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Best free London activities
14.04.09
Fun: there are some great free Easter activities
Clowning around: Zippo's circus on Blackheath
Hands on: Tate art fun
<b>Ninjas in action mode: </b>Superhero happenings at the V&A Museum of Childhood
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London is rich in history and culture - but you don't have to be rich to enjoy it. Here are some great activities that won't cost you a penny...
Museum of London
Explore the story of London from prehistoric times until the early Stuart period, learn about the Great Fire and how it changed the cityscape and take part in free drop-in art sessions, storytelling and workshops throughout the holidays.
Museum of London, London Wall, EC2. Visit: museumoflondon.org.uk
British Museum
From 6 Apr explore Shah 'Abbas and his world (6-9 and 14-17 Apr), helping build the magnificent city of Isfhan (in the Great Court) and decorate an enormous Persian carpet, while listening to Iranian music and amazing stories. Also visit the mummies and the new tomb-chapel of Nebamun (Room 61). The new Digital Discovery Centre has activities for children aged seven-plus. See website for details (some activities need to be booked).
British Museum, Great Russell St, WC1. Visit: britishmuseum.org
Tates Modern and Britain
Both Tates offer fun, free activities for children, including workshops, interactive games and multimedia guides, as well as an offer for children to eat for free in Tate Britain's Rex Whistler Restaurant and Tate Modern's Café 2 and Level 7 restaurant. At Tate Britain, creative workshops include Walkthrough Wardrobe and Time to Sew! And Dress Up! There is also a secret Discovery Trail and the art trolley, which provides resources for writing songs, designing mini-gardens and making 3-D collages. At Tate Modern, visit the Start team for activities to try in the galleries. Match clues, spot art works, become a Surrealist Seeker or create your own 'Thinking Hat'.
Tate modern, Bankside, SE1. Tate Britain, Millbank, SW1. Visit: tate.org.uk
National Portrait Gallery
Free family holiday events include: Kaleidoscopes (18 Apr, 11.30am, 2.30pm), exploring the world through colour (20 places; tickets from the information desk an hour before); Charlotte the Shepherdess (18 Apr, 2pm, 3pm), where a shepherdess in a Constable painting comes alive (no ticket needed: meet in main hall), plus gallery talks.
National Portrait Gallery, St Martin's Place, WC2. Visit: npg.org.uk
Museum of Childhood
Explore 250 years of children's fashion, toys from yesteryear and, over the Easter holidays (6-10 Apr and 13-17 Apr at 10.30am and 2pm), there is the Superheroes workshop. Create your own superhero, become a master of disguise or write an action-packed superhero story. Don't forget to dress up.
V&A museum of childhood, cambridge heath Rd, E2. Visit: museumofchildhood.org.uk
Victoria & Albert museum
Pick up a backpack on Saturdays to enjoy a journey across the V&A with jigsaws, stories, puzzles and games.
Victoria & albert museum, cromwell rd, sw7. Visit: vam.ac.uk
The National Gallery
Visiting is free and during the holidays there are hands-on art workshops for families (meet in the Education Centre Foyer) suitable for five-to-11-year-olds. Spring into Action on 14 and 18 Apr (11am and 2pm) is a two-hour activity in which you make your own springy work of art.
The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, WC2. Visit: nationalgallery.org.uk
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