With Easter almost upon us (how?!), there’s no better time to get in the festive mood this weekend. There’s a Chocolate Festival at Southbank Centre, coloured powder throwing at Holi parties in Shoreditch and Richmond, plus loads more activities for kids and families in London. Get involved!
Fri-Sun: Chocolate Festival at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
It’s the 10th year in a row for the Chocolate Festival which returns to the riverside for another gastro adventure. Enjoy samplings and demos from some of the world’s finest chocolatiers and bag yourself some goodies to take home. 11am-8pm (Fri-Sat), 11am-6pm (Sun), FREE (Mar 22-24)
Fri-Sun: Lindt Big Egg Hunt at Covent Garden, WC2 (Covent Garden tube)
Download your chocolate treasure map, head to covent garden, collect your Hunt Book from one of the Eggsperts dotted about and search for giant, decorated Easter eggs. Prizes to be won include a year’s worth of chocolate! All day, FREE (Mar 22-Apr 1)
See our guide to 10 Best Easter Egg Hunts in London
Fri-Sun: Tiger Territory at London Zoo, Regent’s Park, NW1 (Regent’s Park tube)
The massive redevelopment opens its new home to endangered Sumatran tigers, 5 times bigger than the previous tiger exhibit. Watch these feline giants scale tall trees, relax in indoor dens and play around in their custom-built pool. Zoo opening hours 10am-5.30pm, adult £23 (online) or £25 (gate fee)/child £17 (online) or £18 (gate fee)/under 3s FREE (opens Mar 22, ongoing)
Fri-Sun: Oh Baby London Sample Sale on Brick Lane
Just as Global Kids Fashion Week comes to a close, you can still find cool threads for your little hipsters at the Oh Baby London sample sale all weekend. Head to the newly refurbished shop on Brick Lane and search through 1000s of Oh Baby London samples and past season styles available in sizes 0-3 months all the way up to ages 8. Big style at bargain prices — sounds like a winner! 9.30am-7pm (Fri), 11am-7pm (Sat-Sun), FREE entry (Mar 22-24)
Sat-Sun: London Festival of Railway Modelling at Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, N22 (Wood Green tube)
Railway geeks head to Ally Pally for the city’s leading festival of mini trains. Special events for younger ones include interactive activities, colouring competitions and ‘have-a-go’ model train driving on one of the two children’s layouts. 9am-5pm (Sat) and 9am-4.30pm (Sun); adult £10 (adv.) or £11/child 5-14 £4.50 (adv.) or £5/under 5s FREE
Sun: Family Workshop: Ingenious Inventions at Design Museum, 28 Shad Thames, SE1 (Tower Hill/Tower Bridge tube)
Grab some design materials and a cardboard box at the museum and make your own model of miraculous invention inspired by the current Designs of the Year exhibition. 2-4.30pm, £5 per child (Mar 24)
Sun: Play Holi with Dishoom (pic) at Village Underground, 54 Holywell Lane, Shoreditch, London EC2
Popular restaurant Dishoom is throwing a family-friendly party in hip nightclub Village Underground to celebrate the Indian festival of Holi. There will be storytelling from Vayu Naidu, light snacks, chai and great music, a chance for kids to make a giant rangoli painting… and of course, for everyone to throw coloured powder on each other in proper Holi tradition. Wear something old and prepare to get messy! 2-4pm, adult £12/child £6 (Mar 24)
Sun: My Brother the Robot at The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford, London SE8 (New Cross/Deptford overground)
Bobby is a little girl who lives with her inventor father and wishes for a brother. Her father tinkers away and comes up with a robot brother. But can he save the day when Bobby gets into danger? For ages 4+. 1pm & 3pm (Sun), 10.30am (Mon); £7/family £24 (Mar 24-25)
Local Pick (Islington)
Sat: Monsters Inc at Screen on the Green, Upper St, N1 (Angel tube)
Lounge on the Everyman’s comfy chairs and indulge in a Saturday morning treat as this popular Disney Pixar hit returns to the big screen. Enter the scare factory where monsters Sulley and Mike discover the truth about humans as one little girl named Boo turns their world upside down. 11.15am, £5 (Mar 23)
We also like
The Shoe Carnival at Selfridges with styles for adults and kids is still going strong (until Apr 1); join the Holi Festival at Orleans House Gallery in Richmond (Sat); there are some Misunderstood Monsters at Arts Depot in North Finchley (Sun); check out the Cowfest moosical festival at Spitalfields City Farm (Sun); get involved with a Passover Make & Take at Jewish Museum (Sun) and bookings are open for Crafty Kids and the Easter Puppet Club at Little Angel Theatre in Angel (book now)!
Photo via Dishoom web site
