The best family days out in London and beyond rated by kids and teens
Welcome to KidRated’s guide to the best things to do in London at Easter for kids and teens…
Like so many other holidays, celebrating Easter can be even more fun when you have kids, older kids and teenagers. Plus, its arrival often feels like the formal transition to spring – bring on the sunshine, flowers, and baby animals!
The Easter school holidays take place over 7th – 21st April with the Easter weekend on The Easter weekend will take place over 18th – 21st Apr and the Easter holidays and there’s plenty of fun events to enjoy in the capital.
To help celebrate, we’ve rounded up the best events, adventures and activities to keep the whole family entertained during the holiday period.
They’ve hatched a jam-packed programme down at the Centre for all the family this Easter. So hop into the season with an Easter Eggstravaganza of storytelling, egg hunt and craft sessions.
Special guests sharing their tales, include Momoko Abe’s Dotty Doughnut, Krina Patel-Sage’s Watch Me Bloom, Fiona Barker’s Do Not Eat the Egg, and a 25th-anniversary celebration of The Acorn Wood series by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Visit their page for more details.
Looking for a magical family outing this Easter? Don’t miss The Little Prince at The Cockpit, Marylebone. This brand new, fast-paced adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s beloved classic features original music, puppetry, projection and movement, brought to life by a talented ensemble.
Perfect for children and grown-ups alike, the show runs just 75 minutes with no interval—and chilled 3pm performances make it ideal for younger audiences. Tickets are affordably priced, with family bundles available.
Cost: £14/£18, family ticket £60 (2 adults + 2 kids)
Hop aboard the Horrible Histories: Terrible Thames Tour for 45 minutes of gruesome fun and fascinating facts! Sail past iconic landmarks while learning the gory, silly side of London’s history. Perfect for kids, teens, and curious grown-ups. Wrap up warm, sit on the top deck, and book ahead—it sells out fast!
London Games Festival returns for 12 action-packed days celebrating video game culture across the city. Expect playable installations, panels, rare gaming artefacts, and showcases of the hottest global indie titles. Highlights include Game Plus at London Wall, Now Play This at Somerset House, and Power Up at the Science Museum. Game on!
Set sail on an epic adventure at the National Maritime Museum’s new exhibition, Pirates—opening March 2025! Perfect for curious kids aged 7 and up, teens who love adventure, and grown-ups with a soft spot for swashbucklers, this thrilling show dives into the real and imagined world of pirates.
From Captain Hook and Jack Sparrow to Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, and Mary Read, discover how pirates have been portrayed in stories and films—and uncover the harsh truths behind the myths.
Whizz along the Thames on an exhilarating boat ride with Thames Rockets, admiring London’s magnificent landmarks as you speed along the river. Or opt for a more relaxing trip with a City Cruises experience – you can simply enjoy the sightseeing or pair the trip with a delightful afternoon tea.
Prices: from £45
Age requirement: there’s no age limit but must be a minimum of 1.35m (4ft. 5in.) tall.
Join Lizzie the kitchen maid and Rosemary the gardener for a chocolatey adventure in the Historic Kitchen, make traditional hot chocolate, craft paper flowers, play games on the lawn, and join a choc-tastic egg hunt! Perfect for kids aged 5–11. Booking essential!
Age requirement: 5 -11
There’s a Relaxed Day on the 7th for kids who need a little less hustle and bustle.
Cost: £10 for kids; 1 adults goes free
The Passion of Jesus provides a moving portrayal of the final days of Jesus, brought to you by one hundred Wintershall players.
This is a realistic interpretation of the crucifixion, so parental guidance is advised. Not only is it free, it’s also extremely popular so it’s a good idea to arrive around 40 minutes before the start. If you can’t make it to Trafalgar Square, the performances will be livestreamed on Facebook.
Looking for a fun, inspiring day out with the kids? Shakespeare’s Globe offers brilliant family-friendly activities for all ages! From interactive workshops based on The Tempest for ages 5–8 and 9–12, to costume and sword-fighting demos. Dive into the Globe Story & Tour, get hands-on with props and Elizabethan fashion, or explore at home with the Playground—a treasure trove of online activities for children aged 5–11. We strongly advise you book early to avoid disappointment.
