Spring may not have yet sprung - judging at least by today’s freezing rains - but the Easter holidays are still upon us.

Fear not, fellow parent. This newsletter brings you a very special offer from Westminster Abbey, 5 free things to do EVERY day of the half term holidays, 15 free Easter Egg hunts, and 5 last-minute ideas for the weekend. In short: everything to fill the holidays, whatever the weather.

With a spiralling word count, I’ll just share my favourite recent visit: Bourse de Commerce in Paris. This contemporary art gallery has all the energy the Saatchi Gallery used to, back in the day. I loved walking the mirrored floor whilst seeing the stunning painted ceiling underfoot, and dodging aged world leaders in wheelchairs (well, their effigies at least). It was the highlight of a culture-packed solo day trip to Paris, which I hope to share more of soon.

As ever, I want to hear what YOU get up to. Hit reply or tag/DM me on Instagram with all your feedback and suggestions.

Subscriber Special Offer

AD | This newsletter is brought to you in partnership with Westminster Abbey. And I have a very special offer just for you lovely subscribers.

Purchase tickets for a Fraternité Family Fun workshop and receive complimentary day passes to visit Westminster Abbey, before or after your workshop. Usually costing from £29 (for 1 adult + 1 child), it’s a fantastic offer you won’t see anywhere else.

Choose from Shield Shenanigans (2-4 April 2024, 10:00-12:00) or Grotesque Gargoyles (2-4 April 2024, 13:00-15:00). Both include a guided visit to the Abbey, storytelling, and a crafting activity. Tickets cost £10 per child and £5 per adult.

To claim, simply buy your tickets via the links above, then reply to this email to let me know. The lovely family team at the Abbey will be in touch the day before your session with all the information on how to get your passes. Sorry web readers - only subscribers who have received this email can claim the offer.

15 FREE London Easter Egg Hunts 2024

Hop along to one of these free Easter hunts. Scour every nook and cranny, discover colourful treasures hidden in plain sight and enjoy some sweet satisfaction.

I’ve highlighted which prizes are on offer. Remember to check the links for timings and any last minute cancellations before heading out.

1. Aldgate Egg Hunt: Start at Aldgate Tap on Aldgate Square, EC3. Chocolate prize. Until 1 April 2024. Drop in.

2. Easter Egg Trail at Camden Market, NW1: Pick up a map from Water Lane. Little treat at the end. Until 3 April 2024. Drop in.

3. The Eggs Ensemble Hunt at Hamleys, W1: Find eggs in silly locations for a guaranteed prize. Until 14 April 2024. Drop in. Also at Hamleys Westfield, 1-22 April 2024.

4. Easter Egg Trail in Covent Garden, WC2: Find 10 vibrant eggs by artist Caroline Dowsett. Chance to win a family break, no chocolate reward. Until 24 April 2024. Drop in.

5. Easter Treasure Hunt at St. Katharine Docks, E1: Start at The Haven Building. Find reusable colour-coded eggs filled with treats. Plus competition to win a Fortnum & Mason Easter hamper. 29-31 March 2024. Drop in.

6. The Eastern City Egg-travaganza, EC: Starts Liverpool Street Station. Prize, plus competition to win short break. 29 March-4 April 2024. Drop in. 

7. Nature Explorer Easter Trail at London Designer Outlet, HA9: With Lindt chocolate reward. 29 March-14 April 2024. Drop in.

8. Easter Egg Hunt in Marylebone Village: Find golden eggs for prizes, including gourmet chocolates and a luxury hotel stay. No chocolate reward. 30 March 2024. Drop in.

9. Bexley Eco Festival at Belvedere Community Centre, DA17: Easter chick hunt and free Easter egg for Under 8s, subject to availability. Crafts, bouncy castle and clothes swap. 30 March 2024. Drop in.

10. Egg Hunt at Fieldworks Family Day at Hoxton Hall, N1: Find eggs hidden in art exhibition to win a prize. 30 March 2024. Drop in.

