Bewl Water, Kent/Sussex
Keep the kids busy for less this Easter at southeast England’s largest reservoir, Bewl Water. From April 1-16, the 800-acre site will be pulling out all the stops to help parents keep children entertained for under £15. Car parking costs £7 for the day and Easter activities are mostly free to enjoy.
The range of free activities include: giant garden games, Ranger Bears’ Spring Trail; the Rabbit Colouring Competition; the Adventure Pirate Ship and the Big Easter Fun Day. Children under one year of age enter free into the soft play. Other activities include some with minimal cost, like an Easter egg hunt for £2, soft play for £5 and bike hire for £7.50.
For more information: visit bewlwater.co.uk
Hever Castle
Make family memories with an Easter quest and craft egg decorating workshop at Hever Castle.
Celebrate spring by helping the Easter Bunny find their sweet treats, and spell a special word as part of an Easter egg hunt around the grounds. Once you’ve worked out the word,
head to the Information Hut to receive a chocolate treat.
There will also be free craft workshops where your little ones can take part in egg decorating workshops.
On Easter weekend (April 7-10), have a go at the egg and spoon race, and egg rolling on Half Moon Lawn, and get your face painted (for an additional charge).
For more information, visit: hevercastle.co.uk
Scotney Castle, near Lamberhurst, Kent
Find out what snakes, butterflies, crocodiles, birds, platypuses and dragons have in common at the Great Scotney Egg-stravaganza. Follow the trail around the stunning gardens down to the fairytale, moated castle, taking in the azaleas, magnolia stellata and cherry blossom along the way. Complete the family friendly activities to win your Easter egg. There will be plenty to keep everyone entertained, including games, face painting, play areas, and a giant bird’s nest into which the whole family can climb.
Activities are on from April 1-16. Car park booking essential. The trail costs £3; face painting costs £2 and the normal admission fee applies.
Visit: nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/scotney-castle
Chartwell, Westerham, Kent
Join Chartwell’s Easter adventure trail, ‘Being Winston’, and explore elements of Churchill’s life at his former home. Little ones will love the officer training obstacle course, and there’s Easter-themed painting, story stones to inspire your imagination, and you can try your hand at a game of croquet.
While you enjoy your egg, there are plenty of places to run, play and explore in the wider estate including the Marycot, bomb crater and treehouse – or have a wander through the Orchard and find the chickens in the Walled Garden.
The trail takes place from April 1-16 and costs £3. Normal admission applies.
Visit: nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/chartwell
Penshurst Place and Gardens
The Easter Bunny has visited Penshurst Place and left his photo album containing his favourite snaps behind. Youngsters are invited to follow his trail and identify where he took the images, finding clues along the way. Running from April 1-16, the trail promises to keep children entertained throughout the Easter period and school break.
The trail is included free in the cost of admission to Penshurst Place and runs daily between 10am and 5pm.
Penshurst will also host Camp Wilderness Bushcraft Activities from 10.00am to 4.30pm on Good Friday April 7, and also on Easter Sunday April 10. Recommended for children aged 8 and above, activities include axe-throwing, archery, and bushfire cooking.
These activities are also included in the admission price.
On Easter Sunday, April 10, from 11.15am to 3.15pm, Penshurst Place and Gardens will feature an Easter storytelling event. Settle in for some Easter stories performed in the gardens by a collection of hoppy characters! Ideal for children of all ages.
For information on activities, dates and admission visit penshurstplace.com/whats-on/events-and-activities/2023-04/
Aspens, Pembury
Take part in the Aspens Easter trail from April 3-15. There’s a treat for those who complete it!
Visit the animals and burn off energy in the woodlands, or make music on the giant woodchimes. To take part in the trail, collect a card from our Bluebell Café. Once you have completed it, return it to the café to receive a treat Then enjoy a delicious meal, snack or drink in the Bluebell Café.
Although no entrance fee is charged, Aspens ask visitors to consider leaving a donation to help maintain the site, care for our animals and to support their work empowering people on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities.
To find out more, visit: aspens.org.uk/bluebell-cafe
Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest
Go on an adventure this Easter to discover some of our amazing trees in the National Pinetum.
Complete the Code Cracking Quest trail by answering a question at each box location.
A letter in each answer will be converted to a number to form a code.
Return to the visitor centre to crack the code and receive a chocolate prize by unlocking the Easter hamper!
The quest will take approximately an hour to complete and costs £2 an activity sheet.
More details at: forestryengland.uk/bedgebury/events
Spa Valley Railway, Tunbridge Wells West
Join Little Red Riding Hood over the four-day Easter break as she tries to find the perfect Easter egg for Granny.
The fun begins at Tunbridge Wells West Station before boarding the train, where Little Red and her friends encounter the very hungry, Big Bad Wolf. But don’t worry, she will outsmart him before everyone boards the steam train and embarks on an exciting Easter egg hunt. Along the way, Little Red will hand out activity packs and colouring pencils to all her friends onboard.
Upon arrival at Eridge Station, everybody will make their way on to the platform where Little Red and her friends will seek out the Easter Bunny and ask her for a special Easter Egg for Granny.
With a basket full of chocolate, everyone will board the train once again to travel back to Tunbridge Wells West, with Little Red giving out eggs to everybody along the way.
For more information, visit spavalleyrailway.co.uk
Feed your curiosity on Discovery Days
The Amelia Scott Centre will be holding Spring Discovery Days on April 1, 2, 3, 5, 12, 14, 15, 16, from 10-4pm.
