101 fantastic activities for the Easter 2024 school holidays

Let's dance
What: Experience the thrill of the world’s most famous ballet, with this special kid-friendly performance of Swan Lake from London’s Sadler’s Wells. With a narrator to help follow the story, a shortened version of Tchaikovsky’s wonderful music, and all the beautiful dancing and elegant costumes you could wish for, this is the perfect introduction to the joy of live ballet for little ones. For that real Easter appeal, you can also check out The Velveteen Rabbit, a heartwarming dance theatre treat featuring a stuffed rabbit and a grown-up boy who wonder about growing older, being loved, and what it might take to be real.
Where: Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Rosebery Avenue, London EC1R 4TN
When: Swan Lake, 4-13 April, times vary. The Velveteen Rabbit, 5-6 April, 11am and 2pm.
Need to know: Swan Lake tickets from £12. The Velveteen Rabbit tickets from £18. Book online or call 020 7863 8000.

Into the blue
What: Bound along to Kew and enjoy laughter, discovery, and plenty of fun as the smash-hit animated television series Bluey comes to life this Easter holiday! Get stuck into a brand-new interactive adventure, as you take part in a variety of fun outdoor activities and games inspired by fan-favourite episodes of the show and learn about the plants and wildlife found at Kew and in Bluey’s native Australia along the way. Plus, don’t miss the chance to say hello to Bluey himself every day throughout the event.
Where: Kew Gardens, Kew Rd, Richmond TW9 3AB
When: 29 March-14 April, 10am-6pm.
Need to know: Event free with admission, family ticket from £43 online.

Adorable antics
What: From emojis to internet memes, flowers to plushie toys, chubby-cheeked babies to loveable robots, cuteness has taken over our world. But how? Step into Somerset House’s new exhibition CUTE to find out. Discover how cuteness has permeated music, fashion, toys, video games and social media alike in the age of the internet, and the emotive change behind our embrace of cute culture, while also enjoying fully playable arcade games and a special display celebrating one of the world’s most iconic cute characters, Hello Kitty. 
Where: Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA
When: Until 14 April, 10am-6pm, last entry 5pm.
Need to know: Adult tickets £18.50, child £11.

Ship shape
What: It’s all hands on deck aboard the Cutty Sark this holiday, so head up the gangplank and set sail for some maritime merriment. Follow the trail around the historic vessel and discover facts and stories of life at sea while meeting all kinds of colourful characters from the Cutty Sark’s past – including the captain, ship’s cook, dock workers and even the figurehead!  Afterwards you can discover the secrets of scrimshaw, listen to sea chanties, design your own figurehead with help from a professional illustrator, or create a giant drawing imagining the future of London.
Where: Cutty Sark, King William Walk, London SE10 9HT
When: 1-16 April, 10am-5pm. Dates and times for activities vary. 
Need to know: Activities included with admission, adults from £18, children £9. 

Curious Cathedrals
What: Discover the history and rebirth of Paris’ world-famous Notre Dame cathedral with this special augmented-reality exhibition at Westminster Abbey. Explore the story of this masterpiece of gothic architecture, from its earliest origins in the 12th century to its painstaking restoration following the devastating fire of 2019, using a special HistroPad tablet to guide you through Notre Dame’s illustrious 850-year history. Experience the lavish wedding of Henri IV, Napoleon Bonaparte’s coronation as Emperor, and the careful construction of the Viollet-le-Duc spire, before meeting the 21st century experts returning the building to its former glory.
Where: Westminster Abbey, Chapter House, London, SW1P 3PA 
When: Until 1st June 2024, 10am-3pm.
Need to know: Free with admission.  Adult ticket £29, one child free with each paying adult, otherwise £13 per child.

Spring fling
What: Celebrate springtime at the Horniman’s fabulous annual fair, showcasing live music, crafty creations, seasonal games and much more for all the family. Have a go at making your own spring bonnet from recycled materials before taking part in the grand parade, get your hoop on with circus skills workshops and shimmy in the springtime disco, play with super-sized bubbles, meet butterflies, alpacas, rabbits and goats along the Animal Walk or let off some steam with traditional outdoor games.
Where: Horniman Museum and Gardens, 100 London Road, London SE23 3PQ
When: 30 March, 11am-5pm.
Need to know: Tickets £5 per person. Pre-booking essential.

Creature comforts
What: Celebrate a British animation classic with the Cartoon Museum as it marks the 30th anniversary of The Wrong Trousers with this one-of-a-kind exhibition. Discover exactly how Aardman brought Wallace and Gromit to life, with original artwork by Nick Park, photographs of the studio during animation, and plenty of set pieces and models. You can find out what inspired Park and Peter Lord to make the film, how they created Gromit’s many hilarious expressions, and how they had to stop the plasticine melting under the stage lights. You can also make your own Wallace & Gromit character to take home with you, helped by Jim Parkyn - one of Aardman Animation's own modelmakers in a special workshop.
Where: The Cartoon Museum, 63 Wells Street, London W1A 3AE
When: Exhibition until 16 April, 10am-5.30pm. Workshop, 16 March and 4 April, times vary.
Need to know: Included with admission, £9.50 adult, children go free. Workshop, £20, suitable for 6+.

Wonderful world
What: Take a journey into the unknown at the Southbank Centre this spring as you enter a world of mythical beasts, rhythmic grooves and wonderful words. Embark on a fantastical adventure with Dragons and Mythical Beasts, an award-winning show direct from the West End featuring spectacular puppets from towering trolls to adorable unicorns, explore the wonders and woes of plastics in the contemporary dance show Plastic Drastic Fantastic, get your groove on at a maypole-themed multi-cultural dance party, or embrace your inner bookworm with literary events featuring award-winning children’s authors, poets and illustrators, such as Raymond Antrobus, Ken Wilson-Max and Patrice Lawrence. 
Where: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX
When: 3-13 April, various dates and times. 
Need to know: Prices vary by event, some events free. 

Show boating
What: Take a deep dive into London’s murky past with Horrible Histories as you head out onto the Terrible Thames with this unique live theatrical performance taking place on the river. You’ll take a boat trip around London’s most iconic landmarks, including the Tower of London, London Bridge, Cleopatra’s Needle and the Palace of Westminster as you hear tales of Henry VIII, Boudica, Jack The Ripper, Julius Caesar and many more famous figures from the capital’s history.
Where: Tower Bridge Quay, St Katharine's Way, London E1W 1LD
When: 23 March-14 April, 10.45am then every hour until 3.45pm.
Need to know: Family ticket, £70.

Going underground
What: Discover the significant moments that have shaped London’s history – and its transport – as we know it, from VE Day to the 2012 Olympic Games, with these fun activities from the London Transport Museum. Meet a colourful cast of characters across different eras of the capital’s fascinating history, climb aboard historic trains, trams and buses, see if you’ve got what it takes to drive a new Elizabeth Line tube train, before taking inspiration from your journey to build a futuristic time-travelling vehicle. 
Where: London Transport Museum, The Piazza, London WC2E 7BB 
When: Weekdays over Easter, 10.30am-4pm
Need to know: Events included with admission, adults £24, children go free. 

We are the champions
What: Head to the Roald Dahl Museum for some dastardly derring-do with a range of fun activities inspired by Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox and Danny the Champion of the World. Expect stupendious storytelling in the Wondrous Woods, where you’ll be able to hear exactly how Danny’s dad managed to hide 120 pheasants or find out about Mr Fox’s Fantastic Feast, before getting stuck in with some marvellously messy clay modelling – craft your own feast and devise the menu, or make clay pots, complete with pheasants to hide inside. You can also get stuck in with junk modelling and use all kinds of materials to construct your very own version of Danny’s caravan.
Where: The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, 81-83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL
When: 29 March-14 April, 10am-4.30pm. 
Need to know: Admission £9.95 per person. Under 5s go free. Craft activities, £4 per person. 

