As the Easter holidays draw near, you may be wondering what indoor activities in London with the family are available. The UK’s notoriously unpredictable weather means that even in spring it’s a good idea to have rainy day outings planned. With that in mind, why not treat your kids to a theatre show at Southbank Centre? The Lion Inside is playing from 17 - 20 April 2025, retelling Rachel Bright’s bestselling story with stunning puppetry. 

In the book, the lion is at the head of the pack, displaying his importance with his loud roar. The tiny mouse wants to learn from him - but what if he ends up on the lion’s dinner plate? Of course, children know that lions need to eat much bigger animals to survive, but how exactly do they hunt in the wild?

Collaborative hunting

Lionesses are the primary hunters in a pride, working as a coordinated team to bring down their prey. Being smaller and faster than males, they are able to blend into the greens and golds of their grassland habitats more easily, making them better at stalking. They creep slowly and carefully in from downwind, getting as close as possible to their prey before it detects them and they have to give chase. Lions can reach speeds of 37mph, but only over distances of 100-200m, meaning they need to bring their prey down in as short a time as possible. 

When hunting collaboratively, the strongest females take the central position and are tasked with making the kill. The others operate on the ‘wings’, blocking the animal’s escape and driving it towards the stronger lionesses. Studies have shown that lionesses tend to have a favourite position, taking the same role in multiple hunts. 

Teaming up with males

In some circumstances male lions will join their pride in the hunt. In these instances, males have been documented approaching prey from upwind so that the animals catch the lion’s scent. This drives them towards the waiting lionesses, who launch the attack. Other tactics include simply cornering an animal before going in for the kill. Hunts for larger prey, such as buffalo and giraffe, tend to be more successful if males are involved. 

Hunting alone and scavenging

Sometimes lions will hunt alone. If a male lion has been cast out of a pride, he will need to sustain himself with solitary hunts. Females may also hunt alone if they have cubs to feed. Hunting alone is challenging, however, and solitary hunters may only be successful 17-19% of the time. 

When hunts fail or the opportunity arises, lions will scavenge meat from other predators such as cheetahs or hyenas. Up to 50% of a lion’s diet can come from scavenging. 

Discover The Lion Inside

If you’re looking for things to do in London with a family of nature lovers, why not go to see The Lion Inside? This story of courage and friendship is aimed at children aged three and up, being perfectly pitched for shorter attention spans. Book your tickets today and enjoy a fun day in London.