22 things to do in Cardiff city centre with kids this Easter holidays

Cardiff

I’ve already published my bumper April events guide, with over 100 family-friendly events in South Wales this month.

However, with the schools now off for the next two weeks, I’m working in association with St David’s shopping centre to bring you a round-up of activities in Cardiff centre to entertain the children over the holidays.

As well as being full of great shops and family-friendly restaurants and cafes, St David’s makes life easier for parents with family toilet cubicles, baby feeding rooms, and changing facilities on both levels, as well as on-site parking too. There’s plenty going on for families this Easter at St David’s, with activities at Hamleys, Treetop Adventure Golf, Build-a-Bear and more all detailed below.

Please note St David’s is closed on Easter Sunday, and open from 9.30am-6pm on Good Friday and Easter Monday; and 9.30am-7pm Easter Saturday. Usual opening hours are Monday to Friday 9.30am-8pm, Saturday 9.30am-7pm and Sunday 11am-5pm.

 

TICKETED EVENTS

Disney On Ice: 100 Years of Magic

Disney On Ice Celebrates 100 years of magic

Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff

Wednesday 5th April-Sunday 9th April

6.30pm daily plus 10.30am and 2.30pm on Saturday and Sunday

Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and a host of Disney princesses lead the celebrations as Disney On Ice celebrates 100 years of Disney magic. Sing along to more than 30 songs from classic Disney films such as The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and Frozen, plus Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story and Finding Nemo. Read our review here and watch our video of some of the show’s highlights here.

 

RHS Flower Show Cardiff

RHS Flower Show Cardiff

Friday 7th-Sunday 9th April

Bute Park Cardiff

Adults £10 in advance (£9 RHS members) £13 on the door (£11); accompanying children under 16 free

The annual floral spectacular, the RHS Flower Show Cardiff, embraces Wales’ Year of Legends with a host of themed-gardens and features to spark the imagination. There’s plenty on offer for little ones, with tree climbing, den building, the popular annual school’s wheelbarrow competition, a chance to get up close and personal with giant wicker bug sculptures, plus making and decorating wood cookie name tag necklaces to take home.

 

National Youth Boys Choir

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff

Wednesday 12th April, 3pm

A spring showcase from the National Youth Boys Choir, featuring a range of music from many cultures and traditions. The boys, who are aged 9-15 and hail from around the UK, will perform on the back of a week’s rehearsals at Llandovery College in West Wales.

 

Naomi’s Wild and Scary

St David’s Hall, Cardiff

Friday 21st April, 2.30pm

Children’s TV presenter Naomi Wilkinson presents a show packed full of fun and surprises as Naomi is joined on stage by ‘Animal Mark’, and some of his scariest creatures. Join Naomi as she recalls some of her most exciting wildlife experiences from the far flung corners of the world and even introduces the audience to some of the most fierce and frightening animals she met along the way. Age guidance: 5+.

EVENTS IN ST DAVID’S SHOPPING CENTRE

FREE Easter Events, John Lewis, St David’s Shopping Centre

There’s loads going on in the department store, with Easter egg hunts, Easter crafting, Easter-themed colouring and Easter bunny-themed story telling. See in store for details.

 

FREE Hamleys, St David’s Shopping Centre

Hamleys Cardiff Birthday Parties

As well as all the toys, there’s plenty going for free ay Hamleys, including Easter parties (10th, 12th, 14th, 17th, 19th & 21st April, 1-1.45pm; limited spaces available); free arts and crafts workshops in store; chance to win £100 by having your photo taken with Bunny Bear in the Cheeky Chick photo frame. Plus meet Play-Doh! mascot Doh-Doh! On Saturday 15th April and Bing and Flop on Saturday 22nd April, both 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm.

 

Build-a-Bear, St David’s Shopping Centre

Make your own Easter companion. Choose a bunny, lamb or bear, help to stuff it, and choose something for him or her to wear. Prices from £8.

 

Treetop Adventure Golf, Level P3, St David’s Shopping Centre

Treetop Adventure Golf

Easter activities from Friday 7th-Monday 24th April

Rainforest-themed indoor adventure golf for all the family. There are two fun 18-hole courses to choose from, Tropical Trail and Ancient Explorer, with interactive features including a 60-foot mystic river, singing frogs, vines, trees and plants, and drop holes where the ball will disappear from site, only to reappear elsewhere. No need to book, just turn up. No minimum age although under-12s need to be accompanied by an adult. Plus everyone who plays has a chance to win a free round on the bonus 19th hole! Read our review here.

