The Easter school holidays kick off from 29th March – 15th April, so with two weeks to fill with fun, family friendly days out in Kent, we’re sharing our top tips. This Easter holiday we’re sharing ideas for days out with teens, treasure hunts for little ones, bank holiday treats for the adults, and so much more with the likes of Leeds Castle, Hever Castle and National Trust properties all throwing egg-celent events to keep the kids entertained. Shall we hop to it, then?
This school holiday, why not ditch the car and catch the train? With the Southeastern app, plus Kids for Quid tickets, it's the perfect chance to save money and time, all while reducing your carbon footprint.
Easter Adventures at Walmer Castle
English Heritage site Walmer Castle is hosting a cracking adventure quest this holiday. Hunt clues, track down the eggs and be rewarded with tasty treats on this egg-ceptional trail through the castle’s beautiful gardens and grounds. While they’ll be keeping their eyes peeled for hints and clues, you can enjoy those first hints of spring, with daffodils and blossom decorating the manicured gardens. Follow up your tour with cakes and treats in the tea room, before visiting the newly reopened Lord Warden's Apartment and learn about the Lord Wardens and their families who have lived here, including Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
Canoe Wild
An Easter egg hunt with a difference, Canoe Wild’s trail from 29th March to 1st April will be taking to the River Stour. Paddle along the river and keep an eye out for eggs hidden along the river banks, following the spotting sheet along the way. In addition to the eggs, you’re sure to spot plenty of wildlife on the river, plus kids are guaranteed a chocolatey reward for their spotting skills.
Broadstairs Easter Food Festival
This time of year is a true celebration of our Kent produce so where better to join in the excitement than the Broadstairs Easter Food Festival on 29th -31st March. The event promises three days of the best food and drink Kent has to offer, plenty of chances for the whole family to sup and sample. Set on the cliff top site of Victoria Gardens, expect sensational views and delectable foodie finds.
Belmont House Easter Egg Hunt
On 31st March, the Easter Bunny will be visiting Belmont House and Gardens and setting up a hunt through the grounds, ready for opening. Little ones will head out into the gardens in search of wooden eggs on the quest to win a chocolatey treat. Once the eggs have been found, it’s back to The Orangery for crafting to set little creatives minds whirring.
Easter trails with the National Trust
Rabbits are on the loose at Ightham Mote, with a Tudor Themed adventure on the cards. Complete ten activities, claim your chocolate egg and get involved in the likes of bunny hopping and egg spotting. At Scotney Castle, there’ll be egg-themed games, activities and giant eggs to be found, while Sissinghurst Castle Garden will be transformed with the classic trail, games and plenty of spring colour. At Knole the active Easter trail will be in full swing, with playground games, crafting and the chance to create a ceramic bird house. What's more, travel to Knole by public transport or foot, and you can received 2for1 entry thanks to Good Journey!
Spring colour
The National Trust’s Chartwell will be a riot of colour this holiday, with silk flags flying, spring blooms and an Easter trail to take full advantage of the first days of spring. While Emmetts Garden is bringing out the bunting with a fete and plenty of family fun, including hook-a-duck, candy floss and 60s inspired games and stalls. Smallhythe Place will be delivering a taste of the theatrical with lawn games and the chance to take centre stage. For even more fun, South Foreland Lighthouse, high on the White Cliffs of Dover, will be hosting a family trail and letting little scientists get interactive with Easter-themed activities.
Easter Champagne Afternoon Tea
Go on then, we’ll offer up something for the parents. After-all, it is your bank holiday weekend, too. Head to ABode and find your way to their cosy Champagne Bar for a delicious Champagne afternoon tea, perfect for sharing with friends and family. Alongside elegant finger sandwiches, homemade fruit and plain scones, clotted cream and seasonal preserves, you'll find a host of sweet delights, inspired by Easter.
Dover Castle
We're having a cracking good time at Dover Castle with the Big Brick Build from 6th - 14th April. Get involved in building sessions, replicating the magnificent Medieval Great Tower from Lego with the help of the brick artists. Once they've crafted, little ones can have a go at the Easter Adventure Quest through the grounds, completing a trail in search of clues and Easter traditions to win some tasty treats.
