Outdoor trails, egg hunts, craft workshops and animal encounters in Kent during the Easter school holidays

by Sam Lawrie

slawrie@thekmgroup.co.uk

The school Easter break is upon us , so it’s time to start filling your spring calendar with fun activities to keep the kids busy.

But don’t worry if you haven’t come up with any ideas just yet, as we’ve got lots of egg-cellent Easter days out for you and your family…

Get the kids out of the house during the school holidays with Kent’s Easter activities. Picture: Hever Castle and Gardens

Ashford Town Centre

The Ashford Festival of Railway Modelling returns to the town centre this year with a packed programme of activities. Enthusiasts can admire more than 45 model railway layouts, a photography exhibition looking at 140 years of the Maidstone East to Ashford West railway line and a one-off model railway showcase at the Elwick Club. There are also open days at Ashford Museum and a beer festival with live music at Coachworks.

Details: Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7 at various locations in Ashford town centre. Wristbands cost £10 and can be booked online here.

Take on the challenge at Betteshanger’s Boonies assault course

Betteshanger Country Park, Deal

Take on an outdoor assault course and challenge your mates in a race to the finish line this Easter. Betteshanger’s fun family-friendly course, Boonies, is offering a one-hour instructor-led session, 30 minutes of free play and 30 minutes on the slip-and-slide for a discounted price on select dates throughout the school holidays.

Details: Select dates from Easter Monday to Friday, April 12 at Betteshanger Country Park in Deal. Sessions cost £15 and can be booked online here.

There are two great activities – the new Magical Beast trail and the Medieval Fayre – coming to Maidstone this Easter. Picture: MBC

Brenchley Gardens, Maidstone

There’s lots of free fun to be had in Maidstone during the Easter break. It all starts with the Magical Beasts sculpture trail where families can follow an art trail throughout the town to uncover baby Iguanodon dinosaurs and a giant T-rex. Keep an eye out for the handlers who will also be wandering around with their dinosaur friends.

A few days later, the town’s Medieval Fayre returns with craft activities, history talks and birds of prey displays. The free fair will give kids a chance to try their hand at traditional skills such as woodworking and calligraphy and get involved in knight and princess training.

Details: Magical Beasts trail opens on Wednesday, April 3 and the Medieval Fayre takes place on Saturday, March 6. Both events take place at Brenchley Gardens in Maidstone and are free to enter.

Dover Castle

Join expert builders and learn how to create incredible Lego sculptures at Dover Castle’s Big Brick Build. During the sessions, you will build your section of the recreation of the castle’s Great Tower, which will all come together at the end to create one giant sculpture. During the school holidays, there will also be an Easter Adventure Quest where you can figure out clues, find eggs and receive a chocolate treat.

Details: Big Brick Build takes place from Saturday, April 6 to Sunday, April 14 and the Easter Adventure Quest takes place from Saturday, March 23 to Sunday, April 14. Both take place at Dover Castle and can be booked online here.

The spring gardens at Godinton House will be open to the public towards the end of the Easter break. Picture: Godinton House

Godinton House, near Ashford

Explore the 12-acre gardens at Godinton House with formal lawns, spring topiaries, daffodils and the Italian garden - and the best part is, kids go free. During the open day, the tearoom will also be open and serving homemade cakes and cream teas.

Details: Saturday, April 13 at Godinton House and Gardens. Adult tickets cost £8, kids go free. Book online here.

Hazlitt Theatre, Maidstone

The team at Immersion Theatre will return to the Hazlitt during the Easter holidays with another brilliant production. Their magical musical adaptation of Alice in Wonderland will take audiences down the rabbit hole and into a world of vivid colours and outlandish characters including the Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat and Queen of Hearts.

Details: Tuesday, April 2 at the Hazlitt Theatre in Maidstone. Tickets cost £16.50 and can be booked online here.

Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty when sand-digging at Hever Castle. Picture: Hever Castle and Gardens

Hever Castle, near Edenbridge

A dino-themed trail is opening at Hever Castle with sand digging, dinosaur explorers, animal face painting and crafts. Visitors can also enjoy all of the castle’s usual offerings, including the outdoor playground, water maze, historic castle and gardens with daffodils and tulips.

