Events - Easter

Easter is coming early this year and as usual there is lots going on all around the country. Here is a selection of some of the best of what England has to offer. Where ever you live you are bound to find something exciting happening not too far away. If we've missed something that warrants a mention, let us know by leaving a comment on our forum (/forum/) and we'll be sure to look into it!

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Easter Fun

Ironbridge Gorge Museums
Ironbridge,
Telford, Shropshire
Families visiting the Ironbridge Gorge Museums in Shropshire over the Easter break will be able to join in traditional Easter events as well as take part in creative, hands-on activities designed to appeal to both youngsters and adults alike. Activities will vary from day to day and carry an extra charge in addition to the museum entrance fee.

For more information, visit the Ironbridge site

Norman Easter

Arundel Castle
23-24 March
Arundel Castle marks the start of the 2008 visitor season with an event which takes it back to its formative years. On Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, 23 & 24 March, experienced re-enactment group Raven Tor will be recreating the Norman period (1066-1200), when the original part of the Castle, the Keep, was first built. A tented encampment will be on the grounds of the Castle with costumed characters performing the everyday tasks of the period, including cooking, sewing fletching and making weapons and exciting demonstrations of mounted combat and weaponry skills, including archery, with visitors welcome to ‘have-a-go’ at archery themselves.

For further information contact Arundel Castle on 01903 882173 or visit Arundel castle

Cheetah Rock

Easter weekend
Whipsnade Zoo
Cheetah Rock, a huge new cheetah enclosure complete with rock look-out and watering holes, opens at Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire at Easter. Visitors can view the cheetahs from an African-style hut with floor-to-ceiling glass or feel the thrill of a real safari from behind the wheel of a Land Rover.

Visit Whipsnade Zoo or call 01582 872171.

Cheshire event

Golden Egg
The hen that lays the golden egg is coming to Chester - Easter weekend only! Book to stay in one of the participating Chester hotels for Easter weekend and you could be the winner of; £1,000 cash, a Ferrari 360 Spider for a long weekend, luncheon for four with return trip by helicopter at a Cheshire restaurant or hotel, an opportunity to dive with sharks at Blue Planet Aquarium, 2 for 1 at Tatton's Totally Chocolate Easter or something equally as exciting. Everyone's a winner. For further information visit goldenegg

Totally Chocolate Easter at Tatton Park 22nd - 24th March
Tatton Park becomes a chocoholic's delight this Easter. The Shops, Gardens, Mansion and Farm will all be hosting a variety of activities and displays.

Meet Tilly Tonka and Rosie the chocolate cow in Tatton's chocolate milk farm. Help Tatton's pirate search the gardens for a hidden treasure chest believed to be full of chocolate sovereigns! Join the Egerton family as they gather to celebrate a Victorian Easter at home in the Mansion and marvel at the chocolate inspired floral displays throughout the State Rooms. Easter Bunny will be hopping about too! Come to learn, taste and enjoy!

Easter Monday Duck Race at Lymm 24th March
The Annual Lymm Duck Race takes place every Easter Monday at the Upper Dam in Lymm.

Easter with Winnie the Pooh at Arley Hall & Gardens
This Easter - Arley celebrates the exploits of Winnie the Pooh and his delightful friends with a series of fun activities for the whole family. Explore the award-winning gardens and follow clues as to where Winnie the Pooh and his friends are hiding, look for hidden Tigger treasure in The Grove, listen to stories in the Cruck Barn of their exploits and colour and stick them in the Coach House.

They have also found many wonderful hiding places in the historic hall, so you will need to bring your eagle eyes with you! Every afternoon, Jane the Owl Lady will be twelling twit twoo stories, surrounded by her live owl and hawks.

Normal admission prices apply.

Chatsworth

March 15-April 20
Peak District
Head to Chatsworth in the heart of the Peak District over the Easter break and choose from one of the many fun packed treats on offer for all the family. Chatsworth has thought of everything this year, from egg and treasure hunts, spring trails, craft activities, Easter bonnet parades, Punch and Judy shows, weaving and spinning to meeting the Easter bunny and chickens and a Spring Trail showcasing the beautiful Chatsworth gardens as they come bursting to life with colourful daffodils and primroses. Packs for children will be available including a trail sheet, treasure hunt information and a delicious chocolate egg over the Easter weekend. Activities run from March 15 to April 20. All activities will be priced at normal garden and farmyard entrance fees unless otherwise stated.

For more information visit Chatsworth

Easter Package Treats

MacDonald Hotels and Resorts
England-wide
Gather up the family, pack up the car and head to one of Macdonald Hotels & Resorts’ 48 four and five-star hotels for a long weekend of egg-cellent family fun. Macdonald Hotels’ ‘Great Days Out’ voucher promotion for money off entry into top tourist attractions within a 40 minute drive of each MacDonald’s hotel throughout the UK. Included in the promotion are theme parks, zoos, wildlife centres, transport heritage sites, aquariums, and English Heritage and National Trust properties, so there’s something to appeal to every member of the family, young or old!

