize from the Covent Garden store. Also going on in Covent Garden will be Disney’s Aladdin Lamp Hunt around the Piazza, ‘London’s Most Exquisite Chocolate Easter Egg’ on display at The Shop at Petersham Nurseries, created in partnership with Paul A Young to raise money for Action Against Hunger, and Apple’s Easter Family Camp series with daily workshops and activities at the Apple Store.

Covent Garden will also be collecting 500 Easter eggs for families in need this school holidays in partnership with The Trussell Trust. Visitors and Londoners can drop off Easter Eggs at the Information Desk in The Market Building, where donated eggs will be distributed amongst five food banks across London in time for the Easter Weekend.

HOW? coventgarden.london/easter

LONDON: Easter Activities and Brunch at Chucs Serpentine

On the Saturday, Chucs will be hosting a delightful family-friendly brunch in collaboration with Sharky & George, the UK’s leading children’s party planners. Kids will be entertained endlessly while parents can kick back and enjoy an Easter feast including smashed avocado, eggs any which way, sweet treats and a mimosa or two. If you want to start earlier, get there early so the littleuns can take part in the Easter egg hunt in the gallery gardens.

HOW? Tickets for the Easter Brunch are £25 with children under 3 years-old going free, including children’s entertainment | chucsrestaurants.com

LONDON: Free Activities at the National Portrait Gallery

Looking for free things to do with the kids in London? Keep them busy at the National Portrait Gallery, where every day of the Easter holidays from 11am to 4pm there will be free activities for kids, such as the Pop-Up Gallery allowing kids to create an art gallery and decorate it with their own portrait. On 8 and 9 April, families can strike have a free family photoshoot done to take home, while on the 12 April they can create a charm inspired by the Elizabethan Treasures: Miniatures by Hilliard and Oliver exhibition. Oh, and they do a cracking afternoon tea, too.

HOW: npg.org.uk

LONDON: Children’s Easter Baking Classes at GAIL’s Bakery

Budding bakers and potential pâtissiers will delight in the new skills they’ll learn at GAIL’s free Easter baking class. Children will be guided through the making, baking and decorating of cookies using speculoos biscuit dough, rolling pins and bunny cookie cutters.

HOW: Baking classes available to book at any of the participating GAIL’s bakeries. | For more information see gailsbread.co.uk

LONDON: The Tiger Who Came To Afternoon Tea at The Savoy

One not to miss – The Savoy’s very first children’s afternoon tea is sure to be spectacular. As part of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of Judith Kerr’s treasured classic, the iconic picture book will be the inspiration for a feast of teatime treats such as those that Sophie and her mummy shared with the visiting Tiger.

HOW?The Tiger Who Came to Tea at The Savoy will be priced from £40 per child aged from five to 12 years old and will comprise sandwiches, tiger striped scones and pastries and more. fairmont.com/savoy-london

Easter School Holidays Events in the Country

ESSEX: Take a Walk on the Wild Side at Down Hall

For an egg-star special Easter break, head to Down Hall where familiesare invited for a weekend of whimsical fun. A petting zoo will entertain kids (and adults) endlessly with a variety of friendly, farmyard animals like goats and chicks, donkeys, sheep, lambs and even Shetland ponies. For something a little less furry, the reptile enclosure will also be on the grounds. Tuck into a three-course lunch on Easter Sunday or Monday, or indulge in a chocolate afternoon tea after which children can take home an Easter egg.

HOW? Family Fun Stays available on 7th or 14th April for a special price of £199, including £30 allowance per adult in the Dining Room, three courses from the Children’s menu, reptile & petting zoo, children’s activities and breakfast the following morning. Additional children’s activities are also available to non-hotel guests for £15 per child | downhall.co.uk

CARDIFF: RHS Flower Show, Cardiff

Thought flower shows were just for the olds? Think again. At the RHS Flower Show Cardiff there will be plenty of entertainment for the little ones, with Cbeebies Star Rebecca Keatley appearing in the Talks Theatre on Sunday, a pot planting workshop to inspire little green fingers, a family train, story-telling, face painting and more. Children under 16 go free, so take the whole family (and then set them to work in your garden for the rest of the Easter break).

HOW? 12-14 April | Friday and Saturday 10am – 5.30pm, Sunday 10am – 4.30pm | Advance tickets from £11 | rhs.org.uk

MARGATE: Dreamland X Camp Bestival

It’s time to get excited about the summer of festival fun that’s ahead. Camp Bestival, one of our favourite family-friendly festivals, is taking over Dreamland Margate for the Easter holidays. From the 6 to 22 April, Camp Bestival will bring park visitors a taste of what’s to come at this year’s Dorset festival with live music, rides and entertainment for all the family, including its famous World’s Biggest Bouncy Castle. If you can just get there for one day, make it Easter Sunday, where the Camp Bestival Party will see a day of family friendly DJs, live music and workshops for all ages taking over the park.

HOW? 6-22 April 2019 |  dreamland.co.uk

FALMOUTH: Easter Adventure Quest at Pendennis Castle

If you’re looking for things to do with the kids in Cornwall this Easter holidays, get down to Pendennis Castle, where kids can join the hunt for dragon eggs on a legendary quest. Those who succeed will be rewarded with a certificate and a chocolate treat, plus there will be Tudor characters to meet from Pendennis’ past.

HOW? 6-28 April 2019, 11am – 5pm, £1 plus admission price | english-heritage.org.uk

CORNWALL: Rockpool Exploring at St Michael’s Mount

This Easter, discover the weird and wonderful sea creatures living amongst the rocks surrounding the famous St Michael’s Mount causeway with Rockpool Explorer sessions. From starfish to crabs, children will be fascinated by what they find in the Cornish waters at this stunning National Trust site. The Rockpooling sessions are suitable for all ages and free to attend, just make sure you’re wearing the right footwear.

HOW? 7, 9, 18 & 21 April 2019 | stmichaelsmount.co.uk | St Michael’s Mount tickets from £8, 10.30am – 5pm.  

NEWQUAY: Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen, Watergate Bay

One of our favourite family hotspots in Newquay, Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen is the perfect place for an Easter family meal, with special seasonal dishes including BBQ lamb chops and warm potato salads. All profits from Fifteen Cornwall go to its registered charity Cornwall Food Foundation.

HOW? The Easter Feast menu is available on 21 April | 01637 861000 or [email protected] | fifteencornwall.co.uk

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