Free face painting – 12th-17th, 20th-21st, 12pm-4pm

Meet the mascot Simi – 10th, 12th, 14th, 1th, 19th, 21st April, 11am-4pm

Free arts and crafts – 7th, 18th, 19th, 22nd, 24th April, 12pm-4pm

Plus a new pop up library thanks to Cardiff Central Library, all day

 

Fast & Furious 8 Installation

Friday 14th April, 9.30am-6pm; Saturday 15th April 9.30am-7pm; Monday 17th April, 9.30am-6pm

A three-metre high, gravity-defying replica of Dominic Toretto’s iconic Dodge Ice Charger will be on display in the centre to mark the release of the latest instalment, Fast & Furious 8, which is in cinemas now. The incredible installation has been made by the internationally renowned Cardiff-based company, Wild Creations, the team behind ‘The Ball in the Wall’ and the dragon at Caerphilly Castle. The only centre in Wales to host the jaw dropping event by Universal, customers are invited to St David’s Cardiff throughout the weekend to join the world of Fast & Furious. A unique green screen experience, will put them in the driving seat to re-enact some of the most death-defying car stunts from the film which they can share online.

The Lego Store, St David’s Shopping Centre

Lego Store

Make your own mix-and-match Lego mini figures

£4.99 for three figures or £1.99 each

Choose from mix and match legs, bodies, heads, hats or hair, and an accessory and create your own Lego people.

Until April 28th, you can also build your own style of Lego City Police car and chase the crooks and earn your Lego City Police Certificate and Badge.

There’s also Lego and Duplo to play with, and an impressive giant Lego Easter egg in store.

Soft Play at Queen’s Arcade

Adjoining St David’s is Queens Arcade. Ideal for the under 5s, this free-of-charge soft play area is a great place to stop by if little ones have had enough of all the shopping.

FREE Easterfest at Queens Arcade!

Easter Saturday 15th April 11am-4pm

An Easter-themed mini festival for families. Be transformed into a bunny at the Easter Bunny transformation station, take part in an Easterfest interactive challenge, and go on an Easter egg hunt.

FREE Animal Jam’s Kit Fox visits The Entertainer

Easter Saturday 15th April, 10am-3pm

A visit from the popular character from the online playground for kids, where they can learn about the natural world.

 

CULTURE AND HISTORY

FREE The Cardiff Story, The Old Library, The Hayes

A fascinating exploration of the history of Cardiff, with two floors of interactive exhibitions and a children’s play and dressing up area. Read our review here.

Dinky Dragons, Friday 14th April, 10.30am-3pm

Aimed at pre-schoolers, as well as the usual exhibits and dressing up clothes, there will be toys to play with, detective trails, crafts, messy play and rhyme time and story time at 11am and 1pm.

Easter Family Crafts, Wednesdays 12th and 19th April, 10am-3pm

£1 per child; drop-in Easter arts and crafts.

From Wembley to Wales: Celebrating Cardiff City’s 1927 FA Cup Victory, 4th March-4th September 2017.

An exhibition celebrating 90 years of Cardiff’s famous football victory; discover more about the match, the players and the fans.

Family craft – 90 year anniversary of Cardiff City winning the FA cup

Saturday 23rd April, 10am-3pm, £1 per child.

 

 

FREE* Cardiff Castle

Explore the ornate castle apartments, the wartime shelters the Norman keep and an exhinition about the history of the Welsh soldier. *Entry is free if you live or work in Cardiff, and buy a Castle Key for £5, which gives free entry for three years. No charge for Castle Keys for children. Read our review of Cardiff Castle here.

Easter Trail

Saturday 8th-Sunday 23rd April

Find the answers to the puzzles in the house and the grounds and win an Easter prize.

£1 per trail, as well as normal admission or valid Castle Key.

Easter Fun including The Warwick Warriors

Saturday 15th-Easter Monday 17th April

The Warwick Warriors will be entertaining the crowds with their dramatic fight sequences and quick-witted banter. Easter activities include card making, egg rolling, egg decorating (Saturday and Sunday only), and egg and spoon races. Normal admission applies, or valid Castle Key

Pre-book for egg decorating; £5 per child plus one adult; £2.50 per additional person

 

FREE National Museum Cardiff

Artes Mundi Family workshops

Plenty on offer for families, with exhibitions on the evolution of Wales including the famous dinosaurs, natural history, and art galleries. Entry is free but donations are welcome.