11. Easter Egg Hunt at Ridgeway Views, NW7: Start at development sales suite, explore the Woodland Gardens. With Easter treat. 30-31 March 2024. Book.

12. Easter Egg Hunt at Valence House Museum, RM8: With sweetie prize. 30 March and 2-4, 6, 9-11 & 13 April 2024. Drop in. Ages 3+.

13. Easter Egg Hunt and Bonnet Parade at Rose Bruford, DA15: 250 Easter treats to be found plus bonus prizes. 30 March 2024. Drop in.

14. Easter trail at Lauderdale House, N6: Hunt for the Giant Bunny around Waterlow Park. Small chocolate prize for first 100 finishers. 31 March 2024. Drop in. 

15. The Great Leadenhall Market Wild Goose Chase, EC3: Complete eggcentric market challenges for a chance to win £500 and a trophy. We won in 2022! 1-30 Apr. Sign up online.

Want more egg-citing trails? There are 60+ paid and free egg hunts across London and the South East in my Easter What’s On Guide.

FREE Easter Holiday 2024 Activities: Week 1

Without further ado, here's my pick of completely FREE family activities in London this Easter holidays!

I’ve shared up to 5 suggestions a day. Some run on other days too, so check the listings for each. Everything I share currently has space or is a drop in event. For times and any booking information, click the link. Go quickly - you don’t want to miss out.

If you need more ideas, take a look at my bumper guide to the Easter holidays, featuring 100+ activities across London (paid and free!)

Monday 1 April 2024

1. Craft sea life finger puppets from scrap materials at National Maritime Museum, SE10. 11:00-13:00 and 14:00-16:00, drop in. Part of Easter Holidays, 31 March-10 April 2024, different activities daily.

2. Make woven baskets from recycled materials, create pop-up flowers and Easter bunnies and plant spring flowers in a decorated pot in Easter Festival at Camden Market, NW1. 13:30-16:30. Book.

3. Play with vivid colour, inventive objects and peculiar props in a special Bank Holiday opening of Play Works at Orleans House Gallery, TW1. Book. Runs until 23 June 2024, usually Tuesday-Sunday.

4. Join in with drumming and mosaic workshops, plus crafts and diversity books stalls in All Around the World at Church of the Cross Church, SE2. Book.

5. Bring your decorated boiled eggs to Easter egg rolling down Box Hill, Surrey. With egg decorating station and prize for best decorated egg. Drop in. Also 29-31 March 2024.
   

Tuesday 2 April 2024

1. In this live and immersive event with actors, travel back to the Second World War with the The Camouflage Unit Camp at IWM London, SE1. Also 3-5 and 8-12 April 2024. Tickets allocated on first come, first served basis. Ages 6+.

2. Build sculptures and create a curiosity-filled space from unusual materials in Construct and Play with Leap Then Look at National Gallery, W1. Also 3 April 2024. Drop in.

3. There’s pond dipping, nature trails, seedball making, pollinator games, and spring stories at Spring Surprises at The Hyde Park Learning Centre, W1. Drop in. Also 3-4 April 2024.

4. Explore objects that make music now and in the past with Sound of Noise in Instrumental Intrigue! at London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE, EC2. Book. Also 9 April 2024. 

5. Combine with Eggs-quisite Easter crafts at Bank of England Museum, EC2. Complete an Easter-themed activity sheet to win a small (edible!) prize, and colour in a rabbit, sheep or chick mask. Also 3-5 and 8-12 April 2024. Look for the new King Charles bank notes on display whilst you’re there!
   

Wednesday 3 April 2024

1. Craft a paper peek-a-boo chick in an egg and work out what ails the afflicted eggs in the Easter Eggs Pathology Trail at the Old Operating Theatre, SE1. Book. Note access is via a 52-step spiral staircase. SEN session available 9 April 2024.

2. Create your own colourful accessory in Pom Pom fun! at Museum of London Docklands, E14. Drop in. Ages 5+. Also 3-5 & 10-12 April 2024.

