Easter holiday things to do in Thanet, East Kent and London

The Easter holidays are upon us and suddenly there are two weeks to fill with entertainment for the kids. Two weeks and a day, thanks to some poor bank holiday scheduling. Luckily, with the warmer weather arriving and things opening up for the summer season, this is one of the best school breaks to get out and do stuff.

Thanet is brimming over with things to do on its own, but if you want a change of scene we’ve found plenty to occupy the family across East Kent and up in London. We’ve also tried to make sure that as many budgets, interests and energy levels are catered for too. 

Just look at all this stuff. Honestly, these holidays are going to fly by. 

Margate

Dreamland (Daily)
The big news on Margate seafront is the reopening of Dreamland on Saturday, April 5. Ramping up for a busy summer, the park has various new attractions, including a log flume and a free roam VR experience. 
Marine Terrace, Margate, CT9 1XJ. 10.30am - 6pm from April 5. All ages. Free entry, various prices for attractions. 

Out Of This World! at Margate Caves (Daily)
Margate Caves is going big on space this Easter, with intergalactic activities around the venue in honour of astronomer Margaret Bryan, who once lived on the site of the Caves. 
1 Northdown Road, Margate, CT9 1FG, 10am - 5pm, April 5-21. All ages. Free with admission. 

Chalk Stream at Turner Contemporary (Daily)
Children can add their own artwork to the chalkboard stream running through the Turner’s Clore Learning Studio.
Rendezvous, Margate, CT9 1HG. 10am - 5pm until June 5. All ages. Free. 

Windmill Community Gardens (Daily, except Tuesdays)
Windmill Community Gardens is laying on various events throughout the holidays to get the kids out in nature, including the Pollinator Fair on April 10. 
Corner of Dane Valley Road and College Road, Margate, CT9 3RX. Various times and dates. All ages. Prices vary. 

Great Eggcase and Scavenger Hunt at Walpole Bay (April 8)
Hunt for shark and ray eggcases with this activity run by Thanet Coast Project - one of several along the Thanet coastline over the holidays. 
Walpole Bay. 2pm - 3.30pm, April 8. Ages 4-11. Suggested donation £2.50. 

Make your own cowrie bracelet at the Shell Grotto (April 8-9 and 15-16)
Artist Dawn Cole will guide children through making their own cowrie shell bracelet to prove their dedication to seaside fashion.
33 Grotto Hill, Cliftonville, Margate, CT9 2BU. 10am - 12pm, April 8, 9, 15 & 16. All ages. Free with admission. 

The Farmer and the Clown at ARK
A farmer lives alone, but his world is turned upside down when a baby clown falls off a passing circus train and takes up residence in his house. A delightful sounding piece of family-friendly theatre. 
Albion Road, Cliftonville, Margate, CT9 2HP. 12.30pm - 1.30pm, April 13. All ages. Tickets £5. 

Easter bonnet competition at Oval Bandstand (April 19)
Children go head to head to win prizes with their Easter bonnets at Oval Bandstand. There will also be free Easter eggs given to children who pre-register. 
Eastern Esplanade, Cliftonville, Margate, CT9 2HL, 1.30pm - 2.30pm, April 19. Ages 3-8. Free entry (pre-registration required for Easter egg giveaway).

Broadstairs

Who stole the Easter Bunny’s eggs? at the Old Curiosity Shop (Daily)
Someone has stolen all of the Easter Bunny’s eggs and your help is needed to find them. Start at the Old Curiosity Shop and follow the trail around the town. There’s a prize if you find the thief. 
9 Harbour Street, Broadstairs, CT10 1ET. 10am - 3pm until April 21. All ages. £3 entry. 

Great Eggcase and Scavenger Hunt at Botany Bay (April 9)
Hunt for shark and ray eggcases with this activity run by Thanet Coast Project - one of several along the Thanet coastline over the holidays. 
Botany Bay. 2pm - 3.30pm, April 9. Ages 4-11. Suggested donation £2.50. 

