1. Science Museum Live: The Energy Show returns to the Science Museum (Exhibition Rd, SW7 2DD, South Kensington tube) after a raucous reception last year. Two mad science students race against time to prove their knowledge of energy. Expect hydrogen balloon explosions, methane bubbles bursting and rockets blasting into the audience! Dangerously good fun for ages 7+. 11.30am-12.45pm, 1.30-2.45pm; adult £13.50/child £9.50 (Apr 3-11)
2. Charlie’s Chocolate Adventures at Kew Gardens (Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB, Kew Gardens tube). Go down to the glorious botanical gardens for a festival of Willy Wonka-inspired activities and treats. You can make your own Wonka chocolate bars, hear Revolting Rhymes and enter to win tickets to Charlie & the Chocolate Factory in the West End. Gardens open daily from 9.30am, activities vary by dates/times (see web site); adult £14.50/child under 17 FREE (Apr 5-21)
3. Sensational Butterflies at Natural History Museum (Cromwell Rd, SW7 5BD, South Ken tube) are back by popular demand to welcome spring. Walk through majestic moths and very hungry caterpillars in the outdoor butterfly house. 10am-5.50pm, adult £5.50, family £19, child and concs £5.50 (Apr 3-Sep 14)
4. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park opens its South Park with giant playground, climbing walls, fountain, sandpit, 560 acres of park land to explore, and of course amazing sporting facilities. Stratford, E20 2ST. (daily, from Apr 5)
5. V&A Museum of Childhood’s Jacqueline Wilson exhibition Daydreams and Diaries opens up the best-selling author of Tracy Beaker’s early inspirations, showcasing journals, letters, school reports, toys and more (Apr 5-Nov 2). And while you’re at the museum (Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9PA, Bethnal Green tube) check out their daily Word Explosion activities for all ages exploring the written and spoken word. 10am-4.30pm, FREE (Apr 5-18)
6. Eggciting Easter Activities at London Wetland Centre (Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes, SW13 9WT, Hammersmith tube) brings a whole range of springtime fun including pond dipping, nature crafts and a self-guided spring trail where you can meet the brand new ducklings. Open 9.30am-6pm, most activities from around 11.30am; adult £12.35/child £6.90/under 4s FREE (Apr 5-21)
7. Clapham Common Easter Funfair (SW4 9AR, Clapham) brings more spectacular rides to the Common from dodgems and tea cups to Dumbo’s flying elephants. Sessions are from 12-3pm, 3-6pm & 6-9pm; entry FREE with wristband, charges for rides (daily, Apr 5-27).
You can also get dizzy at Crystal Palace Spring Fair (until Apr 13) and Hampton Court Easter Funfair (April 18-22)
8. Easter Holidays at Discover (383-387 High St, Stratford E15 4QZ, Stratford tube/overground) are packed with family fun including a Circus themed weekend, shadow puppet show, author-illustrator talks and a bunny hunt over Easter. 10am-5pm (Mon-Fri), 11am-5pm (Sat-Sun), adult/child £5/family of 4 £18/under 2s FREE (Apr 7-21)
9. Angels & Urchins presents Storystock at Saatchi Gallery (Duke of York’s HQ, SW3, Sloane Square tube), the travelling storytelling circus for kids ages 4-13. Come along for clay modelling, animation, rapping workshops and other family activities inspired by the Saatchi Gallery Pangaea Exhibition. 10.30-12pm (ages 4-7), 12.30-2.30pm or 1-3pm (ages 7-13), 3-5pm (ages 7-13); £15/£18 (Mon-Thu) and £10 weekends (Fri-Sun) and Easter Monday (Apr 7-27)
10. Geffrye Museum: Spring Has Sprung (Kingsland Rd, E2 8EA, Hoxton overground) sees a basket-full of activities for families, from making felt eggs and mini gardens, to painting seasonal plates and designing springtime masks. Activities for ages 5+ (younger ones welcome), plus a special garden trail for all ages. 10.30am-12.30pm & 2-4pm, drop-in, FREE (Apr 8-11)