For more information on Macdonald Hotels and Resorts call: 0870 830 4807 or visit MacDonald Hotels and Resorts

Family fun aplenty in Shropshire from £73.50pppn

Guests wanting to get away from it all and be looked after should head to the Macdonald Compleat Angler Hotel in Marlow, Bucks. Named after Izaak Walton’s famous book, The Compleat Angler enjoys a prime waterside location and many of the hotel’s 64 bedrooms have views of the river and Marlow weir. The hotel is hosting a jazz dinner on Thursday 20th March 2008 as the perfect lead in to a relaxing Easter weekend. For just £38.50 per person, soak up the mellow atmosphere and enjoy live jazz from the great songwriters of the 1940's and 50's, as well as Bossa Novas from Brazil. Then, why not take advantage of the hotel’s ‘three nights for the price of two’ offer (available from 14th March to 1st June 2008) and stay a few days. The three night package price of £420 B&B for two sharing a classic room is exceptional value at just £70 per person per night.

Call 0844 879 9128 to book or visit the Shropshire site.

Hunt for eggs in bath from £139.50pppn

Enjoy timeless quality at the exquisite Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel, which is offering bed and continental breakfast from £139.50 per person for one night stays between 19th and 26th March 2008, with an Easter egg for each guest staying over the Easter weekend. The hotel is also serving Easter Sunday lunch on 23rd March in the award-winning Vellore restaurant (charged separately) and there will be an Easter egg hunt for children in the hotel grounds.

Call 0844 879 9106 to book or visit the Bath site.

The River Thames Easter Events

Whether it's boating on the River that interests you or the surrounding areas such as the museums and parks, you will find plenty to do in the Thames area over Easter. There are lots of things to do and places to visit for families over the Easter school holidays as well as events for couples and friends. Below are just a few of the events that will take place over Easter.

Boat Races

Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race along the Kennet and Avon and Thames
March 21-24
Devizes to Westminster It is the 60th anniversary of this famous canoe race that will be taking place between 21st and 24th March. Starting in Devizes on the Kennet and Avon Canal the canoeists follow their course along the canal to Reading then along the Thames to Westminster Bridge. This is one of the most gruelling boat races in the world and it attracts top canoeists most of whom are sponsored for charity.

Full info is available from Westminster Canoe Race

The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race 2008
March 29
The famous annual Oxford v Cambridge University Boat Race will take place this year on 29 March 2008 starting at 5.15pm from Putney. With Cambridge winning the 153th boat race last year, now leading the overall series by 79-73 is a close and excited race to watch each year. And why not make a day of it by indulging in a spot of lunch before the race at one of Putney's many restaurants.

For more info on the race visit the boat race

Easter Specials

Easter at the Museum in Dockland
West India Dock Quay, Canary Wharf, E14
March 21-24
The Museum in Docklands is holding a series of workshops with a chocolate theme this Easter. Explore the history of chocolate and then discover which is YOUR favourite type with a series of chocolate samplings. there will also be chocolate mobile making and chocolate themes story telling events. Bring the kids along. Nearest Tube station West India Quay on the Docklands Light Railway.

For more info email booking@museumoflondon.org.uk

Easter Egg Hunts at the Imperial War Museum
Lambeth Road, London, SE1 6HZ
March 31
Come and bring the kids to the great Easter Egg Hunt at the Imperial War Museum on 31st March. They will take place in a specially devised trail - the kids will explore the museum and find a Fair Trade Easter egg.

It's all FREE! Nearest Tube station - Lambeth North For more information call 020 7416 5320

Kew Gardens Easter Egg Hunts and Giant Bunnies
Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB
April 8
The Easter Bunny is hiding in Kew Gardens and a fabulous Easter egg hunt is on ......Come along with the kids to Kew Gardens on 8th April and see the continental giant bunnies that reach between 16-18lbs! - it's all free after the cost of admission.

Nearest tube station - Kew Gardens Adults £12.25 to get into Kew Gardens, Children free.

London Wetland Centre Easter Art Classes
Queen Elizabeth's Walk, Barnes, SW13 9WT
April 5-8
The famous Wetland Centre alongside the River Thames is holding Easter art classes for children and there will also be a very special Egg Watch in which children can see ducklings hatch. After hatching, the tours turn into duckling excursions. The ducklings are eager to explore their surroundings, so the centre's team will take them out into the ponds to practice swimming.

For more information call 020 8409 4400 or visit London Wetland Centre Easter Art Classes

Easter and Beyond

Ideal Home Show 2008
Earls Court, Warwick Road, London, SW5 9TA
March 14-April 6
The Ideal Home Show celebrates its 100th year anniversary. Take a journey through Century Street from past to present honouring 100 years of innovation at the show. Each year, full sized houses and even whole villages, including pubs, town squares and shops are built inside Earls Court. It will take place from 14 March to 6 April 2008.

Nearest Tube Station - Earls Court.

Chiswick Family Fun Day
Dukes Meadows Band Stand on the Promenade, Chiswick
April 7th
The whole family is invited to come and enjoy a day out at the newly restored Duke's Meadow Band Stand - activities will include a performance by the Fulham Brass Band, Boat race-themed art workshops, a fun fair and a hot air balloon display.

The event takes place between 2-5 pm with the Funfair starting at 10.00am