Tide & Seek’s Easter Beach Club at Stone Bay (April 9 and 16)
Tide & Seek’s Easter Beach Club takes place on both Wednesdays of the Easter holidays at Stone Bay. There will be sandy fun along with drawing sessions, storytelling, and exploring the shoreline. 
Stone Bay beach, Broadstairs. 1pm - 3.30pm, April 9 and 9.30am - 12pm, April 16. Ages 4-11. £20 per child. Email to book. 

Storytime and craft with Rachel Tilda Wolf at Kinder Collective (April 16)
Local author and illustrator Rachel Tilda Wolf marks the release of her book Wolf in the City. She’ll read and lead kids in making wolf-related crafts. 
8 Nelson Place, Broadstairs, CT10 1HQ. 10am - 11am, April 16. Ages 3-8. Free but book. 

Broadstairs Easter Food Festival (April 18-20)
Broadstairs Food Festival brings its Easter edition to the clifftops over the Easter weekend. As well as lots of food to eat, there will be several workshops for kids, including printmaking, food growing and Easter crown making. 
Various venues. Various times, April 18-20. All ages. Free. 

Easter Crafternoon at Pierremont Hall (April 19)
There will be Easter basket decorating for younger children in the morning, followed by cupcake decorating for kids aged 13-17 in the afternoon. 
Pierremont Park, Broadstairs, CT10 1JX. 11am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm, April 19. Free (morning) and £5 (afternoon). Booking details. 

Happy Reading Bookshop (April 9-19)
As ever, the Happy Reading Bookshop is laying on a wide range of events throughout the holidays, including three celebrating the late Benjamin Zephaniah on April 12. 
Upstairs at Staple, 30a Reading Street, Broadstairs, CT10 3AZ. Various times and dates. Various ages. Various prices. 

Ramsgate

Monkton Nature Reserve (April 8-18)
Monkton Nature Reserve is laying on lots of events for kids over the holidays, exploring nature, science, food and more. 
Canterbury Road West, Ramsgate, CT12 4LH. Various times, April 8-18. Various ages. Various prices.

Great Eggcase and Scavenger Hunt at Ramsgate Main Sands (April 9)
Hunt for shark and ray eggcases with this activity run by Thanet Coast Project - one of several along the Thanet coastline over the holidays. 
Ramsgate Main Sands. 2pm - 3.30pm, April 9. Ages 4-11. Suggested donation £2.50. 

Open Cockpit Weekend at RAF Manston History Museum (April 12-13)
For one weekend only, you can take a seat in the various aircraft at RAF Manston History Museum. So long as you promise not to fly anywhere. 
821 Manston Road, Ramsgate, CT12 5DF. 10am - 4pm, April 12-13. All ages. Free with admission. 

Jurassic Party Bounce at Ramsgate Leisure Centre (April 16)
Combining the key interests of many a child - namely dinosaurs and jumping - this will keep them entertained with both in abundance. 
High Street, Ramsgate, CT11 9TT. 11am - 2.30pm, April 16. All ages. Prices from £2. 

East Kent

Easter Hunt at Felderland Farm, Worth (Daily)
It’s too early to pick your own fruit at Felderlamd Farm yet, but you will be able to hunt for Easter eggs and treasure, as well as taking part in various other activities. 
Deal Road, Worth, CT14 0BJ. 10am - 4pm, April 5-21 (except 20). All ages. Free entry, £5 per hunt.

Easter Trail at Betteshanger Country Park, Deal (Daily)
Hunt for Easter eggs in the woods and meet the Easter Bunny on this fun adventure trail. 
Sandwich Road, Deal, CT14 0BF. 10am - 4pm, April 5-21. All ages. £10 children, £4 adults. 

The Tiger Who Came To Tea at The Beaney, Canterbury (Daily)
Immerse yourself in this interactive exhibition based on Judith Kerr’s classic children’s book. 
18 High Street, Canterbury, CT1 2RA. 10am - 5pm, April 5 - June 5. All ages. Free entry. 

