Like a lot of us parents, we have great memories of Easter with family, or maybe you’re just making new ones now or even looking forward to your first with new arrivals. Whichever it is, there is something very special about Easter. It is the beginning of a new season, and hopefully looking forward to a great year. Oh yeah, there’s shed loads of chocolate as well.

It’s great doing things at home, and we’ll give you some ideas for that shortly. Let’s begin with what the Easter season in the UK is all about. It includes the 40 days of lent and Holy week culminating in Easter Sunday – also known as Resurrection Sunday. Good Friday is observed across the UK, while Easter Monday is celebrated everywhere except Scotland.

It is ealy this year on Sunday 31st March.

The Easter weekend is the first public holiday period of the year to enjoy spring-like weather, so many outdoor events are generally part of Easter celebrations. This includes domestic travel – not only to visit family but to hit key hotspot destinations. Therefore be sure to make your plans well in advance in order to secure your travel and accommodation at the best rates.

You can download our FREE Easter Activity books here. There are three included which will keep the young kids entertained all weekend long. There’s activity sheets for the kids to colour in. You can print and cut out some very cool animal masks and there’s one specifically for pre-school children with lots of activities to do.

EASTER ACTIVITIES

EASTER HISTORY

THE TRUE MEANING OF EASTER

It’s actually one of the oldest Christian traditions and is the celebration of the last week of Jesus’ life, his death, and his resurrection. For Christians, Easter symbolises the dawn of a new life and the high point of the Christian calendar.

While it is officially defined as a Christian holiday, Easter has many of its roots in the traditions and rituals of the pagan people who inhabited the United Kingdom before its wide spread conversion to the Christian faith. Scholars believe that Easter was named for “Eostre”, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of the spring.

WHY THE DIFFERENT DATES EACH YEAR

Easter is very different to say Christmas, as it’s not a set date. Always on a Sunday however, Easter can vary in date by country depending on whether the Gregorian or Julian calendar is being used. Here, we follow the Gregorian calendar and celebrate Easter on the Sunday following the first full moon that occurs after the first day of spring. Using this timeline, Easter can vary in date from as early as the 22nd of March to as far into spring as the 25th of April.

MAUNDY THURSDAY

Easter here begins with the Thursday before. Maundy Thursday is celebrated as the last day of Jesus’ life and the day of the Last Supper. It’d said that Jesus washed the feet of his disciples in the “Eucharist” ceremony. The day is named after the French word “mande”, which roughly translates to the terms command or mandate. It is said that this name came about from Jesus’ last command given to his followers, “love one another as I have loved you.”

Dating back to the time of King Edward the First, it’s tradition for the Monarch to take part in the Maundy Thursday celebrations. It is customary for the sovereign to distribute what is called the “Maundy Money” to deserving senior citizens. One man and one woman are chosen to represent each year of the Monarch’s age. These are people that have done great service in the community and are chosen to receive a red and white purse containing one coin for every year of rule by the Monarch.

Apparently there was a time when the Royals used to wash the feet of selected poor people to show devotion and humility to their constituents. However, the last Royal to have participated in the original form of this holiday was King James the Second.

GOOD FRIDAY

Thought once to be named “God’s Friday” or “Holy Friday”, our celebration of Good Friday is a commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Good Friday is treated as a day of mourning in the UK. To this day churches remain unlit and bare, with no decorations or flowers; some churches cover statues and paintings.

Many of them hold a ceremony at 3 o’clock, which is said to be the time that Jesus died on the cross. Many services include passion plays or dramatic readings.Hot cross buns are traditionally eaten by Christians in the UK on Good Friday. The bread serves as a reminder of Jesus dying for our sins due to the shape of the cross that appears across the top of the bun.

They are generally consumed as a breakfast food and come straight from the oven. Once sold by street vendors in the cities, a well known nursery rhyme was founded based on the pitch sung by the local vendors: “Hot Cross Buns, Hot Cross Buns, One a penny, two a penny, Hot Cross Buns. If you do not like them, give them to your sons, one a penny, two a penny, hot cross buns.” There are several superstitions around the hot cross bun.

Some say that when baked on Good Friday, they would never go mouldy. Others say that if hardened, they would protect a house from fire. Sailors were known to take them to sea, to protect them from shipwrecks. Fish is the food of choice for Good Friday suppers, while some devout Christians fast instead.

HOLY SATURDAY

The Saturday prior to Easter is called “Holy Saturday.” Historically considered to be the day that Jesus lay in the tomb and is used to reflect on his sacrifice and prepare for the Easter festivities. Most churches hold services on the eve of Easter.

