LittleBird rounded up plenty of family days out, fun activities and cool events to help you and the kids stay inspired, entertained and active throughout this February Half Term. There’s tons to do indoors and outdoors plus multiple celebrations with Chinese New Year, Pancake Day and Valentine’s Day too!
THINGS TO DO IN AND AROUND LONDON
⭐ Horrible Histories – Terrible Thames returns from 23rd March!
Terrible Thames the acclaimed tour is back this Easter! You’ve seen them on stage, now join them onboard for a sensational sightseeing tour of the River Thames like no other!
This 45-minute tour from Tower Bridge to the Palace of Westminster and back has been acclaimed by critics and the public for the wonderfully entertaining way it brings London to life, whilst the audience cruise in comfort on the majestic river.
Tickets from £15, find out more here.
⭐ London Zoo’s Zoonormous Egg Hunt! 29th March to 14th April
Take part in London Zoo’s Zoonormous Egg Hunt this holiday and celebrate the incredible egg-laying creatures who are resident at the zoo including reptiles, birds, fish and butterflies! Expect family trails, eggs of all sizes to discover, cryptic clues, easter crafts and chocolate treats too.
And, don’t miss The Secret Life of Reptiles & Amphibians opening this Easter too! The new exhibit will house26 species from around the world including the mountain chicken frog and the very rare Mangshan viper.
Free with ticket entry, buy tickets here.
⭐ SmileyWorld® Season is arriving at Battersea Power Station this Easter – 29th March to 14th April
Battersea Power Station will be buzzing with family-friendly fun for the holidays with SmileyWorld® inspired arts and crafts sessions, fun rides, outdoor games, face painting, family workshops and street food pop-ups!
And, don’t miss the free, self-guided SmileyWorld® Art Trail – perfect to explore with family and friends.
LittleBird Top Tip: Look out for a range of SEN workshops workshops and activities to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day too.
⭐ The Bunny Adventures Easter Trail – Discover Children’s Story Centre
They’re going on an egg hunt. They’re going to find them all.
Join the Discovery Children’s Story Centre from 1-16th April for an Easter eggstravaganza, find all the hidden eggs and win a special treat!
Lots of other activities too, drop-in activity. Free with your Session Pass.
⭐ Bear Snores On, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, 23rd March – 21st April
Grab your backpack and join Mouse on a magical theatrical journey as she finds fun, courage and a whole bunch of new animal friends.
Aimed at ages 4+, to find out more & to book tickets, click here.
⭐ Easter Holiday Fun at Museum of Water and Steam – 30 March – 14 April
Join Museum of Water and Steam for crafts and hands on activities, fun in the Splash Zone back in action, and an egg hunt this Easter!
Egg Hunt £3 per child and entrance tickets for children £4, under 4’s FREE
Find out more here.
⭐ My First Ballet: Swan Lake at Peacock Theatre – 4-13 April
Enjoy the world’s most famous ballet in a specially adapted production for children aged 3+ this school holidays. Tiny dancers will love being introduced to the iconic story of Prince Siegfried and Swan Queen Odette: with a narrator to help them understand the story, beautiful dancing, a shortened version of Tchaikovsky’s wonderful music, and glittering costumes, it’s perfect for a family day out.
Book tickets here.
⭐ Explore Easter workshops at the Ri and save 20% on every booking with Ri family membership
Holiday Workshops at the Ri are a chance for children to discover new friends who share their love of science and exploration. Science, maths, engineering and computing | Age-appropriate sessions for 7-18 year olds | Fun and educational.
Ri Young Members save 20% on holiday workshops, while adult Ri Members save 15% on Short Courses. And everyone gets free or heavily discounted Theatre talks, Family Fun Days and other activities
Find out more here.
⭐ Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers Turn 30!, The Cartoon Museum, Fitzrovia until 16th April 2024
Last chance to celebrate the iconic animated duo Wallace & Gromit and the 30th birthday of the classic film The Wrong Trousers!
The exhibition invites you to make your own piece of plasticine history and walks you through a one-of-a-kind collection of the full production process of Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers. Promising never-before-seen behind the screen shots showing the artists and studio as the film was made, once believed lost set pieces and models and every surviving piece of original artwork.
Tickets; Adults £9.50, Under 18s Free, to find out more, click here.
