Right, you gorgeous lot. The days are stretching, the blossom is popping, and the cry of “Muuuum, I’m booooored” is about to reach a fever pitch. Fear not. I’ve waded through a mountain of press releases so you don’t have to. Here’s your curated, cheeky, and utterly brilliant guide to what’s hot in London this spring. Let’s get cracking.
1. Get your socks knocked off at the Science Museum
Honestly, the Science Museum is outdoing itself. It’s less “look but don’t touch” and more “welcome to the coolest space-themed party ever.”
First up, they’ve got a full-size replica of the Blue Origin New Shepard spacecraft. You can literally peer through the same windows that William Shatner (yes, that William Shatner) looked out of when he went to space. Get a selfie pretending you’re a pop star astronaut, it’s what Katy Perry would do.
And if you’re more into cosmic cuddles than cosmic rockets, run, don’t walk, to their shop. Jellycat has launched a new space crew and the Science Museum is one of the only places to grab them. We’re talking Amuseables Planet Mars, a happy boiled egg in space (don’t ask, just accept the joy), and a Zodihop Luxe Bunny that’s out of this world. Fair warning: you will leave with a cuddly meteorite. It’s inevitable.
The deets: Science Museum, South Ken. Free entry, but book your spot online. Jellycat mania starts 18th March. Book a timed slot to avoid disappointment (and grown-up tantrums). www.sciencemuseum.org.uk
2. Give your kids a cultural experience without the whinging (Historic Royal Palaces)
Imagine exploring a palace where it’s calm, quiet, and the staff actually get it. That’s the genius of what Historic Royal Palaces is doing this year. They’ve got a whole programme of events designed to make their sites welcoming for neurodivergent, learning-disabled, and deaf visitors. It’s brilliant.
For the little legends (5-16): Head to the Tower of London on 22nd March for a relaxed morning. The crowds are gone, the lights are dimmed, and you can see the Crown Jewels without a scrum. It’s just £1 a ticket. A whole quid for the Tower of London. Snatch their hands off.
For the tweens and teens (16+): Kensington Palace on 10th May is doing the same chilled-out vibe, and it’s free. Free run of the palace in a quiet environment? Yes, please.
For something a bit different: Fancy a tour of Hampton Court Palace led entirely in British Sign Language? Acclaimed deaf tour guide John Wilson is taking over on 10th July, and it promises to be a far more fascinating peek into Henry VIII’s world than any audio guide.
The deets: Check out the full line-up at hrp.org.uk. Trust me, this is history for everyone, done right.
3. Book a sleepover with dinosaurs (and no, it’s not a drill)
Your kids have been asking. You’ve been putting it off. This is the year. Dino Snores for Kids at the Natural History Museum is back on 10th April. You get to explore the museum by torchlight, meet some “Victorian paleontologists” (expect drama), and then bed down under the watchful eye of the blue whale. It’s expensive, yes (£87), but it’s a core memory in the making. Plus, you don’t actually have to sleep that well, because you’re in the Natural History Museum. Just go with it.
The deets: Natural History Museum, South Ken. 10th April. For ages 7-11. nhm.ac.uk
4. Pedalo with a Unicorn (yes, really) at Ally Pally
Alexandra Palace is my happy place, and this spring it’s basically a playground for the imagination. The pedalos are back on the boating lake and the fleet is majestic. You can take your pick from a swan, a dragon, a flamingo… or a unicorn. That’s right, you can pedal a unicorn. It’s the content your Instagram was made for.
If you want to go higher, there’s SUMMIT, the roof walk that lets you stroll 130 metres above London. It’s a fully guided tour, so you can’t fall off, but you can feel incredibly smug. And for the crafty ones, there’s a Springtime Card Decorating Workshop on 29th March. Much more civilised than a glue-stick meltdown at the kitchen table.
The deets: Alexandra Palace, N22. Pedalos run from 28th March. Book everything at alexandrapalace.com
5. Don’t walk, RUN for the Longest Tiramisu in the World
Okay, this is the curveball, and it is GLORIOUS. On the weekend of 25th-26th April, someone is attempting to make the world’s longest tiramisu in London. A Guinness World Record attempt! It’s happening at an “Italian Expo by day, live show by night” event.
On the Sunday, after the record is officially measured, you, me, and hundreds of other lucky ticket holders get to collect a slice of the history-making dessert. This is not a drill. We are talking about eating cake that broke a world record. This is peak London Mums content. They have a live concert on the Saturday night and everything.
The deets: 25th-26th April. Get your tickets and all the info at the gloriously named www.longesttiramisu.uk. You’re welcome.
Bonus Round: Quick fire fun
- Paradox Museum: For when you want your brain to melt in a fun way. New Easter trail “Impossible EggsPedition” runs from 28th March. paradoxmuseum.com/london
- Kids Go Free Ice Skating at Ally Pally: Because letting the kids burn off energy on ice is a parental win. Runs all Easter hols.
- Teach Rex at the Natural History Museum: Life-like dinos doing a show about a T. Rex. It’s exactly as epic as it sounds. Dates throughout the holidays.
Right, that’s your lot. Get your diaries out, start booking, and go make some memories. You’ve got this.
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Monica Costa founded London Mums in September 2006 after her son Diego’s birth together with a group of mothers who felt the need of meeting up regularly to share the challenges and joys of motherhood in metropolitan and multicultural London. London Mums is the FREE and independent peer support group for mums and mumpreneurs based in London https://www.londonmumsmagazine.com and you can connect on Twitter @londonmums
