South Bank’s world-famous tourist attractions, wide-open car-free spaces and child-friendly restaurants all come together to make this one of London’s most popular destinations for a family day out.
From magical stage shows to free events, hands-on museum visits and child-friendly immersive experiences, this Easter there are plenty of fun activities to join in for all the family.
WHEN: Wed 1 Apr–Sun 5 Apr at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre
Join Kevin, the King of the staying-still-kings, for an outback adventure based on the bestselling picture book about taking a chance. Combining puppetry and songs, this is an empowering, chuckle-out-loud story about embracing change, whether we like it or not. Suitable for kids aged 3+.
WHEN: Tue 7 Apr–Sun 12 Apr at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre
Come along on a heartfelt and often hilarious adventure as a group of friends set out on a quest to reunite their new classmate with his family. Told from a child’s perspective, balancing heart and humour, the 2026 Olivier Award nominee for ‘Best Family Show’, highlights the power of good friends and courage in a world that doesn’t always make sense and reminds us that everyone needs a place to call home. Suitable for kids aged 7.+
WHEN: 28 Mar to 12 April
This brilliant interactive experience (an official collaboration with Lionsgate films) at County Hall is an exciting immersive adventure through some of the most memorable locations from the Paddington stories. After boarding the train at Paddington Station, you'll be whisked away to Windsor Gardens, where there are themed rooms to explore, characters to meet and adventures to embark on - including an Easter egg hunt especially for the Easter holidays! Open daily.
Disappear into the world of Far Far Away as you encounter an array of characters from the iconic Shrek film franchise at this beloved walk-through immersive experience for families. Amaze the little ones with captivating storytelling, dramatic special effects, extraordinary DreamWorks animations and an amazing 3D ride, plus of course photo opportunities with everyone’s favourite ogre. Open daily.
Hop over to the dark side at the London Dungeon this Easter, where the hunt for thrills takes on a sinister spin. Take the plunge on the Drop Dead: Drop Ride and come face-to-face with spine-chilling historic characters including Jack the Ripper, Sweeney Todd and Mrs Lovett herself… who may just have a few hot cross buns of her own to share. Open daily.
Break out of prison and avoid the hangman's noose in this exciting Guy Fawkes-themed escape room. Locked in, you and your crew have just 60 minutes to escape the cell by solving fiendish clues and puzzles, including some tricky physical elements. Taking things up another level, this is the UK’s only escape room that also has a ride! The experience is recommended for players aged 12+.
WHEN: Open Tue–Sun until 12 April at Southbank Centre
Part installation, part adventure playground, REPLAY is a space built entirely out of waste materials, repurposed for fun by The Herd Theatre. It features a design that reignites imaginations, a score composed from recycled sounds and a crowdsourced play generator. Children and their grown-ups are invited to play side-by-side in this space full of things you can move, change, combine, wear and reimagine. REPLAY is suitable for ages 6 months–11 years. Booking is essential!
London’s original board games bar Draughts, located inside the famous Leake Street graffiti tunnel, is the ideal spot to wile away a rainy afternoon in South Bank. There are more than 1,000 different board games to choose from, covering every possible interest, meaning even the fussiest kids will never be bored! Admission for families is allowed until 9pm (kids under 18 must be accompanied by an adult). Open daily.
London’s favourite karaoke bar brand Lucky Voice has a branch at The Sidings next to Waterloo Station. If you have teens and tweens who are big pop music fans, then booking a karaoke room for the family can be a super fun way to pass an afternoon. During the afternoon Sunday to Friday you can book out the venue for a two-hour kid's party package with soft drinks and snacks, or you can upgrade to add in pizzas for the kids too. The Lucky Voice Kids party is generally recommended for kids aged 11+.
The Garden Museum presents a selection of free workshops aimed at families with neurodiverse needs, including a tea caddy making workshop (Tue 31 Mar at 11am) and a gelli plate painting workshop (Thu 2 Apr at 11am). There are also a series of kids cookery classes (costs £5 per child) on Thu 2 and 9 April. There are two different Spice Explorer classes, one aimed at kids aged 5-8 and another for those aged 9-13 years old. Advanced booking is required. Find out more here.
If the kids need to let off some steam you can find one of the best playgrounds in central London inside the pretty Jubilee Gardens directly behind the London Eye. There's plenty for kids to clamber under and over, and sensory sound, vision and touch experiences that are designed to delight children of differing abilities. There's also lots of space to sit and enjoy a packed lunch on the grass.
WHEN: Tue 7 Apr–Sat 11 Apr from 11am–3pm at Clore Ballroom, Royal Festival Hall
Cut, stitch and help create a giant collective artwork at drop-in quilting workshops with textile artist Natasha Shah. You don’t need any experience to get involved. Simply drop in whenever you like and learn a new skill under the friendly guidance of Shah. Note the session on Sat 11 Apr takes place at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer. Suitable for kids aged 7.+
WHEN: Wed 1 Apr–Sun 5 Apr at Southbank Centre
Follow a guided, interactive journey around the Southbank Centre, inviting you to take in the unusual architecture and hidden details of the site, in a trail that celebrates Southbank Centre's 75th birthday. Explore together as a family – the trail is designed to be followed by children, with a little help from their grown-ups! Trail maps are available on site, at the start point. Suitable for kids aged 5+.
You don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy a great day out sightseeing in South Bank.
