18 minute read
Spring Adventures
Spring Adventures Fun Days Out with the Family
Step into Summer – Brand New Saint Francis Hospice Walk Join hundreds of walkers taking steps to raise awareness and muchneeded funds to support local people affected by life-limiting illnesses. The brand-new family-friendly event on Sunday 21 June in Bedford’s
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Park, Havering-atte-Bower offers a 5k or 10k route through the beautiful Essex countryside.
What more could you ask for on this year’s summer solstice weekend? Every step you take, and every penny raised, will continue to support the outstanding care that the Hospice provides to local families in need.
Step out into the great outdoors and enjoy fresh air and exercise for the whole family. The walk is a fun day out with inflatables for the kids, as well as providing a huge sense of achievement for all involved. There will even be a medal for all participants, a free t-shirt for adults and a goody bag for children As you Step into Summer you will be raising money to provide specialist care for local people with life limiting illnesses. You could even decide to walk in memory of someone special. Participants can register online today. Use code PT10 to receive 10% off the ticket price. For more information, visit www.sfh.org.
The Great Shoreditch Easter Egg Hunt Shoreditch Town Hall is throwing open its doors on Saturday 11 April for building-wide fam- ily fun with The Great Shoreditch Easter Egg Hunt. Hop along during the Easter Bank Holiday weekend and join in the hunt for hidden eggs, nestled in nooks and crannies throughout this beautiful Victorian building. There’ll also be a basket-load of surprises, activities and performances for everyone to enjoy. For more information, visit www. shoreditchtownhall.com.
5k and 10k w alk
Find out more or register online www.sfh.org.uk/step-into-summer
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For 10% off, use code PT10
Easter Fun in Old Spitalfields Market The guys at FAM EAST are back in Old Spitalfields Market with a school’s out Easter 2020 Social on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 April. The Easter Social 2020 kicks off the holidays with this ultimate kid’s market day out. This two-day family social will feature creative workshops for kids and a pop-up market packed with the best clothes, toys and accessories. It will also be a chance to try some of London’s finest street food. The market floor will host a line-up of the hottest kids, family, fashion, homeware and eco brands including FAM EAST favourites Annual Store, Little Dottie, My Vintage Kid and Bandit Circus. On the Market’s Mezzanine, the free creative play space with contemporary art educators Leap Then Look will offer children a ‘spring growth’ themed session and the chance to create interactive sculptures and artworks using a variety of fun and inspiring materials. A workshop space will host bookable creative sessions for kids aged 2 – 16 years including slime making, art by Dot Kids and bag design by Billy Goats and Raincoats. Plus there will be face painting by Faye’s Painting, an Easter egg hunt, all-day craft and puzzle stations on the market floor. The whole crew can feast on London’s best street food in The Kitchens and enjoy the Market’s surrounding shops and restaurants. A list of traders and details on how to book workshops can be found at www.oldspitalfieldsmarket.com/events/fam-east. Spring Adventures
Pond Dipping Adventures at Rainham Marshes Across the UK, RSPB reserves are showcasing egg-straordinary wildlife this Easter. Go along to RSPB Rainham Marshes and discover beautiful birds and magnificent minibeasts. While you’re there, you can take part in some egg-citing family activities. Pick up an adventure trail sheet at the visitor centre, go wild in the playground or hire a bike to explore. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday through the holidays, there are pond dipping adventures to discover the hidden creatures beneath the surface of the water between 10.30am to 12noon or 1.30 to 3pm. You don’t need to bring any equipment as the site has everything you need. Pond dipping is really popular and there are limited spaces, so guarantee your place by booking. If you turn up on the day, they should be able to squeeze you in, but you may need to wait for a few minutes to start. They suggest arriving half an hour early to give you time to collect your tickets and get to the special pond dipping area - you can take part in the self-guided trail on the way. Outdoor boots or wellies are needed. Tickets cost £2 per child (£1.50 for RSPB members). Visit www.rspb.org.uk/PTRai for more information or call 01708 899 851 to book. Photo credit: Rosemary Despres (rspb-images.com)
An Easter Eggs-pedition at the Bank of England Museum Join a fantastic eggs-pedition to find some decorated eggs at the Bank of England Museum this Easter break. Find a letter on each egg then unscramble them for a hidden message. There are also some animal masks and finger puppets for some Easter crafts. Choose between rabbit, sheep or chick to colour in. You can also pick up a real 13kg gold bar and try cracking a safe for a small prize. Families can try their hand at taking control of the economy through an interactive game and children can also complete activity sheets for a small prize. These events are free and run from 6 to 17 April but places are limited, so you are advised to get to the Museum in good time to avoid disappointment. Please note that the museum is closed from 10 to 13 April for Easter. For more information, please visit www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum.
