With the days getting longer, the amount of rain seeming to finally reduce and the spring flowers out in bloom, the Easter school holidays must be coming soon. It is time to start thinking about some days out with the kids. Where will you take your bunny this Easter? We have some ideas for you.
Days out with kids can be expensive so it's definitely worth planning ahead. Can you get a discount if you book online? Some of the big attractions give larger discounts if you book several weeks in advance. Do you have any supermarket vouchers that you could use to buy entry tickets? Are there any vouchers available online for discounted tickets? Have a look for local attractions as they can be less expensive. Does your local farm shop offer any Easter events? Can you take a packed lunch and save on costs when you arrive? Make sure you take some bottles of water as if you are buying drinks all day for a thirsty family, it's surprising how the costs add up. (and remember to take your re-usuable water bottles, not single use plastic ones). If you are planning to take your own food & drink, do check before as there can be restrictions on what you can take in.
At Best Years, we have some suggestions for some kids days out for the family to enjoy around the country. We have tried to find a variety of locations and some events are free, whilst others have an admission charge. Let us know if you have spotted something near to you that you think we should add to our list.
Dippy's Egg-cellent Easter, Roarr!! Dinosaur Adventure, Norfolk
If you are in the East of England over the Easter weekend you are in for a treat! A sensory maze based on Dippy's Chocolate factory, golden tickets hidden around the park which can be exchanged for an Easter surprise if found and the Swing-o-Saurus and Raptor Contraptor rides will be open. The 85 acre park offers plenty of space for families to explore including the Valley of the Dinosaurs, Dippy's Raceway and Jurassic Putt Crazy and there are plenty of indoor options if the weather is not kind. There is a Roarr Top Trump dinosaur trail planned for the school holidays following the Easter weekend. This is an ideal day out for the dinosaur mad family but be sure to book ahead for the Easter weekend.
The Moon Walkers, A Journey with Tom Hanks, Lightroom, London
If you are looking for something a bit special this Easter and have the funds available, why not take a look at The Moon Walkers at Lightroom in London. This tells the story of the Apollo missions, Moon landings and goes behind the scenes of the Artemis programme using a large format, multi-media approach. This digitally enhanced, immersive experience is a huge space spectacle and is sure to inspire your children's curiosity and may inspire the next generation of astronauts. This is the last chance to see this event with shows finishing in April, but do not fear. They have a roar-some dinosaur event planned for the summer.
If you are in London or the South East, why not consider a trip to see the Crystal Palace dinosaurs? This dinosaur trail is free to enter and offers the opportunity to see some of the world's oldest dinosaur statues. Constructed in 1853-55, these palaeontological statues represent the first ever attempt anywhere in the world to model extinct animals as full-scale, three-dimensional, active creatures from fossil remains. Some of the statues are wildly inaccurate compared with modern interpretations. Who decided what they should look like is a subject of historical debate.
This would make a lovely day out on a dry day - why not take a picnic and enjoy the great outdoors and burn off some energy.
Knebworth House Dinosaur Trail
Young children will love the dinosaur trail in the Wilderness Garden at Knebworth House. With 72 life sized dinosaurs and historic creatures among the shrubbery, there is plenty to discover. Children can learn about the Woollly Mammoth, T Rex and other dinosaurs whilst exploring the woodland pathways. With wind up sound boxes children can make the dinosaurs roar and there are dinosaur footprints to discover. The wilderness area within the Gardens features Willow Huts, bird song sound box and garden sculptures as well as the Bug Hotel and Giant’s Chair - a highlight for many young children.
And don't forget to visit the Adventure Playground to burn off even more energy - interactive water play, a zip wire, climbing equipment and a drop slide. Sounds like plenty to keep older children busy. Picnics are welcome so why not make a full day of it?
The Deep only opened in 2002 but has become an international player in marine conservation and is home to 5000 animals including some magnificent sharks and rays. In April the theme is 'Whale Hello There' - listen to daily talks with games and activities and also make your mark on the Blue Whale mural. There are also some Shark Egg Case hunts in different locations but be sure to book in advance as places are limited. A great day out when the weather is a little changeable - as it can be in the UK in April!
And for a very special experience, why not enquire about the Sleepover opportunities - a once in a lifetime chance to bed down next to incredible marine life.
Boat trips on Jacobite Cruises, Loch Ness and The Caledonian Canal, Scotland
If you are in Scotland and the weather is good, we can thoroughly recommend a cruise on Loch Ness to try and spot the Loch Ness monster. Whether you believe that the monster exists or not, the scenery is breathtaking. You can choose between an adrenaline packed RIB speedboat that seats 12 or take your place on a sedate pleasure cruiser and see the Loch at a more relaxed pace. On the Caledonian Canal, you can visit Neptune's Staircase, an amazing piece of engineering which raises the canal 19m over a quarter of a mile. Overlooked by Ben Nevis, this is a stunning area to visit.
Portsmouth Museums, Portsmouth
If you are in the south, why not take a visit to Portsmouth Museums. The collections are wide ranging from natural history to local history, working life and the sea, there is bound to be something that takes your fancy. Ideal for days when the weather is not kind. Check the website to see the full range of museums and locations on offer.
If you are in the north, we thoroughly recommend Liverpool Museums which cover a wide range of interests and there is something for the whole family. Our favourite is of course the Dinosaur collection at the World Museum with full size dinosaur skeletons and a dino diner display that explores their teeth, what they ate and even what they left behind as droppings! An ideal wet weather day for the dinosaur mad child.
Waddesdon Manor, Nr. Aylesbury
Waddesdon Manor makes for a lovey day out with the kids and is part of the National Trust, so if you have membership there is no entry charge. The gardens are extensive and fantastic for kids to explore, build dens, bug hunt and there is a wonderful woodland playground and an aviary (which is a registered zoo) full of rare and exotic birds. There is an Easter trail to follow with lots of fun and games with creative activities and you can collect a chocolate egg at the end.
Dippy the Dinosaur, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry
The nation's favourite dinosaur, Dippy the Dinosaur, is in Coventry on a three year loan from the Natural History Museum. This follows a successful tour of the UK when 8 venues hosted Dippy and over 2 million visitors had the chance to see Dippy. If you are in the Midlands, why not plan a day out to Coventry and visit Dippy over the holidays. You can book a free slot to see the Dippy, discover fun facts and can even get to touch and feel some fossils from the collection. If you have children over 5 years old, you can even book a Dippy VR experience.
If you are looking for a really special experience, you can book to sleep under Dippy the Dinosaur on selected dates in 2025. This would certainly be a memorable experience and could be ideal to celebrate a birthday.
Please note that the Herbert Gallery is introducing an admission charge for adults from 1st April.
Edinburgh Science Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland
If you are in Scotland why not take a trip to Edinburgh for Edinburgh Science, 5 - 20 April? This year's theme is Spaceship Earth, which will explore the challenges of living on a planet with finite resources. With events planned for all ages there is sure to be something for everybody - some events are paid for and need to be booked in advance (family tickets are available) but there are also free exhibitions and free drop-in play sessions. The programme is 48 pages long so there are far too many events to list here but things that caught our eye were: From Bake Off to Blast Off, Walk Like an Astronaut, Animal Adventurers and Code Your Own Mars Mission. Let us know if you book anything - we would love to hear from you.
If you have any favourite days out with the kids that you would like to tell us about, please join the conversation on our Facebook page.