⭐ Romeo & Juliet – a remixed tale at the Polka Theatre until 14th April
Forced apart by generations of hatred, young eyes meet across a South London dancefloor on a fateful night that will change their lives forever. Shakespeare’s most famous story is re-told through rap, rhythms, and beautiful harmonies. It’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’, but as you’ve never heard it before.
Age guide 9-12 years+, to find out more click: here.
⭐ Brass Rubbing – St Martin-in-the-Fields – On Daily!
Try brass rubbing at St Martin-in-the-Fields for creative family fun with a historical twist!
Choose what to create from a collection of over 100 replica brasses! Fun for all ages and the team will be on hand to provide specialist paper, a choice of metallic waxes and to show you how to get started – then it’s up to you to get creative! You can take home your very own masterpiece on the day too.
Prices from £6.50 per person, available daily during opening hours, no need to book in advance, more information here.
⭐ Plastic Drastic Fantastic – Southbank Centre 6th-7th April
Friend or foe? Remarkable or rubbish?
Drawing on South Asian dance, this contemporary dance theatre work for families explores the wonders and woes of plastics.
For ages 7+, Sat 6th April & Sun 7th April, 11.30am & 2.30pm
Find out more and book tickets here
⭐ Dragons and Mythical Beasts at Southbank Centre – 3rd-7th April
Calling all brave heroes! Enter a magical world of myths and legends in this fantastical show for all the family. This award-winning show is bank on tour direct from the West End, from the creators of the international smash hit Dinosaur World Live, who bring spectacular puppets to life.
Don’t miss this spellbinding adventure, live on stage!
Running Weds 3rd – Sunday 7th April, 11am, 2pm and 4.30pm, tickets and more information here
⭐ FREE Fun Gallery Trail at the Museum of London Docklands – 30th March – 14th April
Riley Ratcliffe, the city rat, wants to learn about some of her ancestors on display in the museum. Help her spot members of her furry family and find out what life was like in the past for these little Londoners with this fun, free trail.
Find out more – Free drop in, ages 3+
⭐ Set sail for your Easter holiday adventure at Royal Museums Greenwich!
Climb aboard Cutty Sark for an action-packed day out on this world-famous historic ship. Join creative workshops and meet characters from the ship’s past to hear stories about life on board the fastest ship of its time.
Discover the wonders of time and space at the Royal Observatory with awe-inspiring science and astro-themed fun for the whole family. Don’t miss out-of-this-world astronomy shows in London’s only planetarium for a fascinating journey into space.
Tickets & more information: here.
⭐ Easter Egg-citement at artsdepot – 30th March – 13th April
See favourite stories leap from the page this Easter as magical stage adaptations of The Singing Mermaid, Dogs Don’t Do Ballet and Princess Smartypants arrive at artsdepot!
For Ages 7+, join the English Touring Opera in Victorian England for The Great Stink, A hilarious, fun-filled family show about poo… lots of it!
Check out The Brick People too, exploring the limitless fun of LEGO® and WiFi Wars, a live comedy show where the whole family play along on their devices!
Enjoy Book Buzz and celebrate the fun of reading or choose your own adventure with The Showstoppers’ Kids Show and drop into their FREE soft play area too!
Find out more here.
⭐ Time Travel Easter Trail at Old Royal Naval College – 29 March to 14 April
Hop into the Easter Bunny’s egg-stra special time machine at the Visitor Centre and learn about Easter celebrations throughout history.
Buy a self-led Easter activity booklet, which includes fun facts about Easter through the ages and once completed, claim a chocolate prize!
No pre-booking necessary, tickets £3 for the trail!
⭐ The Odyssey at The Unicorn Theatre – 17 March to 21 April
This Easter, join Telemachus on an epic musical re-telling adventure of Homer’s classic through stormy seas and strange lands, filled with mystical creatures, dangerous monsters and enchanting sirens – plus two talking sheep – and discover what really makes a true hero.
Recommended ages 8-13, Find out more and book tickets here.
⭐ Uniqlo Tate Play Yoko Ono, Do It Yourself at Tate Modern, Easter Holidays, Free.