Fights of Fancy
What: Dive into the weird and wonderful world of your favourite tales with these all-day workshops at Oxford’s Story Museum. Craft your own feathered friend and brilliant bird puppet, grab your broomstick for a Harry Potter-inspired Quadball match, or head into space as you create an alien character that’s out of this world for a theatre workshop. You can also discover Alice’s Wonderland in the Enchanted Library, where you can tumble down the rabbit hole and discover floating furniture, whimsical tea sets, and even some signs of the elusive White Rabbit.
Where: The Story Museum, 42 Pembroke Street, Oxford OX1 1BP
When: 9 April, bird puppets, 10 April, Quadball, and 11 April, aliens, 10am-4pm (can be extended to 9am-5pm). Alice in Wonderland, 29-30 March, 9.30am-5.30pm and 1-14 April, 10am-5.30pm. 
Need to know: Tickets, £44 per child (£60, 9am-5pm extended time) suitable for 8-12 years. Alice in Wonderland free with admission, from £12 per person.  

Big build
What: Come along to Dover Castle and help to build history – with Lego bricks that is – as the Big Brick Build takes place this holiday. Help a team of master builders to construct a giant Lego sculpture of Henry II’s mighty Great Tower by building sections that will be joined together to form an amazing recreation of the heart of Dover Castle. Afterwards, don’t forget to join in with the cracking Easter Adventure Quest, as you hunt for clues throughout the castle and discover the hidden Easter eggs to win a tasty chocolate treat. 
Where: Dover Castle, Castle Hill, Dover, Kent, CT16 1HU
When: 6 April-14 April, 10am-4pm.
Need to know: Activities free with admission, family ticket from £54.50. 

Bloom or bust!
What: Spring into a new season of activities at Winchester Science Centre – while outside things are beginning to bloom, inside experiments are set to go boom! You can make things pop in the brand new Bubble Trouble show, from fascinating dry ice to fiery propane bubbles, discover the difference between Easter rabbits and Easter hares as you hop off on a naturalist’s Easter Egg Hunt solving puzzles along the way, or zoom into the stars at the planetarium as you explore alien worlds and discover the secrets of cosmic chemistry.
Where: Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium, Telegraph Way, Winchester SO21 1HZ
When: 16 March-15 April, 9.30am-5pm.
Need to know: Most activities included with admission. Tickets £13.75 per person. Planetarium tickets £4 extra.

Super safari
What: Get set to explore the rolling (Kentish!) savannah on an off-road vehicle as you take part in one of Port Lympne’s unique safari expedition experiences. Journey across the African, Asian and South American safari zones and meet a fascinating range of free-roaming wildlife including giraffes, rhinos, lemurs, wildebeest, buffalo and monkeys, alongside your expert guide. If you’re looking to get even more up close and personal, you can upgrade your safari and get the chance to feed the animals a tasty snack.
Where: Port Lympne Safari Park, Aldington Rd, Lympne, Hythe CT21 4LR
When: Daily, subject to availability. Ultimate Safari, 11.30am, Giraffe Safari, 12pm. Ranger and Rhino Safari, times vary.
Need to know: Suitable for 5+, tickets from £30 per person depending on safari chosen. Does not include general admission. 

Dangerous depths
What: Embark on a dangerous rescue mission as Stormy Stan and the Storm Force Crew drop anchor at Chatham Historic Dockyard. Help them in their quest to round up the missing lifebuoys spread throughout the Dockyard – you’ll need to navigate twists and turns, complete safety checks and solve puzzles to get everything ship shape. Afterwards, don’t forget to pop into the new exhibition RNLI 200, celebrating the bicentenary of Britain’s lifeboat charity and hear tales of heroism and life-saving at sea from past to present, and chart the RNLI’s development from row-boats and cork life vests to the marvels of modern-day technology. 
Where: Chatham Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TE
When: 29 March-6 May, 10am-4pm (March), 10am-5pm (April, May). 
Need to know: Events free with admission. Adults £28.50, first child £18, additional children £14. 

Hoppy Easter 
What: Celebrate Canterbury’s most famous cat with a new exhibition and family display celebrating the 50th anniversary of Bagpuss’ debut on the BBC – alongside the Clangers, Noggin the Nog, Ivor the Engine, and other iconic characters brought to life by Peter Firmin, Oliver Postgate and their Smallfilms studio. Find out how the duo pioneered stop-motion animation on TV, taking them from their humble rural roots to winning BAFTA awards, through books, comics and of course original models, including Bagpuss himself! You can also join in with the family trail and help hunt for some of the characters who have escaped into the museum looking for interesting presents for Bagpuss’ birthday.
Where: The Beaney, 18 High Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2RA
When: Until 16 April, 10am-5pm,Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-4pm, Sunday.
Need to know: Free entry. £5, per trail.

Wheely good
What: Make sure Brooklands is your next stop this Easter as the London Bus Museum plays host to over 100 buses and coaches from throughout the decades for its special Spring Gathering. Enjoy free vintage bus excursions and shuttles, enjoy bus-themed crafting activities, or take a tour of the museum workshop and discover what it takes to keep these magnificent machines running and restore them to display-worthy condition. Visit over Easter and you can enjoy a special egg trail, balloon car races, pedal planes and cars, and outdoor games too.
Where: Brookands Motor Museum/the London Bus Museum, Brooklands Dr, Weybridge KT13 0SL
When: Spring gathering, 14 April, 10am-5pm. Easter activities, 29 March-14 April. 
Need to know: Included with admission, adults £22.70, children £9.50. 

Super sleuths
What: See if you can crack the case and catch the dastardly egg thief with this new trail at Marwell Zoo! Channel your inner inspector and see if you can identify the culprit for a chance to win a grand prize. Afterwards, you can waddle over to greet the zoo’s newest arrivals – a flock of 10 Humboldt penguins, enjoy garden games, meet the Easter Bunny in his den, and keep your eyes peeled for some well-hidden golden eggs. 
Where: Marwell Zoo, Thompson's Lane, Colden Common, Winchester SO21 1JH
When: 29 March-14 April, 10am-5pm.
Need to know: Admission, £25.18 adults, £21.51 children. Detective trail sheets, £2.50 per child, Easter Bunny, £5 per child.

Animal antics
What: From giant ostriches to tiny butterflies, discover all kinds of amazing egg-laying animals with this new family trail at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. Set off on the Zoonormous Egg Hunt and seek out eggs of all shapes, sizes and colours amidst the enclosures, finding out more about the amazing animals that laid them while solving the riddles to help you find the magnificent Golden Egg! You’ll also be able to enjoy Easter crafts and meet some mischievous mammals at the new Monkey Forest exhibit, including swinging langurs, chattering macaques, and many more.
Where: ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Whipsnade, Dunstable LU6 2LF
When: 29 March-14 April, 10am-6pm 
Need to know: Activities included in admission, tickets from £28.50 adult, £19.90 child. 

Perfect puppets
What: Expect all kinds of creatures to feature at the Norwich Puppet Theatre this Easter. Bound into action and enjoy some fluffy fun as you design a bunch of bouncing bunnies, or construct a selection of creative critters from cardboard, all ready for a very special puppet family performance! Or settle down and enjoy the Insect Circus, where you can meet some marvellous minibeasts including beetles, grasshoppers and dragonflies, all portrayed by traditional wooden marionettes. 
Where: Norwich Puppet Theatre, St James Whitefriars, Norwich, Norfolk NR3 1TN
When: 30 March (bunnies), 10.30am. 4 April (critters), 10am. The Insect Circus, 29 March, 11am, 2.30pm. 
Need to know: Workshops, £10 per person or £36 per family. Workshops suitable for 4+. Insect Circus, family ticket £40. 