Time for a getaway
Don’t you think the whole family deserves a break? Book a last minute break with Keepers Cottages and we can guarantee a week of fun and family time. While our top picks were free for the Easter break at the time of writing, you’d better be quick to secure one of them! The Green House in Deal is made for big family breaks, sleeping six, and just seconds from the beach in Deal for those early season dips. The Heights in Kingsdown sleeps five and offers sea views, while Sycamores in Ash is one for a full on cousins, aunts and uncles trip, sleeping nine. For a charming coastal escape, Beech Tree Cottage is child friendly, sleeps six and is minutes from the sea front.
Easter Treasure Hunt at Leeds Castle
A treasure hunt in the great outdoors, in the shadow of a fairytale castle, Leeds Castle has done it again the family fun. Follow Lady Baillie’s beloved Great Danes, Boots and Danny’s hunt to help find their bones on this interactive trail. Your little ones will need to put their detective skills to the test, discovering Easter displays, live characters and even one or two animals along the way.
Riverhill Bunny Hunt
From 28th March to 1st April, the Riverhill bunnies will be out in full force amongst the spring blooms and little hoppers will be enlisted to help track them down. Explore the Wood Garden, see the first signs of magnolias and enjoy sweet treats for hard-working bunny hunters.
Wild Cooking at Belmont House
Don the chefs hats and step outdoors, Wild Classroom is holding family friendly wild cooking sessions in the heart of Belmont House’s glorious gardens. Pick fresh produce from the Kitchen Garden and then learn the techniques behind cooking over flame and preparing food. Perfect for little learners looking to get hands-on in the kitchen.
The Isle of Thanet
There’s a whole fortnight of fun in Thanet this holiday. Bouncy bunnies in Wonderland will be kicking things off with characters, sweets, an egg hunt and trail at Quex Park. While the Powell-Cotton Museum will be delving into the fascinating world of birds, with owl displays, spotting and activities to keep mini ornithologists busy. The Thanet Coast Project will be hosting events and activities at Viking Bay and Dumpton Gap, setting you on the task of finding clues of marine life along the shores.
Hever Castle & Gardens
Egg-cellent dinosaur adventures, anyone? Hever Castle are throwing a trail to treat the budding paleontologist, with craft activities and adventures through the gardens, with daffodils, tulips and spring colour bursting into life. For 7-14 year olds, the Tudor Towers adventure playground is perfect, with its very own moat and drawbridge, while under 7s will love the natural play area, Acorn Dell.
Stormy Stan's Chatham Challenge
The Historic Dockyard Chatham will be asking little sailors to embark on a rescue mission with RNLI's Stormy Stan and The Storm Force Crew after Scatty the Seagull and Peter and Polly have left a trail of destruction through the Historic Dockyard. Complete safety checks, round up wayward buoys and meet Stormy Stan on this fun-packed trail!
Hop to it in Maidstone
The fun doesn't stop in Maidstone, with a brand new Magical Beasts Trail on 3rd April in Maidstone town centre, with free fun for the whole family, including the trail, lessons in training your dinosaur and more. At Kent Life, there will be plenty of baby animals to meet, plus the chance to make your own teddy, an Easter egg trail during Easter weekend at Mercure Great Danes Hotel, a chance to head down the rabbit hole with Alice in Wonderland at the Hazlitt Theatre, and Maidstone's very own Medieval Fayre on 6th April, with demonstrations including woodworking, calligraphy and spinning!
Howletts
Howletts is one of our top spots to take little adventurers, with the chance to come whisker to whisker with over 390 animals, including Kent's only giant anteaters, the largest herd of African elephants in the UK, plus leopards, monkeys and more. And what makes this day out even more enticing for the family is their Kids go for £10 offer over the Easter break.
Dreamland
Yes Dreamland is reopening on Easter weekend, ready to thrill the whole family with classics like the Scenic Railway, and Big Wheel, plus brand new rides like the Pirate Ship, Ladybird and Space Barrels. Pay per ride, tuck into street food and even enjoy free film screenings throughout the season.
Port Lympne
Visit Port Lympne and you'll have the chance to swing by the new arrivals, the South American maned wolves, the new Northern lynx and even brand new babies, including the new joey, tiny baby Javan gibbon and baby Kafele the gorilla. Book up your seats on the safari or book onto the Orangutan Encounter and the Great Apes Encounter. If you fancy a treat, tuck into the Easter themed afternoon tea for a perfect pre-safari lunch in the mansion.
