50+ cracking Easter holiday ideas

Hunting for fun? Gather your chicks and spring into the holidays these eggcellent things to do around Hampshire and the Isle of Wight with the kids this Easter.

Hop to it! There are loads of places to enjoy the great outdoors and go chocolate-hunt crazy this Easter around Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Bunny ears at the ready – here are a few of our highlights.

EASTER EGG TRAILS – HAMPSHIRE

Easter trail things to do with the kids holidays National Trust Hampshire
Pic: National Trust Images / James Dobson.

The National Trust can always be relied on for brilliant, outdoorsy Easter trails. Mottisfont, near Romsey (Sat 23 March – Sun 14 April), has a spring fete theme with welly wanging, ‘egg-sercises’, bunny bowling and hoopla. Limber up for wheelbarrow racing, target practice and an Easter egg puzzle at The Vyne, near Basingstoke (Sat 23 March – Sun 14 April). Or hop over to Hinton Ampner, near Alresford for Easter Bunny challenges (Fri 29 March – Sun 14 April).

The hunt is on for the colourful two-foot eggs in the New Forest! (Fri 29 March – Sun 14 April). Each arty egg in this special hunt at the beautiful Furzey Gardens in Minstead has been produced by a different talented artist – with 15 to find all across the gardens. Once you’ve found them, you can go claim an Easter egg treat at the tea rooms.

Fancy a bit of Downton Abbey grandeur? We can’t promise a nanny to mind the little darlings, but head to Highclere Castle’s annual Easter Egg Trail (Sat 6 April) and your search will take you around the gorgeous Capability Brown gardens and woodland, in aid of The Murray Parish Trust. And for young ladies (and gentlemen) who like to step out stylishly, there’s a fun Easter Bonnet parade too.

Hunt for over 200 eggs hidden around Basing House in Old Basing as it reopens for the season with The Big Basing House Easter Egg Hunt (Fri 29 – Sat 30 March) around the 14-acre site.

Part of its Easter Eggstravaganza of school holiday events (29 March – 7 April) Wellington Country Park’s Mega Egg Hunt in Riseley (Sun 31 March) brings another great excuse to enjoy the glorious grounds solving clues and searching for giant eggs, with a reward from the Easter bunny if you crack it.

Explore the gorgeous spring gardens at Chawton House near Alton (Weds 27 March- Sun 7 April) and find all the wilderness rabbits hiding among the daffodils. Inside the House, there’s Easter Eggs hidden in each room to find, too. And staying in East Hampshire, there’s a Record Breaking Birds Egg Hunt at Gilbert White’s Garden (Sat 23 March – Sun 14 April). Match the birds named on the eggs with amazing facts and claim a tasty choccie egg of your own.

Easter canoeing activity trail Beaulieu River New Forest Hampshire things to do with the kids

Feel like taking to the water? New Forest Activities’ Canoe Easter Egg Hunt includes a guided tour of the beautiful Beaulieu River and a hunt for eggs on the leafy riverbank (Sat 23 – Sun 24 March; Thurs 28 March – Fri 12 April).

Little chicks and families out for a walk will love the brilliant spring Easter egg hunts and events at our local Hampshire country parks. Highlights include The Big Butser Egg Roll trail at Queen Elizabeth Country Park at Horndean, near Petersfield; the Springtime at Staunton trail at Havant; the Easter Egg Hunt Trail at The Royal Victoria Country Park, Netley and Henrietta Hen’s great chick round up! at Lepe Country Park, Exbury. And can they help solve the case of The Missing Egg at Itchen Valley Country Park near Eastleigh? (All Fri 29 March – Sun 14 April).

Children in the garden on an Easter Egg trail at Four Seasons Hampshire Hook

Want to really treat the fam? The Four Seasons Hampshire at Dogmersfeld near Hook has all kinds of Easter fun including a special Easter-themed afternoon tea and an Easter Egg Hunt in the walled garden (Sun 31 March, above). Led by the Easter bunny, there’s a chance to win a family ticket to Paulton’s Park (guests only).

Staying with Hampshire country house hotels this Easter, hop over to The Elvetham near Hartley Wintney for their Easter egg hunt and giant lawn games (Mon 1 – Fri 5 April). And there’s the option of a splendid Easter afternoon tea here, too.

EASTER EGG TRAILS – ISLE OF WIGHT  

English Heritage Easter Quest Carisbrooke Castle Osborne House Isle of Wight

En garde! English Heritage Carisbrooke Castle has an Easter Adventure Quest Trail for valiant explorers. Or walk in the footsteps of Royalty at Osborne House in East Cowes and join in the Quest Trail fun here (Sat 23 March – Sun 14 April).

Also on at Osborne House this Easter holidays, look out for The Big Brick Build at Osborne (Sat 6 – Sun 14 April) and help experts to create Queen Victoria – in Lego!

