From Rabbit Adventures to Giant Dinosaurs and Explosive Gunpowder Plots
Ah hello March. You're looking good. Have you done something to your hair? Finally the start of SPRING, longer days and fizzier children.
So we have dispatched our crack team of boredom-banishers to find the top 32 things to do with kids this March.
From adventures with radish-pilfering bunnies to the biggest dinosaurs ever to walk the planet, rainbow powder flights, explosive gunpowder plots, circuses, Wild West towns and the world’s tallest slides.
There's something to curb the whines of every flavour of child, with plenty of free entertainment thrown in, so buckle in and read on.
Peter Rabbit Easter Adventure
Following the success of last summer's Blenheim Palace show - read our review here - Peter Rabbit is hopping back for another adventure, this time in the heart of London’s Covent Garden Piazza. From 21 March to 16 April Beatrix Potter’s world is being brought to life through puppetry and immersive performance in a brand-new show, where children are invited to become the stars of the Peter Rabbit Easter Adventure, joining Beatrix Potter and friends to rescue Jemima Puddle-Duck from the dastardly Mr McGregor. During the 50-minute outdoor experience, children will search for secret notes, maps, and other clues and meet Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and a few surprise encounters along the way in Histrionic Productions’ latest experience. Additional activities include Mr McGregor’s Obstacle Course for thrill-seeking children who want to test their driving skills in a mini ROVER for ages four and above. Families will also have the opportunity to clamber onto Mr McGregor’s tractor and have a souvenir photograph taken with the radish-pilfering bunny himself. Peter Rabbit Easter Adventure, Chestnut Bakery, 24 Floral Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DS. 21 March - 16th April (Closed 11 April and all Mondays except Easter Monday 10 April)
House of Holi at Cinnamon Kitchen
Cinnamon Kitchen’s #HouseofHoli paint-pelting pop-up returns to Devonshire Square from the 8-12 March in celebration of the festival of colour, love and positivity, Holi.
Step inside the luminous, paint-throwing pod and immerse yourself in colourful chaos as you shower your family and friends in a 30-minute, powder-paint rainbow fight.
Known for its carnival of colours and paint fights, Holi aims to bring family and friends together to laugh, play, and celebrate love and friendship.
Adult pod play sessions are priced at £25pp inclusive of a cocktail or mocktail. Children 15 and over play for £15pp whilst children 14 and under play for just £10pp and must be accompanied by an adult.
House of Holi at Cinnamon Kitchen, 9, Devonshire Square, EC2M 4YL
Titanosaur: Life as the Biggest Dinosaur
For the first time ever, the colossal Patagotitan mayorum titanosaur - one of the largest known creatures to have ever walked our planet - will go on display at Natural History Museum. Four times heavier than Dippy the Diplodocus and 12 metres longer than Hope, the museum’s legendary blue whale, this gigantic creature is a spectacular sight. And from 31 March, you can view this gargantuan dinosaur skeleton up close at this fun, interactive family exhibition. You'll follow the life of a titanosaur, from a football-sized egg plucked from its nest to a fully grown adult, bearing the marks of an encounter with a ferocious predator that took a bite out of its tail. As you weave your way around the gallery, you'll handle specimens, stare into its gigantic sauropod skull and even smell its poo. Natural History Museum, Waterhouse Gallery, South Kensington, London. From 31 March. Under 3s are free. 4-16 are £9. Adults £16.
The Gunpowder Plot at Tower of London Vaults
Older children (12+) will be catapulted into the most exciting history lesson of their lives, in this explosive new, immersive experience, starring Harry Potter’s Tom Felton. Your mission is to go undercover and unmask the mysterious figures behind history’s most infamous plot. But when you’re surrounded by traitors, who can you trust? With surprises around every turn, descend into the vaults and experience a combination of live and digital actors, virtual reality and fancy pants technology like motion simulators and special effects, transporting you back to London 1605 in the heart of the Gunpowder plot. The Gunpowder Plot, 8-12 Tower Hill Vaults, London, EC3N 4EE
Science Fiction: Voyage to the Edge of Imagination
Science Fiction: Voyage to the Edge of Imagination invites visitors into a unique, story-led exhibition through the world of science fiction. Visitors will be guided through this ambitious exhibition aboard an alien spacecraft by an artificial intelligence of unknown origin, and will encounter authentic items from celebrated sci-fi films, television series and literature, as well as significant scientific objects that have shaped modern life.
