Things to make & do

This Easter, The Coca Cola London Eye is thrilled to announce it will be partnering with Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, bringing a scrumptious taste of Wonka’s world and the acclaimed West End Musical to the South Bank as it introduces “The View of Pure Imagination” immersive Easter experience, from 25 March to 9 April, 2016.

Celebrating the wonderful world of children's literature, World Book Day is on Thursday 3 March. Here is some inspiration and "how to" to achieve those favourite characters from Book Aid International.

This half-term, visitors to IWM can draw, explore and investigate life in times of war and conflict. Take part in celebrated political artist Peter Kennard’s art workshop at IWM London, discover what life was like at sea by exploring all nine decks of HMS Belfast, investigate the Home Front during the Second World War at IWM North’s family friendly exhibition Horrible Histories®: Blitzed Brits and find out what it was like to be in a Second World War bomber crew at IWM Duxford. These activities are all part of a programme of FREE events across IWM in February half-term.

 

If you are looking to get "crafty" and perhaps personalise a birthday present, tailor a Mother’s Day card or jazz up your home furnishings, the popular new quilling technique is an on-trend way to add an extra special touch to your designs. The experts at Hochanda, the Home of Craft, Hobbies and Arts, show you how to become a bona fide Quilling Queen or King.

Perfect for children's Hallowe'en parties – Organix Spooky Spider Rice Cakes – and they take only minutes to prepare.

With some two million girls and women already riding, the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) is launching the first annual "Give Horses a Go" day on 13 September 2015 – giving people the chance to get closer to horses and try riding for FREE - there’s no better time to discover all that a trip to the stables has to offer.

Whether you're after physical theatre, dance, music, comedies, spoken word, cabaret, drama, political theatre, puppetry or magic – there's something for everyone at the Pleasance Kids 2015 2015.

Stuck for ideas on what to do with the kids this summer on those inevitable rainy days stuck indoors? Well look no further. The Royal Institution’s L’Oréal Young Scientist Centre has created this step-by-step video, which shows you how to make your very own pinhole camera, providing hours of fun taking amazing retro photos with the family.
 

Chief Scout, Bear Grylls, has declared an end to boredom this summer with the launch a Summer Manifesto for all kids in the UK to make it a summer of adventure.

Presented by Olivier Award nominated Wizards Presents and starring Danyah Miller, I Believe In Unicorns opens at the Vaudeville Theatre in August, bringing this magical adaption of Michael Morpurgo’s book of the same name to life. After London the production goes on tour.

This year’s shortlist for the Telegraph Family Friendly Museum Award is a reflection of all the different sorts of museums in Britain, and how each one can offer a wonderful welcome to families.

Returning for another year, Fuller’s Inns is delighted to announce Shakespeare in the Garden 2015, in association with Permanently Bard. This year sees the theatre company interpret of one of Shakespeare’s most popular love stories: Romeo and Juliet.

On Sunday 7 June, hundreds of farms across the country will be opening their gates to welcome the public for the 10th Open Farm Sunday. This annual event organised by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), offers a great way for familes to find out more about where their food comes from, talk to the farmers who produce it and get up close and personal with the countryside.

Museums at Night, the UK’s annual after-hours festival of arts, culture and heritage, takes place over four dates in May, from Wednesday 13 until Saturday 16. During the festival, hundreds of museums, galleries and historic spaces all over the UK will open up late and put on a dazzling array of special night-time events, many of which are specially aimed at families. Here are the highlights in the Midlands, North East, Yorkshire, North West, Scotland and Wales.

Museums at Night, the UK’s annual after-hours festival of arts, culture and heritage, takes place over four dates in May, from Wednesday 13 until Saturday 16. During the festival, hundreds of museums, galleries and historic spaces all over the UK will open up late and put on a dazzling array of special night-time events, many of which are specially aimed at families. Here are the highlights in London and the South East, South West, and East of England.

Celebrating Camp Bestival 2015’s wild theme, Team CB announce the ultimate in amazing warm-up events for all the family, as Camp Bestival Goes Wild On Tour. Visiting Portsmouth, London, Bournemouth, Winchester, Southampton, Bristol, a forest on the Isle of Wight near Cowes, and Spinney Hollow’s forest location between Southampton & Winchester in May and June 2015 (see below for the full list of dates), each event will feature a whole host of different, incredible wild-themed activities, music, story-telling, competitions, face painting and arts & crafts, guaranteed to entertain all the family!

The first instalment of the fun-filled Great British Tennis Weekend returns in May as thousands of families hit the tennis courts for free. On the 16 and 17 of May, parks and clubs across Britain will open their doors as the nation goes tennis crazy in the lead up to a fantastic summer of grass court action.

The Clore Learning Centre is a new dedicated space for Learning at the National Theatre, transforming the NT’s approach to education. Offering events and courses for all ages, exploring theatre-making from playwriting to technical skills, often led by the NT’s own artists and staff, the family days take place on the first Saturday of each month plus during the school holidays.