Explore the beautiful courtyard and play a nature-themed bingo. There is also a digital forest for you to explore in the temporary exhibition space next door.
Get creative and plant your own seed bombs on April 1, 2, 3, and 5; or join in and make a wild bee hotel on April 12, 14, 15, and 16.
For more information, visit: theamelia.co.uk/whats-on/
Hop Farm, Paddock Wood
From the March 30, take the family to The Hop Farm Family Park for some super egg-citing fun! Highlights include indoor and outdoor live entertainment and a chance to win a huge chocolate Hopper the Rabbit on an Easter egg hunt on the bank holiday weekend. Also get up and close with gorgeous lambs, chicks and bunnies before enjoying new rides and attractions.
Entry to the Family Park is only £3 and includes all day entry into the Animal Farm and activities, Indoor Soft Play Centre, Outdoor Adventure Play Park and Crazy Golf.
Salomons Estate, Southborough
The Easter Bunny will leave a special treat behind at Salomons Estate this year. This estate’s 36 acres of picturesque gardens make the perfect backdrop for an idyllic Easter Sunday. Enjoy a traditional Easter Sunday lunch on April 9, in the manor house, before heading outside where a chocolate treat awaits the children at the end of a magical Easter egg hunt.
Salomons Estate is also offering perfect weekend accommodation in countryside cottages, each beautifully restored and with its own unique charm.
Sleeping 1-12 guests, the cottages are dog friendly, and guests will also enjoy a complimentary hamper of treats, including chocolate and hot cross buns.
Adult Sunday lunch costs £27.50 for two courses, or £31.50 for three. Children’s Sunday lunch costs for £10 for two courses, or for £15 for three.
To make a reservation for Sunday lunch, email reception@salomons-estate.com To book an Easter getaway, visit https://www.salomons-estate.com
One Warwick Park, Tunbridge Wells
Throughout the long weekend (April 7-9) guests at One Warwick Park Hotel can reconnect with the most magical of childhood memories and discover a weekend filled with family fun.
Running four, two-hour sessions, young children can enjoy a range of activities including cookie-making workshops, puppetry, live music, and a special meet and greet with the Easter Bunny, while parents can sit back and sample the complimentary canapés, tea and coffee.
Tickets cost £18 for children, with a sibling discount of £10 per child.
Visit onewarwickpark.co.uk
On Easter Sunday, One Warwick Park Hotel will also serve an Easter feast in The Brasserie. During the three-course lunch, guests can choose starters such as cuttlefish calamari, followed by a classic leg of lamb or roasted chicken with all the trimmings, followed by a delicious selection of patisserie creations, such as white chocolate and raspberry blondie and caramelised apple tart tatin. Two courses cost £27.50, or three courses for £32.50.
To make a reservation for Sunday lunch, email: reception@onewarwickpark.co.uk
Holiday Activity Camps
Ultimate Activity Camps
Children can enjoy a range of over 40 sports, games, and craft activities each week, from Monday April 3 to Friday April 14, at Rose Hill School, Coniston Avenue. Staff, safeguarding practices, facilities and activities meet Ofsted’s rigorous standards.
Drop off by 8.30am until 9.30am and pick up at 4.30pm until 5.15pm.
Visit: ultimateactivity.co.uk
Mega Camps
Ofsted-registered and catering for children aged 4-14, this camp offers a range of sports and activity days out for both boys and girls.
It is held at St Mark’s Primary School on Ramslye Road, and the hours are 9am to 4pm,
or extended hours of 8am to 9pm.
For more details: Call 01892 525402
Southeast Kids Camps
Taking place at Pembury Primary School, this camp is open to all children around the area, every day during the holidays, from Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, excluding Bank holidays.
Open for all the children around the area.
Our Camps are open during the school holidays Monday to Friday from 8am till 6pm. Please note that we do not run on bank holidays. An Ofsted-registered childcare provider, the camp offers 50 fun gaming and sporting activities.
Call Pembury Club Directly: 07534 361181
Camp Beaumont
Held at Kent College Junior School in Pembury, the rural backdrop is complimented by a range of top facilities that facilitate a range of inspiring adventures throughout the school holidays, including sports, arts, crafts, and games. The camp is open to 3-14-year-olds.
For more information, visit campbeaumont.co.uk/our-camps/kent-college
Holmewood House camp
Set in 30 acres of beautiful grounds at Holmewood School in Barrow Lane, Langton Green, the camp offers a wide variety of activities to children aged 5-12. These includes Disney inspired art, baking, crafts, basketball, cheerleading, cricket, football, handball, hockey, multisports, tennis and bikeability.
For more information, contact Course Director Claire Masterson: cmasterson@holmewoodhouse.co.uk
Tigers Gymnastics Club
Join the Easter holiday club for gymnasts of all abilities for April 10 to April 14. Half-day or full-day options are available. All activities take place at Tigers, Unit 5, Chapman Way.
For more information, visit: tigersgymnastics.com/holiday-club
The Weald Gymnastics
Gymnastics holiday club sessions will be held from April 11-April 14, at the club at 6aSovereign Way, Tonbridge.
For more information, email info@wealdgymnastics.com
Firstclass Football Soccer School & Multisports Camp
Soccer School & Multi-Sports Camp is open to children of all abilities in years 1-9. Sessions are progressive and content is devised to enable children to develop and advance. Camp takes place from Monday, April 13-Wednesday, April 15 at Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys 3G and Sports Hall, from 9am to 3pm. Early drop off and late collections available.
To book, visit firstclassfootball.com
