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The best family days out in the UK for spring 2018The best family days out in the UK for spring 2018

Looking for inspiration for Easter – and beyond? Here’s our pick of25 places to visit, from new attractions to springtime gardens,adventure trails and, of course, egg hunts

Where will you be heading? Share your tips in the commentsWhere will you be heading? Share your tips in the commentsbelowbelow

Sally CoffeyWed 28 Mar 2018 06.25 BST

NEW OPENINGSNEW OPENINGSHadrian’s Wall, NorthumberlandHadrian’s Wall, NorthumberlandIt may date back to around AD122 but that doesn’t mean this landmark is immuneto a makeover. The biggest news for this year is the £1.3m restoration andreopening of Birdoswald, the military fort near Housesteads. It now has lots ofhands-on exhibits for kids, including an interactive Roman quest and a signallinggame, which are reached through a gatehouse. The new museum at CorbridgeRoman Town opens at the end of April.• Adult £6.60, child (5-15) £3.90, family £16.90, english-heritage.org.ukThe Bear Trail, DevonThe Bear Trail, Devon

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At this assault course near Exeter muddiness is encouraged – and mum and dadcan join in, too. New for this year is the Leap of Faith, which involves climbingonto a five-metre-high platform, jumping to catch an airbag and swinging all theway down. The trail also includes zip wires and tunnels and is open throughoutthe school holidays and on weekends in term time.• Online prices based on height, £6.75 for 1 metre and above; £4.05 under 1 metre.Family ticket £24.30, thebeartrail.co.uk

The Man Engine Resurrection Tour, nationwideThe Man Engine Resurrection Tour, nationwide

This year sees the return of the award-winning Man Engine, a huge mechanicalpuppet first constructed in 2016 to celebrate the Cornish mining world heritagesite’s 10th anniversary. Making its first appearance on 31 March at Geevor TinMine in west Cornwall, the 11-metre-high Man Engine will then tour otherlocations in the south-west, before heading to Ironbridge and South Yorkshire.Each venue will host a family-friendly afternoon event and an edgier pyrotechnicshow at night.• Advance daytime tickets, adult £10, child £6, themanengine.co.ukInflataSpace, NewcastleInflataSpace, Newcastle

http://www.thebeartrail.co.uk/http://www.geevor.com/https://www.themanengine.co.uk/

Sometimes, despite the best efforts of parents to extol the virtues of fresh air, allkids really want to do is throw themselves around a padded room for a couple ofhours. For days like these there is InflataSpace, which opened this month. It has allmanner of bouncy playthings, from toddler-friendly bouncy castles right up togladiator-style podiums for the big kids (even adults). A good option for a rainyday.• £12 (4+), £5 for toddlers, inflataspace.co.ukThe Bishop’s Palace, Wells, SomersetThe Bishop’s Palace, Wells, Somerset

For the first time in the palace’s history kids can do their best king-of-the-castleimpressions atop one of the turrets of this building that has been home to thebishops of Bath and Wells for 800 years. The new Prison Bastion ViewingPlatform, opening on Good Friday, gives views of Wells Cathedral next door andallows access to some of the narrow walkways around the ramparts. The Dragon’sLair (activity centre) wears kids out but the most memorable part of a visit iswitnessing the resident swans ring a bell in the moat when they want feeding – apractice passed down through generations.• Adult £8.05, child (5-18) £3.55, family tickets from £14.40, bishopspalace.org.ukSPRING REOPENINGSSPRING REOPENINGSAlnwick Castle, NorthumberlandAlnwick Castle, Northumberland

Photograph: Alamy

http://www.inflataspace.co.uk/http://www.bishopspalace.org.uk/

This medieval castle, largely remodelled during the Victorian era, is a great placeto fuel imaginations. It makes good use of its fantasy setting with the fiery DragonQuest attraction, and Harry Potter fans flock to the Outer Bailey to partake in oneof the Broomstick training sessions. Held throughout the day in the very placewhere Harry can be seen having a flying lesson in Harry Potter and thePhilosopher’s Stone, sessions are free but must be booked on arrival.• Open seven days a week from 29 March-28 October, online prices, adult £14.40,child (5-16) £7.65, alnwickcastle.com

National Show Caves Dinosaur Park, Brecon Beacons, WalesNational Show Caves Dinosaur Park, Brecon Beacons, Wales

Purporting to be one of the biggest dinosaur parks in the world, with 220 life-sizemodels, this fun attraction will appeal to any budding paleontologists. Kids cancome face to tail with a brachiosaurus or cower in the shadow of a terrifying T rex.There are also three show caves, including Bone Cave where the remains of 42skeletons dating back to the bronze age were found. Tickets also give access to aniron-age village, stone circle and play areas.• Open seven days a week from 26 March until 4 November; adult £15, child (3-16)£11.50, showcaves.co.uk