Go code crackers
What: Discover the stories of Britain’s best kept secrets with these analytical activities for all ages taking place at Bletchley Park, where Alan Turing and his team of Codebreakers deciphered the enigma code. You’ll be able to take a family-friendly tour of the mansion to discover what everyday life was like for the Enigma code-breakers in 1941 and find out if you’ve got what it takes to help out with top secret war work, get crafty and design a stained-glass window or maze inspired by the mansion’s features, or go on a special Easter mission and crack a crafty code using clues hidden on bunnies scattered throughout the grounds. 
Where: The Mansion, Bletchley Park, Sherwood Drive, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK3 6EB
When: 29 March-12 April, 9.30am-5pm
Need to know: Activities free with admission, family ticket £63. 

Welly good 
What: Celebrate the start of spring as you, hop, skip and frolic your way around Sheringham Park's outdoor Easter trail. Explore the sights, smells and sounds of the sensory garden and wander through the wildflower meadow before looking out for minibeasties lurking beneath the surface of the pond. You’ll also be able to have a go at 10 different nature-themed activity stations, including bracelet making, pine cone and spoon races and welly-wanging! Where: Sheringham Park, Upper Sheringham, Norfolk, NR26 8TL
When: 23 March-14 April, 10am-4pm. Night visits, 2-3 April, 7.30-9.30pm
Need to know: Admission free. Car parking, £6.50. £3 per trail pack, includes chocolate treat. 

Say arghhhhh
What: Shiver me timbers! A band of dastardly pirates have taken over Great Yarmouth’s SEA LIFE aquarium, but their leader, the scatter-brained Captain Careless, has lost his pirate treasure! Set off on an undersea voyage to recover the lost booty, finding out about the wonderful wildlife that make up the real ‘treasures of the ocean’ as you journey through the exhibits, then return your haul to the good Captain and enjoy some fun pirate-themed games.
Where: SEA LIFE Great Yarmouth, Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth NR30 3AH
When: 22 March-21 April, 10am-3pm until 27 March, 10am-4pm after. 
Need to know: Activities free with admission, adult tickets from £16, child £14. 

Fun on the farm
What: Enjoy the sunshine in the Cambridgeshire countryside with hands-on activities at Sacrewell Heritage Farm. Go on an outdoor wander throughout the site and find the giant wooden eggs to win a tasty reward, meet the farm’s fluffy lambs at feeding time, test your luck with farm animal bingo in the courtyard, or join the Easter Bunny on the lawn for a bubble dance party, complete with dance-offs and a musical statues competition.
Where: Sacrewell Heritage Farm and Country Centre, Thornhaugh, Cambridgeshire PE8 6HJ
When: 29 March-1 April, 9am-4.30pm.
Need to know: Tickets £9.95 adults, £17.50 children.

Animal crackers
What: Explore a collection of British wildlife animal art from the Middle Ages to the present day with Animals in the Art Gallery, a family-friendly exhibition hosted at Christchurch Mansion. After admiring a selection of different creatures and habitats across painting, sculpture and ceramics, you can join in with some themed craft activities, and have a go at making your own wiggly caterpillar, leaping hare or pop-up chick to take home. 
Where: Christchurch Mansion, Soane Street, Ipswich IP4 2BE
When: Exhibition, 10am-5pm, Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-5pm, Monday. Crafts, 2-11 April, 10.30am, 11.30am, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. 
Need to know: Exhibition free, crafts £5 per child. Suitable for 5+.

In a flap
What: Set off on a bird-brained adventure at RSPB Minsmere as you follow the family trail to help Beatrice the Bittern find her missing eggs, meeting all kinds of helpful creatures along the way. You’ll also be able to make a splash with pond dipping and discover the weird and wonderful creatures that can be found beneath the surface, from Water Scorpions to Great Silver Diving Beetles – you may even catch a glimpse of the resident family of water voles.
Where: RSPB Minsmere, Sheepwash Lane, Saxmundham Suffolk IP17 3BY
When: Beatrice Bittern, 16 March-14 April, 9am-4.30pm. Pond dipping 1, 3, 5, 8, 10 and 12 April, 10am-4pm.
Need to know: Trail sheets £3 per child, pond dipping £4 per child plus £1 booking fee. 

A fishy tale
What: Prepare to have a swimmingly good time this April with classic fairy tale, The Little Mermaid – a bubbly new pantomime at Felixstowe’s Spa Pavilion. Join Lenor the magical mermaid princess as she goes in search of her sea legs in a fast-paced Easter extravaganza packed with pop music, magic and puppets – it’s guaranteed to make a splash!
Where: The Spa Pavilion Theatre, Undercliff Road West, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 2DX
When: 11 April, 3pm.
Need to know: Family ticket £48.  

Ship shape
What: Get creepy and crawly at the Mary Rose Museum as Vlad the flea pays a visit to mark the publication of his latest adventure, starring the Mary Rose herself. You can meet Kate and Sam Cunningham, the author and illustrator, for book signings, storytelling and live sketching sessions, before peering through a microscope at the creepy critters that were found on board the Mary Rose, craft your own version of Vlad and submit it to the Funkiest Flea competition for the chance to win an Easter egg, and join conservators David and Sarah to discover the story of the Mary Rose and what it takes to keep the wreck shipshape. 
Where: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Victory Gate, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth PO1 3LJ
When: 1 April, 12pm-4pm, 9-13 April, 11am-3pm.
Need to know: Free with admission to the Mary Rose Museum, £34 adult, £24 child.

Woolly wonders
What: Discover wonders of spring as you explore the Lost Gardens of Heligan in full bloom and follow the story of Lowenna the Lost Lamb. Reconnect with nature amidst the peaceful sights and sounds of the gardens as you follow Lowenna’s adventure, collecting stamps for your trail booklet along the way. Having left your woolly friend playing in the meadow, you’ll be able to wander back to collect a tasty reward for completing your journey, then get creative with some fun Easter arts and crafts.  
Where: The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Pentewan, St.Austell, Cornwall, PL26 6EN 
When: 29 March-14 April, 10.30am-4.30pm. 
Need to know: Included with admission, family ticket £65. 

Nest level
What: Spring has sprung at Bath’s American Museum, so why not pop in for some cracking Easter fun? Enjoy a colourful Easter trail in the daffodil-filled gardens, storytelling, face-painting and creative crafts, as well as an egg roll race on the lawn. You can also check out the family friendly American Road Trip exhibition, an immersive gallery exploring the significance of these adventures in real life and pop culture alike, including giant-size travel games, a film-style car set, iconic American memorabilia and a chance to share your own story.
Where: American Museum, Claverton Manor, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7BD
When: 29 March-14 April, 10am-5pm
Need to know: Most activities included with admission, family ticket from £41.50. Family trail, £3.50 extra. Face painting, from £3 extra.

Factory fun
What: It’s full steam ahead at the historic Coldharbour Mill, as the Georgian woollen mill, one of the oldest in the UK, switches on its steam engines this April. Discover more about how steam mills like Coldharbour ignited the Industrial Revolution amidst the clatter of the factory floor, before celebrating Easter with a special Mad Hatters and March Hares Steam Day filled with activities including an egg hunt, special tea party, family crafts and even a visit from the Easter Bunny himself! 
Where: Coldharbour Mill, Uffculme, Cullompton EX15 3EE
When: 1 April, 10.30am-4.30pm
Need to know: Events free with a family ticket from £44.