Wild families at Easter with RSPB Rainham Marshes!
Saturday 4 to Sunday 19 April Drop-in this Easter to take part in some fabulous family activities! You can pick-up an adventure trail sheet at our visitor centre, go wild in the playground or hire a bike to explore. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday through the holidays, join us for pond dipping adventures to delve into our wildlife ponds and discover the hidden creatures beneath.
Kiddiewinks Soft Play at Romford Shopping Hall Romford Shopping Hall have opened their very own exciting Kiddiewinks soft play area for children 8-years-old and under. Roary the Lion, Romford Shopping Hall’s mascot, has been welcoming youngsters to his play frame, Kiddiewinks Soft Play Romford. Children, along with their families, can enjoy a host of fun with action-packed play equipment.
The play area has two sections and includes a soft play area for under 4s, perfect for the confident crawler to discover the mini slide building bricks, trampette and interactive sensory zone. The larger area caters for older guests from ages 4 to 8 and includes giant balls, a high height tunnel to crawl through, a monster slide and tonnes of rope bridges, stepping-stones and mirrors. Michelle Fitzgibbons, Sales and Marketing Manager at the centre, told Primary Times, “This will be an excellent addition to Romford Shopping Hall. It’s not only cheaper than other soft play areas, but it provides families with small children with a really enjoyable yet stimulating experience in a safe environment. Parents are free too, which is always a bonus. With the Easter holidays just around the corner I’m sure it’ll be very popular. I recommend pre-booking tickets online.” To book tickets for the Easter half term, visit www.kiddiewinkssoftplay.com.
An Easter eggs-pedition
6–17 April Closed 10 and 13 April for Easter 10am–4.30pm
Free entry
www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum Join us this Easter for an egg hunt around the museum. You can also decorate animal masks and finger puppets to take home. There’s a chocolate for every child. 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Closed weekends and bank holidays. Entrance in Bartholomew Lane, London EC2R 8AH Share your experience boemuseum T: 020 3461 5545
SATURDAY 28th MARCH 10 AM - 4 PM £3.00 EASTER BONNET DECORATING WORKSHOP EASTER ACTIVITIES AT ROMFORD SHOPPING HALL 43 MARKET PLACE, ROMFORD, RM1 3AB www.romfordshoppinghall.com
FACEBOOK: ROMFORDSHOPPINGHALL TWITTER: @ROMSHOPPINGHALL INSTAGRAM: ROMFORDSHOPPINGHALL MONDAY 6TH APRIL 10 AM-4PM EASTER EGG HUNT £3.00 PER CHILD FOLLOW US ON
Family Friendly Urban Village Fete Urban Village Fete on Greenwich Peninsula is a free, one-day music and arts festival that features a range of unique pop-ups, walkabout entertainment and curated marketplaces. Go along to enjoy a village summer fete atmosphere in the city and eat from London’s best street food vendors, learn a new creative craft with workshops for all ages and dance in the park with live music and DJs. Round up the troops for another get-together on Greenwich Peninsula to kick off your summer. Urban Village Fete unites creatives from across the city to learn new skills, discover design-led products and dance the day away in Central Park, Greenwich Peninsula’s largest green space. Curated by Hemingway Design for Greenwich Peninsula, Urban Village Fete will feature a DJ set by Gilles Peterson and talks by BBC Radio London’s Robert Elms, attracting 35,000+ attendees this spring. Immerse yourselves in the sounds of live DJs, family-friendly workshops and activities, walkabout entertainment, gourmet street food and designer fashion and gifts. It’s the ultimate city festival for all the family. Stay tuned for the full line-up. Join in the fun on Sunday 17 May on Greenwich Peninsula. Take the bus or tube to North Greenwich. Find out more at www.hemingwaydesign.co.uk or www.greenwichpeninsula.co.uk.
