20 family days out in Kent for the Easter school holidays
The Easter holidays are fast approaching so it’s time to, as some might say, pull a rabbit out of the hat and come up with some brilliant ideas to keep the whole family entertained.
But don’t worry – whether it’s egg hunts, panto shows, baby animals or spring crafts, we’ve got some cracking days out that will put a smile on your face...
BRENCHLEY GARDENS, Maidstone
Travel back to the Middle Ages with Maidstone’s Medieval Fayre. The annual event brings a group of re-enactors to the county town who will teach visitors traditional crafts and skills such as woodworking and calligraphy. There will also be live music, dance, and bird of prey displays.
Details: Saturday, April 12 at Brenchley Gardens in Maidstone. Free entry, no need to book.
BROGDALE, Faversham
During the Easter holidays, Brogdale will be bursting with family-friendly activities. It all starts with Beastie Days, where you can get up close and personal with creepy crawlies and join a mini-beast hunt around the farm. There will also be an adorable Teddy Bear’s Picnic below the blossoming fruit trees and, to round it all off, an Easter fun day with an egg hunt, face painting and a visit from the Easter Bunny.
Details: Select dates from Wednesday, April 9 to Sunday, April 20 at Brogdale in Faversham. Book online here.
BLUEWATER, near Dartford
There’s much more to Bluewater than just retail therapy. You can grab a new Gravity combo pass, which gives you access to the trampoline park, climbing walls, and gaming arcade, or test your skills on the pitch at the indoor football stadium Ballerz. Don’t forget to book a visit to Hangloose Adventure with England’s longest and fastest zipline and Europe’s biggest swing that takes adrenaline junkies 50 metres into the air.
Details: Open daily from 10am to 9pm at Bluewater in Greenhithe, near Dartford. Book online here.
DOVER CASTLE
The medieval castle is putting on a quest where young adventurers will need to crack the clues to get their hands on a chocolate reward. The Easter break will also see the Big Brick Build return to the site. The 10-day event gives visitors a chance to make their own piece of the castle’s lighthouse out of Lego, with a team of expert builders bringing it all together at the end to create one large-scale model.
Details: Easter trail takes place from Saturday, April 5 to Sunday, April 27 and the Big Brick Build takes place from Saturday, April 12 to Easter Monday at Dover Castle. Book online here.
DREAMLAND, Margate
The vintage amusement park is celebrating its 105th year on the Kent coast. To mark the occasion, Dreamland has launched all-day wristbands that give thrill-seekers unlimited access to either all rides in the park or, for younger visitors, there’s a wristband that covers smaller rides suitable for children. There’s also arcade games, a retro roller disco, food stalls and, new for this year, a series of VR games.
Details: Saturday, April 5 to Easter Monday at Dreamland in Margate. The park is then open on weekends and school holidays until the summer. Free entry, no need to book.
EASTGATE HOUSE, Rochester
Follow Alice down the rabbit hole and into the magical world of Wonderland with this fantastical live show. To celebrate the 160th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s book, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland will include characters like the White Rabbit, the Queen of Hearts and the Mad Hatter, colourful costumes and sing-along songs.
Details: Saturday, April 12, Sunday, April 13 and Saturday, April 19 at Eastgate House in Rochester. Book online here.
GODINTON HOUSE AND GARDENS, near Ashford
Follow the animal tracks and find the clues to complete this special Easter trail. You’ll learn all about the wild animals that live in and around Godinton House and can explore the estate’s spectacular spring gardens.
Details: Saturday, April 5 to Easter Monday at Godinton House and Gardens. Book online here.
GUILDHALL MUSEUM, Rochester
Six cheeky white rabbits are hiding around Rochester’s Guildhall Museum, and it’s up to you to find them all. This is just one of three Easter trails taking place in the historic town – the other two can be found at Rochester Castle, where you’ll have to search for baby dragons, and Upnor Castle which is dotted with colourful Easter eggs.
Details: Saturday, April 5 to Easter Monday at Guildhall Museum, Rochester Castle and Upnor Castle. Free entry, no need to book.
HEVER CASTLE, Edenbridge
Step into the award-winning grounds of Hever Castle and help the gardener track down the mischievous rabbits that have been digging holes and stealing seeds. If you complete the trail map, you’ll get a chocolate reward. There’s also Easter-themed craft activities, face painting and beautiful spring flowers.
Details: Saturday, April 5 to Easter Monday at Hever Castle in Edenbridge. Book online here.
HISTORIC DOCKYARD, Chatham
Visit the dockyard’s new exhibition, Brickwrecks: Sunken Ships in Lego Bricks, for an Easter overhaul. You can still see the display of famous shipwreck models, which opened in March, but, during the school holidays, you can also hunt for Lego eggs and win a chocolate treat to take home.
