Save money this Easter weekend with these FREE kids events up and down the country, from egg rolling to crafting
THERE is a feast of FREE family fun to be had over the Easter school holiday.
From egg hunts, duck races and craft sessions, to taking in a spot of culture, treats for all ages abound.
Laura Stott rounds up what is on offer across the country . . .
South and South East
WAREHORNE, KENT – today: Quacking Good Friday fun at the annual Easter Duck Race at The Woolpack Inn in Kent.
There’s no charge to join the hundreds who gather each Easter to watch the parade of yellow rubber duckies race on the Royal Military Canal.
There’s also live music, an Easter BBQ, and fun family games.
See woolpackwarehorne.co.uk/whats-on
ST ALBANS, HERTS – now till April 14: A high-tech egg hunt, Hunt for the Easterlopers.
Scan QR codes to track down the missing Easter Bunny and locate magical eggs in city centre shops.
Discover the Easter Bunny and there’s also a free puzzle pack to download.
EASTLEIGH, HANTS – now till April 1: Over the bank holiday weekend enjoy free family fun at the Pavilion On The Park in Eastleigh.
Activities include an egg hunt, face painting and a bouncy castle.
https://allevents.in/eastleigh/eastleigh-easter eggstravaganza/800026058959133
BUCKS MUSEUM, AYESBURY, BUCKS – now till April 14: A free Easter Egg Trail is open every day over the holidays at Bucks Museum with a no-charge Family Easter Eggstravaganza on Easter Saturday.
Enjoy egg hunts, egg and spoon racing and croquet on the lawn.
Spring Bonnets are encouraged!
See discoverbucksmuseum.org/whatson/easter-holiday-activities2024
RIDGEVIEW, EAST SUSSEX – now till Easter Monday, noon-4pm: Take in beautiful spring bluebell woods while wandering along the free Easter Family Trail at the Ridgeview Vineyard.
Activity packs, honeybees, and a bug hotel accompany kids along the way, and a choc treat on completion.
Meanwhile adults can enjoy a discounted wine tasting.
Cheers!
See Ridgeview.co.uk
SOUTHAMPTON – now till April 14: Explore Southampton’s Old Town as you enjoy a free Easter egg hunt.
Collect a map, hunt down the chocs and solve the challenges to win a prize.
See visitsouthampton.co.uk/eastertrail
Wales & South West
SWANSEA – now till April 7: Try a free pottery-making class or enjoy a treasure hunt over Easter at Swansea Museum.
Kids also get a complimentary activity pack with games to take home.
See swanseamuseum.co.uk
TAUNTON, Somerset – tomorrow, 11am-1pm: Free egg hunt at Maidenbrook Country Park in Somerset.
Find the clues, solve the riddle and take home an Easter Egg!
Free but register your place in advance.
See allevents.in/taunton/free-community-easter-egg-hunt-at-maidenbrook-country-park
DARTMOOR NATIONAL PARK VISITOR CENTRE, DEVON – today till April 3: The great outdoors beckons on beautiful Dartmoor with a free Easter trail sheet with the possibility of finding real eggs.
It runs at the visitor centres in Princetown, Postbridge and Haytor.
BLANDFORD FORUM, DORSET – now until April 13: The market town’s museum is holding easter craft and hunt fun.
There will be the chance to make a basket, search for “naughty bunnies” and other games.
ST DAVIDS, PEMBROKES – tomorrow till Easter Monday, 10am-4pm: There’s a Spring puzzle to solve at the Scrambled Eggs Easter event at St Davids Bishop’s Palace.
Kids can enjoy searching through the majestic Great Hall, enchanting courtyard and the hallowed chapel for hidden clues.
Hunt for the letters collected along the quest and solve this Easter mystery.
Events are free as well as admission for under fives.
CHIPPENHAM, WILTSHIRE AND VENUES NATIONWIDE – March 29-31: Choccie egg hunts are running at Brewers Fayre restaurants around the UK over Easter weekend ( selected sites).
Kids follow clues left by the Easter Bunny, with a guaranteed prize for everyone at the end.
Two under 16 year-olds also eat free with every adult breakfast purchased.
MILFORD HAVEN, PEMBROKES – now till April 7: There’s a chance to win a hamper of goodies, with a free themed trail and egg search around the waterside location of Milford Marina.
Meet and greet with the Easter Bunny or try face painting at the Milford Haven Museum.
See milfordwaterfront.co.uk
London
ELEPHANT AND CASTLE, SOUTH LONDON – tomorrow, 11am-5pm: A Family Rainbow Hoppy Easter event takes place in Castle Square.
Children can enjoy face-painting and there will be tasty food on sale from traders with up to 15 per cent off.
Oh, and look out for the Easter Bunny.
See castlesquarelondon.com/news/rainbow- hoppy-easter-event.
WEMBLEY, NORTH LONDON – now until April 14: The Urban Nature Explorer Easter Trail at the London Designer outlet is a chance for young ones to wonder at wildlife, and clues lead to some yummy rewards.
There’s also free children’s grub on offer at Las Iguanas and Frankie & Benny’s.