Details: Good Friday to Sunday, April 14 at Hever Castle. Activities are included in an entry ticket, which can be booked online here.

RNLI 200 is a new exhibition opening this year at the Historic Dockyard in Chatham. Picture: RNLI

Historic Dockyard, Chatham

Medway’s maritime attraction, the Historic Dockyard, is opening a brand new exhibition this spring. The RNLI 200 exhibition explores the fascinating history of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution with personal stories, art by Tracey Emin, videos and projections, real-life artefacts and a lifeboat collection that spans 200 years.

Details: Saturday, March 23 to Sunday, September 1 at the Historic Dockyard Chatham. The exhibition is included in an entry ticket, which can be booked online here.

Howletts Wild Animal Park, near Canterbury

Discover more than 390 animals across 90 acres of parkland at Howletts. During the Easter break, the wildlife park is giving families a chance to visit for a fraction of the usual admission price with £10 kids’ tickets. All you need to do is book online in advance and visitors aged 3-15 years will benefit from a great discount.

Details: Good Friday to Sunday, April 14 at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Bekesbourne, near Canterbury. Tickets start from £10 and can be booked online here.

Kent and East Sussex Railway, Tenterden

Start your day by having breakfast with the Easter Bunny before hopping on the train to Bodiam for a free circus workshop. Once your full English goes down, you can have a go at juggling, plate spinning and stilt walking before heading back to Tenterden and snapping a selfie with the Easter Bunny as he strolls through the town centre.

Details: Good Friday to Easter Monday at the Kent and East Sussex Railway in Tenterden. Breakfast costs £11.95 and can be booked online here.

Kent Life, Maidstone

Now is the perfect time to visit the farm at Kent Life and meet the newborn animals. There will be lamb bottle feeding demonstrations each day, along with lots of family activities including the make-your-own Teddy Parlour and indoor and outdoor play areas so the kids can burn off energy no matter the weather.

Details: Good Friday to Sunday, April 14 at Kent Life in Maidstone. Tickets cost £10 and can be booked online here.

Explore the grounds of Leeds Castle during the outdoor treasure hunt. Picture: Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle, near Maidstone

The glamorous Lady Baillie has let her Great Danes, Boots and Danny, loose in the castle grounds and they seem to have lost their treasure. Over the Easter holidays, it’s up to you to help the hounds recover their goods on an interactive treasure hunt, meeting live characters and figuring out challenges along the way.

Details: Good Friday to Sunday, April 14 at Leeds Castle near Maidstone. Trail costs £2.50 in addition to an entry ticket and can be booked online here.

Let your little ones get creative in the kitchen this Easter. Picture: Macknade

Macknade, Faversham

Celebrate the return of Macknade’s outdoor Food Village with live music and pizza-making workshops. The street food market launches for the season with a free evening of tunes from the Beard Conspiracy and bites from the likes of Al Taco and The Little Katsu Kitchen. Then, the market will be open for Easter with kid’s pizza-making sessions taking place during the holidays.

Details: Launch party takes place on Good Friday. Pizza-making workshops take place on Friday, April 5 and Friday, April 12. Both take place at Macknade in Faversham and there’s no need to book.

You never know who you might spot on the trail... Picture: Penshurst Place

Penshurst Place, near Tonbridge

Set off on an Easter adventure through the gardens of Penshurst Place where you will meet Henry the Hedgehog. Find out how Henry prepared for hibernation this winter and his plans for spring while weaving your way through the colourful spring plants and trees.

Details: Good Friday to Sunday, April 13 at Penshurst Place near Tonbridge. Activities are included in an entry ticket, which can be booked online here.

Meet the orangutans at Port Lympne with two new animal encounters

Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve, near Hythe

There’s been a baby boom at Port Lympne, so make sure you don’t miss it. Spring is a great time to see the wildlife park’s new additions, including the baby wallaby, Javan gibbon, De Brazza monkey and gorilla. Also, to welcome two of the park’s latest arrivals - critically endangered Sumatran orangutans Hadjah and Malou - there are two new animal encounters to enjoy: Meet the Great Apes and the Orangutan Encounter.

Details: Open daily from 9.30am to 6pm at Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve near Hythe. Tickets start from £32 and can be booked online.