Groombridge Place, East SussexGroombridge Place, East Sussex

Photograph: Alamy

Photograph: Alamy

https://www.alnwickcastle.com/http://showcaves.co.uk/

This forest adventure land on the East Sussex/Kent border has treetop walkwaysto brave, tepees to make believe in, and hidden treasure to hunt. It’s so magicalthat little eyes can’t help but search for fairies amid the ancient tree stumps on thewoodland floor. In the expansive grounds of a 17th-century manor house, thereare also English country house touches, such as a giant chessboard, a maze andwandering peacocks.• Alice’s Circus Adventures runs from 30 March- 14 April. Adult £12.95, child (3-12) £9.95, family £39.50, groombridgeplace.com

Chatsworth, DerbyshireChatsworth, Derbyshire

This stately home is showing off the results of its biggest restoration in 200 years.Inside, inquisitive minds can learn about the skill required to upkeep such a houseand hear secret stories about past residents. Outside, fidgety feet can be set free toclamber through the giant rope park, whizz down huge slides and jump ontrampolines. In the working farmyard there’s animal handling available withlambs and chicks. Easter activities include an Easter egg hunt, face-painting andcrafts.• Open seven days a week from mid March to end of year; a dult £23, child £14.50,family ticket £65, chatsworth.org

Barry’s Amusements, Portrush, Northern IrelandBarry’s Amusements, Portrush, Northern Ireland

Photograph: Alamy

The adventure playground at Chatsworth House. Photograph: Daniel Bosworth/Getty Images/VisitBritain

https://www.groombridgeplace.com/https://www.chatsworth.org/

While most people visiting this stretch of the Antrim coastline are headed to orfrom the Giant’s Causeway and nearby rope bridge of Carrick-a-Rede, for under16s a stop-off at this seaside resort is great fun. Family rides include dodgems, acarousel and big dipper. It’s not the most cutting-edge theme park but for a slice ofnostalgia and a car-full of happy kids, it’s a no-brainer.• Open weekends and during school holidays from mid-March to 2 September. Freeentry, pay as you ride with tokens, barrysamusements.com

WHERE TO SEE SPRING FLOWERSWHERE TO SEE SPRING FLOWERSTrewidden, CornwallTrewidden, Cornwall

Since Cornwall is traditionally the first place in Britain to declare spring each year –26 February in 2018 – it seems only fair it should be top of the list when it comes tospring flowers. As with the Lost Gardens of Heligan, Trewidden, in Penzance, isone of the 12 designated Great Gardens of Cornwall and despite March snowfallmany of its magnolias and camellias are coming into bloom. There’s also adedicated children’s trail.• Adult £7, under 16s free, trewiddengarden.co.ukBlickling Estate, NorfolkBlickling Estate, Norfolk

Photograph: Alamy

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/giants-causewayhttps://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/carrick-a-redehttp://www.barrysamusements.com/default.aspxhttps://www.theguardian.com/travel/2018/feb/07/lost-gardens-of-heligan-cornwall-review-family-day-trip-uk-activitieshttp://www.greatgardensofcornwall.co.uk/http://trewiddengarden.co.uk/

While the Jacobean hall and its history are intriguing – Anne Boleyn is said to havebeen born here – Blickling’s springtime gardens are a seasonal must. In the GreatWood, which dates back to medieval times, you can see carpets of bluebells fromlate April to May. Special bluebell walks will set off from the main car park at 10amon 26-28 April.• Adult £14.35, child £7.20, family £35.95, nationaltrust.org.ukUllswater, Lake DistrictUllswater, Lake District

Few flowers symbolise spring quite as brilliantly as daffodils. It was by this lake onan April day in 1802 that William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy happenedupon a long belt of the spring blooms, no doubt inspiring the poet’s most famouswork: I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud. From now until the end of April the flowerswill be out in full force and for an on-the-water view there are kayaks, dinghiesand boats for hire at Glenridding Sailing centre.• Kayaks £10 an hour, dinghies £25, traditional boats £35,glenriddingsailingcentre.co.uk

Hever Castle, KentHever Castle, Kent

The annual Tulip Celebrations (18-27 April) in the grounds of this moated castle

Bluebell woodland in the grounds of the Blickling Estate. Photograph: Alamy

Photograph: Alamy

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/blickling-estatehttp://www.glenriddingsailingcentre.co.uk/https://www.hevercastle.co.uk/whats-on/tulip-celebrations/

