Egg Hunts

The hunt is on for some scrumptious chocolate treats. This is the one time of year you'll see kiddies, parents and grandparents running around trying to find those elusive Easter eggs. London has some wonderful outdoor locations and stately homes that have laid down some specially-designed hunts and trails. It's all about becoming a chocolate detective and picking up the sweet scent, so take up the challenge and enjoy a delightful family day out.

Easter Egg Trails at Sutton House

Sutton House, London, E9 6JQ
8th - 24th April 2011

Take the whole family to follow the Easter Egg Trails at Sutton House this Easter, the National Trust-owned property in Hackney and East London's oldest private house. Not only do the kids get to run around the 16th-century building and grounds but, best of all, at the end of the "C is for Chocolate" Easter egg trail they get a delicious Cadbury's chocolate Easter egg. Built in 1535 for Sir Ralph Sadleir, Principal Secretary of State for Henry VIII, the historic house has been the subject of many alterations. Inside the original oak panelling, painted staircase, carved fireplaces and Jacobean paintings are a feast for the eyes, not to mention the mural left by squatters during the 1980s. On Easter Sunday and Monday there are professional face painters on hand so your kids can have a choice - pretty face paints or chocolate around their mouths.

Easter Egg Trails at Sutton House - Information

Easter Egg Hunt at Ham House

Ham House & Garden, London, TW10 7RS
22nd - 25th April 2011

Ham House is a stunning backdrop for Easter fun and games on the banks of the Thames, but with chocolate on the brain it'll be scrumptious rather than sumptuous that your tots will be interested in. Still, while the kids scamper about hunting down eggs in the maze-like wilderness, the Cherry Garden with its famous lavender parterres is a lovely feature of these charming formal gardens for parents to enjoy. This is a top family day out - it feels like you're a million miles out of the big city and you'll be able to while away hours, even after the chocolate has been found, wandering through the trees, playing hide 'n' seek and generally enjoying the gardens, especially if it's a clear spring day. If the weather doesn't hold up you can always venture inside the house - you may need to bribe the little ones with even more chocolate for this but the fine, elegant interiors of this 17th-century Stuart mansion are worth it. Rumour has it that this is one of the most haunted houses in Britain - so guard your eggs closely before they're spirited away.

Easter Egg Hunt at Ham House - Information

Easter Trail at Kenwood House

Kenwood House, London, NW3 7JR
22nd - 25th April 2011

The sprawling lawns and dappled woods of Kenwood House's magnificent grounds are like a secret garden just waiting to be discovered this Easter, and what better way for children to explore this idyllic landscape than on a hunt for chocolate? There's a labyrinth of tiny footpaths to scamper around winding across the estate through blossoming rhododendron bushes and small forests of flowering trees. Children can pick up a trail sheet and use it to find large wooden eggs which are scattered all around the grounds on the edge of Hampstead Heath. Once your intrepid little chocoholics have followed the clues round the lake and beyond and completed the trail they can return the sheet and collect their yummy chocolate prize. Once all the eggs have been guzzled, the whole family can enjoy wandering through this quintessential English garden. Start off in the shadow of Kenwood House's striking white facade and take in the panoramic views over London before delving into the meandering woodland paths - this is a lovely rural outing over the long weekend.

Easter Trail at Kenwood House - Information

Easter Egg Hunt at Battersea Park Zoo

Battersea Park Children's Zoo, London, SW11 4NJ
9th - 24th April 2011

Which animals are hiding the most Easter Eggs? Join the Easter Egg Hunt at Battersea Park Children's Zoo and find out whether it's the mischievous monkeys who are stashing away all the eggs. Or could it be the ring-tailed lemur? The pot-bellied pig looks suspiciously like he's scoffed all the chocolates judging from his big rounded belly. From giant rabbits to miniature Shetland ponies, your mission is to discover where the chocolate eggs are hidden by searching among the zoo's unique range of exotic animals. The £1.50 entrance fee for the Easter Egg Hunt buys you a quiz sheet, all you need to do is solve the clues to claim your prize.

Venue: Battersea Park Children's Zoo
Address: Albert Bridge Road, London, SW11 4NJ
Phone: 020 7924 5826
Date: 9th - 24th April 2011
Time: 10am-5.30pm
Pricing: £1.50 (Easter Egg Hunt) | £7.50 (Adults), £6.50 (Children 2-15), £25 (Family 2+2)

Easter Egg Hunt at Battersea Park Zoo - Information

Easter egg-stravaganza! at London Wetland Centre

WWT London Wetland Centre, London, SW13 9WT
9th - 25th April 2011

The Easter holidays are the ideal time to take the family to see the newly hatched ducklings at London Wetland Centre taking their first dip. After all, spring is the time when Mother Nature wakes up, dusts off the hangover of winter and new life starts to grow. Kids can also look for frogs, toads, newts and tadpoles all starting to develop. These are just some of the Easter activities available at the Wetland Centre in Barnes from 9th to 25th April. The wildlife centre is a great place for kids to get a close-up view of nature's re-birth in action, and a rare chance for Londoners to feel like they're in the countryside. In addition to the daily Duckling Demonstration, kids can dress up and take part in Duck Decoy, do some pond dipping, and join in the Easter egg hunt. At various times during the Easter period, there are also puppeteers telling the story of Chickie Lickie and the Little Red Hen as well as the chance to compete in the 'Nest Factor' and help the eggs hatch.