The Museum is not open on Mondays. Read our review here.

Wriggle: The Wonderful World of Worms Until June 2018

A fascinating look into the weird and wonderful world of worms, this has plenty of interactive exhibits, perfect for children. Read our review here. Please note the museum is not open on Mondays.

Painting Colours and Shapes

Saturday 8th-Thursday 13th April 11am, 1pm, 3pm

Messy art workshops inspired by abstract painter Gillian Ayres.

Springtime Family Trail 

Friday 14th-Monday 17th April, 10am-4pm

A free family Easter trail.

Botanical Illustration Family Workshops 

Tuesday 18th-Friday 21st April, 11am, 1pm, 3pm

A family workshop showing you how to paint in the style of a botanical illustrator and find out more about the important plant life on the museum’s urban meadow.

 

FREE Cardiff Central Library

Cardiff’s biggest library has a whole floor for children’s literature and a huge selection of both fiction and factual books for all ages. There’s plenty of space for children to sit and read, including some fun and unusual cubby holes. The library is closed on Sundays.

Growing Together, Tuesday 11th April, 10am-4pm

Free talks, demonstrations and giveaways on all things gardening-related.

Lego Club, Wednesdays 12th and 19th April, 2.15pm

A chance to make a Lego creation. (Lego cannot be taken home).

Minecraft Club

Every Saturday, 10.30am-12.30p, £8 bookings@milttlepad.com

 

Movies for Juniors

Cineworld, Mary Ann Street, Cardiff

As well as all the new showings, the 10am weekend and school holiday Movies for Juniors showings are just £1.75 per person. Check online for schedule; films are usually a few months old rather than new releases.

Mini Mornings

Vue Cinema, Millennium Plaza, Cardiff

As well as all the new showings, the 10am weekend and school holiday Movies for Juniors showings are just £1.99 per person. Check online for schedule; films are usually a few months old rather than new releases.

 

Sports and games

A tour of the Principality Stadium

Principality Stadium

One of the most famous landmarks in modern Wales, a tour will take you behind the scenes of the home of Welsh rugby, which has also seen shows from some of the biggest rock and pop stars in the world. Visit the press conference suite, experience a pre-match build-up in the dressing room, hear the roar of 74,500 fans as you walk down the players’ tunnel, learn about the fully retractable roof, and lift the trophy like a sporting superstar in the President’s Box, an area normally reserved for royalty.

Tickets cost £12.50 for adults, £9 for children aged 5-16, with under 5s free. A family ticket (2+2) is £38. Check online to availability, as tours are not available during special events.

Laserquest

Based in the Stadium Plaza, Laserquest is a hide-and-seek style game in a huge ultra-violet, fog-filled laser arena where opponents try to zap each other with laser guns, and avoid being zapped themselves. Prices start at £5.50 for adults and £4.50 for children for one game, although check online for details of cheaper early morning sessions and after-school deals.

Superbowl UK

Also based in the Stadium Plaza is Superbowl UK, offering up 10-pin bowling. Prices start at £5.50 for adults and £4.50 for children for one game, although check online for details of cheaper early morning children’s sessions and after-school deals.

 

 

OUTDOORS

Bute Park

picnics cardiff

A green oasis in the heart of the city centre, Bute Park is 56 hectares of grassland, wooded areas and the River Taff running alongside it. There are paths for scooting and cycling along, plenty of wildlife to spot, trees to climb, wooden carvings to admire, as well as two cafes. You can read a review of one of our days out at Bute Park here.

Cathays Park Formal Gardens, Civic Centre, Cardiff

Amid the grand buildings of Cardiff’s civic centre, including the National Museum, City Hall, Cardiff Crown Court etc, are beautifully maintained gardens. Alexandra Gardens contains the Welsh National War Memorial (and the blossom is looking particularly beautiful at the moment); the Gorsedd Gardens in front of the museum is home to the stone circle marking the 1899 National Eisteddfod of Wales; while the lawns outside City Hall are a good place to stop for some calm amid the chaos of the city.

What else would you recommend for families in Cardiff city centre? Do let me know in the comments section below, on the Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page or by tweeting on @cardiffmummy

For more ideas on local family-friendly days out, see the Cardiff section of Cardiff Mummy Says or follow Cardiff Mummy Says on Instagram or @cardiffmummy on Twitter.

And don’t forget to like the Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page for all my latest blog posts.

 

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