Saxon shenanigans
What: Honour the ancient springtime celebration of Ēostre at Butser Ancient Farm with Anglo-Saxon style storytelling, crafts and combat. Witness dramatic displays of martial prowess, from shield-walls to skilled archers, before dressing up in Iron Age armour and learning the ancient arts of spinning or chalk-carving in the Saxon settlement. You can also sample some historic cooking, watch blacksmiths and leatherworkers ply their trade, or follow the family trail around the farm to discover what farm animals were like in ancient times and say hello to some super-cute spring lambs! 
Where: Butser Ancient Farm, Chalton Lane, Chalton Hampshire PO8 0BG
When: 29 March-14 April, 10am-5pm. 
Need to know: Activities free with admission. Family ticket, £32.80.

Forage for a fossil
What: Calling all dino lovers! If you’re interested in getting hands on with a real piece of prehistory, head on over to the Isle of Wight for a fossil-finding expedition. Run by real life palaeontologists and geologists from the Dinosaur Isle Museum (in a building shaped like a giant pterodactyl), you could find yourself your very own dinosaur footprint as you hunt for fossils on one of their brilliant beach walks.
Where: Dinosaur Isle, Culver Parade, Sandown, Isle of Wight, PO36 8QA
When: 2-5, 12 April, start times vary.
Need to know: Suitable for 3+. Family ticket, £19. Booking essential by calling 01983 404344. Wellies or other suitable footwear recommended. 

Absolutely fin-tastic
What: Get ready to sleep with sharks at the National Marine Aquarium thanks to this special nighttime event. You’ll take a private tour of the exhibits after dark and learn all about what the sea creatures get up to at night, before playing some rather fishy games and watching a suitably ocean-themed movie (complete with midnight snacks) before settling down to sleep beside the huge Eddystone Reef tank that contains crabs, lobsters, eels – and of course, sharks! 
Where: National Marine Aquarium, Rope Walk, Coxside, Plymouth PL4 0LF
When: 13 April, 6.30pm–14 April, 9am.
Need to know: Child ticket, £50, adult, £45. Children 5-12 must be supervised by an adult. Bring sleeping bag, mat, pillow and toothbrush. 

Pedal power
What: Get ready to step on it at Beaulieu as you discover the history of all things four-wheeled. Enjoy the sound of antique engines as parades of vintage vehicles roll out from the National Motor Museum, keep an eye out for cheeky rabbits hiding in the displays, and don’t miss the chance to take a ride in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or Mr Toad’s motor car from The Wind in the Willows. You can also get the chance to try on an old-fashioned Easter bonnet inside Palace House, get crafting and listen to costumed characters tell tales of life in the 19th century manor.
Where: National Motor Museum, John Montagu Building, Beaulieu, Brockenhurst SO24 7ZN 
When: 29 March-14 April, 10am-5pm.
Need to know: Admission from £62.50 for a family ticket, includes all activities but car rides - £50 for Chitty, £40 for Mr Toad’s car.

Countryside capers
What: Take a trip to deepest Worcestershire and enjoy some farmyard fun at the Countrytastic festival. This year the theme is farming heroes, so dig out your cape and meet a whole menagerie of animals – from ponies to pigs, goats to alpacas and many more – then watch some paw-some dog displays and find out all about farming with the help of JLS star turned farmer and CBBC presenter JB Gill and other special guests. Afterwards, why not hop on board a horse and cart ride, learn some circus skills, have a go at churning your own butter, or even meet a real-life unicorn.
Where: Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire WR13 6NW
When: 28 March, 10am-5pm
Need to know: Tickets £10.85 adult, £6.85 child, including booking fee. Must be booked in advance. Additional charges may apply for some activities. 

Terrific Tudors
What: Step back in time with Tudor World in Stratford-upon-Avon and discover what life was really like for everyday people in the time of Francis Drake, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. Inside a historic 16th century building you can experience the sights, sounds and stories of the past – discover what made up a Tudor feast, perch on a throne or get stuck in the stocks. Or you can try your hand at quill writing, take part in a witch trial and, since Stratford is the birthplace of William Shakespeare, you can even join the Bard himself for a quick walking tour of the town’s Tudor history. 
Where: Tudor World, 40 Sheep Street, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire CV37 6EE
When: Daily, 10am-5pm 
Need to know: Museum family ticket £18.50, £18 for Shakespeare Tour. 

Playful past
What: Explore Coventry’s past, present and future with these immersive artistic activities at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum. Taking inspiration from nature, you can decorate natural wooden eggs or white stones with playful pen patterns and embellishments like glitter, sequins and wool, light up the night with fun lantern jars and colourful candle holders, or reimagine the characters that walked the streets of Coventry in the past and bring them to life on decorated canvas tote bags to take home and use.
Where: Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Jordan Well, Coventry CV1 5QP
When: 23 March-6 April, 10.30am-3.30pm, Drop-in. Dates and times vary. 
Need to know: £2.50 per child. 

Starry Night
What: Be captivated by the artwork of Vincent Van Gogh like never before with this immersive multi-sensory experience that allows you to feel as if you’re stepping inside the paintings themselves. This unique light and sound show takes you on a journey through time and space, visiting the Netherlands, Arles, Saint Rémy and Auvers-sur-Oise as you experience the life of the artist and see his iconic works in a new light. Plus, you can also take part in a special VR experience which will transport you further into Arles, where you can peer inside Vincent’s room and observe a Starry Night over the Rhone. 
Where: All Saints’ Church, Highcross Street, Leicester, Leicestershire LE1 4PH
When: 8-31 March, 10am-6pm. 
Need to know: Ticket £13 per person. VR experience £3 extra.

Victorian values
What: Get cracking down at Blists Hill Victorian Town and celebrate Easter by throwing some serious shapes in a special egg dancing competition – you might even win a prize! You can also try your hand at tile-making, blacksmithing, candle dipping, and printing, where you can make your own personalised bag with the Victorian printing machine, go on an eggcellent easter egg hunt and discover some quirky 19th-century chocolate advertisements. Plus, don’t miss the chance to see the streets filled with miniature steam engines, giving an idea of what life would have been like for Victorian residents.
Where: Blists Hill Victorian Town, Legges Way, Telford TF7 5UD
When: 23 March-14 April, 10am-5pm. Steam engines, 13-14 April.
Need to know: Events free with admission. Adult ticket, £26.50, child ticket, £15.50. Bag printing, £3 extra.

Return of the MAC
What: Hop on down to Birmingham’s MAC where you can expect tons of fun for all the family – from live performances to film screenings and hands-on creative workshops. Have a go at directing your own virtual-reality film, unleash your inner witch or wizard as you wave wands and brew potions in a special week-long magic camp, journey down the rabbit hole with Alice into a world of strange contraptions and curious characters, craft miniature mythical creatures based on Islamic legends, or enjoy family films including Peter Rabbit, Horton Hears a Who! and the brand-new Migration.
Where: MAC, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH
When: 25 March-14 April, dates and times vary by activity. 
Need to know: Prices vary by activity. 

Oh help! Oh no!
What: It’s the Gruffalo’s 25th birthday, and everyone can join in the fun with these new adventure trails at Forestry England’s sites in the Midlands. Join the hunt for missing party items including balloons, pinecones, and apples, as you complete fun challenges in order to give the Gruffalo a party to remember. Or take a trip into the deep dark woods with a special orienteering challenge, using a simple map to find all 12 hidden Gruffalo markers – if you’re feeling competitive, why not race against the clock? 
Where: Gruffalo orienteering trail: Salcey Forest, Sherwood Pines, Wyre Forest and Cannock Chase. Gruffalo party trail: Cannock Chase, Wyre Forest, Hicks Lodge, Haughmond Hill, Delamere Forest and Sherwood Pines.
When: Throughout Easter and beyond.
Need to know: Orienteering leaflet, certificate, and map, £1.50. Party trail pack, £4 (includes colour-in bag, headband, stickers, sew-on Gruffalo patch, pencil and crayon and trail leaflet).