• SCHOOL, EASTER & MAY BANK HOLIDAY’S • www.parnhamfunfairs.co.uk
KIDZ WORLD FAMILY WRISTBAND FAIR KIDZ WORLD FAMILY WRISTBAND FAIR 20202020
An Easter Egg Hunt by Tube and Steam Train The Epping Ongar Railway has a special Easter Egg Hunt from 10 to 13 April. It stretches over 5 miles from Ongar to Coopersale with 10 eggs hidden in various places. Find them all and collect an Easter Egg prize from the shop. In addition to the hunt there will be other activities for the children including colouring sheets, a magician, face painting and, of course, the Easter Bunny. In addition, the Epping Ongar Railway is the only steam railway with a direct connection to the tube at Epping. A typical journey time from Stratford is 26 minutes and, as Epping is in Zone 6, for many the off-peak fare is just £1.50. From Epping, a traditional London Bus will pick you up from outside the station. This brilliant combination of egg hunt, fun onboard and the magic of travelling by a steam train and heritage bus must make this one of the places to take the family this Easter. You can also go and see Peppa Pig and her little brother George. Take a ride on the steam and diesel trains and see the cheeky little piggies at intervals on 25 May. Tickets cost £16 for adults, £10 for children and a family ticket costs £43. Epping Ongar Railway Family Railcards are valid. For more information, visit www.eorailway.co.uk.
Easter Egg Hunt Easter Bunny Visit Activity Train Face Painters
10,11,12,13 April
VALENTINES PARK MELBOURNE RD ENTRANCE • ILFORD • IG1 4SD
Sat 28 th MAR to Sun 10 th MAY OPEN EVERY WEEKEND & EVERY DAY OF SCHOOL BANK HOLIDAYS 1pm - 8pm
facebook.com/johnnys children’s fairs
BIGGER & BETTER VALUE! *PAY ONLY £9.99 PER PERSON PER SESSION & GET UNLIMITED FREE RIDES! *ENTRY BY WRISTBAND ONLY: £2 Non-Riding Wristband. OAP’S & Under 1m FREE ENTRY. SESSION TIMES APPLY. * ACTIVITIES NOT INCLUDED IN WRISTBAND
DinoAd-2020.pdf 1 06/02/2020 14:36
Dinosaurs at the Railway 10 May & 19 July
Come and meet Dexter, the walking, roaring baby Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur!
Come and see
31 August
©1999 & TM Julia Donaldson/Axel Scheffler. Licensed by Magic Light Pictures Ltd.
Characters will be appearing at intervals on each date.
eorailway.co.uk 01277 365200 Take the tube to Epping Underground Station where our heritage buses pick you up from right outside. Visit our website for more details.
The Easter Bunny arrives at The Mall, Walthamstow The Easter Bunny is setting off to travel the world and he’s dropping off Easter eggs along the way at The Mall in Walthamstow. But where is he going? Collect a map and use your knowledge to discover his travel locations by deciphering the clues at each point on your map. Solving the clues will take lots of teamwork, so gather a group of Easter egg lovers and get solving. Work together as a group to come up with the solution to each clue. On reaching the end of the trail, you will receive a fantastic personalised certificate and a small gift to take home and show off to your family and friends. What a great way to celebrate Easter. The Easter Egg Trail will be running on weekdays from 6 to 17 April, from 10am to 4pm. For more information, visit www.themall.co.uk/walthamstow.
Easter at Laser Mayhem Battle Royal returns to Laser Mayhem in Abridge this Easter on 8 and 15 April. Jump off your battle bus and grab your laser tag gun for two hours of actionpacked battles on and around the awesome battle fields with real battle tanks, planes, forts and woods. Enjoy lasering your opponents in team-based games with hidden loot on the map. Sessions fill up fast so please book online as soon as you can. Keep your eyes peeled for extra sessions. The laser tag equipment is awesome. You can shoot an opponent over 100 meters away. It’s perfect for children from 7 years old, so get the kids out of the house this Easter and get them running around outdoors in the fresh air. They also have a heated party room and indoor playing field. Laser Mayhem is open all year round and is perfect for laser tag, paintballing, low impact paintball and airsoft birthday parties as well as days out. For more information or to book, visit www.laser-mayhem.co.uk or call 01708 688 517.
