From egg hunts to fun family trails, there are plenty of events and activities to keep visitors happy this Easter. Here are just a few treats in store…
Hop on a steam train
Hampshire heritage railway the Watercress Line has a new event for 2024 – Easter themed activities across the railway. Along with spotting the Easter Bunny, families can hop on board the steam trains for Easter themed sing-a-longs, while children can join in the fun with a free activity sheet and Easter egg spotter trail (29 March – 1 April). The line gets its name thanks to its history of transporting watercress during the industry’s heyday in Victorian times. Tickets cost from £24 adults and £12 children, in advance.
There be dragons…
Tamworth Castle in Staffordshire will be staging a family fun Dragon Egg Hunt from 23 March to 7 April. Ruby the Castle Dragon has hidden her eggs from the dastardly dragon hunter, but needs visitors’ help to discover where they are – and there’s a reward on offer. Included in general admission (£9.95 adults, £7.50 children).
Stately treasures
England’s finest Elizabethan house, Burghley, again stages its popular Easter family fun amongst the spring blooms in the Sculpture Garden, on Sunday 31 March 2024. Little ones can hunt for clues hidden around the picturesque garden to solve the seasonal puzzle and claim an Easter Egg from Burghley’s Easter Bunny. Grown-ups can challenge themselves too, with the chance to win Afternoon Tea in The Orangery. Tickets from £9 adults and £7.50 children.
Cracking play adventure
Easter fun is back at East Yorkshire’s popular William’s Den, the award-winning family adventure play attraction on the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds. From 23 March until 7 April, William’s Easter Adventures features everything from an Easter show, chick-handling, biscuit-decorating, a bunny bop disco and an ‘Eggstagram’ photo station. Plus, the usual fun in the attraction’s Indoor Play Den with streams, rainfall, stepping stones, rope bridges and a huge real treehouse, along with the Outdoor Adventure play areas. Check website for prices.
An egg hunt with a twist
Enjoy a fun filled Easter paddle along Hampshire’s Beaulieu River in stable ‘Canadian style’ canoes on a Canoe Easter Egg Hunt from New Forest Activities (23 March – 12 April). Spend time taking in the stunning scenery of the river before disembarking for an Easter egg hunt with a twist, searching out hidden chocolate eggs scattered along the riverside. There will also be tasty chocolate Easter eggs for everyone taking part (including for Mum and Dad!). Tickets are £36 for adults and £28 for children.
Join The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party
Tumble down the rabbit hole and discover the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at Staffordshire’s Churnet Valley Railway this Easter, featuring a whimsical trip to Wonderland. Offering a chance for visitors to immerse themselves in Lewis Carroll’s book series, join the Queen of Hearts, Tweedle-Dee, Tweedle-Dum, the Mad Hatter, and more, for an Alice in Wonderland Afternoon Tea. Trains run 29 and 30 March, 1, 5, and 6 April, with tickets costing £22 adults, £15 children (3 – 13 years) and £7.50 children two years and under.
Lambs, dinosaurs, and spring flowers
Stoke-on-Trent’s Trentham Estate has a fun-packed Easter line-up, 23 March – 14 April. Lambing Live will see the Estate’s rare breed sheep brought into the Gardens where team members will be on hand to take visitors through the story of the sheep and their care. Plus, youngsters can follow the Easter Lamb Trail through the gardens, searching for Meryl Sheep’s lost lambs. Both are included with normal Gardens admission. And new for 2024 Dino Fun Weekend (6-7 April) features shows, face painting, rides and stalls (tickets are £15 adults and £12.50 children, including Garden admission.
Discover more…
There’s plenty more to experience, for more details of Easter events, check out each destination’s What’s On pages: