THE nation is about to go on a two week school holiday – and that means 14 days of potential expense for parents.
But there’s a host of great days out, experiences, offers and activities that you can enjoy for zero pence this Easter.
10
No BOGOF offers or kids reduced entry only – all completely FREE.
Laura Stott gives a nationwide guide.
Days out
HIS Dark Materials exhibition until April 23 at the Glynn Vivian Gallery in Swansea celebrates author Phillip Pullman’s trilogy and its award-winning BBC and HBO TV adaptation.
See costumes, concept art, visual effects footage and key props and go behind the scenes of the show. Glynnvivian.co.uk
10
10
Get up close with Jurassic pals from April 3 to 16 at Cardiff’s Brick Live Dino Discovery Trail, which has 15 giant prehistoric beasts made out of half a million colourful Lego bricks to find and lots of dino facts to absorb along the way. Ideal for four to 12-year-olds.
Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent has free parking for parents and a Bunny Hop Trail for kids running until April 16.
Pick up a map and bunny ears from Guest Services and try to find the ten golden eggs hidden by the Easter Bunny.
Most read in Money
There’s also a special treat for successful egg-splorers.
Indian restaurant Colonel Saab in London’s Covent Garden is running Kids’ Easter Cooking Masterclasses, where children can learn to make the perfect naan bread sandwich, as well as easter egg decorating.
Monday April 10 and Tuesday April 11 from 3-5pm.
See colonelsaab.co.uk to book a place.
Enjoy an Easter day out in Scotland’s sunniest city, Dundee.
Build sandcastles in the stunning Urban Beach, visit the digital playpark, see free entry exhibitions at the V&A Dundee or dip in to the McManus Galleries, which explores the city’s history from pre-stone age through to the present day.
Bradford Cathedral has activities running during the Easter holiday, with crafts, colouring, trails, quizzes and fun for all ages.
Family-friendly guided tours take place at 11am and 2pm or go self-guided.
Advance booking recommended.
The Spring Festival at Battersea Power Station, South London, has two weeks of family-friendly activities.
Free fun from April 1 to April 16 includes a giant flower trail, face painting and a mobile petting farm with alpacas, sheep and goats.
The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, Devon, and regional centres UK wide, is free to visit all year round and home to hundreds of big-eared equines.
Meet the animals and over Easter there is also a spring wildlife trail to explore.
Open 9am-5pm daily at its Devon HQ.
Local centres have limited opening times and may require pre booking.
See thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk for details.
On Easter Monday Royal Leamington Spa in Warwickshire is offering a host of family entertainment at its inaugural Easter Fest.
There will be crafting, face painting, egg hunts and colouring competitions in the Royal Parade.
Sports & Outdoor
Lee Valley Regional Park stretches for 26 miles along the River Lee from Ware in Hertfordshire to East India Dock Basin on the River Thames in London and offers a range of no cost activities to enjoy this Easter including a Wildlife Discovery Centre, traffic free bike and walking trails and its Botanical Gardens.
Visitleevalley.org.uk for info.
10
10
The Easter Pedal Disco event at London’s Southbank Centre is completely free of charge and should help to burn off any surplus school holiday energy too!
Turn up and cycle on April 8th to power up disco tunes for a bicycle fuelled party.
No pedalling means no playlist! All ages welcome. Southbankcentre.co.uk
Try tennis for free over the holidays with Lawn Tennis Association open days, coaching and competitions which take place around the UK for families, children, and adults.
Equipment is usually provided, and venues include parks, clubs, and local courts.
See lta.org.uk for events, locations and free booking.
The New Forest National Park in Hampshire is home to stunning scenery, trees, coastline and amazing wildlife including birds, bats, butterflies, deer and its famous native ponies.
There’s 140 miles of tracks to explore for free on foot or by bike.
Experience the New Forest Heritage Centre or park with no charge for vehicles in the Bolderwood car park and visit the adjacent deer sancturary.