Horrible Histories Easter Escapades: The Knight’s Quest at Leeds Castle, Maidstone (Daily)
Horrible Histories will be inviting children to become knights and head out on a quest at Leeds Castle from Friday and through the Easter holidays.
Maidstone, Kent, ME17 1PL. 10am - 5pm, April 5-21. All ages. Free with admission. 

The Detective Dog at Gulbenkian Arts Centre, Canterbury (April 8-9)
Julia Donaldson’s wonderful book comes to the stage for three performances at Canterbury’s Gulbenkian Arts Centre. 
University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NB. Various times, April 8-9. Ages 3+. Tickets £8. 

Hanami Festival at Brogdale Collections, Faversham (April 12-13)
Go and enjoy a picnic under the cherry blossom at its peak, take part in the various activities on offer, and then have a wander around the living archive of fruit trees. 
Brogdale Farm, Faversham, ME13 8XZ. 10am - 4pm, April 12-13. All ages. Tickets £15 (under 16s free).

Science Museum Live at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury (April 21)
An hour of live science demonstrations, which will include setting stuff on fire. It sells itself, really. 
The Friars, Canterbury, CT1 2AS. 12.30pm and 3.30pm, April 21. Ages 6+. Tickets £20. 

London

The Robot Zoo at the Horniman Museum (Daily)
Robotic animals and interactive exhibits will teach you how everything from grasshoppers to chameleons get their amazing real life powers. 
100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ. 10am - 5.30pm, until November 2. All ages. £9.75 adults, £6.50 children. 

The World of Tim Burton at the Design Museum (Daily)
The Design Museum has extended its Tim Burton exhibition to the end of May, giving you one last chance to explore the world of the director. 
224 – 238 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6AG. 10am - 5pm until May 26. All ages. Various prices. 

Discover Story Centre (Daily)
The brilliant Discover Story Centre has various events laid on over Eater, including its ongoing Monster Funfair exhibition and a chance to hear Kes Gray read his new book Oi Dinosaurs!
383-387 High Street, Stratford, E15 4QZ. 10am - 3pm, various days. Ages 0-8. Various prices. 

Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt at Hampton Court Palace (Daily)
Trick your kids into visiting some beautiful gardens without moaning about it the whole way there by telling them there will be load of hidden Lindt Gold Bunny statues. And that there will be chocolate after. 
East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU. 10am-5pm until April 21. All ages. Free with admission. 

Minecraft Villager Experience (Daily)
Kids forever watching Minecraft videos on YouTube? Get them out of the house by basically sending them inside the game. Or as close to doing that as possible 
Corner Corner, Canada Water, SE16 7LL. 9am - 8pm until June 29. All ages. Various prices. 

Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition at ExCel Centre (Daily)
A 90 minute journey through ancient Egypt that immerses you in the past using video mapping, virtual reality, holograms and more. 
One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London, E16 1XL. 9am - 8pm until June 29. All ages. Various prices. 

Lloyd of the Flies Wetland Bug Hunt at London Wetland Centre (Daily)
Aardman Animation brings its new series Lloyd of the Flies into the real world with this augmented reality trail around the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. 
Queen Elizabeth Walk, Barnes, London, SW13 9WT. 10am - 5.30pm, April 5 - June 1. All ages. Free with admission. 

SuperTato at Kew Gardens (Daily)
Kids are invited to join Supertato’s Super Squad, thwart the Evil Pea and save veggies in distress. There’ll be dressing up, music, adventure and more. 
Richmond, London, TW9 3AE. 10am - 7pm, April 5-21. All ages. Free with admission. 

My Neighbour Totoro at Gillian Lynne Theatre (Daily)
Having transferred to the West End last month, the stage show of this Studio Ghibli classic is a definite Easter treat. 
166 Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5PW. Various times until November 2. Ages 6+. Various prices.