11. BFI Southbank Family Film workshops (Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT, Waterloo/Embankment tube) offer themed film and crafting activities for ages 8-13 (Apr 8, 9, 15 & 16; 11am-4.30pm, £22) and Little Dudes Messy Time for ages 3-7 (Apr 10, 11.30am-3.30pm, £5)
12. My First Ballet: Coppelia at Peacock Theatre Sadlers Wells (Portugal St, WC2A 2HT, Holborn tube) brings the tale of toymaker Dr Coppelius and his mysterious adventures with the doll that comes to life to the stage for ages 3-7. (Apr 8-19)
13. Firepower Royal Artillery Museum (Royal Arsenal, SE18 6ST) is Calling All Heroes for its Kids Easter activities with gun firing, camo face paint, climbing inside a real tank and more. Also your chance to see the Toast Army exhibition! Tue-Sat, 11am-1pm & 2pm-3pm, £4.50 plus admission. (Apr 8-19)
14. Shoe Baby at the Albany (Douglas Way, SE8 4AG, Deptford/New Cross overground) is a magical puppet show based on the beloved book by Joyce Dunbar, following the giddy travels of a baby who takes to air, road and sea all by shoe! Winner of Brighton Festival award for Best Children’s Show. Meet the puppets after the show and take part in the Deptford Bunny Hunt (Apr 5-9) to win a family ticket! For ages 2+. 11am & 2pm, £7/family £24 (Apr 9-13)
15. Moscow State Circus swings into Ally Pally (Alexandra Palace, Muswell Hill Gate, N22 7AY, Wood Green tube) with daredevil acts, backflipping, juggling, roller skating and more to dazzle the crowd. 3pm & 7.45pm, 3pm & 6pm, 2pm & 5pm (times vary by date, check web site); adult £10-£35/child £7-£30/under 2s FREE (Apr 10-21)
16. Southbank Centre presents Rubbish (Belvedere Rd, SE1 8TX, Waterloo/Embankment tube), the smash-hit show by innovative company Theatre Rites. The performance uses puppetry and upcycling to encourage adults and kids to engage with the potential of the stuff we throw away. For ages 5+. 12pm & 3pm daily (no show Apr 13), adult £12/child £6 (Apr 11-23)
17. Little Angel Theatre Sleeping Beauty in the Woods at Royal Albert Hall (Elgar Room, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore SW7 2AP, South Kensington tube) is a dreamlike adaptation of the Brothers Grimm fairytale. Discover the legend of princess Briar Rose told through puppetry, automata, live music and video projections, for ages 3+. 11am & 1.30pm, adult £13.24/child £11.20 (Apr 14-15)
18. Disney on Ice Worlds of Fantasy at Wembley Arena (Arena Square, Engineers Way, HA9 0AA, Wembley Park tube) sees all your favourite characters come to life in a skating extravaganza featuring Cars, Tinkerbell, the Toy Story gang and of course Mickey and co. 11am, 12pm, 2.45pm, 4pm, 6.30pm, 7pm £19.75-£48.85 (Apr 17-20)
19. Sadler’s Wells Family Weekend at Lilian Baylis Studio, Rosebery Ave, EC1R presents gobbledegook and their sell-out show Deep in the Woods blending storytelling, shadow play, video and light installations and acrobatics for ages 2-5. 11am & 2.45pm, adult £12/child £7. Also catch Rapunzel reimagined for ages 6+ with Liv Lorent choreography and poetry by Carol Ann Duffy, 2.30pm, £15 (Apr 18-19)
20. Easter Holidays at V&A Museum. Join the celebration of Shakey’s 450th birthday at these family events for the V&A’s Shakespeare Festival. Stage your own animated Shakespeare play on iPads (Digital Kids, 10.30am-5pm, FREE, Sats-Suns Apr 5-27); enter the mysterious world of Bottom’s Dream (Pop Up Performances, 11am, 1pm & 3pm, FREE, Apr 18-21); see Shakespeare the Puppet Show (12pm & 2pm, or 2.30pm & 4pm on Wed-Thu; £5/£15 family, Apr 14-19); design an enchanted wood (Imagination Station, 10.30am-5pm, FREE, Apr 18-27); and experience love and magic in a Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare 4 Kidz, 11am, 1pm & 3pm, FREE, Apr 22-25).
