Spring into Easter at Treasure Houses of England

For festive Easter fun and spring time celebrations, head to the Treasure Houses of England for a brilliant bounty of children’s entertainment – not to mention – an exciting Easter egg extravaganza at a multitude of venues.

Daffodils at Beaulieu

Beaulieu has orchestrated an Easter Trail for younger visitors to follow and collect a special sweet treat.  For adrenalised action, budding drivers can get behind the wheels on the Mini Car Driving Circuit and younger children can enjoy Dipstick’s Mini Motor Play Trail complete with climbing frame, swings and Little Tykes ride-on-cars. Hop on the high-level Monorail or replica open-topped London bus to see the beautiful sights of Beaulieu.  With the Easter Bunny ensuring all visitors receive a special treat (29 March-1st April) – not to mention BOND IN MOTION and World of Top Gear exhibitions – Beaulieu will make for a memorable and fun-filled family day out this Easter.

To celebrate spring, Harewood is hosting a fantastic fortnight of nature that will ensure a truly inspiring day out as both children and adults alike engage with seasonal event, Eggs, Seeds and Buds (29 March-14 April). A packed programme of craft activities, trails, demonstrations, walks and talks will keep everyone entertained whatever the weather.

Visit Hatfield House as it re-opens on the 30th March along with the Royal Academy of Arts sculptural exhibition in the West Garden.  There’s family fun to be enjoyed in the adventure playground and at Hatfield Park Farm to see the various farmyard animals and possibly even the opportunity to see some live lambing throughout March, April and May and bottle-feed the beautiful new babies.

Spring time at Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace’s Great Easter Egg Challenge (29-30 March) and Easter Weekend Entertainment (31 March-1 April) will spoil visitors with an array of attractions including children’s characters ‘Sid and Scrat’ from ‘Ice Age’, ‘Mike the Knight’ and ‘Little Princess’. In addition, their Active Spring Kids Camp (8-12 April) will feature a variety of activities such as archery and swing building to survival skills, cooking and first aid for 7-16 year olds.

The popular Burghley Easter Egg Hunt will once again be taking place in the Gardens of Surprise on Sunday 31 March, from 11am until 5pm (last admission 4.30pm). Follow the Easter treasure hunt around the Garden and solve the Easter riddle to claim your full size chocolate egg. Admittance is free of charge with a gardens only or house and gardens ticket.

Leeds Castle

There’s a family treasure trail through the grounds of Leeds Castle at Easter Bank Holiday with a prize draw to win a collectible British Gold Sovereign.  Spring arts and craft activities will also take place.

Castle Howard’s Easter Fair & Lamb National (29 March-1 April, 10am-4pm daily) returns with an exciting new event – the Lamb National - an extraordinary spectacle of sheep racing and sheepdog displays that guarantees a thrilling and entertaining experience for all involved. Meanwhile, while the Easter Fair presents Molly the Rabbit alongside vintage rides, sweets stalls, face painters and an enchanting Easter trail around the wonderful woodland paths.

New Outdoor Play for Holkham

From the Amazing Alphabets word search to games, crafts, face painting, Victorian cooking and a brilliant Treasure Hunt in the Bygones Museum – Holkham Hall hosts Easter Fun (29 March-1 April, 10am-5pm daily, entry to the hall from 12noon-5pm) – a superb schedule of festive fun for all the family.  Launching for the Easter Holidays is the new Children’s Woodland Adventure Play Area with a tree house in the sky, high level walkways, rope ladders and zip-wire.

Meet some of the famous and not-so famous faces of Woburn Abbey’s past this Easter.  Costumed characters will be spilling the beans and telling tales from Woburn Abbey’s illustrious history (29th March to 1st April).   In the Abbey Gardens the popular Easter Egg Trail will be back again, with some fiendishly tricky puzzles to answer and Easter Bunnies to find hidden around the garden before you win your prize (29th March to 1st April).   The contemporary sculpture exhibition in the gardens will also be adding another perspective to the Gardens experience from 22nd March (ends 31st August).

Chatsworth will be hosting spring celebrations suitable for the whole family throughout the school holidays (29 March -14 April), including an Easter egg trail through the house marking some favourite pieces from the collection, and a trail of golden eggs to discover in the garden. Over the Easter weekend (29 March- 1 April) the farmyard and adventure playground will host its annual Easter Egg hunts and Easter Eggspress trailer rides, and the Easter Bunny will be making appearances throughout the weekend.