Easter egg-stravaganza! at London Wetland Centre - Information

Easy Peasy Skate Easter Egg Hunt

Battersea Park, London, SW11 4NJ
23rd April 2011

This sweet-themed skating event for young families takes place each year on Easter Saturday in Battersea Park. This special Easter version of Easy Peasy Skate involves finding treasures which are hidden around the park, ready to be picked up by eager, Easter egg-hungry children - the difference is it's all done on wheels. The course, which runs around the edge of the park, is designed to be simple and safe, with "no roads, no cars and no hills" so this is the perfect skating activity for young children. Meet at the Peace Pagoda in the park at 10am and join in the fun - it's free. NOTE: Children must be accompanied by an adult (and adults by children).

Easy Peasy Skate Easter Egg Hunt - Information

Easter Egg Hunt at Kew

Kew Gardens (Royal Botanic Gardens), London, TW9 3AB
24th April 2011

If the explosion of spring flowers isn't enough to tempt you to Kew Gardens, then free chocolate should do the trick. And not just your average chocolate either, you get Green & Blacks at Kew's free Easter Egg Hunt. Kids can meet the Easter bunny who's helped by characters from Kew's Climbers and Creepers for what promises to be a wonderful family day out. Mr Bunny is also the one who has a stash of choccy so children following the Easter egg hunt around the gardens will have an extra incentive for tracking him down. While you're in hot pursuit of those Easter eggs, keep an eye out for three costumed characters at different points around the garden. All you have to do to get a free chocolate treat is collect a token from each character then collect your prize from the Easter Bunny outside Museum No. 1. There's no limit on places but it's best to arrive fairly early as it's first come, first served - and once the chocolate runs out (usually about 12.30pm or 1pm) that's it!

Easter Egg Hunt at Kew - Information

Easter Family Fun Trail at Eltham Palace

Eltham Palace, London, SE9 5QE
24th & 25th April 2011

Explore the grounds of the boyhood home of Henry VIII, Eltham Palace, while on the hunt for some hidden Easter eggs. Unearth all the eggs trail laid out across the grounds and you'll receive a chocolate treat. This is a great way to get all the family to explore the beautiful landmark building used as a royal residence from the 14th to the 16th century. The original palace dates back to 1305 when it was given to Edward II by the Bishop of Durham, Anthony Bek. After a period of restoration in the 1930s which gave the Great Hall some Art Deco touches, the property came under the management of English Heritage.

Easter Family Fun Trail at Eltham Palace

Easter Egg Trail

Fenton House, London, NW3 6RT
22nd & 25th April 2011

This Easter children can scamper around the garden at Hampstead's Fenton House to find the clues that will lead them to a Cadbury's chocolate egg prize. Just one of the 220 egg hunts taking place at National Trust properties this Easter, the Fenton House Easter Egg Trail is enough to entertain the most excitable kids over the Easter weekend, with activities taking place throughout. Chocolate seeking kids can also get their faces painted while parents can look around the lovely 17th century Fenton House and its outstanding collection of porcelain.

Easter Egg Trail - Information

Easter At Osterley

Osterley Park and House, London, TW7 4RB
24th & 25th April 2011

The National Trust is adept at hiding Easter eggs at wonderful locations all over Britain and Osterley Park and House is no exception. This impressive redbrick mansion, originally Tudor but transformed into neo-classical style by Robert Adam, stands in beautiful 18th century grounds, where children are invited to scour high and low, leaving no stone unturned, in an effort to follow the trail leading to the chocolate-y treats. Just like the eggs, Osterley itself is well-hidden - you wonder if it really is there at all and then stumble upon it in the middle of a residential area, making its presence even more magical. The ornamental lakes and blossoming flowers in springtime are really worth the trip westwards and little ones will have a ball in the acres of open space - after all that sugary chocolate, they may need to run off some excess energy too! Be sure to get there early as there's no booking and prizes are only available while stocks last. The trail starts on the Front Lawn if the weather is fine or at the Brewhouse in the Stableyard if wet.

Easter at Osterley - Information