Bake, rattle and roll
What: Set sail for the historic Green’s windmill in Nottingham and find out how flour is made as you watch the restored 19th-century milling machines in action, before setting off on an egg hunt to explore the mill yard, science centre and gardens. Afterwards, why not put some of that flour to good use by baking up a storm at one of their workshops to make pizza, Easter biscuits, or scrumptious scones.
Where: Green’s Windmill, Windmill Lane, Nottingham NG2 4QB
When: Egg hunt, 5-7 April, 10am-3pm. Baking workshops, 1, 8, 13, 15 April, 10.15am-2.30pm.
Need to know: Admission free. Scone and bread baking, £4 per child. Biscuit and pizza baking plus Easter egg hunt, £5 per child. 

Spaced out
What: Get set to blast off at RAF Museum Midlands with a whole host of cosmic activities this holiday. Spark your imagination with explosive demonstrations and audience participation in the Volatile History of Chemistry science show, peer through a telescope and seek out different constellations in a special stargazing session, get crafty and construct your own weird and wonderful spaceship, or see if you’ve got what it takes to soar through the skies in a fast jet thanks to a state-of-the-art flight simulator. 
Where: Royal Air Force Museum Midlands, Lysander Avenue, Cosford, TF11 8UP
When: 23 March-7 April, 10am-5pm. Dates and times vary. 
Need to know: Admission and some activities free. Chemistry show, £22.50 for a family ticket. Crafting activities, £5 per person, all other paid activities £7.50 adults, £5 children. 

Go cocoa-nutty
What: Get set for a sweet sensation as you unwrap the history of York with these delectable events at York’s Chocolate Story. Learn the secrets of chocolate making and craft some handmade treats with a master chocolatier as they show you how to decorate the perfect Easter egg, or take a guided tour of York’s chocolate-making heritage before having a go at rolling, dripping and decorating tasty mini egg truffles.
Where: York’s Chocolate Story, King’s Square, York YO1 7LD
When: Tour and egg rolling, 23 March-7 April, 4.30pm and 5pm, 4pm and 4.30pm (Sundays). Easter masterclass, 25, 27 & 29 March, 11am and 2.15pm. 
Need to know: Tour £25 adults, £23 children. Masterclass, £35 per person.

Abbey and you know it
What: Follow in the footsteps of performers, poets, and saints in Whitby as you explore the amazing history of this famous Anglo-Saxon abbey. As you go on a hunt for clues throughout the grounds, you'll discover the Abbey’s special connection with the modern-day calendar, and how the eerie ruins inspired Bram Stoker to pen the classic terror tale of Dracula. And when you reach the trail’s end, successful adventurers will be rewarded with a certificate and tasty chocolate treat.
Where: Whitby Abbey, Abbey Lane, Whitby YO22 4JT
When: 23 March-14 April, 10am-5pm.
Need to know: Family ticket from £25.90. Quest costs an extra £2 per child.

Green fingers
What: Spring has well and truly sprung, so why not enjoy a blooming excellent day out at RHS Harlow Carr? You can set off on a seriously giant egg hunt around the garden, enrol in forest school, race against the clock on an orienteering challenge, get creative with clay and Lego crafting, make a wormery or take a sleuthing stroll with the help of the garden detectives.
Where: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Beckwithshaw, Harrogate HG3 1QB
When: 23 March-7 April, 10am-5pm. Dates and times vary.
Need to know: All events free with admission. Family ticket from £38.10.

Fairy story
What: Be whisked away into a fairytale world as Yorkshire Wildlife Park unveils the magical new Easter Village for you to explore. Take part in a circus skills workshop, go for a whirl on the fairground rides, be spellbound by the Easter Bunny’s mischievous magic show, boogie along to live music, or head inside the Big Top and meet all your favourite fairy-tale characters – including Cinderella, Snow White and Tinkerbell – for a pantomime spectacular as they work together to defeat Humpty Dumpty, the dastardly mayor of Easter Town!
Where: Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Hurst Lane, Auckley, Doncaster DN9 3HQ
When: 5-7 April, 9.30am-4pm.
Need to know: Events free with admission. Adult ticket online from £18.69, child ticket £15.94.

Eco extravaganza
What: Get ready to go green with Eureka! this holiday – and enjoy all kinds of amazing environmental activities designed to help you learn more about helping the planet. You’ll be able to find out how to protect local green spaces, drop in to creative craft workshops and make spring-themed artworks from recycled materials, take a break and watch some animated short films about the natural world, or even come face to face with Mother Earth herself!
Where: Eureka! The National Children’s Museum, Discovery Road, Halifax HX1 2NE
When: 23 March-14 April, 10am-5pm.
Need to know: All events free with admission. Tickets £15.95 per person, booking essential. 

Animal magic
What: Discover a wonderful menagerie of willow animals – including foxes, hares, owls – and learn more about their habitats as you follow the new Easter adventure trail through the gardens at Castle Howard. Afterwards head inside and hunt for jewelled eggs tucked away in the grand interiors of the House before letting off some steam in the Skelf Island adventure playground, where mischievous faeries known as Skelves make their home in the treetop villages connected by rope bridges, climbing nets and slippery slides. 
Where: Castle Howard, Castle Howard Estate, York, YO60 7DA
When: 23 March-7 April, 10am-4pm. House open from 29 March.
Need to know: Trails free with admission. Garden-only tickets from £9 adult, £4.50 child. House and Gardens tickets from £22 adult, £9.50 child. 

Love at first sight
What: Experience the classic tale of star-crossed lovers reimagined for a new generation with Hull Truck Theatre’s First Encounters: Romeo and Juliet. Following a chance meeting at a gate-crashed party, Romeo meets Juliet and the outside world melts away. But with their families at each other’s throats, they hatch a plan to escape the lives they were born into – but unfortunately, fate has other plans for the happy couple.
Where: Hull Truck Theatre, 50 Ferensway, Hull HU2 8LB
When: 9-10 April, 1pm and 7pm.
Need to know: Tickets £13.50 adults, £11.50 children. Suitable for 7-13 years.

Making movies
What: It’s lights, camera, action as the Leeds Young Film Festival returns with a huge range of award-winning movies and fun film activities. As well as classics such as Labyrinth, Harry Potter and Fantastic Mr. Fox, you can catch the very best in new filmmaking for children from around the world, all held at iconic venues around the city. You can also sign up for their in-depth filmmaking movie club, trying out cameras, lighting, special effects, and sound design as you plan, direct and act in your very own movie!
Where: Various venues around Leeds.
When: 29 March-13 April, dates and times vary.
Find out more: Most film tickets £4, some prices vary. Movie Club sessions £15 per child. 

Getting schooled
What: Celebrate the power of friendship with The Boy at the Back of the Class, a new theatrical adaptation of the award-winning children’s novel at The Lowry. A new boy called Ahmet is sitting at the formerly-empty desk at the back of the classroom – he never talks, never smiles and doesn’t even like sweets. But when Ahmet’s classmates learn that he has fled a war-torn country, leaving everyone he knows behind, they hatch a magnificent plan, setting off on an unexpected and often hilarious adventure to reunite Ahmet with his family.
Where: The Lowry, Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ
When: 26-30 March, 2pm and 7pm, plus 10.30am, 27, 28 March. 
Need to know: Tickets from £18.50 adult, £16.50 child.

