FREE things to do with the kids in the Ealing area during the Easter Holidays
With the weather forecast for the start of the Easter holidays still being unseasonally cold, here are a few tips for FREE things to do in the local area. So wrap up warm and head out there!
1. Hunt for Easter Eggs
Have Eggstra fun at Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre on Saturday 30th March. Kids will be able to pick-up a leaflet and follow some simple clues and bunny paw prints to find the Easter Bunny’s missing eggs and enter a competition to win a host of Easter goodies! From 10am – 2pm local children’s entertainment company Show Reel Events, will provide some fabulously FUN children’s activities including face painting and a visit by the Easter Bunny herself! Children can enter the egg hunt competition by posting their entry form in a competition entry box situated on-site on 30th March.
If you fancy a more low-key event, head for a local park (see below) with a group of friends and distract the kids whilst you plant a few eggs for your own DIY easter egg hunt (just remember where you put them all!).
2. Visit a museum or gallery
You don’t need to head into central London to find a free museum with lots of activities for children. Gunnersbury Park Museum has lots of unusual items in their current Roll Up! Roll Up! Exhibition of highlights from the collection including medieval kitchenware from the manor of Northolt, designs for an Ealing Studio film and the Robot of Death mask from Dr Who. Open daily 11am – 4pm
Pitshanger Manor – as well as the family explorer packs for the house itself you can visit the Walk On exhibition in the Gallery or (until 13th April) The City Paintings by David Royal in the Studio. PM Gallery and house are open Tues-Fri 1-5pm and Sat 11am – 5pm
3. Head for the park
We have so many green spaces to enjoy in Ealing including playgrounds at Walpole Park, Lammas Park, Gunnersbury Park and Pitshanger Park and don’t forget the ever popular Bunny Park in Hanwell with its animal centre. Go with a group of friends and distract the kids whilst you plant a few eggs for your own DIY easter egg hunt (remember where you put them all!).
Whatever the weather there is fun to be had and the playcentres especially in Pitshanger Park offer activities and play sessions for little ones for a small charge throughout the holidays. Free drop-in play sessions are also being run at Acton Park, Southall Park, Dormers Wells, Limetrees Park and Northolt Park centres for children up to 12 years, while children up to eight years are welcome at the play centres at Lammas Park and Islip Manor.
Free mini architects and pond dipping family sessions will be on offer in Walpole Park during the break. The mini architects activity will run on Tuesday 2 April and pond dipping on Tuesday 9 April, with a morning (10am-12pm) and afternoon session (2-4pm) for each. Children aged five–11 years are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. The group will meet at the band stand next to the playground at the beginning of each session. Email hughesa@ealing.gov.uk or call 020 8825 8974 for more information or to book a place.
4. Explore your local library
If you don’t normally have time to explore the local library, it’s never too late to join. The range of children’s books on offer is amazing and it’s a great way to encourage kids to read by giving them so much to choose from at the library.
Children aged four-11 years can take part in free craft and book sessions at Southall Library, as well as free story labs sessions at Greenford Library. Contact them for details.
5. Discover a new part of the borough
Explore your inner foodie on a trail through Southall, watch the canal boats navigate through Hanwell Locks or ride a bus along the Uxbridge Road on the top deck.
If you have a hand-held sat-nav system sign up for free at www.geocaching.com and you will find a whole host of locations where “treasure” is buried. Geocaching is a great way to go for a walk with a purpose which is often needed with small children. Buried at lots of locations around the borough including tube stations, Horsenden Hill and other public spaces.
If you have to spend money to keep the kids entertained – then at least spend it locally and support our independent local retailers and businesses.
If you want to stay indoors and be creative, here’s an idea shared by Casa Roberta (who runs kids Italian cookery courses in the holiday) for cute chicks http://casaroberta.co.uk/cookery-videos/ideas-for-easter-eggs-2.
Happy Easter everyone!