See londondesigneroutlet.com/event/go-into-the-wild-easter-activities.
TRAFALGAR SQUARE, CENTRAL LONDON – today, noon-3.15pm: Every Good Friday the Passion of Jesus is re-enacted, with a cast of 100 volunteers.
No tickets required for this magical spectacle in the historic square.
East of England
NORWICH CATHEDRAL – April 3, 10am-2pm: The Easter Experience Family Event is a family day of crafts, games and other activities.
Various themes of the Easter message will be illustrated in different parts of the cathedral, with stories and activities.
There will also be a reflection zone, if you fancy some restful peace and quiet, and a trail to follow.
BURY ST EDMUNDS, SUFFOLK – now till April 7: An Easter Dinosaur Egg Trail contest is taking place around town.
Jurassic clues in shop windows will guide you as you look for hidden eggs.
See ourburystedmunds.com
CROMER, SUFFOLK – April 2-4, 11am: Laughs aplenty are guaranteed at a puppet show in the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s Henry Blogg Museum.
Celebrating fishermen, it is called Up Jumped the Crab.
CHELMSFORD, ESSEX – April 3-5, 10.30am-noon and 1.30-3pm: Chelmsford Museum is holding Easter card craft sessions.
Also, at the Indoor Market, try to spot the hidden bunnies before a prize draw is held on April 13.
Midlands
LEICESTER CITY CENTRE – now until April 8: A daily free Easter egg hunt is being run by local businesses.
There are clues to find the chocolate treats and prizes worth up to £100.
See bidleicester.co.uk.
WOLVERHAMPTON – April 3, 10am-noon and 2-4pm: Get creative at a craft day in the Mander Centre, where children will get the chance to decorate a plant pot.
OXFORD COVERED MARKET, OXFORD – now until Easter Monday: Take your entry card around the indoor market and search shops for egg pictures marked with letters, get your card stamped and receive chocolate shells as your reward.
Once your card is completed, you will be entered into a prize draw.
See oxford-coveredmarket.co.uk.
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, OXFORD – now till April 14: The Eggstraordinary Easter Family Trail at the Natural History Museum in Oxford is smashing educational fun.
Look for hidden eggs around the museum and check out Easter-themed exhibits.
See oumnh.ox.ac.uk/event/easter-eggventure-family-trail.
STOKE-ON-TRENT – today: Enjoy Easter Bunny dance parties, a fruit-and-veg trail and green- fingered fun at The Potteries Centre.
Every child will receive a Green Club certificate, an activity booklet, and their very own planted flower to take home.
North of England
SHEFFIELD – April 3-4, 11am-2pm: Easter stickers will be displayed in windows across The Moor in Sheffield for a free family Egg Hunt.
Children pick up their trail map from the Easter Garden gazebo to discover where each egg is located using the clues.
See moorsheffield.com.
PRESTON, LANCS – Easter Monday: Enjoy the annual 150-year-old Easter Monday tradition of free Egg Rolling at Preston’s Avenham and Miller Parks.
Bring your own egg – real or chocolate – ready to roll down the hill with hundreds of others, on the hour all day.
Dress up – there’s also an Easter Bonnet competition.
See visitpreston.com
COLNE, LANCS – tomorrow: Colne Town Centre Easter market is completely free with family activities that’ll keep all ages occupied.
With an Easter trail, magic shows, balloon making, archery and rodeo sheep to name just some.
All costing nothing!
See colnetowncouncil.org.uk
YORKSHIRE SCULPTURE PARK, WEST BRETTON – now till April 7: An outdoor Easter Hop Along Trail with real Easter Bunnies!
See wild hoppers, rabbit and hare sculptures and spring along to the end of the trail for a choccie reward.
Under 18’s free.
SALFORD QUAYS, GREATER. MANCHESTER – Easter Monday, 10am-noon: Free Easter crafting for kids at Kargo Mkt.
Young ones can create their own Spring designs to take home.
Reserve in advance.
MANCHESTER – now till April 7: Easter bonnet and Easter egg making workshops, plus egg hunts with prizes are on offer at the Trafford Palazzo.
A parade on Easter Sunday boasts Alice in Wonderland and a host of performing friends.
See traffordpalazzo.co.uk/events/tp-easter-tea-party
WENSLEYDALE, NORTH YORKS – now till April 5, 10am-4pm: For Easter the Cheese Visitor Experience at the famed Wensleydale Creamery is free for all children under the age of 16.
Kids can enjoy a host of interactive activities, from completing a Cheese Trail Quiz, to having their photo taken with life-size knitted figures of Yorkshire Wensleydale’s biggest fans – Wallace & Gromit.
Plus plenty of cheese tasting – ideal if you have had enough chocolate.
STOCKPORT, GREATER MANCHESTER, March 30 – 11am-3pm: There’s free interactive Springo Bingo at the Merseyway Shopping Centre in Stockport on Easter Saturday.
Regular games will run between 11am and 3pm with an egg-citing mix of bunny hop dance offs, mini-game intervals, and lots of prizes up for grabs.
See merseyway.com