Science Museum, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2DD. Until 4 May. £15pp
Wookey Hole
Deep within Somerset’s belly lurks Wookey Hole, a magical, subterranean attraction with world-famous caves and eight unique chambers for kids to explore. There is something for every flavour of child, from a cave-diving museum, enchanted valley, 4D cinema, adventure golf, dinosaur grove, play zones and magic and circus shows all included in the ticket price. The more adventurous can even brave the Wild Wookey Experience, climbing, crawling or abseiling through caves. Wookey Hole Caves, The Mill, High St, Wookey Hole, Wells BA5 1BB. Under 3s go free. Children (3-14) £17.65. Adults £21.45
Free Disney Playhouse Pop-Up Comes to London
Disney's free Wonder of Play pop-up opens in London on 5 and 6 March, inviting children, families and adults to play in five, magical rooms, transformed into Disney-inspired spaces.
Part of Disney’s Wonder of Play, the experience celebrates Disney’s 100-year legacy of creative storytelling – from Disney Princesses, Frozen and Pixar’s Cars to Star Wars and MARVEL.
Created in association with the Institute of Imagination, the pop-up will encourage families to play more by helping parents and guardians integrate imaginative play into everyday moments and make the most of time together. It will also support Disney’s Social Purpose commitment to create Moments that Matter, helping to bring The Wonder of Play to families everywhere.
Disney's Wonder of Play House, House of Bobbin 73 Sussex Square, London W2 2SS. 3-6pm on 5 and 8am - 6pm on 6 March. FREE
Out-of-Hours at the British Museum
Your little ones can walk in the footsteps of the ancient Greeks, Pharoahs or journey through the cultures of China at The British Museum's family-friendly, out-of-hours tours.
Taking place between 8.50 – 10am, before the galleries are open to the public, you can beat the unsavoury crowds. And from 4 - 25 March, children can explore Roman history through Minecraft, create a Japan-themed family photo (11 March) and make mosaic masks inspired by the Aztec gods on 18 March.
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG. March. Under fives go free. £16.50 for 5-15 year olds. £33 Adults.
The WOW Festival 2023
The 13th WOW Festival, celebrating women, girls and non-binary people is back this year in time for International Women’s Day. And there’s a gaggle of family-friendly events for mini feminists, including The Little Match Girl Strikes Back (12 March) a feminist reworking of the Hans Christian Anderson classic, with a bold heroine and interactive storytelling.
There is also the WOW Under 10s Feminist Corner for Girls (11 – 12 March) and WOW Under 10s Feminist Corner for Boys (12 March) - fun, interactive workshops for budding gender equality campaigners. The Wow Festival 2023, Southbank Centre, Royal Festival Hall, Address: Southbank Centre. 10-12 March.
Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
Brigit's Bakery has launched the first, official Paddington Bear afternoon tea bus tour, celebrating the capital.The double-decker has built-in screens, so that Paddington and Mrs Bird can provide an animated guide to the tour, which includes some of Paddington's favourite landmarks, like Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Hyde Park, Nelson’s Column, Downing Street, St. Paul's Cathedral, Borough Market, Green Park and Piccadilly Circus. The tour takes just under two hours, while you scoff treats including glittering shortbreads, designed to look like nibbled marmalade sandwiches, mini pizzas, smoked salmon and cucumber pretzels, turkey ham and cheddar or cream cheese and cucumber finger sandwiches and naturally, marmalade sandwiches. And for those who share the bear’s sweet tooth, the homemade sweet treats included a rice pudding studded with chocolate honeycomb, chocolate cupcakes crowned with Paddington’s chocolate paws, lemon meringue tarts, chocolate macarons and freshly baked scones with cream and jam. Brigit’s Bakery also provide vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal afternoon teas. Check out our review, HERE Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus tour Departs from Trafalgar Square, Wednesdays to Sundays. Prices from £45 adult, £35 child.
Royal Albert Hall Presents Classical for Kids
Introducing little ears to the world of classical music, Classical for Kids offers the opportunity for families to attend a chamber concert performed by the professional musicians from the Hall’s very own Albert’s Band. Each concert features carefully selected classical repertoire but presented in a relaxed environment for children to express themselves, with no expectation to stay still or be quiet. This concert is recommended for ages 4-11 but babies and budding musicians of all ages are welcome Royal Albert Hall, Elgar Room, 18 March - 8 April. £12.50
Whizz Down The ArcelorMittal Orbit
How about hurling your children down the world’s tallest slide? The 178m long ArcelorMittal Orbit was the iconic landmark of the 2012 London Olympics and is now an attraction with three adventure experiences. Families can speed down the winding slide, abseil, or walk around the glass orbit at the top. You can also pretend it's a high-brow, cultural experience, because the orbit is also a sculpture by Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond. And it beats the usual views of grubby swings and bins, because here you can check out the stunning views of Queen Elizabeth Park. To ride the slide, children must be at least eight years old and over 1.3m.
ArcelorMittal Orbit, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, 5 Thornton St, London E20 2AD. From £10.75.