Take part in participatory art inspired by Yoko Ono at Tate Modern
You’ll get to do creative challenges based on Yoko Ono’s art and activism— a treasure hunt of fun and games across the gallery, using dance, movement, music and your own imagination.
Suitable for families of all ages, Free activities, no booking is required, find out more here.
⭐ The Lion Inside — at Rose Theatre, Kingston – 28 March – 14 April
A heart-warming story about confidence, self-esteem, and a shy little mouse who sets out on a journey to find his roar.
Fed up of being ignored and forgotten by the other animals, Mouse wishes he could roar like Lion. But, as he discovers, even the biggest, bossiest people are scared sometimes … and even the smallest creatures can have the heart of a lion!
Book tickets here.
⭐ Bluey is at Kew Gardens this Easter for Fun, Nature and Play! 29th March to 14th April
The hit animated television series Bluey is coming to life at Kew Gardens this Easter for laughter, discovery and lots of fun in the beautiful setting of Kew Gardens in springtime.
Choose from a variety of fun outdoor activities and games, learn about the plants and wildlife found at Kew and look out for a life-size Bluey character who will be at the Gardens every day too!
Tickets included with entry! To find out more, click here and to book tickets for Kew click here.
⭐ Horniman Spring Fair – Horniman Museum and Gardens – for all the family!
Join the Horniman Museum and Gardens for lots of seasonal fun and games at their Spring Fair this March. Enjoy live music, crafts, street food and lots more!
Saturday 30th March, 11am – 4pm, Tickets £5, under 2’s free, to find out more, click here.
⭐ Plants and Poems this Easter Holidays at London Transport Museum – 29 March – 14 April
This Easter holiday, explore the relationship between London and its green environment and let your creativity blossom!
Learn about the resilience of plants through poetry, science and storytelling workshops.
Free with Museum Admission, for more info click here.
⭐ Now Play This 2024 at Somerset House – 6th to 14th April
Now Play This, the UK’s leading experimental games festival, is on at Somerset House this spring with the latest in innovative game design! Interaction, games, activities and workshops for all ages to enjoy and live events too!
Find out more here.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
⭐ Easter Adventure Quest at Chiswick House & Gardens – 29 March – 1 April
Have a cracking adventure Quest this Easter weekend, answer the questions hidden around the gardens, find the hidden eggs, and be rewarded with a chocolate treat!
Quests will cost £2, purchase on the day, find out more here.
⭐Save 15% off Go Ape TreeTop Aventure Experiences this Easter!
The Easter break is the perfect opportunity for your dedicated audience to gather their Tribe and enjoy some time outdoors in the (hopefully) warm spring air!
- 34 locations to choose from
- Go Ape’s most popular high ropes activity
- Treetop Challenge is aimed at adults and older children who are ready for a bigger quest
- Up to 3 hours in the tree tops, featuring platform-to-platform challenges, Tarzan swings and super-fast zip wires
To find out more & book tickets click here.
⭐ National Trust – Family Days out and Easter trails – 23 March to 14 April
Discover Easter egg hunts & family adventures at a National Trust place near you!
Lots for the whole family to enjoy including an Easter trail with fun, nature-inspired activities to complete before claiming a delicious chocolate prize!
£3 per trail, plus normal admission, includes an Easter trail sheet, bunny ears and dairy or vegan and Free From* chocolate egg.
Click here for more details.
⭐ Save 20% off Admission to Diggerland – valid for any Diggerland location!
Diggerland truly is a fun day out for the whole family – all ages can participate in the day, even the very young ones can take control of the digger from the safety of their parent’s laps!
Children and adults can enjoy a day of thrilling and unforgettable experiences as they ride, drive and operate REAL full-size machinery.
Use until 3rd November 2024 at Diggerland in Kent, Durham, Yorkshire or Devon! Download your voucher here.
THINGS TO DO UK WIDE
⭐Dive into the world of LEGO ® at the Museum of Making in Derby – until 14th April
Artist Jon Tordoff has been on a mission to recreate England’s Lake District out of LEGO® bricks. The 12.3 square metre model is made up of over 200,000 LEGO® pieces and represents 47 square miles of the Lake District!
LEGO® Lake District includes an activity space for budding builders of all ages to create their own miniature models and put these on temporary display too.
Drop-in free exhibition, Suitable for all, details here.