EASTER SUNDAY

This is one of the most important holidays in the church. It symbolises remembrance of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, implying that death is not the end of our journey. The churches celebrate Easter Sunday with bell ringing, flowers (generally white lilies), and a white and gold colour pallet inside of the church hall.

An Easter vigil is held in which a fire is lighted outside of the church first thing on Sunday morning. A candle called the Paschal Candle is lit from the fire and then carried into the church. A Paschal Candle is covered in small studs that symbolise Christ’s wounds and is used to light the candles of the congregation members. This service is considered to be joyous after a time of mourning.

FOOD

Easter Sunday is really rich in food. Breakfast was, and for many still is, boiled eggs and the exchanging of Easter gifts and cards. Roast lamb with mint sauce is served as the main meal. Easter biscuits and custard tarts are the traditional pudding. Tea tends to be a Simnel cake, which is a fruitcake covered with an almond marzipan.

Traditionally, eleven balls of marzipan were baked on top of the cake denoting the eleven original disciples. This, of course, excludes Judas as one of the disciples. Easter biscuits contain spices, currants, and occasionally grated lemon rinds. These are sometimes referred to as Easter cakes.

We have so many recipes on our site that will inspire you to cook or bake something new this Easter. Our team have made them really easy to follow and do. RECIPES.

TRADITIONS

The biggest largest tradition during an Easter here, is the giving of Easter eggs. Chocolate eggs are given to children on Easter Sunday. These can either be hollow or have a filling, and tend to be wrapped in silver or gold paper. Early Easter gifts were originally birds’ eggs, painted in bright colours and patterns. Some still celebrate Easter with egg painting as a children’s activity.

There is a reason for the eggs. They are a symbol of new life created during the spring and is said to have come from the original pagan traditions surrounding the holiday. Another egg related tradition involves rolling real eggs down a hill in a race. The winner was the owner of the last un-cracked egg. While this tradition seems to have faded in popularity, it can still be seen in Preston in Lancashire. Some of us go for hiding eggs in the garden for the kids to find. Little tip, from personal experience. Don’t do this on a warm Easter day…….

Morris dancing can still be seen around the United Kingdom. A form of historical folk dancing dating roughly back to the Middle Ages, Morris dancing is comprised of people (traditionally men) costumed in white with ribbons and bells on their ankles who dance through the streets of the villages.

This is done to symbolise the arrival of spring. Another, slightly less common tradition is the Maypole dancing. This dates back to before Christianity came to the shores of the UK and is a pagan-based tradition.

EVENTS & CELEBRATIONS

Annual Easter egg hunts are held all across the country. There are egg-and-spoon races, bunny hop races, face painting, and lots of other things we can do. Go to the bottom of the page for some ideas.

A South Wales Easter has traditions based not only on Christianity principles but also containing deep rooted pagan customs. Whether you are celebrating Easter as the resurrection of Jesus Christ or a large Easter bunny leaving behind chocolate and painted eggs, there are plenty of unique celebrations across the country to enjoy over the Easter weekend.

THINGS TO DO AT HOME

1: HOLD AN EASTER EGG HUNT

Whether it’s indoors or outdoors, a treasure egg hunt or hunting by names will surely bring out the laughter in your house and give you a glimpse of the competitive side of your kids! This is the ultimate in classic Easter activities for kids, no matter what age.

2: MAKE CHOCOLATE NESTS

Very easy and incredibly yummy. You will have so much fun making these, and even more eating them. We’ve even given you the recipe below, so no excuse. Get in that kitchen now – all of you

To make our chocolate nests:

  • Add 100g of butter, 1 tbsp cocoa powder, 50g milk chocolate buttons and 75g of golden syrup in a bowl.
  • Microwave on high for 1.5mins and mix together.
  • Crumble 4 Shredded Wheat over the bowl and mix with rest of ingredients.
  • Place a generous spoonful in each of 12 bun case (the nests).
  • Press the centre of each nest down slightly to form a dip and place 3 chocolate mini eggs in each dip.
  • Chill for 30 minutes before serving.

3: READ SOME EASTER CLASSICS

Ok, these may not be Easter books in the true sense, nut if the weather’s bad and you’ve pigged out on our chocolate nests, sitting down with the kids and having a read is a great thing to do. Here’s a few of our suggestions.

  • The Tale of Benjamin Bunny
  • The Tale of Mr. Tod
  • The Tale of Peter Rabbit
  • The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies

These are really lovely stories to read with your kids. Borrow them from your local library or buy these classics for your own library at home – they are sure to become family favourites! Little tip – keep off Watership Down over Easter, (rabbit death and all that)

4: WATCH A FAMILY MOVIE

Don’t want to read, then grab a classic movie off your download shelf, snuggle up on the sofa with your bunny onesie, and enjoy some classic movies. So may to choose from but here’s a few from our archive.