Phantom Peak, Surrey Quays
For something completely different, head to the Phantom Peake's immersive, open-world adventure, where families can lose themselves in a steampunk wonderland and enjoy an adventure of their own choosing.The incredible Surrey Quays set includes a central waterway with real-life boat rides into the mountains, fully-working shops, restaurants and bars and even a waterfall. And you’ll be able to discover clues by grabbing the local newspaper, speaking to locals and even digging into their backstories to find out who’s trustworthy and who might be leading you on a merry dance. Explore the 30,000 square foot ‘town’ that harks back to Victorian times, while also boasting futuristic technology. And by interacting with the locals and taking part in immersive games, you’ll find yourself at the centre of the unfolding story. Phantom Peak, Canada St, Surrey Quays Rd, London SE16 7PJ.
Lord of the Rings Quest
Take part in the Lord of the Rings, family challenge at West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village to save Middle Earth and explore Tolkien's world Visit the Hobbit Hole and Mirkwood, where there are huge spiders awaiting you. See the enormous dragon guarding its treasure. Meet Halbarad the Ranger of the North, try your hand at archery and you might even meet a friendly Orc. Suitable for adults and children aged 3+ years, there are two parts to the Ring Quest trail, each lasting about 45 minutes. Lord of the Rings Quest West Stow Anglo Saxon Village, Icklingham Rd, West Stow, Bury Saint Edmunds IP28 6HG. Tickets £7 adults, £4 children 5-16 years. £21 for a family (two adults and up to three children).
Shrek's Adventure
Rumpelstiltskin is on the loose, and he’s causing all kinds of mischief for the characters of Far Far Away and beyond.
Luckily, Donkey is on hand to give you a ride on his flying bus and Shrek and Fiona will join up with you as soon as they get the chance. Shrek’s adventure is a wild adventure through the land of children’s favourite ogre and actors, technology and immaculately created sets will make sure your children are engrossed from start to finish. Check out our Shrek’s Adventure review to find out more. Shrek’s Adventure tickets. Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1
Monopoly Lifesized
Go big or go home… or straight to jail at Monopoly Lifesized, an immersive, on-your-feet version of the classic, family game, played on a 15m x 15m lifesized Monopoly board. Enter the 4D experience and compete in challenges for your chance to buy properties. Stage a heist in Mayfair, compete against a clock to build some of London’s iconic buildings, solve a baffling murder mystery or step into the world of codebreakers. The 80-minute experience is suitable for kids from 9 and older and is open every day except Mondays. Monopoly Lifesized, 213-215 Tottenham Court Road, W1T 7PS. Tickets £49 pp
Crystal Maze LIVE Experience
Older children (from 8 onwards) can take on this immersive adventure, which brings the hit 90s TV show to life.Run around like mentalists, yell, complete a host of difficult challenges and end the game in a fetching, satin bomber jacket.
Crystal Maze Live Experience, 22 - 32 Shaftesbury Avenue W1D 7EU
Flip Out Hounslow
If your children are of the ‘charmingly indecisive’ type, then a trip to Hounslow’s newly-opened Flip Out might be the answer to your prayers. Cramming mini-golf, arcades, laser quest, bumper cars, inflatables, a ninja assault course and soft play under a single, cavernous roof, the beauty of Flip Out is that you pay for entry to the venue and not for individual activities. We’re yet to discover whether you can drive a bumper car around the laser quest arena, performing drive-by shootings with a slushy in your hand, but there’s only one way to find out.Entry is a very reasonable £19pp (dropping to £14 for children under 1.1m tall) for three hours in the ‘Arena’ and if you’re not local to the newest venue in Hounslow, Flip Out has similar offerings all over the country. BUY TICKETS Flip Out Hounslow, Units 3, 4 & 5 High Street Quarter, 8 Smithy Ln, Hounslow TW3 1EH
Shakespeare's Globe Bankside
Banish the bored with the Bard at Shakespeare’s Globe. With interactive theatre shows, tailored to a young audience, Elizabethan dress-up, sword fighting demos and storytelling, Shakespeare will keep little ones entertained. Shakespeare's Globe: 21 New Globe Walk SE1 9DT. Dates, times and ticket prices vary.
Discover Children’s Story Centre
Stratford's immersive, sprog-storytelling Mecca is brimming with entertainment across three floors, plus a wonderfully imaginative Story Garden. Creep through caves, find fairy worlds within magical trees, explore hidden ships, perform in a puppet castle, leap over alligators and man your own spaceships and rockets across two floors, which also host art and craft stations, beautiful reading corners, storytelling sessions, immersive events and installations. Or head outside to the magical new play area to discover Baba Yaga’s hut held up by chicken legs, climb Hootah’s castle and slide out of the Stratford Sputnik. Check out our review here Discover Children's Story Centre 383-387 High St, London E15 4QZ until 19 February.