⭐ See the Original Bagpuss and Memorabilia at The Beaney, Canterbury!
Did you know that considering Bagpuss’s incredible popularity, only 13 episodes were ever made?
See the original Bagpuss, many of the original film props, Noggin the Nog and the Clangers on display at The Beaney in Canterbury!
Find out more here.
⭐ Visit Wake The Tiger Amazement Park in Bristol!
Wake The Tiger has expanded and is now open for bookings, double the size, double the amazement!
The newest, out-of-this-world, immersive addition, OUTERverse to the world’s first Amazement Park® has 15 new spaces and 1,000sq.m. added to another floor.
Are you ready to transcend? Find out more and book tickets here.
DO THIS
⭐ Join in the One in A Million Kids Against Plastic Litter Pick!
The aim of Ali’s ‘One In a Million’ campaign is to get kids, parents and schools involved and “doing their bit” while raising awareness about the dangers of plastic and over consumption.
The removal, and logging, of one million pieces of plastic litter is a great target to aim for!
Find out how you can get involved here.
⭐ Top Tips and Inspiration from Usborne for writing brilliant stories!
Visit Usborne’s site to read, watch tips from authors, learn how to develop characters and create plots! Download a story starter activity sheet and get writing!
So many lovely ideas to choose from to help children be creative! See here for more information.
READ THIS
⭐ Fitter, Healthier, Happier!: Your guide to a healthy body and mind by Joe Wicks – new release!
Learn all about your body and mind in this dynamic new fact-filled children’s book from #1 bestselling author and global fitness phenomenon Joe Wicks.
Published by HarperCollins ChildrensBooks, grab your copy here.
The School Reading List has some lovely recommendations for new children’s books for Spring 2024 in their guide, check them out here.
LISTEN TO THIS
⭐ Fun Kids – the UK’s children’s radio station! Listen live.
Fun Kids is a radio station for kids, families and parents, with music, games, competitions and podcasts. Listen live for free or catch up on the latest episodes of The Space Programme and their new fun science weekly podcast!
Sign up to their newsletter to find out what’s on the station, competitions and some great special offers too!
LOOK OUT FOR NEW CINEMA RELEASES
⭐ Ghostbusters The Frozen Empire! Coming to cinemas 22 March
The Spengler family returns to the iconic New York City firehouse where the original Ghostbusters have taken ghost-busting to the next level. When the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must unite to protect their home and save the world from a second ice age!
⭐ Inside out 2! Coming to cinemas 14 June
Follow Riley, in her teenage years, encountering new emotions!
Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust have been running a successful operation by all accounts. However, when Anxiety shows up, they aren’t sure how to feel.
⭐ Moana 2 – Coming to cinemas 27 November
After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana journeys to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she has ever faced.
LOOKING AHEAD
⭐ New Exhibition Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre at the Natural Museum, opening 24th May 2024
Opening this May half-term, discover brilliant stories and bizarre facts about our feathered friends.
🐦Test your bird skills with interactive games,
🐦Feel the beat of a hummingbird’s heart,
🐦Touch a variety of beaks and feel their differences,
🐦Discover easy ways you can help birds thrive,
🐦Explore how birds are related to dinosaurs!
It’ll be a hoot!, recommended for hatchlings aged 8+, tickets here.
LittleBird Top Tip : Don’t miss our competition to win 1 of 3 family tickets to the Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre Exhibition, free entry here.
⭐ Roald Dahl’s The Enormous Crocodile is sneaking into Regents Park this summer!
The ENORMOUS crocodile is weaving his way through the jungle in search of delicious little fingers and squidgy podgy knees this Summer at Regent’s Park Theatre!
Keep an eye out for tickets before they get snapped up!
Find out more here.
⭐ Celebrate Elmer day on the 25th May 2024!
Get ready for the most colourful day of the year! Elmer Day is back on 25th May and this year will be an extra special celebration for Elmer’s 35th birthday, with hundreds of event happening in schools, nurseries, libraries and bookshops around the country, and all over the world!
Find out more and sign up for details!
⭐ The Tiger Who Came to Tea is touring the UK!
The Purrfect treat for all the family! The Olivier Award nominated The Tiger Who Came to Tea is celebrating 15 years on stage and over 55 years as Britain’s best-loved picture book! The show is touring the UK during 2024, find out more and book tickets here.
