Happy Easter everyone! While we can’t venture too far this Easter, there’s plenty of egg-citing Easter entertainment to have at home, from kids bake off competitions to virtual campfires and sing-a-longs; Easter egg hunts in local parks and gardens and energising walks and outdoor activities to burn off egg-cessive eating. Here’s some inspiration – courtesy of Visit England – to make Easter a hopping one.
Easter entertainment at home – creative character crafting, chocolate baking and cosy campfires
Virtual Children’s Chocolate Bake Off
6th April
For budding bakers, The Farm Cookery School in Chippenham, Wiltshire will run a virtual Brownies and Chocolate Nests masterclass and competition. With categories for under 7,’s, 7-10’s and 11-16’s. The class will run from 10 – 11am on 6th April with judging and winners announced at 3pm.
Pricing from £10.00 per device/household.
Cosy up to a virtual campfire
Easter Monday 5th April
Dabble in crafts and sing along with the Girlguiding‘s online Spring Social, bringing the magic and excitement of camp to families at home over the Easter holidays. Be sure to have hot chocolate and Easter eggs at the ready.
The Bowes Museum Virtual Family Fun Day
10th April, 10,30, 11.30 and 1pm
Discover the magical love story of John and Joséphine Bowes who founded Durham’s museum of fashion, art and design. The education team will guide you live from different locations around the Museum and help you create your own theatre complete with characters connected with the Bowes Museum. A craft pack will be delivered to you with almost everything you will need on the day (you just need colouring pencils, scissors and glue). Sessions will last around 20 minutes. Register by 1 April. A range of other online Easter activities are available on the museum website whilst locals can visit the Spring trails with guided prebookable outdoor tours.
£3.00 per person for a Virtual Family Fun Day craft pack. £3.00 per person for outdoor guided tour.
New Jane Austen’s House virtual tour live
3 April, 3 – 4pm, 15th April 1 – 2pm and 24th April 7-8pm
Join expert guides for a new virtual tour of Jane Austen’s House in Hampshire from the comfort of your home during this Easter weekend. A Jane Austen expert will guide you around the House and outbuilding with lots of opportunities to chat and ask questions.
£5.00 per person for 1-hour tour and Q&A
Local Easter entertainment and egg-cellent events, from traditional egg hunts to energetic outings and perfect picnics…
Kentwell Hall, Long Melford, Suffolk
Enjoy Eastertide family walks and trails at Kentwell Hall with friendly activities and acres of gardens and woodland to explore. Take up the challenge to find the huge wooden eggs hidden around the walk, and to ‘scramble’ the clues to ‘crack’ the code they reveal!
From £13.50-£17.95 (under 4s free)
Canoe Easter Egg Hunt, New Forest
Available 2nd – 11th April
Paddle along the waters of Beaulieu River in ‘Canadian style’ canoes with New Forest Activities, before disembarking for an Easter egg hunt with a twist! Ensure you look high and low for those hidden chocolate eggs scattered along the riverside and you’ll be rewarded tasty chocolate Easter eggs for all your hard work!
£34.00 adults and £25.00 for children (16 years and under)
English Heritage, Various
From 29 March
English Heritage will welcome visitors back to more of its historic sites from 29 March. All sites scheduled to open enjoy large outdoor spaces, such as historic gardens, extensive grounds and even a battlefield.
National Trust Easter Excitement, nationwide
Available from 29th March
Easter adventures await in many of National Trust locations across the country from Easter Trails to Easter egg hunts. Bookings and activities for local residents only. Advance bookings required.
Sewerby Hall and Gardens, Yorkshire
From 27th March
Sewerby Hall and Gardens in Yorkshire will reopen the gardens, café (takeaway-only, no seating available), play area and toilets from 27 March. Admission prices will reflect the limited offer.
Adults £3.80, children £2.70
Commandery Gardens, Worcester
From 2 April – 18 April (excluding Monday 12 April)
The gardens, run by Museums Worcestershire, will open free for local residents seeking a breath of fresh air, a walk and a coffee at Easter. There will also be a free Family Fun Fitness Trail available in the gardens with exciting tasks to complete for budding explorers. There will also be a Lotrail happening on Fort Royal Hill organised by Friends of Fort Royal Park.
Bamburgh Castle (grounds only), Northumberland
From 29th March
Discover Northumberland’s stunning coast from 150 feet in the grounds of Bamburgh Castle, witness outstanding sea views and explore nine acres Northumberland with a history dating back thousands of years.
£6.00 per adult, pre-booking required
Bolton Castle Gardens, Yorkshire
Available from 29th March
Visit the country gardens, including their maze, vineyard and superb views of Bolton Castle and admire the views across the glorious Wensleydale valley. Falconry displays will recommence from 12 April. Pre-booking recommended.
Wildlife Trail at High Force, Shropshire
When you go down to the woods this Easter, keep your eyes open for some fascinating wildlife at the Raby Estates. The Woodland Walk to High Force Waterfall – one of England’s most spectacular waterfalls – is home to a huge variety of birds, insects and animals. Follow the fun family trail and see how many creatures you can spot. Perhaps, take a private tractor and trailer tour of the deer park with the chance to view and spot the wildlife.
Newby Hall, Harrogate
Opening from 1st April
The stunning gardens and extensive adventure playground at Newby Hall will reopen just in time for the Easter holidays. This year they are starting the season with an enchanted wood family trail in the magical woodland walk.