WHERE HAS THE EASTER BUNNY BEEN EXPLORING?
Follow our exciting trail to find out and earn your Easter World Explorer certificate!
The Mall Walthamstow Weekdays 6th - 17th April 2020 10am - 4pm
For more info check out themall.co.uk/walthamstow
April
Whittling and Cooking, Ingrebourne Valley Visitor Centre, Hornchurch Country Park, RM12 6DF 10-11am, 11am-12noon. A fun packed morning of wood whittling and cooking on an open fire. Charges apply, booking required. For more information visit www.essexwt.org.uk Street Dance Masterclass S20, Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT 1-3pm. Get active and learn from leading industry professionals. Like hip-hop or don’t know what a krump is? Get involved! Ages 6-10. Charges apply, booking required. For more information and to book visit www. queens-theatre.co.uk Wed 8 Apr Battle Royal, Laser Mayhem, Abridge, (Also 15 Apr). Jump off your battle bus and grab your laser tag gun for two hours of action-packed battles on and around the awesome battlefields with real battle tanks, planes, forts and woods. Ages 7+. For more information visit www.lasermayhem.co.uk Roman London Family Quest, Various Locations Across the City of London 11am-4pm. Discover London’s Roman Amphitheatre, the Temple of Mithras and Billingsgate Roman House and Baths. Follow the factfilled walking map, visiting the sites in any order and completing fun activities at each location. For more details and to book visit www. cityoflondon.gov.uk/artgalleryfamilies Easter Farm, Valence House Museum, Dagenham, RM8 3HT 11am-4pm. Animals from Gemma’s Farm visit the Museum for a day of fun and frolics. You can also take part in the Easter egg hunt. Free, drop-in. Also, 10-11am - an Autism-friendly, sensory-reduced session, which requires advanced booking on 020 8227 2034. For more details visit www.valencehousecollections.co.uk Georgian Easter Celebration, John Wesley’s House, EC1Y 1AU 11am-3pm. Explore the House and discover more about how the Georgians celebrated Easter. Meet residents preparing food in the kitchen or making lace in the Parlour. Complete the Easter trail for a prize, plus make seasonal crafts to take home. For more details visit www. wesleysheritage.org.uk
Family Fun Day, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, E20 2ST 11am-3pm. Round up the kids and head to the Timber Lodge Café in the north of the Park for a fun-packed day of free activities to suit all ages, including garden games, interactive storytelling and more. For more details visit www. queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk Bird House Decoupage, Ingrebourne Valley Visitor Centre, Hornchurch Country Park, RM12 6DF 10-11am, 11am-12noon, 12noon-1pm. Make a mini papier mâché bird house with hanging cord then decorate with paint, deco pens or decoupage papers. Charges apply, booking required. For more information visit www.essexwt.org.uk Storytelling with Annabelle Sami, Discover, Stratford, E15 4QZ 11.15am-12.15pm. Can you help author Annabelle Sami uncover what happened to The Missing Diamonds in her interactive Spy Games? Join this workshop of storytelling fun and games for young sleuths. Free. Ages 6+. For more information visit www. discover.org.uk Forest School Day, Ingrebourne Valley Visitor Centre, Hornchurch Country Park, RM12 6DF 9am-4pm. Do your children love to be outdoors? Make dens, climb trees, get muddy, use tools, create art and more. Sessions will be outdoors whatever the weather. Take a packed lunch. Charges apply, booking essential. For more information visit www.essexwt.org.uk Wed 8 – Thurs 9 Apr Victorian Easter, Ragged School Museum, Mile End, E3 4RR (Also 15-16 Apr). 10am-5pm. Easter was regarded as one of the main festivals during the Victorian era. Victorian practices forever changed the way we celebrate Easter and still remain popular to this day. Free craft activities on offer. For more information visit www. raggedschoolmuseum.org.uk