Block Party
What: Rock around the block this spring as Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester gets taken over by the Play Unstoppable Festival. Pick up your festival programme and join in with the celebrations as you bust a move at the Play Unstoppable Dance Party, construct imaginative seasonal creations to fill up the Lego Flower Cart, enjoy the new Lego Friends 4D movie, or have fun with the larger-than-life Lego mascots. 
Where: Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester, Barton Square, The Trafford Centre, Manchester, M17 8AS
When: 23 March-6 May, 10am-6pm (weekends and 29 March-12 April), 10.30am-3pm (Mondays and Fridays), 10.30am-2pm (Tuesday-Thursday). 
Need to know: Activities free with admission, from £17.50 adult, £15 child. 

Boating bonanza
What: Come on down to the canal and join in with Cheshire’s annual Easter boat gathering. A colourful collection of vintage narrowboats and barges from across the UK will be making their way to the National Waterways Museum, and you’ll be able to watch the flotilla of boats arrive before taking part in fun games and activities. Go for a cruise down the river, listen to traditional music, try your hand at photogrammetry (turning photos into 3D models) in the new high-tech studio, watch canal locks, historic crafts and antique engines in action, or follow the family trail along the canal path.
Where: National Waterways Museum, South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH65 4FW
When: 29 March-1 April, 10am-4pm.
Need to know: Family ticket £31.50. Most activities free with admission. Boat trip, £5 per person.

Creating chemistry
What: Explore the crazy world of chemicals with these scientific activities at the Catalyst Discovery Centre. After paying a visit the new interactive gallery, where you can fire a scarf cannon, learn what it takes to put on a TV show before recording your own in the studio, and design a magnificent marble run, you can use special CAPA smart materials to mould an Easter themed keyring, or discover the secret science of chocolate in a live science show complete with tempting tasing opportunities! 
Where: Catalyst Discovery Centre and Museum, Mersey Road, Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 0DF
When: CAPA workshop, 24 March-14 April, 11.30am and 2pm. Chocolate Show, 29 March-12 April, 12.30pm and 3pm. 
Need to know: Admission £27.95 for a family ticket. Workshop and science show, £1.95 extra per person.

Blooming marvellous
What: Experience RHS Bridgewater in all its glory with crafts and outdoor activities for the whole family to enjoy in the springtime sun. Join in with the giant egg hunt and search for oversized Easter Eggs, get creative as you make mystical Carrot Cards or design a cork coaster inspired by the eggs, enjoy sensory springtime storytelling, and don’t forget to greet Heidi and Henrietta, two Herdwick sheep who will be happy to introduce you to their newborn lambs and musical pram. 
Where: RHS Bridgwater, Occupation Road, Off Leigh Road, Worsley, Salford, Greater Manchester M28 2LJ
When: 29 March-14 April, 10am-6pm.
Need to know: Most events free with admission. Family ticket from £33.30.

Flock to it
What: Hop along to Tatton Park and go baa-rmy in the farmyard as Shaun the Sheep pays a visit! Get set to follow an ewe-nique family trail as you hunt for 12 super-sized Shaun statues hidden in the gardens, learn all about spring lambs from the farm staff, enjoy outdoor games and storytelling on the lawn, or head inside to track down eggs for the Easter Bunny and enjoy fun dressing-up.
Where: Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6QN
When: 29 March-14 April, 10am-4pm. Dates and times vary.
Need to know: Events free with admission. Individual family ticket to mansion, farm or gardens, £15, for all attractions, £25.

I should cocoa
What: Get hands-on with history at IWM North and get an in-depth look into life during WWII with the help of real museum objects and photographs. Discover the role of rationing and why chocolate was so important for boosting morale, find out about different jobs on the Home Front, from ARP wardens to the Home Guard and the Women’s Land Army, or meet Milo the mouse and his guide Winkie the pigeon in a special 360-degree animated show, as they discover the stories of amazing animals that helped the war effort, from the First World War to the present day.
Where: IWM North, The Quays, Trafford Wharf Road, Manchester, M17 1TZ
When: 29 March-14 April, 10am-4pm. Animal show, 11am daily.
Need to know: Free.

All aboard!
What: Mischievous bob-tailed bunny, Peter Rabbit, will be paying a special visit to the Bury Transport Museum this Easter, so get onboard and join in with the fun! After meeting your furry friend, you can enjoy the face painting, seasonal crafts, and fairground rides before hopping on board a heritage steam or diesel train for a journey through 12 miles of the beautiful Lancashire countryside. 
Where: Bury Transport Museum / The East Lancashire Railway, Bolton Street Station, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0EY
When: 31 March-1 April, 9am-3pm.
Need to know: Adult ticket £20, child £17.50, includes train ride. 

Castle capers 
What: Expect medieval mirth and merriment galore as you enjoy a day out at Alnwick Castle. Join the castle Tom Fool and learn about the history of jesters with plenty of japes and juggling, witness a fabulous falconry display as birds of prey swoop and soar around the castle grounds, catch a longbow lesson and keep track of time with thunderous cannon-firing demonstrations taking place every hour. 
Where: Alnwick Castle, Alnwick NE66 1NQ
When: 3-7 and 8-14 April, 10am-5pm. 
Need to know: Activities included with admission; family ticket £55.65 online. 

Really chuffed
What: It’s time to get all fired up at Beamish as the Living Museum of the North gets ready to host its annual Steam Gala, where you can marvel as a parade of historic steam vehicles puff and chuff their way around the site. Alternately, you can show up earlier in the holidays and enjoy all sorts of old-fashioned Easter celebrations.
Where: Beamish, the Living Museum of the North, Regional Resource Centre, Beamish DH9 0RG
When: Easter activities, 29 March-1 April. Steam Gala 6-7 April, 10am-5pm.
Need to know: Activities included with admission; family ticket from £71. 

In a flap
What: Expect ghosts, owls, and tiddlywinks aplenty as the Sunderland Empire presents a new stage adaptation of David Walliams’ hilarious children’s novel Awful Auntie! Join Stella as she tries to solve the mystery of her parents’ mysterious demise and struggles to escape her awful Auntie Alberta.
Where: Sunderland Empire, High St West, Sunderland SR1 3EX
When: 4-6 April, 4.30pm and 7 April, 11am.
Need to know: Tickets from £13 per person, plus booking fee of up to £1.95.

Enjoying Life
What: Get your thinking caps on and enjoy some egg-citing eggs-periments at Newcastle’s Life Science Centre. Have a go at constructing an egg-carrying vehicle and putting it through its paces in the Making Studios, grab your lab coat and investigate the science of egg-rolling in the Experiment Zone, tune in for the Solar System weather forecast in a new planetarium show, and get hands-on with all sorts of sensory exhibits in the WOW Zone.
Where: Life Science Centre, International Centre for Life, Times Square, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4EP
When: 27 March-17 April, 10am-3pm (weekdays), 10am-5pm (weekends). 
Need to know: Activities included with admission, adults from £12.27, children £9.09. 

Grin and bear it
What: Enjoy a teddy bear’s picnic with a twist and get stuck into some historical fun at Hadrian’s Wall this Easter holiday. Make sure to bring along your furry friends dressed in all their Imperial finery, then find out all about the duties of Roman emperors as you help Emperor Ted prepare his soldiers for battle. Don’t forget to collect your stickers say hello to the different museum bears as you go! 
Where: Roman Vindolanda & the Roman Army Museum, Greenhead, Brampton CA8 7JB
When: 29 March-14 April, 10am-4pm. 
Need to know: Family ticket £25 (Roman Army Museum), £32 (Roman Vindolanda), £45 (both). 