Al fresco treats at Gusbourne Estate (Vineyard), Kent
The winemakers at Gusbourne have created the perfect picnic of Kent and Sussex’s finest produce, including artisanal cheese and charcuterie, local fruit and homemade bread, accompanied by a bottle of Gusbourne Brut Reserve. Grab a private spot in their Boot Hill vineyard, sit back and enjoy the views and delicious treats and sparkle!
£80.00 for two people
The Arundell Lakeside Easter Egg Trail & Picnic Lunch, Devon
3rd April, Easter Saturday – from 11.30am
Collect your picnic lunch from The Arundell Deli and walk down to the Arundell Lake in Tinhay for the Easter Egg Trail. Picnic by the lake, follow the trail of clues and walk back to the Deli to collect Easter prizes.
From £15.00 adult, £10.00 children (includes picnic lunch and entry for the Easter Egg trail).
Easter Picnics at Weston Park, Staffordshire
Available: 2 – 5 April
This Easter, Weston Park has a real treat – picnics in the park! Pre-book your picnic, pick it up as you head into the park and settle in for an Easter themed hamper of delights, with plenty of beautiful spots to enjoy, overlooking Temple Pool, by the Deer Park or on the lawns at the front of the House. Visitors must also pre-book tickets into the estate separately.
From £20.00 for two – £56.00 for six people – limited number of picnics available each day, pre-booking required.
Picnics at Rufford Abbey with treats from Josephine’s Tea Room, Nottinghamshire
A pretty, vintage-inspired tearoom is the perfect place to grab your picnic. Visit Josephine’s Tea Room for Savoury Snack Boxes, filled with scrumptious savoury delights and sweet treats. Take your flavoursome feast to Rufford Abbey, a former 12th century Cistercian Monastery and country house and one of the main country parks in the Sherwood Forest area. Take a gentle stroll around the lake, check out the gorgeous gardens and then find your perfect picnic spot on the large grass area at the side of the magnificent abbey.
From £27.00 per box, suitable for two.
Energetic Easter Experiences for the family, Durham
Easter weekend opening: 2nd – 5th April
If you are looking for a more energetic Easter experience for the family, head to Weardale Adventure Centre, with canoeing, rock climbing, archery, and caving pre-bookable over Easter, it’s sure to leave you reenergised and ready to crack open another egg!
The Outdoor City SUP Experience, Sheffield
From 3rd April
If you’re looking for an energetic way to burn off all those Easter eggs, take to Sheffield’s historic Victoria Quays waters with DC Outdoors. After a quick introduction (and once you’ve cracked standing up!) set off on a short journey along the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal.
£40.00 per person
Day Boat Hire with Drifters, Various
Available from 29th March
Day boat hire on England’s peaceful network of inland waterways is a great way to enjoy the countryside, and Drifters day boats will be available to hire to single households. Drifters also offer day boat hire from a various boat yards across England. Full tuition is included so those new to narrowboating can get the hang of steering, mooring up and working the locks.
Pricing from £99.00 (per boat), day boat hire from £10.00.
The Wave, Bristol
Available from 29th March
An inland surf destination where everyone can surf on consistent, safe waves all year round. The Wave will be running surf sessions, rolling a fantastic variety of waves to suit all levels of surfer, from beginner to expert.
Inspiration for when there’s freedom to explore a little more
Egg-straordinary Eggcups at Eastnor Pottery, Ledbury
Take the family for a day of clay modelling at Eastnor Pottery to create their very own eggcup. They’ll learn the techniques required and once complete allow it to be fired and glazed, the egg-ordinary masterpiece can be collected or posted.
13th, 14th April (duration 1.5 hours)
£20.00 per person
Hidden Tracks Cycling Tours, London
Join a cyclist expert guide for all levels of off-road rides both around the city and out of London, linking up bridleways, cycle tracks, woodland paths and the odd quiet road. There are a choice of tours including ‘Through the Magic Door’, exploring seven windmills on the Miller’s Trail; ‘Hunting Wombles’, across Wimbledon and along the Thames; routes around Hampton Court Palace; an off-road trip all the way from London to Brighton, or the chance to follow the pilgrim’s trail from Southwark to Canterbury Cathedrals. Not only will riders see unexpected scenery as the seasons unfold, through ancient woodland, bluebell woods, carpets of wild garlic and cow parsley; they will also pick-up coaching tips about off-road cycling along the way, and be treated to guide Charlie’s famous vanilla fudge and flapjacks.
From £40.00 for guided tours, Hidden Tracks Cycling takes groups of up to 10 people. Most rides last between four and a half to five hours
Exmoor Explorer Walks, Exmoor
Launching 12 April
A series of 10 short Exmoor walks showcasing the best landscapes, wildlife and history Exmoor has to offer. Each route is easy to follow, with relatively gentle terrain and range from taking less than an hour to about two and a half hours for the longest. Waterproof / tea proof route guide full of inspiring information and aerial route overview will be available from Exmoor National Park Centres or from the online shop.
From £1.00 each, full collection in a presentation box £8.00
Easter Drive in, Bristol
14th and 15th April
The Parking Lot Social’s Easter Breakout event at Bristol Airport promises an entertainment extravaganza with Easter panto and performances from stars of RuPauls Drag Race UK, comedy night and movies.
Ticket prices vary by event.
Visitors are advised to always check individual websites for the latest information, as events and openings are subject to change. National restrictions are currently in place and attractions are closed.