HOP – E.B., the Easter Bunny’s teenage son, is a rabbit who does not want to succeed his father, Mr. Bunny, in the role of the Easter Bunny.

TRAILER

EASTER PARADE – You can’t go wrong with this classic musical from 1948, starring the lovely Judy Garland and Fred Astaire. Easter Parade tells the story of a Broadway star, Don Hewes (Astaire), who, when his dance partner leaves him, decides to team up with the next dancer he meets, Hannah Brown (Garland). 

TRAILER

RISEN – This 2016 film takes on the historical side of Easter, starring Joseph Fiennes, Tom Felton, Peter Firth, and Cliff Curtis. Risen tells the story of a Roman soldier, tasked with finding Jesus’s body after rumours of his resurrection surface. This is an intense movie that will have you on the edge of your seat at every turn.

TRAILER

PETER RABBIT – With the release of number two shortly it’s always nice to look back at the first. Peter, sounding remarkably like James Corden, is a mischievous rabbit with a penchant for causing trouble, and a particular appetite for stealing vegetables from Mr. McGregor’s garden. 

TRAILER

ZOOTOPIA – It isn’t strictly an Easter movie, but definitely a gem to watch on Easter Sunday. In this 2016 Disney animation, rabbit Judy Hopps finally fulfils her dreams of becoming a police officer in the big city, she soon finds it’s not all that she imagined. 

ANYTHING WITH BUGS BUNNY – Simple, but hundreds to choose from.

ARISE SIR LOIN OF BEEF

5: HOLD A TEDDY BEARS PICNIC

Dad’s particularly love these – seriously, they do. Hopefully the weather will permit you to have this picnic outside, but failing that, have an indoor picnic instead. Pack up some bite-size treats and a colourful blanket to set the scene.

PLACES TO VISIT & THINGS TO DO

NATIONAL TRUST

We have some incredible National Trust properties around South Wales, and let’s be honest, we love visiting them all year round, Easter though is something very special.

They have a long, and really useful Q&A page, packed with information on what we can and can’t do – HERE.

TREDEGAR HOUSE – 17th century mansion of the Morgan family, with stables and parkland in Newport.

SKENFRITH CASTLE – Ruins of a 13th-century castle, which has origins in the Norman conquest of South Wales in Monmouthshire.

DYFFRYN GARDENS – Edwardian designed by Thomas Mawson in 1906 for John Cory, over 55 acres. Within the gardens is Dyffryn House, a Victorian mansion, acquired unfurnished in 2013 and under restoration. By 2016 some rooms were open and furnished with ‘hands-on’ items that can be played with. In the Vale Of Glamorgan.

RHOSSILI AND SOUTH GOWER COAST – In Swansea, the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with visitor centre and headlands and bays from Rhossili Bay and Worm’s Head south around the peninsular.

ST FAGANS NATIONAL MUSEUM OF HISTORY

St Fagans is an incredible place which has been Wales’s most popular heritage attraction for many years. It holds a special place in the hearts of the people of Wales. This is because St Fagans is a people’s museum, where we explore history together through people’s everyday lives.

The museum stands in the grounds of the magnificent St Fagans Castle and gardens, a late 16th-century manor house donated to the people of Wales by the Earl of Plymouth in 1948.

Since 1948 over forty original buildings from different historical periods have been re-erected in the 100-acre parkland, among them houses, a farm, a school, a chapel and a splendid Workmen’s Institute.

If you’d like to see what’s going on at the museum, or pay them a visit, you can get more details here – ST FAGANS

THE MAD HATTER’S AFTERNOON

The Mad Hatter invites you in to his weird and wonderful tea party in Easter Land (Mumbles Pier)!!! Indulge in a tasty Easter themed afternoon tea while The Mad Hatter and Alice take to the stage to entertain with a magical interactive show like no other!!!

The dates are from Friday 29th and Saturday 30th March. To find out more and get booked in, go HERE.

  • Adult (Meat): £16.99
  • Adult (Veggie): £16.99
  • Child (Meat): £14.99
  • Child (Veggie): £14.99

EASTER EGG BEACH HUNT

Our Good Friday Beach Hunt is back! Grab your spades and get digging.

Find a plastic egg and we will change it for a real chocolate egg for you.

Only £4 to enter. Book now – HERE. As it stands right now it seems this one is sold out.

VISIT THE EASTER BUNNY AT HIS BURROW

The Bunny Burrow is back for the third year, hop down to Mumbles Pier for the perfect Easter Photo Opportunity and a chance for your little one to meet the bunny and receive  chocolate egg.

For more details go HERE.

