20 awesome things to do with kids in London: April 2024

artsdepots’s Easter Holiday Programme runs until the 13th. Expect LEGO fun with The Brick People; Book Buzz, celebrating the fun of reading; a family show about poo; a live comedy game show where you can play along on your mobile device, and more. Paid/free.
Museum of London Docklands is running Easter holiday activities inspired by its Fashion City exhibition until the 14th. Create your own pom pom accessory, and hear the stories of the people that helped make London the fashion capital of the world. Free.
Pop-up Performance: Club Origami is at Young V&A on the 1st. Designed for children aged 0-5, this immersive and interactive dance show invites families to embark on a spirited and inspiring adventure in a land made purely of paper. Paid.
Habitat Heroes with Wild Fangs is on at the Horniman on the 1st and 8th, offering families a chance to get up close and personal with live animals. The museum will also be hosting Baboo the Unusual Bee – Drag Storytelling and Craft on the 21st. Paid.
Two Temple Place is hosting five family workshops this Easter. Choose from Story Telling With Clay on the 2nd, Recycled Mini Oceans on the 4th, Reimagine the World Through Collage on the 6th, Sketch, Etch & Print on the 10th and Stained Glass Windows on the 12th. Free.
There’s lots on at the National Gallery from 2nd-11th, including a Construct and Play workshop with Leap Then Look, and sensory and imaginative play sessions, with opportunities to test ideas and materials for the gallery’s new Centre for Creative Learning. Free.
Foundling Museum’s Easter Holiday Workshops return from 2nd-5th. Create an imaginary house out of clay, patchwork memory maps, journey books exploring your family’s personal journeys or your own paper backpack. Paid.
There’s plenty on at the Soane Museum this Easter, from an Architectural Design workshop with Matt+Fiona (11-14s) on the 3rd to a Miniature Figures workshop (7-11s) on the 10th and a Spring Decorations workshop (4+) on the 11th. Paid/free.
NPG’s Spring Family Festival is on the 4th-5th and 11th-12th. Discover the remarkable stories of individuals making a positive difference for the planet and let them inspire you to create your own pieces of art, from clay bouquets to textile banners. Free.
British Museum invites you to Meet the Romans on the 5th, when Roman re-enactors will be exploring themes from the Legion exhibition. There will also be Hop into Spring and Exhibition Explorer Little Feet sessions for 0-5s on the 19th and 25th, respectively. Free.
Family Festival: Joyful Landscapes is on at Dulwich Picture Gallery on the 6th, featuring workshops, trails and activities promoting sustainability and fun. The gallery will also host the Mr. Shadow Show on the 14th, and the Heritage Cheese Kids Club on the 20th. Paid.
Family Day: Bedlam! is on at the RCN Library and Heritage Centre on the 6th. Take part in an artist-led emotive making workshop using air-dry clay, explore the history of mental health with object handling, and follow a treasure hunt through the museum. Free.
Now Play This 2024 will be at Somerset House from 6th-14th. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the festival offers engaging interaction and play for all ages to enjoy, fusing art and games with a new themed edition, Liminal: Playing Between Worlds. Paid.
Big Penny Social is offering an exciting programme of family activities this month, including its popular Bounce House bouncy-castle play sessions from 8th-12th, Baby Knees Up from the people behind Baby Broadway on the 18th and Track Play on the 19th. Paid.
Head to RIBA with your 0-3 for RIBA Baby: Spring Songs and Stories on the 9th, then head back on the 27th for Family Fun Day: RIBA Building Birthday Bash, featuring crafts, songs and stories, and opportunities to learn about architecture. Free.
Ibrahim Mahama’s Purple Hibiscus will be arriving at Barbican Lakeside Terrace from the 10th. The installation will envelop the building with 2,000 square metres of pink and purple cloth embroidered with 100 ‘batakaris’ – robes worn by Ghanaian kings. Free.
Yinka Shonibare’s Suspended States opens at Serpentine South from the 12th. The exhibition will include new installations such as Sanctuary City and The War Library, as well as Decolonised Structures, featuring replicas of London’s public sculptures. Free.
Early Weaves is on at Polka from 17th-21st. Aimed at ages 1-4, this non-verbal show offers a wonderful introduction to dance theatre for early-years children, using beautiful movement and a set and props made almost entirely from willow. Paid.
The RA is hosting two drop-in family workshops this month. Head to Family Day: Entangled Pasts, 1768–Now, focusing on the themes of journeys and identity, on the 21st; or Family Studio: Costumes, inspired by the work of Angelica Kauffman, on the 28th. Free.
My Child, the Algorithm is on at Whitechapel Gallery on the 27th. Celebrating Hannah Silva’s new book, this talk is for members of the LGBTQAI+ community and allies, and will include childcare led by artist Jasmin Bhanji for ages 4+. Free.