20 Fabulous Family Spring Days Out Across the UK for Easter
Spring has sprung across the United Kingdom, bringing a wealth of opportunities for families to enjoy the great outdoors and cultural attractions. From birdwatching in the fens to exploring ancient castles, here are twenty fabulous days out to keep everyone entertained this Easter season.
Birding in the Fens Near Ely
Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire stands as one of Europe's most vital wetlands, offering an exceptional birding experience as summer migrants arrive. Listen for the rhythmic songs of chiffchaffs, the earliest visitors, followed by blackcaps and willow warblers in mild weather. At dawn or dusk, the foghorn-like calls of booming bitterns echo across the reedbeds. Accessible boardwalks around Sedge Fen cater to pushchairs and wheelchairs, with wildlife hides also wheelchair-friendly. Watch for the electric blue flash of kingfishers and male marsh harriers performing sky-dancing flights as breeding season commences, ahead of cuckoo arrivals in late April. Admission starts at £10 for adults and £5 for children, with under-5s free.
Artful Planting in East Sussex
At the Goodwood Art Foundation sculpture park, landscape designer Dan Pearson has crafted 24 seasonal moments to complement art-dotted trails through woodland, glades, and meadows. This spring marks the first viewing of his graphic plantings, including daffodils, bluebells, cherry blossoms, and a katsura grove turning copper. During Easter holidays, children can enjoy free Art in Nature packs for rubbings and collages. Nearby, Petworth's spring festival features over 100 pots of spring bulbs, willow foraging workshops, basket making, and garden-themed kids' activities. Goodwood Art Foundation tickets are £15 for adults with under-18s free, while Petworth's festival runs from 4-19 April with tickets from £21 for adults and £10.50 for children.
Feast by the Sea in Kent
The Kent coast has elevated its foodie scene with offerings from Italian small plates in Margate to Japanese ramen in Deal. The Broadstairs food festival, popping up on the seafront from 3-5 April, showcases chefs, street food stalls, and local artisans. Enjoy food-themed workshops like chocolate lollipop making and screen printing napkins with designs of figs, oysters, crabs, or seaweed. Broadstairs itself offers seafood at Kebbells, tapas at Bar Ingo, and iconic sundaes at Morelli's ice-cream parlour. Entry to the festival is free.
Treetop Thrills and Stargazing in the Lake District
Grizedale Forest in the Lake District provides an action-packed day with Go Ape treetop courses, mountain biking, and sculpture trails, including Gruffalo and Room on the Broom routes. Newly added is the Grizedale Observatory, the Lake District's first public observatory and planetarium, offering family sessions on Saturdays at 4pm where budding astronomers can touch meteorites and watch planetarium shows. Easter events include Jupiter viewings and aurora nights. Forest entry is free, while observatory events start at £13 for adults and £8 for children.
See Grand Designs and Baby Lambs in North Yorkshire
Castle Howard, designed by playwright Sir John Vanbrugh in 1699, celebrates its creator's tercentenary with new tours offering access to usually closed areas, follies, and monuments. Families can meet baby lambs born on the estate at the Skelf Island adventure playground on 4-5 April. Garden tickets, including Skelf Island, start at £17 for adults and £8.50 for children, with under-3s free.
Woodland Blooms in Cornwall
In Cornwall, spring arrives early thanks to the Gulf Stream, with champion Magnolia campbellii at the Eden Project and other Great Gardens of Cornwall blooming by late February. Bluebells may appear by Easter, notably at Tehidy woods. The Wild Awake show by Rogue Otherworld, running 3-6 and 8-12 April, weaves through trees telling the forest's awakening story, guided by the Wild Spring Hare. Tickets are £10-£15 for adults, with under-3s free.
Poohsticks in Ashdown Forest
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of AA Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh, Ashdown Forest offers Pooh Walks from Gills Lap, tracing spots like The Enchanted Place and Roo's sandy pit. Don't miss playing poohsticks on the iconic bridge. Free to access, the forest will host The Big One Hundred celebration in summer with giant puppets and new walking routes.