⭐ Spirited Away, London Coliseum, 30th April – 24th August
Studio Ghibli’s Oscar-winning Spirited Away is re-imagined for the stage. The original Japanese cast perform this production with wildly imaginative puppets, dazzling set and costume designs and a live orchestra playing the magnificent original film score by Joe Hisaishi.
A masterpiece of storytelling and stunning visuals Spirited Away tells the enchanting tale of Chihiro who while traveling to a new home with her family, stumbles into a world of fantastic spirits ruled over by the sorceress Yubaba.
Aimed at ages 7+. Tickets from £24.75, to find out more, click here.
⭐ The Paddington Bear Experience, opening soon 2024
This large-scale interactive experience is inspired by everyone’s favourite bear! It’ll be taking up residence in the iconic County Hall on the Southbank unfolding across 26,000 square ft. Audiences will be thrown into the thick of the action as they help Paddington and the Brown family prepare for a special day. A feast for the senses, visitors will step into the world of Paddington and become immersed in some of the most iconic locations, culminating in a Windsor Gardens extravaganza!
To find out more, click here.
⭐ NG200, UK wide, 12th May onwards
On 10 May 2024 the National Gallery’s Bicentenary celebrations begin – 200 years of bringing people and paintings together.
For the entire year, the National Gallery will celebrate their past and look forward to their future with a year-long festival of art, creativity and imagination.
To find out more, click here.
⭐ Legoland Woodland Themed Holiday Village, opening in May 2024
The LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort are now taking bookings for the UK’s first LEGO® Woodland themed holiday village, opening in May 2024 where you can reconnect with nature after a full day of adventurous play at The LEGOLAND Windsor Resort. Nestled amongst the trees, The Woodland Village lodges are the ultimate way to stay for a unique and memory-filled short break.
Buy Day Tickets to Legoland here.
⭐ Shrek The Musical, Eventim Apollo, London, 19th July – 31st August
The Broadway and West End smash hit musical returns to London for 6 weeks only this summer holidays. Retaining all the impact of the blockbuster film, this energetic stage adaptation features a cast brimming with infectious enthusiasm.
Join Shrek and Donkey on their intrepid journey to rescue the beautiful, but cursed, Princess Fionafrom a castle protected by a fearsome fire-breathing dragon. Forget Hollywood endings, this story is what happens when freaks do fairy tales! AND if you book your tickets by 18th February, kids go half price.
Tickets from £15, to find out more & to book tickets, click here.
⭐ Barbie®: The Exhibition, The Design Museum, Kensington, 5th July
Opening to coincide with the 65th anniversary of the Barbie brand, the exhibition will map the Barbie legacy that started in 1959 when Ruth Handler wanted to craft a different narrative for her daughter, Barbara. It will explore the story of Barbie through a design lens, including fashion, architecture, furniture and vehicle design.
To find out more, click here.
⭐ Chichester Festival Theatre’s 2024 Season has been announced!
Just a train’s ride from London, you can see family classics this year at Chichester Festival Theatre including Oliver!, Cinderella and Hey! Christmas Tree
A lovely day out for the family and the perfect spot for some alfresco picnicking pre and post show!
Find out more and buy tickets here.
EASTER ARTS AND CRAFTS
⭐FREE Downloadable Easter Activity Pack from The Week Junior Magazine!
Keep your kids entertained this Easter holidays with fun activities direct from the pages of the award-winning The Week Junior magazine – the award-winning fun-to-read magazine that inspires a love of reading and encourages kids to think for themselves!
Sign up for their FREE Easter activity pack today – From hot cross bun baking to tie-dying eggs and more, there’s something to keep your children exploring, learning and having fun throughout the break.
⭐ 36 Egg-citing and Easy Easter Crafts for Kids!
Gathered.how have put together an eggscellent Easter guide with 36 easy Easter arts and crafts for mini makers everywhere! From tots to teens, there is something for everyone to get creative this Easter! Try your hand at Easter bookmarks, baskets, paper chicks, suncatchers, pebble painting, sock bunnies, footprint art, salt dough eggs, pom poms, bunting, cake toppers and so much more!
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Happy holidays!
From the team at LittleBird x