Ah, London, where the prices are as high as the Eye and keeping a kid entertained feels like funding their way through college—twice. You’ve likely realized by now that touring London with the offspring in tow is akin to pouring your wallet directly into the Thames. But fear not, fellow financially flabbergasted parents! There exists a magical list of places in this wallet-guzzling city where not a single penny needs to escape your grasp. And, would you believe it, many of these freebie gems are nestled right next to each other, like a budget-friendly treasure map.
Click here and save the pennies!
Slide into the Easter Weekend by whizzing down the world’s longest and tallest tunnel slide ArcelorMittal Orbit. What’s more, when you get to the bottom you’ll see the original prop car from the 2005 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Broadway musical, which will remain on display until August.
Children must be at least 1.3m tall and aged between 8 and 16 years old to ride the slide.
The ultimate staycation, you and the whole family can enjoy exclusive after-hours tour at sunset and after dark, before spending the night in a private lodge at London Zoo. This is a great opportunity to discover what happens at the zoo after dark. There’s also a morning tour and chance for a ‘meet and greet’ with one of the keepers.
Age requirements for Family Nights – 5+. For Adults only nights – 14+
The London Transport Museum is offering the chance to explore ‘forgotten’ parts of the Tube network and go behind the scenes at some of London’s busiest stations with their exclusive Hidden London tours.
And if you can’t make it in person, there are live virtual tours that take you through the 160-year history of the London Underground.
Check website for selected dates and prices. All ages are welcome at the London Transport Museum but some restrictions apply for the in-person Hidden London Tours.
Step aboard and set sail on a fantastic family adventure at Cutty Sark! Taking place on the first weekend of every month, Cutty Sark Family Weekends feature workshops, songs, activities and experiences for all ages.
Meet characters from Cutty Sark’s past and sing along with our resident sea shanty singers – for the real sailor experience, why not dress up as a member of Cutty Sark’s crew? All ages are welcome and activities are free with entry to the ship.
Join Supertato and the Super Squad from 5–21 April for a fun-filled family day out packed with games, dressing up, hands-on activities and silly challenges. Cost is included with the entry ticket; perfect for ages 3–8 and veggie outfits are very much encouraged.
Head to the Spring Fair at the Horniman Museum and Gardens in Forest Hill on the 19th April (11am – 4pm). You and the kids can enjoy seasonal games with live music, workshops, tours, an Easter bonnet parade and much more. Tickets are £6 and you need to book in advance.
Remember the Horniman is open daily and you can visit the Butterfly House and go on the Animal walk.
Teens in Carnaby Street
London stands as a premier global shopping hub, boasting an abundance of shops that cater to every taste and style. Yet, amidst the bustling thoroughfares like Oxford Street, it can be a challenge to uncover that perfect blend of uniqueness, affordability, and alignment with your fashion sensibilities.So we enlisted the expertise of teen K-Rater Coco. With her discerning eye, she has curated a list of her favorite teen-centric shops in London, both brick-and-mortar and online. Prepare to ignite excitement even in the most hard-to-please teens with this handpicked selection!
Click here….
Dive into our curated list of shows for the older child and teen brigade (10+ years) and discover theatrical gems you didn’t know existed—like finding an extra chicken nugget in your meal box.
Got munchkins under ten? We’ve got you covered too, just follow this yellow brick link. And remember, booking with us through our hush-hush deal with TodayTix gets you prices so good, they’re almost criminal.
Convincing your kids to swap the couch for the great outdoors is akin to negotiating a peace treaty with a particularly stubborn nation of sofa-bound creatures. But fear not, intrepid parent, for London is your secret weapon in this noble quest. With its vast array of parks, museums, and a mysterious underground network known as “The Tube,” you have all you need to lure them into daylight.
To give you some ideas and inspo, we’ve collected a few ideas in this handy guide. Enjoy!
Paddington Afternoon tea bus tour
Arguably the biggest star of the Paddington films was the beautiful city of London – so why not take the Paddington Afternoon Tea and Bus Tour – a sightseeing tour with a difference. You and the family will ride on London’s iconic Routemaster and see some of Paddington’s favourite landmarks. Prices start from £35 and the age requirement is 5+.
And remember we have a handy guide that takes you to some of the key locations used for filming should you want to retrace the steps of the famous little Peruvian bear for free.
Finally, you can buy tickets for a two-and-a-half hour Paddington walking tour here.
For more free things to do visit our Best free things to do for kids and teens in London guide…
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