Family activities for the Easter holidays

Date: 9 Mar 2010

Thinking about things to do with the kids this Easter? Workingmums.co.uk has a round-up of interesting events taking place around the country. If you have your own suggestions please email mandy.garner@workingmums.co.uk

Kew Gardens (Surrey)

Visit Kew’s new tree-themed outdoor play area,Treehouse Towers, this Easter holidays. It opens in April and up to 300 people can climb up its ladders, across its rope bridges and enjoy slides, giant swings, zip wires, scramble nets, and a mountaineering ramp. Adult tickets to Kew Gardens cost £13, children are free. There is no additional cost for Treehouse Towers.

For more information visit www.kew.org

The Miniature Pony Centre (Devon)

Based in Dartmoor, the centre includes miniature ponies, donkeys, pygmy goats, pigs, lambs and other animals.

Activities range from pony rides to birds of prey displays. A family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) costs £24.

For more information visit www.miniatureponycentre.com

Easter egg hunt at Battersea Park Zoo (London)
Battersea Park Zoo is designed with children in mind and the egg hunt allows them to search for eggs among the animal houses over the Easter weekend. You can buy a quiz sheet at the start and unravel the clues to lead you to the eggs and to claim your prize.

The Easter at Battersea Park Zoo quiz and Easter egg hunt runs from Friday 2nd April - Monday 5th April 2010.

Entry to the hunt costs £1.50 and includes a prize. Admission to the zoo is £7.50 for adults, £6.00 for children aged 2 - 15, and £25.00 for a family ticket of 2 adults and 2 children.

Bodiam Castle (East Sussex)

Fancy dressing up in medieval garb for Easter? Children who are into Merlin and King Arthur can “Dress to Impress” by trying on armour or medieval clothes over the Easter holidays at the fourteenth century castle. ‘Dress to Impress’ runs on 6-9 and 12-16 April. All tickets £2.

For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Beaulieu (New Forest)

Visit the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu in the New Forest during Easter and enjoy its Hare-Brained Easter Trail.

Look for the hares, find the answers to the clues and collect a treat at the end of the trail. From Friday 2nd – Monday 5th April, every child will receive a chocolate treat from the Easter Bunny in Palace House.

http://www.beaulieu.co.uk/beaulieu/index

Alton Towers (Stoke)

For those who like speed and thrills, Alton Towers has it all, from the pirates at Mutiny Bay, scary rides such as Oblivion and Nemesis and the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory experience, the perfect choice for Easter if they are not too sick of chocolate already. A day ticket for a family of four cost £36.80 booked online. Check the website for school holiday deals.

For more information visit www.altontowers.com/tickets

Water sports (Nottingham)

Fancy something a bit more active (and cold) this Easter? Why not try white water rafting, water skiing, power boating, kayaking or wind surfing? Visit the National Water Sports Centre for all these and more and investigate the Discovery Club for 8-16 year olds, cost £25.

For more information visit www.nwscnotts.com/activities

Around the UK: The National Trust Easter Egg Trail

For several years, The National Trust and the National Trust of Scotland have run Easter Egg Trails supported by Cadbury at hundreds of National Trust properties all over the UK. The trails and other activities, including face painting and games, are scheduled during Easter Bank Holiday and Easter school vacations. There are chocolate prizes, provided by Cadbury, at the end of the trails.

Search the National Trust Easter Egg Trail website by postcode, the name of a National Trust Property or a town to find your nearest Easter Egg Trail. The website has information on the activities you can take part in at specific venues and how to enter the Design Your Own Egghead competition.

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