(the childhood home of Anne Boleyn) feature 20,000 of the colourful bulbs. Brightblooms sweep down from the Italian Garden all the way to the lake and loggia.Inside, the history of the tulip, introduced to England in the Elizabethan era, willbe explored. Kids will love the adventure playground, the Tudor Garden – whichfeatures yew trees carved into giant chess pieces – and both the water and yewmazes.• Online prices, adult £16.25, child (5-15) £9.20, family £42.95, hevercastle.co.ukBenington Lordship Gardens, StevenageBenington Lordship Gardens, Stevenage

This seven-acre garden set around a Georgian manor house feels very much likethe Secret Garden. It’s only open on set days (Easter Sunday and Monday midday-4pm and 28-29 May midday-5pm) but that makes it feel even more special. Thereis a formal rose garden, long double herbaceous borders, while wild flowers, suchas cowslips and primroses, vie for space with spring bulbs on the banks of the twoponds. A trail leads to the ruined Norman motte and bailey castle.• Adults £5, 12-16 £2, under 12s free, beningtonlordship.co.ukANIMAL ATTRACTIONSANIMAL ATTRACTIONSSkokholm, Pembrokeshire, WalesSkokholm, Pembrokeshire, Wales

As with its slightly better known neighbour, Skomer, this tiny island is in the IrishSea, just a couple of miles off the Welsh coast. It is a hub for migrating marine

Photograph: Alamy

Manx shearwater. Photograph: Alamy

https://www.hevercastle.co.uk/http://beningtonlordship.co.uk/

birds, including thousands of Manx shearwaters who return here each March fromSouth America, and puffins. There aren’t many crowds on Skokholm though:access is by a twice-weekly boat and there is only accommodation for up to 20guests.• Overnight stays from £140pp for 3 nights. Return boat fare £27.50,welshwildlife.org

Moray Firth, ScotlandMoray Firth, Scotland

This inlet of the North Sea in north-east Scotland is renowned for its bottlenosedolphin population and it’s estimated around 130 dolphins swim in its waters. Forbudgets that don’t stretch to boat trips, it can be just as fruitful to find a patch ofgrass at Chanonry Point, Cromarty, lay out a picnic and wait. Patience is oftenrewarded with sightings as this is a popular feeding spot. Harbour seals can also bespotted on the mudbanks, while further out minke whales and the occasionalkiller whale are not unheard of.• moraydolphins.co.ukPort Lympne, KentPort Lympne, Kent

At this wildlife reserve near the south Kent coast, visitors can take a safari ride to

Bottlenose dolphin. Photograph: Alamy

Photograph: Alamy

https://www.welshwildlife.org/skomer-skokholm/skokholm/http://www.moraydolphins.co.uk/

see roaming giraffes, zebras and the largest herd of black rhino in the UK. Forteenagers interested in conservation, there’s a chance to become a zoo keeper forthe day, while younger kids can shadow staff on a behind-the-scenes tour. Forshort breaks, New Beach Holiday Park (from £129 for 3 nights) at nearbyDymchurch beach is an affordable choice, with an indoor pool, amusements andan adventure playground.• Online, adult £22.50, child £18.90, family £82, animal courses from £156,aspinallfoundation.org

River Cam, CambridgeshireRiver Cam, Cambridgeshire

From 11 May to 25 September, the Cambridgeshire Wildlife Trust will be hostingits annual bat safaris to hear these nocturnal mammals fully woken from theirwinter slumber. The Friday tours set off aboard traditional punts from Cambridgejust before dusk and drift downriver to the strange sounds of the riverbank (all ofwhich will be fully explained). There will also be safaris on Saturday eveningsfrom late July to September.• Adult £20, child £15, wildlifebcn.orgStratford-upon-Avon Butterfly FarmStratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm

A welcome departure from all the Shakespeare-themed tourist draws, this tropicalbutterfly house features 250 species of the insect. From 3-15 April handling

Bat punt on the river Cam

Photograph: Alamy

http://www.newbeachholidaypark.co.uk/https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/oct/17/romney-hythe-dymchurch-railway-family-day-trips-uk-coasthttps://www.aspinallfoundation.org/port-lympne/https://wildlifebcn.org/events/bat-punt-safaris

sessions will give kids the chance to hold a variety of them, including African landsnails, giant millipedes and Madagascan cockroaches. If the weather’s nice theshaded wild flower garden is a pretty place for a picnic.• Adult £7.25, child (3-16) £6.25, family £22.50, butterflyfarm.co.ukEASTER ACTIVITIESEASTER ACTIVITIESPeter Rabbit, Kew Gardens, London and Wakehurst, West SussexPeter Rabbit, Kew Gardens, London and Wakehurst, West Sussex