There’s even a reptile centre! Thenewforest.co.uk
The stunning Jurassic Coast in Dorset has incredible World Heritage Site beach and cliff walks to explore, free fossil trails, beautiful golden sands and blue sea bays.
Visit the famous Old Harry Rocks, or stunning Studland Bay, and over Easter enjoy no cost children’s art workshops, see the Spyway Dinosaur Footprints, or Easter Fun at the West Bay Discovery Centre.
Jurassiccoast.org for information including where to park for free.
Windsor Great Park, Berkshire is the Royal back garden and the most visited free entry attraction in the UK with a whopping 5.6 million visitors last year.
10
Explore the famous Long Walk and Deer Park, and there’s Adventure and Toddler playgrounds for the little, and not so little ones.Windsorgreatpark.co.uk
Rain or shine the UK is home to a wealth of beautiful beaches, woodlands, countryside walks, nature trails, rivers, lakes and stunning scenery that you can visit for no charge.
Pack a picnic if the sky is blue or waterproofs and a smile if it’s soggy.
From the Pennine Way to the South Downs and Hadrian’s Wall, see sites including walkingbritain.co, uk, ordanancesurvey.co.uk and woodlandtrust.org.uk for UK-wide great outdoors suggestions that won’t cost a thing and to suit all ages and interests.
Museums & Culture
THE Natural History Museum is the UK’s second most visited free entry attraction with sites in West London and Tring, Herts.
Free exhibits include the epic dinosaur gallery, a blue whale skeleton called Hope and a six metre long Stegosaurus fossil skeleton.
10
10
Great for a rainy day. Nhm.ac.uk
There’s a packed Easter Programme at the free entry Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds Dock.
From 11th- 16th April Middle Ages inspired archery, sword fighting and warrior showcases are on offer for visitors, plus experience an international jousting tournament over the Easter Weekend, with teams from USA and Poland taking on the UK. Royalarmouries.org
Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum has gaming themed family fun on offer over Easter.
Experience the Actual Reality Arcade and play life-size versions of retro classics.
Or try gaming on giant screens and discover more about their science and technology.
Activities from 1 to 16 April, entry to the museum and all holiday activities are free. Scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk
York’s Railway Museum has free entry and lots of fun Easter exhibits to enjoy for no charge.
Over the holidays the museum celebrates 100 years of famous steam locomotive the Flying Scotsman with activities including free Storytelling for little ones.
10
Booking in advance is recommended. Railwaymuseum.org.uk
Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre’s free Young Community Drop-In Sessions are open to those aged 14 and upwards offering teens and young adults a drama and creative focused outlet and space to relax and connect with others.
From 11am to 7pm on April 12. Birminghamhippodrome.com
The National Science and Media Museum in Bradford is free entry all year round with cost-free experiences and activities for families.
Over Easter there’s daily free live science shows plus hands-on workshops including Storyboard sessions where you can have a go at making filmmaker templates, and Dancing Daleks, making models based on the exterminate Dr Who characters. Scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk
Savvy teens will enjoy exploring no-charge Leeds Street Art Trail which tells the story of the Yorkshire city and its communities ending at the Corn Exchange.
Works include a mural memorialising boxing champion Josh Warrington, and there’s plenty of notable graffiti and urban pieces to boost street-cred. Visitleeds.co.uk
Breakfast clubs
DURING Easter holidays customers can claim a free bowl of Kellogg’s cereal in any Morrisons supermarket café before 11am.
The breakfast club is available for the whole family and includes Cornflakes, Rice Krispies or Coco Pops with dairy and non-dairy milk, by asking for a Kellogg’s Breakfast at the counter.
10
April 3 to April 24, while stocks last. Morrisons.com
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme is run by local councils around the UK during the Easter holidays with programmes providing free fun activities and experiences as well as nutritious meals and snacks for eligible primary- and secondary-age children, including those receiving free school meals.
Locations include Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire, Sussex and Shropshire.
See your local council website for details or enquire with your school.