KidZania
Ambulances and fire engines hurtle through the streets and emergency workers tumble out to jet hoses at the Grand Flamingo Hotel fire or treat the wounded, while police cordon off the area and Metro journalists interview witnesses.It might not sound like your typical half-term trip, but the kids will love every second, because they are the firefighters, paramedics, press and police role-playing in KidZania, London's extraordinary, 75,000 sqft indoor city for children. Check out our review, here KidZania: Westfield London Shopping Centre Ariel Way W12 7GA. For 4-14 year olds
Snot, Sick and Scabs at the Centre of the Cell
Deliciously disgusting and sneakily educational centre in a futuristic, light-studded pod suspended above the laboratories of the Blizard Institute in Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry. Children can learn about the heart, teeth or senses, see scientists at work and enjoy their delightfully vile ‘Snot, Sick and Scabs’ session.
Centre of the Cell, 4 Newark St, London E1 2AT
Jack V Giant
Get yourselves down to southwest London’s kiddie gem, Polka Theatre and wrap your eyes and children around its £8.5 MILLION makeover, including theatre for babies, toddlers, indoor playspace, playground with treehouse, sensory room, a large café and more.And this half-term, they launch Jack V Giant, which uses charming puppetry and music to bring the classic tale of a young boy who sells a cow for magic beans and climbs a beanstalk to a golden castle in the clouds. Polka Theatre, 11 February - 26 March, 240 The Broadway, London SW19 1SB. From £10.
Thomas and Friends at Whistlestop Valley
Take unlimited train rides on Thomas, Toby and Mavis, meet Sir Topham Hatt and Sodor Station Sweepers Rusty and Dusty for singalongs and performances at Huddersfield’s Whistlestop Valley.Kids can also enjoy an Imagination Station play zone with Thomas and Friends activities, jumping pillow, bubble zone, storytelling sessions, giveaways for every child and themed activities. Thomas at Whistlestop Valley Park Mill Way, Clayton West, Huddersfield HD8 9XJ
Cutty Sark Rig Climb Experience
Originally climbed when the ship first arrived to Greenwich in 1954, visitors can now recreate this, by clambering up the famous masts of the Cutty Sark.The Rig Climb Experience invites kids and brave parents to step up from the main deck onto the ship’s ratlines and climb up its top mast, as hundreds of sailors did during the Cutty Sark’s heyday. Once at the top, climbers will experience a controlled descent from the rigging. Participants will be rewarded with some of the best views in London, overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard and Tower Bridge. Cutty Sark King William Walk, London SE10 9H
Birdies, Angel
Birdies’ crazy golf in Angel and Battersea Power Station provide an Insta-worthy, nine hole course featuring three completely new holes - Wing it, Green and Bunker 2.0 - as well as tried and tested fan favourites Hazard, Kinetic, Steps, Infinity and Roulette. Cheeky Burger will keep the kid’s happy, while the coral pink cocktail bar will please the parents. Birdies Level 1, Angel Central, 31-32 Parkfield Street, N1 0PZ
Wembley Park
Kids can take part in a host of free and paid events at Wembley Park, from stadium tours to acting classes, Wonderkids football sessions and movies.Teens and bigger children can take on the zombie apocalypse at meetspace VR or have a round on neon crazy golf course at Pop Golf. And Union Park has a kids’ splash par (bit nippy in March, though) games court and a bee hotel to keep them entertained. Wembley Park London
Holiday to Space at Royal Observatory Greenwich
Join Ted and Plant as they explore the Solar System in search of the best place to take a holiday in an intergalactic morning adventure, including a planetarium show and interactive workshop.Recommended Age: 3 - 6 yrs. Open 10am-5pm daily Royal Observatory Greenwich Park, Blackheath Avenue SE10 8XJ
Wizard Exploratorium
Soho's magic-themed Wizard Exploratorium is a five-storey, geek wonderland, offering a 4D wand-making workshop, immersive trick shop and suitably magical afternoon tea encompassing tea brewing, molecular gastronomy, and technology.
Wizard Exploratorium, 26 Greek St, London W1D 5DE
Horniman Museum
There aren’t many places for a family to enjoy a butterfly house, aquarium, 16 acres of stunning gardens, alpacas, a merman, gorillas and a giant, overstuffed walrus for less than a chippy tea. So thank chuff for Horniman Museum and Gardens.The brilliant, South-East London attraction is one of the capital’s hidden and most eclectic gems and is a huge hit with kids of all ages, as well as grown-ups. The vast gardens are completely free, dog-friendly and have a variety of trails and activities. Children can make a racket on giant instruments in the Sound Garden, explore the Bee Garden or visit alpacas, goats and sheep on the Animal Walk. The museum is also free and includes the wonderfully weird and fascinating Natural History Gallery, packed with taxidermy, skeletons and fossils including Forest Hill's most famous resident, The Horniman Walrus - generously stuffed by Victorians who had (clearly) never seen a real walrus before. Read our review here Horniman Museum 100 London Road, Forest Hill SE23 3PQ
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