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 Kiddies, and enthusiastic parents and grandparents, running around trying to find Easter eggs will never go out of fashion. As impressive as designing your own chocolate hunt in the back garden may be, there are some wonderful outdoor locations and exciting museums that have done all the hard work for you with specially-designed hunts and trails. It's all about becoming a chocolate detective and picking up the sweet scent, so take up the challenge for a delightful family day out.
 All Day Easter Trail at The Foundling Museum 40 Brunswick Square, WC1N 1AZ Easter Saturday, 22nd March 2008 Combine an Easter trail with some fun learning at The Foundling Museum. The clues leading around the place are an eggs-cellent (sorry!) way to explore the compelling history of London's first home for abandoned children, by telling the story of the 27,000 foundlings who passed through its doors from 1739 until its closure over two centuries later. William Hogarth, one of the original governors, also gave space in the home for artists' works in the hope of attracting wealthy benefactors and there is still a remarkable collection by influential 18th-century painters like Hogarth, Reynolds and Gainsborough. This unique fusion of art and social history conjures up a genuine, tangible picture of a bygone London and kiddies are drawn into its rich past through interactive activities. Throw in the added bonus of chocolate, and yummy chocolate at that, from Chocolat Chocolat in The Brunswick, and you've got a recipe for success that will both entertain and educate your bundles of energy (well, for one day at least!) Venue: The Foundling Museum Address: 40 Brunswick Square, WC1N 1AZ Phone: 020 7841 3614 Date: Easter Saturday, 22nd March 2008 Time: 10am-6pm Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Russell Square Tube All Day Easter Trail at The Foundling Museum - Information   Easter Eggsploration!Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, SE1 6HZ Good Friday, 21st March 2008 - Easter Monday, 24th March 2008 We really can't think of a better family day out this Easter, combining a trip to this brilliant museum with a quest for chocolate. The Imperial War Museum works tirelessly to appeal to the capital's children and their 'Easter Eggsploration!' will have kiddies scurrying from one war plane to the next and then over to a tank, a favourite among children, to complete the trail. The idea is to locate the different signs and symbols at each exhibit and then decorate the blank Easter egg on the worksheet by copying them. Oh, and there's obviously chocolate at the end! If you have time, it's a great chance to take your youngsters to 'The Children's War' exhibition; an emotive look at wartime Britain through the eyes of children. It's a captivating exhibition for all ages and exactly the kind of responsible, educational and engaging exploration of war that makes the Imperial War Museum a real jewel in London's historical crown. Venue: Imperial War Museum Address: Lambeth Road, SE1 6HZ Phone: 020 7416 5320 Date: Good Friday, 21st March 2008 - Easter Monday, 24th March 2008 Time: 10am-6pm Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Lambeth North Tube Easter Eggsploration! - Information  Easter at Osterley - Egg DetectivesOsterley Park and House, Jersey Road, TW7 4RB Easter Sunday, 23rd March 2008 & Easter Monday, 24th March 2008 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. Venue: Osterley Park and House Address: Jersey Road, Isleworth, TW7 4RB Phone: 020 8232 5050 Date: Easter Sunday, 23rd March 2008 & Easter Monday, 24th March 2008 Time: Midday-4pm Pricing: Egg Detectives - £2.50 (Children) | Admission House and Garden - £7.25 (Adults), £3.60 (Children) | Admission Garden Only - £3.15 (Adults), £1.55 (Children) Nearest Station: Osterley Tube Easter at Osterley - Egg Detectives - Information  Hallelujah for Easter: Live Music and Easter Egg TrailHandel House Museum, 25 Brook Street, W1K 4HB Easter Sunday, 23rd March 2008 This is one for the whole family - the best of both worlds in the form of chocolate and culture on Easter Sunday. While children look for goodies, adults can relax to Handel's beautiful baroque music played live, including excerpts from his 'Messiah', a deeply spiritual piece following Jesus' life that has become a much-loved oratorio in churches and at concerts over the Christmas and Easter periods. But there's no need to worry about the kids getting fidgety during the classical music as Handel House's Easter Egg Trail is designed to keep them happy. The whole event is very informal - no seats and no need to book - giving it a wonderfully 'drop in' impromptu feel - made all the more special by the musicians playing in Handel's own music room. And, apparently, the egg hunt is suitable for all ages, meaning you may be dragged away from the sweet sounds by your little ones in search of something sweet tasting. Venue: Handel House Museum Address: 25 Brook Street, Mayfair, W1K 4HB Phone: 020 7495 1685 Date: Easter Sunday, 23rd March 2008 Time: Midday-6pm Pricing: Free (Under 16s), £5 (Adults) Nearest Station: Bond Street Tube Hallelujah for Easter: Live Music and Easter Egg Trail - Information  Ham House Easter Egg HuntHam House and Garden, Ham Street, TW10 7RS Easter Saturday, 22nd March 2008 - Easter Monday, 24th March 2008 Ham House is a stunning backdrop to jaunty Easter 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. Venue: Ham House and Garden Address: Ham Street, Ham, TW10 7RS Phone: 020 8940 1950 Date: Easter Saturday, 22nd March 2008 - Easter Monday, 24th March 2008 Time: 11am-3pm Pricing: Easter Egg Hunt - £3 (Children) | Admission House and Garden - £9 (Adults), £5 (Children) | Admission Garden Only - £3 (Adults), £2 (Children) Nearest Station: Twickenham Railway Station Ham House Easter Egg Hunt - Information  Kenwood's Easter TrailKenwood House, NW3 7JR Good Friday, 21st March 2008 - Easter Monday, 24th March 2008 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 that on a hunt for chocolate? Kids will love hurtling down the labyrinth of tiny footpaths that wind across the estate through blossoming rhododendron bushes and small forests of flowering trees. The eggs, which are scattered all around this vast parkland on the edge of Hampstead Heath, are well-hidden, meaning your intrepid little chocoholics will need to follow the clues down the hill, round the lake and beyond to hunt down their Easter treats. Once all the eggs have been guzzled, the whole family will 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. Venue: Kenwood House Address: Hampstead Lane, NW3 7JR Phone: 020 8348 1286 Date: Good Friday, 21st March 2008 - Easter Monday, 24th March 2008 Time: 11am-4pm Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Golders Green Tube Kenwood's Easter Trail - Information  Kew Easter Chocolate Egg HuntKew Gardens, Kew, TW9 3AB Easter Sunday, 23rd March 2008 If you really need another reason other than the explosion of spring flowers to visit Kew Gardens then the Easter Bunny's arrival on Easter Sunday heralds a wonderful family day out. He is also the one who has a stash of chocs so children following the Easter egg hunt around the gardens will have an extra incentive for tracking him (and his chick friends) down, other than just meeting the rabbit himself. While you're in hot pursuit of those Easter eggs, keep an eye out for a host of other seasonal attractions blazing a trail through the gardens this Easter-time. Over the Easter weekend there's a chance to meet some real-life giant bunnies from Giant Rabbit Rescue near the Brentford Gate and, if your little ones are fond of making furry friends, come back to Kew over the school holidays (Apr 5th-20th) and drop by the farmyard where they can stroke, groom and feed ducklings, chicks and baby goats. To really appreciate the riot of colour created by five-million flowering bulbs, young explorers can follow Kew's Bulb Trail (Mar 21st to Apr 20th) - this won't lead to chocolate but will help children discover for themselves the magic of Kew Gardens in springtime. Venue: Kew Gardens Address: Richmond, TW9 3AB Phone: 020 8332 5655 Date: Easter Sunday, 23rd March 2008 Time: Easter Egg Hunt 10am-2pm. Gardens 9.30am-5.30pm Pricing: Easter Egg Hunt - Free. Admission Kew Gardens - £12.25 (Adults), £10.25 (Concs), Free (Under 17s) Nearest Station: Kew Gardens Tube / Rail Kew Easter Chocolate Egg Hunt - Information  St James's Park Easter Egg TrailChurchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms, King Charles Street, SW1A 2AQ Good Friday, 21st March 2008 - 20th April 2008 Head for the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms this spring and your kiddiewinks can imagine themselves on a secret mission. While it may be more 'golden eggs' than 'Golden Eye', this Easter egg trail is just the kind of thing that awakens their adventurous spirit and immerses them in a make-believe world of finding clues, deciphering top-secret passwords and cracking the code...or the egg...or both! There are trails around St James's Park and the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms, so budding undercover agents can tactically choose their routes and head off to discover the password that will lead to the hidden treasure - the sought-after golden eggs, which, for the sake of parents and children alike, are hopefully chocolate underneath! Depending on the wee ones' energy levels post-trail, you're in an excellent location to make a day of it, whether it's a lovely spring day for cavorting round the park or a rainy museum day - if you've seen enough of the Cabinet War Rooms, wander across to Covent Garden for the newly-reopened London Transport Museum, which promises lots of interactive stuff for kids. Collect the trails from the reception desk in the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms. Venue: Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms Address: Clive Steps, King Charles Street, SW1A 2AQ Phone: 020 7930 1793 Date: Good Friday, 21st March 2008 - 20th April 2008 Time: 9.30am-5pm Pricing: Free Nearest Station: St James's Park Tube St James's Park Easter Egg Trail - Information |
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