Heart of glass
What: Learn more about the art of glass at the National Glass Centre. Create a glass egg, fish, cat, or bird using sand to make a mould, then add colour and decoration to make your design unique. You can also have a go at creating a colourful geometric tile using special glass paints or arrange coloured glass pieces to fuse into a solid glass decoration. 
Where: National Glass Centre, Liberty Way, Sunderland, SR6 0GL
When: Moulds, 2, 5, 9 and 12 April, 9.30am and 10.30am. Glass painting, 5 and 12 April, 10am-12pm and 1pm-3.30pm. Glass fusing, 6 and 13 April, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3pm. 
Need to know: Glass moulds £20 per person, glass painting £5 per person, glass fusing £12 per person. Pre-booking essential for moulds and fusing. 

Tree-mendous fun
What: Explore the great outdoors with tons of fun activities at Kielder Water and Forest Park this Easter. As you work your way along the meandering walking trails, you’ll discover all kinds of weird and wonderful art and architecture, from futuristic shelters to a twisty wooden bridge and a stone Minotaur Maze – can you make your way to the glistening glass room at the centre? You can also hop on your bike and go whizzing through the woods, or stick around until after dark, where you’ll be greeted with the spectacular sight of the stars in the UK’s biggest and best Dark Sky Park.
Where: Kielder Water and Forest Park, Kielder Castle, Northumberland NE48 1ER
When: Open every day. 
Need to know: Free. £5 car parking charge. 

Brilliant Belsay
What: Bring history to life as you help build a Lego brick recreation of Belsay’s historic hall and quarry gardens. Help out a team of master Lego architects as you build sections of their grand plan, which will be joined together to reveal the final model at the end of the holidays. Afterwards, you can go on an adventure through the gardens, hunting for clues and solving puzzles as you go in order to win a chocolate treat. 
Where: Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, Belsay, Morpeth NE20 0DX
When: 23 March, Easter Quest and 6-14 April, Lego, 10am-5pm. 
Need to know: Family ticket from £29.40. Easter Quest, £2 extra per child. 
 

All mine!
What: Get ready to dig into this seasonal spectacular at Rhondda Heritage Park. Journey down into the coal mines to explore the Easter Bunny’s magical burrow, collecting eggs along the way, before heading back into the springtime sunshine where you can expect fairground rides, Easter arts and crafts, a petting farm, and entertainers and storytelling, plus much more!
Where: Rhondda Heritage Park, Coedcae Road, South Wales CF37 2NP
When: 27-28 March, 10am-5pm. 
Need to know: Child tickets £10, £3.50 per accompanying adult. 

Do the dinosaur
What: Get ready for a roar-some adventures and join the Dinomania rangers as you travel back in time to meet some mighty prehistoric beasts that’ll make your hair stand on end! Budding palaeontologists are invited to meet some incredible life-sized dinos – from ferocious predators to adorable newborn hatchlings – and take part in interactive games, share your favourite dino facts, and even handle real dinosaur fossils.
Where: The Royal Mint Experience, Ynysmaerdy, Pontyclun CF72 8YT
When: 4-5 April, 11.30am and 2.30pm. 
Need to know: Family ticket £50. Includes entry to the Royal Mint Experience.

Picture perfect
What: Discover the many ways artists throughout history have explored their identities and expressed themselves through self-portrait in the new Art of the Selfie exhibition opening its doors at National Museum Cardiff. Featuring Van Gogh’s legendary Portrait of the Artist, alongside works from other world-famous painters including Rembrandt and Francis Bacon, consider how you would portray yourself as you explore many different artistic approaches to the self-portrait. 
Where: National Museum Cardiff, Cardiff CF10 3NP
When: From 16 March, 10am-5pm, Tuesday-Sunday. 
Need to know: Pay what you can – minimum ticket price £1 per person. 

Beast quest
What: Set off on an Easter quest with a difference as you go searching for magical dragons’ eggs and nests at Gwrych Castle, which once featured on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here. Study your dragon keeper’s manual and meet medieval characters along the way as you solve clues to end up with a chocolate treat. Afterwards you can pay a visit to the dragon’s lair, take part in puzzles and activities, and even design your own dragon. Don’t forget to come in your best fancy dress for the chance to win some gold coins.
Where: Gwrych Castle, Tan-Y-Gopa Road, Abergele LL22 8ET
When: 23 March-1 April, 10am-5pm
Need to know: Family ticket from £45.

A very important date
What: Journey down the rabbit hole at Theatrau Sir Gâr with this fun-filled musical adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. Enjoy the classic tale brought vividly to life as Alice and the White Rabbit set off on a topsy-turvy adventure meeting weird and wacky characters on their journey through Wonderland, with plenty of songs, audience participation and lots of laughs along the way – you’d have to be mad as a hatter to miss it!
Where: Ffwrnes Theatre - Theatrau Sir Gâr, Ffwrnes Theatre, Ffwrnes, Park Street, Llanelli SA15 3YE
When: 5 April, 2.30pm.  
Need to know: Family ticket from £48. 

Bright sparks
What: Get set to discover some spectacular science in Cardiff with this special show and workshop taking place at Techniquest. Learn all about energy – in your food, in the gases that make up the air, and in the elements all around you. Find out how energy is used, stored and unleashed with explosive effects or discover the hidden code of life in a DNA-themed laboratory workshop, where you can build a double helix shape and discover how much DNA you share with fruit(!) before extracting genetic material from a strawberry. 
Where: Techniquest Science Discovery Centre, Stuart Street, Cardiff CF10 5BW
When: Energy show, 23 March-7 April plus weekends in April. DNA workshops, 25-28 March and 2 April, 10am-5pm (Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday), 2pm-5pm (Thursday and Friday). 
Need to know: Family ticket £40.90. Show and workshop, £2 per person extra. DNA workshop for 7+.

Barmy barnyard
What: Spring into action with a selection of seasonal activities at the National Museum of Rural Life this holiday. Craft your own newspaper plant pot before seeding with bee-friendly wildflowers, enjoy some theatrical farmyard fables as you listen to the tale of the Big Red Hen and join in with the singing, puppets and dancing, or see if you can identify a series of mystery museum objects and discover how they were used in farms throughout Scotland.
Where: National Museum of Rural Life, Wester Kittochside Philipshill Road East Kilbride, Glasgow G76 9HR
When: 8-11 April, 10.30pm-3.30pm.
Need to know: Included with admission, £32.30 for a family of 4. 

Pottering around
What: Get set to grab your cloak and wand before bringing your broomstick over to the historic Dundonald Castle, where Madam Hoot’s Wizard School is about to start its first session. Polish up on your wizarding skills as you complete six different magical challenges – take part in Quidditch matches, learn about fantastic beasts and where to find them before designing your own mini beastie, and discover the scaly secrets of some dangerous dragon eggs.
Where: Dundonald Castle and Visitor Centre, Winehouse Yett, Dundonald, Kilmarnock KA2 9HD
When: 10 April, 11am-3pm
Need to know: Tickets, £15 per person – only 1 adult per booking. Suitable for 5+. Email [email protected] to book.

Weird science
What: The two-week long Edinburgh Science Festival may be smaller than its bigger August cousin, but it still packs a punch with a huge range of educational, engaging, and downright strange activities for the whole family. You'll be able to catch workshops and activities such as unearthing a dinosaur skeleton, carrying out a CSI investigation (yes, really!), crafting a pipe-cleaner protein, becoming an AI detective, or watching a claws-out debate aiming to finally settle that age-old question: which is better, cats or dogs?
Where: Venues in and around Edinburgh.
When: 30 March-14 April, dates and times vary.
Need to know: Prices vary, many events free.