A Wild Coastal Walk in County Antrim
The Gobbins cliff path in County Antrim, clinging to basalt rock with waves crashing below, reopens for guided tours on 20 March after rockfall closures. Alternatively, the free Blackhead Path offers dramatic coastal views past smuggler's caves and up to Blackhead Lighthouse. Reward yourself with ice-cream at Coastal Coffee in Whitehead. Gobbins tours cost £22.75 for adults and £16.50 for children aged roughly seven and up.
Relive Springwatch in the Peak District
Longshaw Estate, last year's Springwatch base, allows visitors to spot wildlife like short-eared owls, pied flycatchers, and adders emerging from hibernation. The Padley Gorge and Burbage Brook walking route winds through ancient woodland and meadows, ideal for birdwatching. Free entry encourages exploration of this diverse habitat.
Go Mudlarking on the Thames
Thames Explorer Trust's In the Footsteps of Mudlarks tours offer a unique chance to search London's foreshore for artefacts like smoking pipes and pottery, bypassing the usual permit waiting list. Family sessions during school holidays meet at the Brunel Museum in Rotherhithe, costing £30 for adults and £17 for children under 12.
Take a Seabird Safari in North Berwick
Boat trips from the Scottish Seabird Centre restart in late March, offering views of Bass Rock's northern gannet colony and Craigleith's puffins. Options range from RIB seafaris to catamaran cruises, often accompanied by dolphins and seals. The centre also features live cameras and a spring beach clean on 10 April. Boat trips start at £32 for adults and £15 for children, with centre admission at £13.50 for adults and £9 for children.
Join the Famous Five in Dorset
Inspired by Enid Blyton's stories, visit Corfe Castle, believed to be the model for Kirrin Castle, via the vintage Swanage Railway. The author's own travels on this route add to the charm. Combine with a viewing of the new Magic Faraway Tree film for a full Blyton experience. Railway tickets start at £14 for adults and £7.50 for children one way.
Iron Age Living at Loch Tay
The Scottish Crannog Centre, rebuilt after a 2021 fire, offers immersive iron age experiences with reconstructed roundhouses. The Crannog is Hatching event on 4-5 April explores traditions of birth and renewal with springtime foods in the Feasting Hall. Admission is £15 for adults and £10 for children, with under-5s free.
Dive into Art Near Edinburgh
Jupiter Artland sculpture park allows swimming in Joana Vasconcelos's Gateway pool and Charles Jencks's Cells of Life lakes, surrounded by artworks by Tracey Emin and others. The Make Studio offers creative activities with paint and clay. Tickets start at £11.80 for adults and £7.50 for children, including swim bookings.
Find Dragons in Caerphilly
Caerphilly Castle, Wales's largest, reopened after an £8m renovation, featuring interactive exhibits and animatronic dragons in a moat-side lair. The Great Hall is now dressed in medieval style, bringing history to life. Admission is £12.90 for adults and £9 for children, with under-5s free.
Ride a Carousel in Flintshire
Hawarden Estate's Great Easter Show on 4 April includes vintage fairground rides, circus workshops, and an egg-and-spoon race. Year-round activities like the Explorer Club and Walled Garden School classes offer ongoing fun. Show tickets are £18.50 for adults and £12.50 for children, including unlimited rides.
Highland Tales in Inverness
Inverness Castle Experience, opened after a £47m redevelopment, uses Gaelic storytellers to explore Highland history, Celtic music, and shinty. A rooftop platform offers views of Ben Wyvis. Tickets are £20 for adults and £14 for children, with under-5s free.
Cruise the World's Highest Canal Aqueduct in the Dee Valley
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, a Unesco World Heritage site, offers boat trips on the Little Star from 1 April or a free walk across the towpath. Continue to Llangollen for hiking and homemade fudge. Boat trips cost from £10.48 for adults and £6.29 for children.
Hike the New Teifi Valley Trail
The new 83-mile Teifi Valley Trail in west Wales, opening in April, includes a day walk from Cilgerran Castle to Poppit Sands through nature reserves and quaint villages. Perfect for a spring hike with family.
Car-Free Cotswolds Garden Tour
From Moreton-in-Marsh, explore Batsford Arboretum's cherry blossoms, Bourton House Garden's topiary, and Sezincote's Indian-inspired water garden. All accessible without a car, offering a serene spring escape. Admission varies, with discounts for children.