Sunny day in the forecast? There’s a lovely nature-inspired National Trust Easter Egg hunt at Mottistone Gardens (Mon 25 March – Sun 14 April). Help Red Squirrel and her hibernating friends look for all the signs of spring so they can work out if it’s time to wake up. (Spoiler alert, it is).

Tapnell Farm Park is always a winner in the school holidays. Take the Easter Farm Quest (Fri 29 March – Fri 12 April) and search around the Farm Park for hidden letters to unscramble a puzzle and win a prize. After, spend time with the animals and join in fun and games like Trotter Training, Guinea Pig and Rabbit Fishing, Ferret Racing, Goat Feeding, Wallaby and Meerkat Talks. Competitive parent? Limber up and join in with the Tapnell Olympics, on too.

And reopened just in time for the Easter holidays, head to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway at Havenstreet for The Great Railway Easter Hunt (Fri 29 March –Fri 12 April). Search for the giant eggs hidden and solve the clues to claim your chocolate. While you’re here, look out for the Easter bonnet parade over the Easter weekend (Fri 29 March – Mon 1 April), falconry displays and of course, you can choo-choo-choose to take a relaxing ride on the nostalgic railway.

MARVELLOUS MUSEUMS & DAYS OUT

Rabbit trail Easter at Beaulieu National Motor Museum New Forest Hampshire things to do with the kids Easter Holidays

Toot, Toot! There’s plenty of things to do this Easter at Beaulieu (Fri 29 March – Sun14 April). Head there early on in the holidays and you can go back for free up to six days later. Motoring Parades will see iconic cars like Beaulieu’s Mini Outspan Orange going out for a spin.

Children (and grownups!) can play Easter bonnet dress-up at Palace House and meet costumed staff. Spot the rabbits hiding in The National Motor Museum. And over the Easter weekend (Fri 29 March – Mon 1 April) join in with fun Easter craft activities and see a larger-than-life Easter bunny hop through the grounds and gardens.

Hare-brained kids will love the hare and bunny-themed Eggs-travaganza Easter hunt at Winchester Science Centre (now until Mon 15 April). Also on, find spring and science-themed Boom & Bloom events including the free Bubble Trouble live show.

At Milestones Museum in Basingstoke, there’s time and historical challenges to solve in Bun and Ted’s Spring Challenge (Fri 29 March – Sun 16 April).

Felt Flower Bookmarks Craft Workshop The Arc Winchester Hampshire Easter Holidays activities for kids things to do

Winchester City Museum has its Easter hunt trail, egg decorating and fun crafts over the Easter Weekend (Sat 30 – Sun 31 March). While over at The Arc Winchester, there’s crafting with Felt Flower Bookmarks (Tues 2 & Tues 9 April) and the chance to Make your own pom pom bird (Weds 3 & Weds 10 April).

Bonkers for bricks? There’s two days of LEGO® fun with The Brick People at the Brickworks Museum in Swanwick (Wed 4 and Thurs 5 April). See cool models made from LEGO®, find the minifigures hidden around the museum and leave your mark by adding a LEGO® Dot mosaic tile to the special wall.

Head for SeaCity Museum (Sat 13 – Sun 14 April) where there’s a free build room for creative LEGO builders, brick built ‘Robot Battles’ and an anagram trail throughout the museum. Or find The Brick People at The Point, Eastleigh on Weds 10 April featuring speed build workshops, towering structures and Duplo for the littlies.

White rabbit on a sledge ride at Tapnell Farm Park Isle of Wight Alice's Easter Wonderland things to do with the kids in the holidays

Slide down the rabbit hole for fun at Alice’s Easter Wonderland at Tapnell Farm Park on the Isle of Wight, (Tues 2 – Thurs 4 and Tues 9 – Thurs 11 April). There’ll be ‘six impossible things before breakfast’, including Potions with Alice, Circus Games with the White Rabbit, and interactive shows with the Queen of Hearts. Plus, the Mad Hatter’s Maze to get lost in and the usual brilliant animal activities here from Meerkat meet and greets to the Wallaby Walkabout, goat feeding and more.

A RIGHT ROYAL DAY OUT IN LONDON

Royal Mews working royal stables Buckingham Palace
© Royal Collection Trust / His Majesty King Charles III 2024

Royal lustre, glittering coaches and a horse or two. Love the pomp and ceremony of royal events? Head straight for the Royal Mews – a working royal stables responsible for the King’s road travel.

A stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace, you can get up close to the fairytale-like Gold State Coach used in coronations since 1821 and the Rolls Royce Phantom VI used in royal weddings. You can even climb aboard a reproduction landau for that essential photo opp, tack up a (wooden) pony, and ‘ooh and aah’ over the other carriages and shiny bits of kit. A great day out for all ages. (Tickets: adults from £17, Kids (5-17yrs) from £8.50 and under 5s free). 