Details: Saturday, April 5 to Easter Monday at the Historic Dockyard Chatham. Book online here.
HOWLETTS WILD ANIMAL PARK, near Canterbury
Say hello to Howletts’ new lion cubs and spot the UK’s largest herd of African elephants at one of Kent’s most-visited wildlife parks. This Easter, kids can enter for just £10 and, on top of that, a handful of the park’s popular animal encounters, including rhinos and lemurs, will be running for just £10 too.
Details: Saturday, April 5 to Easter Sunday at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Bekesbourne, near Canterbury. Book online here.
KENT AND EAST SUSSEX RAILWAY, Tenterden
Meet the Easter Bunny at Tenterden station before hopping onboard the train and filling out your activity sheet as you travel through the countryside to Bodiam – and the best part is, kids go free during the school holidays.
Details: Tuesday, April 8 to Easter Monday at the Kent and East Sussex Railway in Tenterden. Book online here.
LEEDS CASTLE, near Maidstone
Join the knights on their quest to protect the castle from invasion this April. Create your own suit of armour, practise your sword skills and be rewarded with a Leeds Castle gold coin. It’s all inspired by the Horrible Histories books created by Terry Deary and Martin Brown.
Details: Saturday, April 5 to Easter Monday at Leeds Castle, near Maidstone. Book online here.
LULLINGSTONE CASTLE, near Swanley
It’s been 20 years since Lullingstone’s World Garden opened to the public. To celebrate this milestone, the gardens will be throwing an Easter egg hunt, a themed quiz and a chance to meet a host of spring characters including the Easter Bunny.
Details: Thursday, April 17 to Easter Monday at Lullingstone Castle in Eynsford, near Swanley. Book online here.
PENSHURST PLACE, near Tonbridge
Help the Easter Bunny find his holiday clothes scattered around the estate by following the trail map and solving puzzles. You can also catch a panto-style performance with immersive storytelling and join in delightful spring craft sessions.
Details: Select dates from Saturday, April 5 to Easter Monday at Penshurst Place near Tonbridge. Book online here.
PORT LYMPNE HOTEL AND RESERVE, Hythe
Save almost £20 on tickets to Kent’s biggest wildlife park during the school holidays. Each day of the Easter break, the first 150 people to book online can snap up kids’ tickets for just £10 (instead of the usual £29) and explore more than 600 acres of Kentish savannah. Spot giraffe and zebra from the safari trucks, book an animal encounter and let the kids loose in the dinosaur playground.
Details: Saturday, April 5 to Easter Sunday at Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve in Hythe. Book online here.
POWELL-COTTON MUSEUM, Birchington-on-Sea
Pick up a spring passport and set off on an adventure inside the museum. Find the animals’ missing eggs in the galleries, complete an outdoor egg hunt in the garden and decorate your very own wooden egg to take home.
Details: Good Friday to Easter Monday at the Powell-Cotton Museum in Birchington-on-Sea. Book online here.
PRINCESS CHRISTIAN’S FARM, near Tonbridge
Princess Christian’s Farm is a charity that provides life skills training for people with disabilities and, this spring, the team is throwing its annual lambing day. The event not only gives visitors a chance to coo over newborn lambs but also showcases the work that goes on at the facility.
Details: Sunday, April 6 at Princess Christian’s Farm in Hildenborough, near Tonbridge. Book online here.
RARE BREEDS CENTRE, near Ashford
During the school holidays, this farmyard attraction is throwing a whole host of Easter activities. There’s a springtime trail with a sweet treat at the end, a lambing tunnel where you can see adorable baby animals, sunflower planting, an Easter gift market and a family show, the Great Golden Egg Heist.
Details: Monday, April 7 to Easter Monday at the Rare Breeds Centre in Woodchurch, near Ashford. Book online here.
SPA VALLEY RAILWAY, Tunbridge Wells
Egbert Holmes, the great egg detective, is trying to crack the case of the Easter Bunny’s missing eggs. Join Egbert and his sidekick aboard an authentic steam engine and watch as he tries to figure out clues to solve the mystery. You can help by completing your activity sheet along the way.
Details: Good Friday to Easter Monday at the Spa Valley Railway in Tunbridge Wells. Book online here.
WILDWOOD, near Herne Bay
Set off on an Easter egg hunt through this wildlife park and find as many eggs as you can that have been hidden around the animal enclosures. There will also be bushcraft activities and a chance to visit the the new bird-flying seating area.
Details: Saturday, April 5 to Easter Monday at Wildwood in Herne, near Herne Bay. Book online here.
Discover a great range of Easter holiday activities at Kent’s English Heritage and National Trust sites.