This Easter, not only is Beatrix Potter’s most beloved character lighting up the bigscreen, but Peter Rabbit is also making an appearance at two of Britain’s mostpopular gardens: Kew and Wakehurst. From 30 March to 15 April, there will bestorytelling, bunny ear decorating, a trail to follow and even the chance for kids tolearn about growing their own vegetables (at both gardens; and included in entryprice to the gardens).• Online, Kew: adult £16, child (4-16) £4; Wakehurst: adult £12.50, under 16s free,kew.org and kew.org/wakehurst

Castle Ward, Northern IrelandCastle Ward, Northern Ireland

This Easter holiday (until 8 April) at the real Winterfell (this was a Games ofThrones filming location) there will be the obligatory egg hunts plus the chance tohonour one of the house’s most prolific former residents, scientist Mary Ward, ona bug-detecting mission. The Easter Fair on 16-18 April will include egg rolling on

Photograph: Alamy

http://www.butterflyfarm.co.uk/attraction/index.phphttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/feb/04/peter-rabbit-review-james-corden-twerking-bunny-beatrix-potterhttps://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/a-big-day-out-with-peter-rabbithttps://www.kew.org/wakehurst

the lawn, while the Secret Shore Trail provides kids with plenty of fallen trees toscramble over, muddy puddles to jump in, and a fabulous viewpoint of the 18th-century stately home.• Adult £8.60, child £4.30, family £21.55, nationaltrust.org.ukLoch Katrine Eco Camping, ScotlandLoch Katrine Eco Camping, Scotland

The eight mini lodges at this campsite, which opened over winter, are cosy placesto huddle up under a blanket for a spot of stargazing. From 31 March-1 April theMad Hatter Easter Extravaganza will take place at the nearby Trossachs Pier andinclude an Easter egg hunt, plus a themed cruise aboard the century-oldsteamship Sir Walter Scott, which carried Victorian visitors encouraged by itsnamesake’s lyricism.• Loch-side lodges from £80 a night for two guests. Mad Hatter sails adult £16,child (5-16) £12.50, under 5s £5 lochkatrine.com

Morden Hall Park, LondonMorden Hall Park, London

While Wimbledon common just a couple of miles away may have found fame withthe Wombles, this lesser-known green space is every bit as pretty, especially in therose garden where theatre shows are performed in summer. Set along the riverWandle, there are 50 hectares to play in, with droopy willow trees to climb,streams to splash in and plenty of places to hide. From 30 March-2 April Easter egg

Photograph: Alamy

Rose garden at Morden Hall Park. Photograph: Alamy

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/castle-wardhttps://www.lochkatrine.com/accommodation/pods

hunts start outside the historic snuff mill.• £4 a child, nationaltrust.org.ukCannon Hall Farm, Barnsley, YorkshireCannon Hall Farm, Barnsley, Yorkshire

In the foothills of the Pennines, this award-winning farm attraction is open year-round but spring is when it’s at its peak. Until 8 April, the interactive EasterAdventure calls upon little helpers to fix the Easter Bunny’s magic egg-makingmachine (for a reward, naturally) before meeting the bunny in person. There willalso be sheep and ferret racing, milking demos and tractor trail rides.• £9.95 in advance, tickets include entry to the farm, cannonhallfarm.co.ukTopics

Meercat at Cannon Hall farm

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The best family days out in the UK for spring 2018NEW OPENINGSHadrian’s Wall, NorthumberlandThe Bear Trail, DevonThe Man Engine Resurrection Tour, nationwideInflataSpace, NewcastleThe Bishop’s Palace, Wells, SomersetSPRING REOPENINGSAlnwick Castle, NorthumberlandNational Show Caves Dinosaur Park, Brecon Beacons, WalesGroombridge Place, East SussexChatsworth, DerbyshireBarry’s Amusements, Portrush, Northern IrelandWHERE TO SEE SPRING FLOWERSTrewidden, CornwallBlickling Estate, NorfolkUllswater, Lake DistrictHever Castle, KentBenington Lordship Gardens, StevenageANIMAL ATTRACTIONSSkokholm, Pembrokeshire, WalesMoray Firth, ScotlandPort Lympne, KentRiver Cam, CambridgeshireStratford-upon-Avon Butterfly FarmEASTER ACTIVITIESPeter Rabbit, Kew Gardens, London and Wakehurst, West SussexCastle Ward, Northern IrelandLoch Katrine Eco Camping, ScotlandMorden Hall Park, LondonCannon Hall Farm, Barnsley, YorkshireView all comments >Most viewed