Watch out for the Terrible Thames boat bringing Horrible history to the river story

Horrible Histories – Terrible Thames

HORRIBLE Histories is running new tour – the Terrible Thames – setting out “the horrible history of the most famous river in the world!” This is a new venture from award-winning theatre producers Birmingham Stage Company and Woods’ Silver Fleet, a family-run company of Thames Watermen since 1866. They are bringing together their extensive experience of performance and river sightseeing tours to create an experience like no other, telling the stories of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Julius Caesar, the Duke of Wellington, Queen Boudicca, Jack the Ripper and Captain Kidd, in a history of the Thames “with the nasty bits left in!” The tour is a 45-minute round-trip and you will disembark at Tower Bridge Quay where you joined the trip.
• Board at Tower Bridge Quay in front of the Tower Hotel. Previously St Katharine’s Pier, next to Tower Bridge. 10 minute-walk from Tower Hill tube (postcode E1W 1LD) Note: Do not go to Tower Bridge pier! Advance tickets: adult £22 (off-peak) £25.00 (peak); senior £20 (off-peak) £23 (peak); child £14 (off-peak) £15 (peak); under 3s FREE; family ticket £65 (off-peak) £72 (peak) – 2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult and 3 children. Additional charge to book on the day. terriblethames.com

Lost and Found at the London Transport Museum

London Transport Museum

AS part of its Easter family activities, the museum invites visitors to enter the “weird and wonderful world” of London Transport’s Lost Property Office. Since it opened in 1933 it has become home to more than 15 million objects – hats, bags, toys but even a skeleton, a mattress, prosthetic limbs and a grandfather clock. From April 2-18, visitors can follow a trail around the museum’s galleries to discover fun facts about objects past and present that have been lost and found on London’s Tube trains and buses. On selected dates during the holidays, join children’s authors Emily Rand and Kate Wilkinson as they read from their books inspired by these lost mementos.
• Easter holidays: Lost and Found runs from April 2-18. Free with entry to the museum. Adults £18.50 for an annual pass valid for 12 months for unlimited visits. Under-17s go free. London Transport Museum, Covent Garden Piazza, WC1E 7BB Open daily 10am-6pm, last entry 5pm. 0343 222 5000. Booking details at: www.ltmuseum.co.uk

The Lost Happy Endings –part of Sadler’s Wells family weekend

Sadler’s Wells Family Weekend

OVER two days, Sadler’s Wells is running dance events and workshops for children and their families of all abilities. This is a jam-packed festival on April 15 and 16 is set to include exciting performances and activities. balletLORENT presents a new Sadler’s Wells Co-Production The Lost Happy Endings, based on a story by Carol Ann Duffy. What happens when the Happy Endings are stolen? Deep in the forest lives Jub, a magical girl with six fingers on each hand. Jub’s job is to guard the Happy Endings to stories and fairytales. But one day an otherworldly Witch steals them, and at bedtime the stories are destroyed. Suit­able for children aged 5 and above, it runs for 1 hour and 40 minutes, including one 20-minute interval. From £18.

Xenia Aidonopoulou and Georgia Tegou bring their new multi-sensory dance theatre piece Underwater, for babies aged 0 to 24 months. This multi-sensory show is sure to engage and stimulate your baby’s imagination – and there’s plenty for adults to enjoy too. For babies aged 0-24 months, it lasts 30 minutes. £2.

Family Weekend is the perfect way to get the whole family involved in theatre and dance this Easter!
• Friday April 15 & Saturday April 16 April, from 1-2pm, in Studio C at Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery Avenue, EC1R 4TN. Full details at www.sadlerswells.com/familyweekend/

Museum of the Home

THE Museum of the Home (formerly The Geffrye) in Hoxton reopened last year with new galleries and learning spaces. Over the next couple of weeks it is running special events for families. Holidays: Journey Through Tomorrowland includes interactive storytelling and creative workshops for children aged 8 and under, exploring what our future homes might look like. Full details of dates and times on the website. Free, just drop in.
• Museum of the Home, 136 Kingsland Road, E2 8EA. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm (last entry 4pm). Entry free. Tickets available on door but booking advised: bookings@museum­ofthehome.org.uk, www.museumofthehome.org.uk

Superhero stories at the Foundling Museum

Foundling Museum

SUPERHEROES, Orphans & Origins: 125 Years in Comics is the title of a new exhibition throughout April at the Foundling Museum. Superman was found by adoptive parents, Spider-Man’s parents die in a plane crash; Batman’s parents are killed in a street robbery; and Black Panther is known as the Orphan King as his parents are dead. The exhibition explores the representation of foundlings, orphans, adoptees and foster children in comics, graphic novels and art from around the world.
• Runs from April 1-August 28 at the Foundling Museum, 40 Brunswick Square, WC1N 1AZ. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 11am-5pm. Adults £9.50/£7.50 concessions; under-21s free. 020 7841 3600, https://foundlingmuseum.org.uk

• In addition to Superheroes, Orphans and Origins (see above), the The Foundling Museum is running Easter holiday workshops from April 5-8, suitable for children aged 5+. Check the website for full details: foundlingmuseum.org.uk/event/easter-holidays-workshops/

London Zoo

FROM April 2-18 London Zoo is celebrating 40 years since the publication of children’s book favourite Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell with a special series of interactive trails and story-time sessions.
• ZSL London Zoo, Regent’s Park, NW1 4RY, 020 7722 3333, www.zsl.org

May in a Day! coming up at Cecil Sharp House

Cecil Sharp House

Later this spring, the English Folk Dance and Song Society is hosting a special May in a Day! event, promising fun and creative activities. There will be a ceilidh (barn dance) and maypole dancing to live music. And a chance to take part in folk-inspired arts and crafts; and enjoy activities in the society’s lovely garden. Early booking recommended as there will only be a limited number of tickets available on the door.
• May in a Day! is on Saturday May 7, from 1.30-4.30pm at English Fold Dance and Song Society, Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent’s Park Road, NW1 7AY. Tickets £9; under-18s £7; under-2s £2. 020 7486 2206, www.efdss.org