Celebrate Easter and have some fun this month with the best activities and Easter Egg hunts across Surrey & SW London...
Surrey
1. A world of fun
Head over to Chessington World of Adventures and check out its amazing new ride for younger children. Based on the bestselling children’s book by stellar author Julia Donaldson, the Room on the Broom ride offers a magical journey through the popular tale that follows a witch and her overcrowded broom. There’s plenty more to see and do too including the zoo and Sea Life Centre.
2. Brooklands Museum
Head to Brooklands Museum this Easter for a great day out. Families visiting during the holidays (Apr 8-18) will be able to experience thrilling car rides, ‘fly’ with the Red Arrows in the 4D theatre (kids go free on 4D rides Apr 19-22), step aboard Concorde and complete the Easter Egg Trail.
3. RHS Wisley
Easter Holidays drop-in fun family activities
Hop through the garden at RHS Garden Wisley and find fun at every turn. There will be face painters, storytellers, sow and grow, and puppet shows as well as an Easter trail where you can discover the garden’s hidden displays.
4. Cat in the Hat
When the Cat in the Hat steps on the mat, Sally and her brother are in for a rollercoaster ride of havoc and mayhem! The Cat can rescue them from a dull rainy day but what mischief do they get up to along the way? Based on the much-loved book by Dr Seuss.
5. Cadbury's Easter Egg hunt
Let the kids loose on this fun Cadbury’s Easter Egg hunt at Polesden Lacey in Bookham which runs throughout the school holidays. A great way to explore the beautiful grounds and get the children out in the fresh air before they tuck into the goodies.
6. Fair fun
The Friends of Whitehall are holding an Easter Fair at the Parochial Rooms in Cheam this month. Alongside a wide range of stalls and crafts, there will be a selection of scrumptious cake and refreshments.
7. Hoppy days
Head over to Gatton Park in Reigate with your little one to learn all about our fluffy tailed Easter friends in a fun session involving crafts, activities and trails. Suitable for children aged 4-7.
8. Flower power
Leith Hill Place in Dorking is hosting an Easter Floral Wreath Workshop enabling participants to learn how to make a wreath from hay-straw and an abundance of seasonal products. Run by local florist Vickie from Surrey Hills Florist, all materials are included as well as a cream tea. Booking is a must!
9. It’s panto time
Yes, Dorking Halls is staging its annual Easter panto, Peter Pan, which stars Bobby Davro as the incompetent but lovable Smee. These shows are always very popular and a great thing to do should the weather take a turn for the worse.
10. Easter fun
Grab your little ones and head down to your nearest Squires Garden Centre for a series of Create & Grow sessions which includes Plant An Easter Container (£6) – or take part in the Spring Hunt - receive a sweet treat! (£2) - Look for clues around the garden centre to help find the magic word. All correct answers receive a gourmet chocolate pizza slice!
SW London
1. Giant Easter Duck Trail
Go quackers and challenge your family to explore the WWT London Wetland Centre looking for giant yellow ducks hiding amongst the reeds and trees, amongst their real-life cousins. Follow activity cards to find where these cheeky ducks are hiding and win a tasty prize while learning all about the wetland wildlife that WWT helps to look after.
2. Georgian Chocolate Making
Join local artisan chocolatiers Handmade in Ealing to make your own box of luxury chocolates inspired by the Georgian period. You’ll learn small batch chocolate making techniques and discover some of the aromatics that were loved by the Georgians, as well as some more modern flavours. History and chocolate – what’s not to love?
3. Hop over Tohen Corner
At Brentford’s Hen Corner enjoy homemade treats before exploring the garden (where you’ll meet the chickens) and then get creative in the conservatory; activities may include making your own hot cross buns, hunting for eggs (real and chocolate!), decoupaging eggs for Easter decorations and hen hugging. Finish up with tea and homemade hot cross buns, and each guest goes home with the crafts that they’ve made.
4. Easter Treasure Hunt
Chiswick’s popular weekly food market is closed on Easter Sunday, but the weekend before they are hosting a free treasure hunt for children. Simply follow the clues to win a chocolate egg. It starts at 11 am and will last until all 120 eggs have been claimed!
5. Battersea Park Zoo
Join the meerkats, monkeys and ring-tailed lemurs for a wealth of Easter activities this month, including:
- An Easter Egg Hunt every day from April 6-22 (£1.50, including prize).
- Eggstavaganza Day on April 16 – make a chick puppet, see some of the biggest eggs in the zoo and pull up a pew for Egg Story Time.
- Easter Bunny Day on Good Friday, April 19 – make rabbit ears and badges and meet a real rabbit.
- Find out all about where chocolate come from onApril 18 at a ChocolateAnimal Workshop (book on the day, £1.50).
- It’s Hedgehog Day on April 9 when the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) talks about the work of rescuers.
- On April 11, it’s Honey Bee Day when the London Bee Keepers Association (LBKA) has a host of candle-rolling, honey tasting, face-painting fun lined up.
6. Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt
Hidden around the palace and gardens are some golden bunny statues – solve the challenges to win a chocolate version of your very own. Aimed at children aged 3–12; takes around 1.5 hours.
7. Easter Egg Hunt
Follow the clues to find 10 features of the birds which live in and around the garden at Ham House. There are fun activities at each stop; collect all 10 feathers for a prize.
