Aberdeenshire

l Role-playing in Celtic costume, mock battles and more at Archaeolink’s Celtic Fair in Insch, April 3-4. l The Great North of Scotland Model Railway Show in Elgin Town Hall takes place, April 3-4. Tel: Aberdeen Tourist Information, 01224 632727.

Glasgow

l Find out about school days long ago at the Scotland Street School Museum, April 4,6,9, 2.30pm, pound;1 (booking essential, tel: 0141 429 1202). Free activities include: Sikh exhibition, April 4, storytelling sessions, April 7, and flagmaking, April 9, from 2.30pm.

l Drop-in face painting for all ages at the People’s Palace, April 2-5, 12 4pm, tel: 0141 554 0223.

l Drop-in art workshops on illusion for children aged eight upwards at the Gallery of Modern Art, April 6-7, tel: 0141 229 1996.

WALES

Cardif

l Easter egg trails and egg races with a difference daily until April 14 at Techniquest. Follow the clues and move from puzzle to experiment to uncover a special code word; or build a vehicle capable of carrying an egg along a track in the exhibition - prizes for those that travel furthest. Take a stroll through the science of the streets with the Streetwise Science Show. In the Planetarium, visit the new family show, “Mars: the Red Planet”. Tel: 01222 475475.

ENGLAND

l Slam-dunking fun for eight to 19-year-olds is promised at the Easter Rawcliffes Intersport National Basketball Camps until April 9 in Leeds, Harrogate, York, Dewsbury, Keighley and Hull. Players of all abilities will receive top class coaching from English Basketball League professionals. Fee: pound;13.50 per day (including a bag of free gifts). Application forms from RI stores, participating McDonalds restaurants or tel: 0113 2300117.

l The Little Angel Theatre, home of British puppetry, is touring its production of “The Frog Prince” to the Polka Theatre, Wimbledon, London SW19, April 3; the Delaware Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea, April 6; the Paul Robeson Theatre, Hounslow, Middlesex, April 7; Sheringham, Norfolk, April 8; and Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, April 9. Tel: 0171 226 2787 (London box office).

Braintree, Essex

l The Royal Shakespeare Company’s tour of Shakespeare’s “Troilus and Cressida” and Turgenev’s “A Month in the Country” reaches Braintree Leisure Centre, April 6-10. Tel: 01376 552080.

Bristol

l “Origins and roots”, a Sunday Funday, April 4, at the City Museum and Art Gallery invites children and families to share stories about their family origins. It ties in with the new exhibition, “A Respectable Trade? Bristol and Transatlantic Slavery”. Free admission. Tel: 0117 922 3571.

Burton upon Trent

l See steam engines going like the clappers at The Bass Museum’s “Steam at work” event, April 4-5. While you’re at it, visit the time machine exhibition, “Can you handle it?” to try on period costumes and masks, operate the time machine’s control panel and solve giant floor puzzles. Tel: 01283 511000.

Carlisle

l At Tullie House Museum, make a 3D mobile out of wire, card and other materials at “Beastly mobiles”, a family workshop suitable for children aged five upwards, April 6 (1.30-3pm).

l At “Discovering Dinosaurs”, April 8 (12.30-1.30pm and 2.30-3.30pm), Dr Dinosaur, alias Mike Howgate, will demonstrate how palaeontologists look at bones, trackways, skin impressions, eggs, nest sites and dinosaur droppings to build a picture of dinosaurs and their lives. Suitable for chidlren aged five to 12 and accompanying adults. Tickets: pound;1.50-pound;3.50. Tel: 01228 534664.

Epping Forest Field Centre, Essex

l Go on a mini or midi safari, April 6-10 (10am-12pm or 2-4pm). For the minis (four to six-year-olds), activities include forest bingo, pond dipping and tree detectives. For the midis (seven to nines), the programme includes slugs and bugs, forest art, “What a load of rubbish” and more. pound;4 per session. Booking advisable. Tel: 0181 508 7714.

London

l Alexandra Palace, N22, is hosting Creative 99, April 3-5, 10.30am-5.30pm. As well as checking out 250 exhibitors from the fine art, craft and hobby industries, visitors can discover their own creative talents at daily workshops and demonstrations. Admission: pound;2-pound;6, children under 12 free. Tel: 01273 833884; e-mail: marathon@btinternet.com l At the Ragged School Museum, E3, children over seven can make Victorian Easter eggs with papier macha and decoupage, April 4 (2-4pm) and join a Victorian lesson and check out what teachers wore in those days, April 7-8, (11am-12pm and 1-2pm). Plus pottery egg cup making, April 8 (10.30-11.30am and 1.30-2.30pm). Tickets free on a first-come first-served basis. Tel: 0181 980 6405.

l Put on your dancing shoes and boogie on down to the South Bank, SE1, for the Royal Festival Hall’s Jive and Swing festival, April 3-5. Playing on successive days will be Blue Harlem, Big Buzzard Boogie Band and Jivin’ Miss Daisy. Tel: 0171 960 4242.

l Acting in Easter animal costumes on a West End stage for seven to 11s during daily costume workshops at the Theatre Museum, Covent Garden, London WC2, running until April 11 (12.30 or 3pm). Plus Easter Egg trail. Tel: 0171 836 7891.

Greater Manchester

l Family Friendly fortnight runs until April 11 in museums, theatres, galleries and concert halls. Events include the musical “Barnum” at the Palace Theatre, snake handling at the Bolton Museum and the Octagon Theatre, Bolton’s Active drama workshops for children on Saturday mornings. tel: 0161 953 4238.

North Shields

l Take a ride on a real steam train at the Stephenson Railway Museum, Wednesdays and weekends from Easter. Cost 50p per child, bookable in advance, tel: 0191 200 7413.