Easter events 2008

an Easter basketWhat's on in your area this Easter? Here's our selection of the best family days out. There's something to suit everyone!

THE SOUTH

Easter Fun at Colchester Zoo
21 March-13 April
Visit the enchanted Easter Wonderland, with a chance to meet the Easter Bunny, and dip into the Magic Easter box for a chance to win a chocolate egg (under 15s only). Plus, you can see all the baby animals and their keepers, and watch the Easter chicks hatching. Arts, crafts, a special Easter show and outdoor games add to the fun, and you can end the afternoon at the Easter Disco in the Kalahari Centre.
T: 01206 331292
W: www.colchester-zoo.com

Blackburn Pavilion, London Zoo, Regent's Park, NW1 4RY
From 21 March
Here's a chance to come nose-to-beak with some of the world's most exotic birds. The Blackburn Pavilion is a wonderful new tropical walk-through where toucans, starlings, kookaburras and lovebirds inhabit lush rain forest foliage and waterfalls, and tiny birds flutter around a cloud forest, just like you'd find in the Amazon. You'll also get the chance to see the only hummingbirds available to view in the UK. Many birds are free-flying around the Pavilion.
T: 020 7722 3333
W: www.zsl.org

The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, River Thames, London
29 March
Witness the annual contest between the two famous university teams. Join the expected 250,000 spectators, who will crowd the banks of the Thames from Putney to Mortlake, to watch the event.
W: www.theboatrace.org

Up, Up and Away at Leeds Castle, Kent
21 March-24 March
Leeds Castle is holding its first Kite Festival, featuring a variety of impressive kites, some of which can fly up to 500 feet and are so big they need to be tethered to vehicles! The Skyartists kite display team will amaze visitors with colourful kites collected from all over the world. Look out for inflatable lobsters and a 25-metre squid among other novelties. Young visitors can follow a kite picture trail through the grounds leading to the craft workshop where they can make their own kites, plus Easter eggs for children completing the trail.
T: 0870 600 8880
W: www.leeds-castle.com

Medway Festival of Steam & Transport, Chatham Historic Dockyard, Kent
23 and 24 March
Lovers of vintage vehicles will be in heaven at this celebration of steam and transport. Entries for the Steam & Transport Festival have reached record levels. With over 1100 exhibits, steam trains, tractions engines, river trips and vintage funfair, the Medway Festival of Steam & Transport at The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a family event not to be missed this Easter.
T: 01634 823800
W: www.chdt.org.uk

Medieval Tournament, Arundel Castle, Sussex
23 and 24 March
As last year, Raven Tor stage a medieval tournament complete with jousting, takes place at picturesque Arundel Castle. Watch archery displays, mounted combat and weapons demonstrations. There's a medieval encampment, story teller and the opportunity to try archery.
T: 01903 882173
W: www.arundelcastle.org

Easter Bunny Trail at Borde Hill Garden, Haywards Heath, West Sussex
21 March-18 April
This year, Borde Hill has devised an entertaining Word Maze Easter Trail for kids aged 7-12, and a Picture Maze Trail for younger children. Participants will hunt for eight Easter Bunnies hidden among the trees and shrubs, and by completing the activity sheets, will gain a delicious chocolate egg. There's the Adventure Playground, too, with its Wild West Fort, Tree Top Walkway and Obstacle Course, so fun for all the family.
T: 01444 450326
W: www.bordehill.co.uk

The Dufay Collective and Alquimia, Aldeburgh Easter Festival, Suffolk
21 March
Enjoy a meeting of the western Christian traditions and Arab-Andalusian, as the UK's Dufay Collective joins forces with Spanish-based Arab group Alquimia. The resulting musical extravaganza is a sensuous sequence of songs, instrumental interludes and improvisations.
T: 01728 687110
W: www.aldeburgh.co.uk

Easter Egg Hunt, Easton Farm Park, near Woodbridge, Suffolk
23 and 24 March
Join in with the annual Easter Egg Hunt, and extend the fun as the kids enjoy helping to feed the baby lambs, goats and piglets. Adults £6.50, Children £5, Over 60's £6. Noah's Ark ticket (2 adults and 2 children) £21 Open from 10:30am - 6pm.
T: 01728 746475
W: www.eastonfarmpark.co.uk

Easter Weekend, featuring Peppa Pig, The Hop Farm at the Kentish Oast Village, Paddock Wood, Tonbridge, Kent
21-24 March
Popular children's character Peppa Pig and her brother George will open the brand-new children's 'Driving School', a fun circuit on which kids learn the basics of driving and hone their skills in their own mini car. There's more fun to be had with George's Dinosaur Dig and Peppa's Bubble Bursting game, and special Easter activities include egg painting, visits from Hopper the Easter Bunny, egg hunts and spring animal encounter sessions.
T: 01622 872068
W: www.thehopfarm.co.uk

THE MIDLANDS

Easter Eggstravaganza, Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes
24 March
There will be plenty to do for all the family as usual at Bletchley Park, with Easter competitions, activities and fun and lots of chocolatey prizes to be won. Also on offer are 'Hunt the Chick Trail' in the Toy Museum, a hands-on workshop where the kids will learn how to make an Easter-themed moving toy and a colourful display of Easter objects dating from the 1880s to the present day.
T: 01908 640404
W: www.bletchleypark.org.uk

Ivor the Engine, Cholsey and Wallingford Railway, Wallingford, Oxon
22-24 March
After a long time in the engine shed, Ivor the Engine will be steaming between Cholsey and Wallingford over the Easter weekend. The event will feature a full-size Ivor the Engine locomotive, with his memorable signature whistles.
T: 01491 835067
W: www.cholsey-wallingford-railway.com

Easter at Ironbridge Gorge Museums, Shropshire
6-13 April
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 and enjoy the chance to try new skills. Activities will vary from day to day and carry an extra charge in addition to the museum entrance fee. There's Easter Egg dancing and Hunt the Chick at Blists Hill Victorian town, Easter tile decorating at Jackfield Tile Museum, and china painting for Easter at the Coalport China Museum.
T: 01952 884 391
W: www.ironbridge.org.uk

THE NORTH

Easter Eggspress at The Kirklees Light Railway, Huddersfield
21-25 March
Climb aboard the Easter Eggspress and take an enchanting ride to Shelley, where the Easter Bunny will be waiting for you to join in the Easter Egg Hunt. There will be lots of activities planned to keep the children entertained!
T: 01484 865727
W: www.childrenandarts.org.uk

Easter Trail, Bede's World, Jarrow, South Tyneside
31 March-15 April
Follow the clues around the museum using Anglo-Saxon kennings. There's a prize for all who find the answers. Adults £4.50, Children £3.00, Family ticket (2 adults & 2 children £10.00).
T: 0191 489 2106
W: www.bedesworld.co.uk

Easter Treasure Hunt, Crook Hall, Durham, Co. Durham
21-24 March
Wander through the romantic gardens of this medieval manor house and search for the Easter Bunny; go on an Easter Egg Hunt, and enjoy traditional Easter games. (Adults £5.50, Children and Concessions £4.50, Family ticket £16.00).
T: 0191 3848028
W: www.crookhallgardens.co.uk

Easter Eggstravaganza at National Coal Mining Museum for England, Wakefield
19 March-2 April
Join in free weekday Easter activities at the Museum, including egg decorating, brand new Easter Bunny trail (20-24 March, £1 per trail sheet), living history, craft activities and fairground rides. Free admission.
T: 01924 848806
W: www.childrenandarts.org.uk