Jacobite japes
What: Take a special guided tour of Bannockburn House, a magnificent 17th century manor recently rescued from five years of neglect and decay by the local community in Stirling. Nestled in coppice and garden, you’ll be able to explore the peaceful gardens, elaborate ceiling sculptures and cramped servants’ quarters as you discover the important role this house has played throughout Scottish history – from playing host to Bonnie Prince Charlie during the Jacobite Rebellion to its important role in the 19th-century tartan trade.  
Where: Bannockburn House, Stirling FK7 8EY
When: 7 April, 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm. 
Need to know: Adults £10, children £5.

Fabergé fabulous
What: Find out all about some extra-fancy eggs with some right royal craft activities at Edinburgh’s Holyrood Palace. Discover some of the famous Fabergé eggs that form part of the Royal Collection, before taking inspiration from them to produce your own bejewelled creations. Afterwards, have a go at designing and making a regal Easter crown, or go on a spring stroll as you follow the family trail throughout the blooming palace gardens. 
Where: The Palace of Holyroodhouse, Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8DX
When: Eggs, 30 March, 1, 4-6, 8 and 11-13 April, 11am-3pm. Other activities 30 March, 10am-3pm. 
Need to know: Included with admission, adults £20, children £10. 

A-maze-ing space
What: Take part in an Easter egg hunt with a difference at Traquair House, as you hunt for 5,000 eggs concealed within the largest hedge maze in Scotland! Designed by a Traquair craft worker, John Schofield, the maze has an intriguing layout with no dead ends and four sub centres to discover before finding the very middle. If that hasn’t already tired you out, you can also enjoy some crafting and games outside in the garden – with fairy and circus workshops, scavenger hunts, egg and face painting, Easter bonnet and musical instrument making.
Where: Traquair House, Traquair, Innerleithen EH44 6PW
When: 31 March, 11am-5pm
Need to know: Family ticket, £22. 

Things that go bump in the night
What: Enjoy an ecologically themed adventure with Shō and the Demons of the Deep, a brand new family play from the National Theatre of Scotland. Shō’s city has been plagued by nightmares for as long as she can remember, but hers are the worst of all. But soon Shō, and the city’s other residents, find they can throw their nightmares into the river and wash them out to sea. For 60 years, the city is free of its nightmares, until the river starts to become toxic – and it’s up to Shō’s granddaughter Hana to face her greatest fears in order to save the city.  
Where: Platform, 1000 Westerhouse Rd, Easterhouse, Glasgow G34 9JW
When: 12 April, 7pm, and 13 April, 2pm.
Need to know: Tickets £9.50 per person. 

Choc-a-block
What: Enjoy an indulgent Easter treat with a trip to Edinburgh’s Chocolatarium, where you can find out about all things cocoa with a super-sweet tour and chocolate making experience. Discover the history of chocolate from its origins as ‘cacao’ 5,000 years ago in the Aztec Empire, learn how the beans go from tree to treat and the differences between milk, dark and white chocolate, before crafting your own delicious chocolate bar and eying up some samples in the Tasting Room!
Where: The Chocolatarium, 3-5 Cranston Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8BE
When: Every day, 10.30am-4.30pm. 
Need to know: Adults £22, children £15

Monster mash
What: Discover the stories of Scotland’s most infamous mystery at the very spot where it all began – with Mrs Aldie McKay seeing a mysterious ‘whale-like fish’ rising above the surface of Loch Ness, creating the legend of the Loch Ness Monster! Discover how the hunt for Nessie has unfolded over the years, from sonar to submarines, journey back in time to discover the origins of Loch Ness over 500 million years ago, and what happened when humans first arrived there, or hear tales from dedicated monster hunters who continue to search for clues in the loch’s murky waters to this very day.
Where: Loch Ness Centre, Drumnadrochit, Inverness IV63 6TU
When: Open every day, 10am-3pm 
Need to know: Family ticket £50.

Bunny brilliant
What: Go on a bunny hunt at Northern Ireland’s royal residence and see if you can find all the rabbits tucked away in the 100 acres of gardens, which will be bursting with thousands of colourful blooms as part of the Spring Spectacular flower display. Make sure to note down the clues you find alongside each of the golden bunny statues, and you’ll be rewarded with a tasty chocolate treat once you’re done. Visit on Easter Monday or Tuesday and you can try your hand at making a kite, then send it soaring above the gardens.
Where: Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, The Square, Hillsborough BT26 6AG
When: 23 March-7 April, 10am-5pm. Kite making, 1-2 April only. 
Need to know: Hunt included in family gardens-only ticket, adults £10, children £5. 

Titanic tales
What: Commemorate the tragic story of the world’s most infamous ocean liner as Titanic Belfast marks the 112th anniversary of that first fateful voyage. Take a guided tour around the attraction as you relive the story of the Titanic, from its construction in the noisy shipyards of 1920s Belfast to that fateful night on the Atlantic, brought to life by eyewitness accounts from passengers and crew present during the tragedy. You’ll also be able to enjoy live music, discover a huge collection of authentic Titanic artefacts, or watch the candle lighting ceremony on the slipway.
Where: Titanic Belfast, Titanic Queen's Road, The Titanic Quarter, 1 Olympic Wy, Belfast BT3 9EP
When: 14 April, 7pm-11.30pm, tours every 10 minutes from 7.30pm.
Need to know: Tickets £17 per person. 

Farming follies
What: Easter has hatched at Broughgammon Farm, so come on down to Ballycastle to enjoy some countryside capers. Follow the scavenger hunt and journey around the farmyard to find all the Easter items and remember to keep your eyes peeled – you might just spot the Easter Bunny himself. Afterwards, have a go at some eco-friendly, seasonal crafts in the converted barn before heading over to greet some new arrivals – baby chicks, goats and calves!
Where: Broughgammon Farm, 50 Straid Road, Ballycastle, BT546NP
When: 23-24 March, 11am-4pm.
Need to know: Tickets £12 per family.

Super sports
What: On your marks, get set, go! There’s a new outdoor trail at The Argory, with all sorts of spring escapades to enjoy. Take part in active activities including bunny hops, classic egg and spoon race and outdoor noughts and crosses. Then keep your eyes peeled in the birdwatching challenge, try to analyse your environment at the weather station, or enjoy getting stuck into some Wild Art crafting – and of course, there’s a perfect chocolate treat waiting at the end!
Where: The Argory, 144 Derrycaw Rd, Dungannon BT71 6NA
When: 25 March-7 April, 11am-5pm.
Need to know: Most activities free with family admission, £23.75. Trail, £3 extra per child. 

Spring into action
What: Celebrate the arrival of Spring at Belfast’s MAC this holiday! Back by popular demand, you can pop into the petting zoo and enjoy feeding, stroking, and cuddling some adorable visitors including lambs, chicks and bunnies. Journey into a Secret Garden with the help of its mystical keepers for an eco-friendly storytelling and crafting session, or join in with some crafty workshops based around the ancient Greek tale of Persephone, goddess of spring and nature.
Where: The MAC, 144 Derrycaw Road, Dungannon BT71 6NA
When: Petting zoo, 1-2 April, 10am-2.15pm. Secret Garden, 2 April, 1pm. Spring workshops, 5 April, 10am-1pm. 
Need to know: Petting zoo, £3 per person. Secret Garden £6 child, £3 adult. Workshops, £22 per child, suitable for 7-11 years.

Golden oldies
What: Experience Easter 1900s-style this spring at Ulster Folk Museum! Discover the origins of the Easter egg, have a go at themed craft demonstrations and learn about traditional skills - including Easter card making and printing. You can also enjoy music, traditional games and tasty treats from years gone by and have a go at egg-rolling.
Where: Ulster Folk Museum, Cultra, Holywood BT18 0EU
When: 31 March-5 April, 10am-5pm. Egg rolling, 1 April only.
Need to know: Event included with admission; family ticket £32.

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