Easter is fast approaching - and for parents, that can mean a scramble to find fun activities to do with the kids.
The good news for those sticking to a staycation is that there's plenty more fun than just some classic Easter egg hunts this year, with UK attractions going all out and planning fun days out for families.
For example, Bluey will be making a special appearance at Kew Gardens, while Shaun the Sheep fans may want to head to Tatton Park with a unique arts trail featuring 12 sculptures of the popular character.
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Bluey at Kew Gardens and Wakehurst
Beloved animated TV puppy Bluey will be scampering among the garden landscapes this spring. Take in the sights and aromas of the blossom at Kew (March 29 - April 14), then head for the Bluey play zone to interact with 3D installations and family-friendly activities. At Kew in Wakehurst, West Sussex (March 27 to April 14), there will be a fun activity zone. Family tickets from £26. Find out more at kew.org.
Eastertide at Kentwell Hall, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Around the manor, encounter the Tudor living history characters who will be sharing stories about their daily lives and how they spent Easter. Guests can also meet Victorians in the stable yard at Cratchit’s Cottage. Then join Egghead’s Challenge egg-hunt, with a code to crack for older children. There’s also egg rolling, egg and spoon races, egg throwing and newborn lambs.
Adults from £20.80, children from £7.15. From March 29 to April 1. Find out more at kentwell.co.uk.
Glide across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in North Wales
Take a thrilling skippered cruise across the Unesco World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on Anglo Welsh’s Little Star. Enjoy views of the Dee Valley from the Llangollen Canal while you listen to expert commentary. Five trips a day from March 29 departing from Canal Wharf, Trevor. Adults £10, under-16s £6. Family tickets £25. Refreshments on board. Find out more at anglowelsh.co.uk.
Zip World Conwy
Adventure giant Zip World is launching a new indoor activity centre and accommodation in time for Easter. Zip World Conwy, opening on March 22, will feature exciting indoor experiences including the Adrenaline Indoors assault course, Altitude Climber climbing walls and Elevation Indoors high ropes, along with 30 camping pods so you can stay over.
For the ultimate adrenaline rush, see the Eryri Mountains and Conwy Valley from 40ft above and drop to the ground with Adrenaline Drop. Indoor activities from £6 for children, from £10 for adults. Age and height restrictions apply. Find out more at zipworld.co.uk/location/conwy.
Spring Family Raceday, Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire
The thunder of horses’ hooves and appearances from storybook favourite The Gruffalo will make a thrilling day at the races on March 24. Add in face-painting, arts and crafts and balloon modelling as the 23/24 Jumps season comes to an exhilarating climax. Adults from £30, free for under-18s. You can find out more at ascot.com/springfamilyraceday.
Howletts Wild Animal Park, Kent
Kent’s original wildlife park houses some of the world’s most endangered and rare animals. There are more than 390 to see, including giant anteaters, the largest herd of African elephants in the UK, baby gorilla Saffi, and lion cubs Zemo and Zala. Daily ranger talks. Adults, £25, children £20. Find out more at aspinallfoundation.org/howletts.
The Great Easter Show, Hawarden Estate, Flintshire, Wales
On March 30, children of all ages can enjoy unlimited fairground rides including dodgems, a carousel and helter-skelter, as well as face painting workshops, plus there’s Hawarden dog show to enter. Peruse the craft market and call into the award-winning farm shop. Adults £16, child £11, under-fives free. Find out more at hawardenestate.co.uk/events/the-great-easter-show-2024.
All the fun of the fair at Butlin’s resorts
Enjoy a day to remember at Butlin’s Skegness, Minehead and Bognor Regis resorts. A day pass includes free-flow access to Splash Waterworld and unlimited fairground rides. For tots the Little Stars Fairground offers mini planes and teacups. Day visitors to Skegness get to experience the new £2.5million SKYPARK, plus there are shows in the Skyline Pavilion, £23 adults, £15 children. Find out more at butlins.com/day-visits.
Diving with sharks at Bear Grylls Adventure, Birmingham
Explore the underwater world at The Bear Grylls Adventure activity centre. Feel the wonder of diving into the oceanarium and take the plunge with aquatic creatures such as blacktip reef sharks, nurse sharks and tropical fish, all under the guidance of PADI-trained dive professionals. It costs £120 for two hours. Find out more at beargryllsadventure.com.
A day out among the daffodils, Gloucestershire
Take in the floral splendour of the Golden Triangle, with daffodils that can be seen around Dymock, Kempley and Oxenhall in Gloucestershire at the end of March. The Easter weekend also marks the first opportunity to taste the wines at Three Choirs Vineyards, less than five minutes’ drive from Dymock, from last year’s harvest, before they go on sale. Tasting sessions for £20pp. Find out more at three-choirs-vineyards.co.uk and visitdeanwye.co.uk.
See the London sights
Packed full of the capital’s most famous sights, Tootbus offers a 45-minute kids’ tour departing every Saturday and Sunday and daily during school holidays from the Haymarket end of Charles II Street. It takes in the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Pall Mall, Westminster Abbey, Piccadilly Circus and Downing Street. It costs £20pp, family ticket £60, under-threes free. Find out more at tootbus.com.
Edinburgh Science Festival
The world’s first and still one of the biggest, Edinburgh Science Festival returns from March30 to April 14. Expect a fantastic programme of discussions with top scientists, hands-on activities and interactive exhibitions taking over the city. From AI and carbon capture to (literally) digging up dinosaurs or programming your own robot, this year’s theme is Shaping the Future. Find out more at sciencefestival.co.uk/festival.
Hockerhill Adventure Playbarn, Brewood, Staffordshire
A new attraction, the playbarn’s centrepiece is a mock oak tree modelled on the one King Charles II hid in as he fled Oliver Cromwell at the Battle of Worcester. Children can explore bridges, walkways, tunnels, slides and rope equipment. For added excitement, the Hockerhill pedal go-kart track starts indoors before heading outside on a winding track.
There is also an area with zip lines, swings, slides, sand pit and toddler zone, plus a hut serving pizza and ice cream. Opens in March. Exact date and prices to be confirmed. Find out more at hockerhill.com.
Shaun the Sheep at Tatton Park, Cheshire
Tatton Park is welcoming Shaun the Sheep to the 50-acre gardens. The unique arts trail includes 12 super-sized Shaun the Sheep sculptures. Spot the signs of spring across the park, from cherry blossoms in the Japanese Garden to the fruits and vegetables that flourish in the veggie garden. From March 29.
Visitors during Easter weekend will receive a chocolate reward for finding the whole flock. Car-parking £8 on weekdays, £9.50 weekends. Find out more at tattonpark.org.uk.
Scrambled Eggs! at St Davids Bishop’s Palace, Pembrokeshire
Solve the Easter puzzle searching the Great Hall, courtyard and chapel for clues. The final task of this egg-hunting experience is unscrambling letters to solve a mystery. From March 30- April 1, it costs £8.80, under-fives are free. Find out more at cadw.gov.wales/scrambled-eggs.
Studfold’s Great Easter Egg and Fairy Hunt, Yorkshire
Studfold Farm opens its Adventure Nature Trail with a Great Easter Egg and Fairy Hunt.
Along the 1.5-mile trail in the Yorkshire Dales, families can discover willow nests, brightly coloured eggs, rabbits and the permanent village of carved wooden houses occupied by Nidderdale’s fairies and pixies. There’s also a bird hide, den-building and go karting. From March 23 to April 7, £8.50pp, under-twos free. Find out more at studfold.com.