EASTER HOLIDAY CAMP

Kids on pedal Karts ultimate activity camp school holidays Hampshire

They get screen-free fun with other kids, while you get some work done? Now that sounds like a plan. Enrol them at The Ultimate Activity Camp at Stroud, King Edward VI Prep, near Romsey (Monday 8 – Friday 12 April). With over 40 sports, games and craft activities to join in with, they’ll be anything but bored (4-14 years).

ON STAGE

Spots Birthday Party Portsmouth Guildhall

Happy Birthday, Spot! Spot’s Birthday Party, the fun interactive family theatre tour (based on the much-loved Spot the Dog stories), comes to Portsmouth Guildhall on Weds 10 April. Woof to that! The show, which promises songs and dance, is being produced by the guys behind David Walliam’s Mr Stink, so it bodes well. (For children 2+). 

There’s plenty for families at Theatre Royal Winchester this Easter too, including Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book (Tue 2 – Wed 3 Apr), The Singing Mermaid (Sat 13 – Sun 14 Apr) and an adaptation of the Rod Campbell classic Dear Zoo (Sat 6 – Sun 7 Apr). 

Discover The Museum of Marvellous Things (Sat 13 April) at The Point Theatre Eastleigh, an inspiring, interactive show with puppets set in a magical museum. See Tall Stories’ brilliant production of The Gruffalo’s Child at MAST Mayflower Theatre Southampton (Weds 10 – Sat 13 April).

The gig of a lifetime for littlies, Andy & The Odd Socks play The Anvil, Basingstoke on Fri 12 April. Or how about an Easter panto? (Oh, yes, there is!). Beauty & The Beast stars Lee from Steps and Barney from Blue Peter here on Tues 9 April.

TEENS & TWEENS

Discovering Diatoms - the Art of Scientific Drawing The National Museum of the Royal Navy at  Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

They’re small – but mighty. Head to The National Museum of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard for a special World Beneath the Waves STEM event: Discovering Diatoms – the Art of Scientific Drawing (Thurs 4 April). Visitors can meet Dr. Mariem Saavedra-Pellitero, from the University of Portsmouth, view the teeny tiny diatom samples under microscopes and have a go at sketching their intricate shapes.

Got a gamer in the family? Dice and Destiny: Gaming in the Dark Age at Winchesters interactive 878AD attraction gives the chance to learn Anglo Saxon games then battle friends and family or face-off with resident Saxons for the chance to get on leaderboard. Assassin’s Creed fans can also head to behind-the-scenes area to play a special Assassin’s Creed board game collection.

Grayson Perry: Essex House Tapestries - The Life of Julie Cope'

Art-loving teens will appreciate Grayson Perry’s Essex House Tapestries – The Life of Julie Cope, the big exhibition just opened at The Arc Winchester (until Wed 12 June). Two exquisite tapestries tell the life story of Essex woman Julie Cope, a fictional character created by artist. 

In Beaulieu, New Forest Activities has family-friendly Laser Tag Games and BattleZone Open Sessions for over 8s (various dates).

And vroom, vroom – how about getting behind the wheel of a car? Thruxton Circuit at Andover has on and off-road classes for over 12s at their Junior Driving Experience Days on Sat 23 March and Fri 5 and Sat 6 April.

FREE FUN

Winchester Hampshire

There are plenty of places to have fun with the kids around Hampshire this Easter – without breaking the bank. Around the city, Winchester BID has a free downloadable Easter-themed Bunny Hop Trail (Fri 29 March – Sun 14 April), with a treat at the end.

Kids with a sweet tooth (err, that’ll be all of them, then) can head for Andover on Sat 6 April for a special Chocolate Factory Fun Day. Drop into the creative workshop in the Chantry Centre’s indoor garden to help to decorate a large ‘chocolate factory’ themed sculpture, with craft activities for children to make and take home. Then join in the Andover Chocolate Dash and seek out chocolate themed clues hidden in shop windows.

There’s always plenty of free family fun (and parking!) marina-side at Port Solent, in Portsmouth. Love to boogie? Bust your best moves at the Port Solent Kid’s Club Party Disco (various sessions, Tuesday 2 April).

Mill Cottage Farm chick Port Solent Hampshire Portsmouth

The Mill Farm Cottage mobile farm pays a visit on Thurs 4 April (above). Local entertainer Silly Scott is back on Tues 9 April, along with crafts from The Creation Station. And on Thurs 11 April, meet kooky magician Professor Strange. Wonder if he’ll pull a rabbit out of a hat?

Is that an elephant by the coffee shop? If you’re over in Basingstoke this Easter, hit the shops at Festival Place and while you’re there, catch FP Goes Wild! amazing Animal Jungle Brick Sculptures trail (Fri 29 March – Fri 12 April).

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