3. Welcome spring with artist-led activities and live performances in a rooftop garden. In the Spring Garden at Southbank Centre, SE1. Drop in. Ages 3+. 

4. Make a memory scrapbook, hear storytelling and learn first aid in Saving Lives, Saving Memories in Museum of the Order of St John, EC1.

5. Meet new farm animals and Peppa Pig in Easter Farm at Valence House, RM8. Plus Easter Egg Hunt, giant inflatable dartboard, and outdoor games. Drop in, additional paid craft activities available.
   

Thursday 4 April 2024

1. Make silhouette art, shadow portraits, health hero badges, clay flowers and a spring hat in Spring Family Festival at National Portrait Gallery, WC2. Also runs 5, 11 & 12 April 2024.

2. Meet real-life survival experts from the animal world and learn how they inspire in Meet Amazing Animals with Zoolab at The National Army Museum, SW3. Limited tickets allocated on arrival. Ages 5+.

3. Leave your kids to explore animation basics, write engaging text and craft their own film in Full Day Stop Animation Workshop at London Transport Museum, WC2. Lunch and snacks provided. Book. Ages 12-16. Also 11 April 2024.

4. Paint using straws and pipettes and create a collaborative artwork in the Family Passover Craft Activity Day with the Jewish Museum at Swiss Cottage Library, NW3. Plus sensory resources for Under 5s. Drop in.

5. Get your hands dirty with charcoal while learning about ways to draw the stories of women that are important to you in the artist-led Wonderful Women of Newham: Drawing Workshop at Community Links, E16. Book. Ages 7+.
   

Friday 5 April 2024

1. Meet Roman re-enactors/living historians to discover the realities of everyday and army life in Meet the Romans at the British Museum, WC1. Drop in, book entry.

2. Join Egg Soldiers to piece Humpty Dumpty back together and earn a chocolate egg in Humpty Dumpty Free Easter Egg Hunt at Merchant Square, W2. Drop in; limited spaces on a first come, first served basis.

3. Create beautiful spring-themed collages from pre-cut shapes with artist Caroline Dowsett in Spring Collage workshop in Seven Dials Market, WC2. Book, tickets released on the day.

4. Explore sensory objects and craft in the Play Area in Family Fridays at the Mosaic Rooms, SW7. Plus tea and coffee for grown ups. Drop in, weekly.

5. Design skyscrapers, houses, parks and more using recycled materials in Cardboard City Day at South Mitcham Community Centre, CR4. Book.

Daily free drop in events

1. Uniqlo Tate Play: Yoko Ono, Do It Yourself at Tate Modern, SE1. 30 March-14 April 2024.

2. Smileyworld Art Trail at Battersea Power Station. 29 March-19 May 2024. There’s free face painting on weekends too.

3. Paws on the Wharf art trail at Canary Wharf. Until 17 May 2024.

4. We’re Going On A Bear Hunt sculpture trail at Kingston-Upon-Thames. 29 March-7 June 2024.

5. The Little Egg Hunt sculpture trail in Chelsea. Until 15 April 2024.

If you like what I do, please forward this newsletter to your friends and networks. Word of mouth lets me know this work is worthwhile.

What’s FREE this weekend 29-31 March 2024

Finally, here’s more FREE ideas to tide you over this weekend. Click the links for timings and any booking info before heading out.

Don’t forget: Clocks go forward an hour in the early hours of Easter Sunday.

1. Simmer Down: Good Friday Family Special at Southbank Centre, SE1. 29 March 2024.

2. Easter Wonderland with Nine Elms Arts Ministry at art’otel London Battersea Power Station, SW11. 29 March 2024.

3. Games Day at Young V&A, E2. 30 March 2024.

4. Fieldworks Family Day at Hoxton Hall, N1. 30 March 2024.

5. Squish Space at Barbican Centre, EC2. Daily until 31 March 2024. For Under 5s.

Phew! Time to take a chocolate-y pause. I’ll be back in your inboxes next Friday with more free events for Week 2 of the school holidays.

Until then, have a great Easter.

Bye for now,

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