Our listings are prepared a long time in advance. To make sure you have up to date details do contact the event nearer the time to make sure the information hasn’t changed. Thurs 9 Apr Easter Cupcake Decorating, Valence House Museum, Dagenham, RM8 3HT 11am-12noon, 1-2pm, 2-3pm. Decorate some delicious spacethemed cupcakes in this yummy workshop and make a fancy box for your cupcake creations. Charges apply, materials provided. Ages 3-12. For more information visit www. valencehousecollections.co.uk Pop-Up Community Picnic, Barley Lane Recreation Ground, Seven Kings, Ilford, IG3 8TG 2.30-4.30pm. An all age informal get together near the playground. Take along your rug or seating, snacks and friends and join in for ecofriendly games, face painting, litter picking and eco living tips. For more information visit www.redbridge.gov. uk/ourstreets Create and Play – Spring Chickens, Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT 10am-12noon. Two jam-packed hours of creative fun involving drama games, storytelling and craft activities. The session is themed around a children’s story and includes a ‘make to take home’. Charges apply, booking required. Ages 4-6. For more information visit www.queenstheatre.co.uk Chocolate Egg Decorating, Ingrebourne Valley Visitor Centre, Hornchurch Country Park, RM12 6DF 10-11am, 11am-12noon, 1.30-2.30pm, 2.30-3.30pm. Go along and decorate your own chocolate Easter egg to take home – the only limit is your imagination. Charges apply, booking essential. For more information visit www.essexwt.org.uk From Fri 10 Apr Mini Golf, Columbus Courtyard, Canary Wharf, E14 5AB Mon-Fri 12noon-7pm, Sat-Sun 12noon-6pm. Get your friends and family together for a fun competition. Free, with balls, clubs and scorecards provided. For more information visit www.canarywharf.com Fri 10 Apr The Passion of Jesus, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN 12noon and 3.15pm. See the biblical story spectacularly brought to life at the annual performance ofThe Passion of Jesus in Trafalgar Square on Good Friday. Free. For more information visit www.wintershall. org.uk ” “ I saw your event in Primary Times.... Please mention you saw the event listed in Primary Times
Storytelling with Joseph Coelho and Fiona Lumbers, Discover, Stratford, E15 4QZ 11.15am-12noon. See what you’ll find when Luna visits the library and discover the magic of the hairdo that gets away. Filled with poetry, live drawing and lots of surprises. Free, Ages 4+. For more information visit www.discover.org.uk Fri 10 – Mon 13 Apr Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt, Rainham Hall, Havering, RM13 9YN 11am-4pm. Inspired by Anthony Denney’s food photography, hunt high and low for clues around the garden discovering the fruits you would use in an Elizabeth David recipe. Tickets sold on the day on a first come, first served basis. For more information visit www. nationaltrust.org.uk/rainham-hall Easter Egg Hunt, Epping Ongar Railway, Essex, CM5 9BN Bertie Bunny will be leading what is probably the longest Easter egg hunt in Essex. Running the length of the railway track, the distance covered is equivalent to 131,579 eggs placed end to end! Use the steam and diesel trains to find them all. For more details visit www.eorailway. co.uk Sat 11 Apr The Great Shoreditch Easter Egg Hunt, Shoreditch Town Hall, EC1V 9LT Hop along and join in the hunt for hidden eggs, nestled in the nooks and crannies throughout the beautiful Victorian building. There’ll also be a basket-load of surprises, activities and performances. For more information visit www. shoreditchtownhall.com Second Saturday Family Activities, Guildhall Art Gallery, EC2V 5AE (Also 9 May). 11am-4pm. Decorate eggs inspired by the ornate designs in The Enchanted Interior exhibition, and hunt for eggs amongst the artworks. Visit the story corner and dip into the book collection to discover the world of art, the Victorians, the Romans and London. For more details visit www. cityoflondon.gov.uk/artgalleryfamilies Sat 11 – Sun 12 Apr Easter Eggstravaganza, Ingrebourne Valley Visitor Centre, Hornchurch Country Park, RM12 6DF 11am-3pm. Take part in a range of activities including Easter trail, coconut shy, tin can alley, egg archery, face painting, badge making and welly wanging. Collect your free Easter Egg from the Visitor Centre. Charges apply, booking required. For more information visit www. essexwt.org.uk