THE MAD HATTER’S BREAKFAST

Enjoy a traditional breakfast with fantastic and immersive entertainment from The Mad Hatter & Alice. Interact, play games & get the perfect photo opportunity before heading to the Bunny Burrow to meet The Easter Bunny himself & collect your very own Chocolate Egg!

Child’s ticket includes: Full English Breakfast & Drink, interactive games, meet & greet, admission to Bunny Burrow, chocolate egg

Adult’s ticket includes: Full English Breakfast with choice of Tea or Coffee

You can book that one HERE.

GHOSTBUSTERS TAKEOVER

Okay, maybe not your traditional Easter event, but it’s Ghostbusters and it doesn’t get more egg-citing than that.

Hold onto your proton packs because something strange is coming to The Red Dragon Centre this Easter!

Join us between Fri 29 March – Mon 1 April for an unmissable bank holiday weekend filled with paranormal thrills and free family fun to celebrate the release of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire at ODEON.

  • Meet the Mid Wales Ghostbusters:

Catch the Mid Wales Ghostbusters patrolling The Red Dragon Centre. These heroic defenders will be ready to snap selfies and spread ghost-busting cheer. Plus keep a close eye for Slimer flying about!

  • Custom Ecto-1 and Zuul
  • Snap selfies with the legendary Ecto-1 on our outdoor piazza next to the radio station studios, as well as the terror dog Zuul who will be lapping up all the attention in the Centre atrium. It’s a photo opportunity like no other!

  • Props Galore:
  • Experience the thrill firsthand with props like ghost traps, proton packs to try on, and test your Extra Sensory Perception (ESP) at the Zener Card station.

  • Slime-busting fun (Friday 29th March 12-4pm)
  • What’s ghostbusting without slime? As well as all the above to look forward to, mini ghostbusters can also check out our FREE slime-busting workshop and take home their very own slime on Good Friday.

  • Activity station Sat 30th March – Mon 1st April (12-4pm)
  • Colour, design and draw at our Ghostbusters themed colouring station

For more details, go HERE.

EASTER BUNNY HUNT – OYSTERMOUTH CASTLE

Find the hidden Easter bunnies and bag yourself an Easter treat!

This is a FREE event on Sunday 17th April from 11am to 12 noon. Normal admission charge applies.

EASTER BUNNY BATHS TRAIL

Hop to it! Follow the trail of carrots to find out what adventures the Easter Bunny has been having at the Roman Fortress Baths. 

It runs from Friday 22nd March through to Sunday 7th April between 10am and 7pm at Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths. For more details, go HERE.

EASTER ANIMAL TRAIL – ST DAVID’S CARDIFF

Families can go wild this Easter by exploring a free brick model animal trail at St David’s Cardiff.

Organised by FOR Cardiff for the duration of the Easter holidays (Monday, March 25th – Sunday, April 7th), the ‘Into the Wild’ BRICKLIVE trail will feature wild animals built out of half a million toy bricks.

The trail animals, which took a staggering 2,356 hours to build, represent four different habitats; the wildlands, snow and ice, the ocean, and the jungle.

Free for all to visit, you can explore the centre and discover a giant panda constructed of 62,351 toy bricks and a 42,659-brick gorilla. From the big cat family is a 50,349-brick African lion as well the trail’s largest animal – a Bengal tiger standing at nearly two-and-a-half metres tall and created from a mammoth 81,350 toy bricks. 

As well as learning fun facts about each animal, children will learn all about endangered species and their habitats. 

The Into the Wild trail also features a jungle jeep and an explorer safari selfie station to capture the perfect family photo. 

Helen Morgan, Centre Director at St David’s Cardiff told us……

“The Into the Wild trail will be an eye-catching and fun addition to St David’s for the Easter holidays and we can’t wait for everyone to enjoy a day out discovering the trail across the centre.”

The Into the Wild trail will be at St David’s Cardiff shopping centre from Monday, March 25th to Sunday, April 7th. Make sure you collect a free trail map and hat from the St David’s guest services desk on the upper level of the Grand Arcade. More details available HERE.

EASTER CODEBREAKER

The Lord of Chepstow Castle has locked away his Easter eggs, but forgotten the combination code!

Search the castle for clues to open the padlock. If you can open the lock, you can eat the choc!

You do not need to book tickets for this event.

It runs from Monday 25th march through to Monday 1st April at Chepstow Castle. To get more details, go HERE.

EASTER EXTRAVAGANZA

Come and visit Castell Coch over the Easter holidays and hunt down a chocolate egg, take part in some springtime crafts, decorate an Easter card, and explore Wales’ most whimsical castle at the same time.

Normal admission, but it is advisable to book tickets online in advance, due to limited capacity at the site. The event runs from Thursday 28th March till Tuesday 2nd April between 11am and 3pm. For more details, go HERE.

MORGAN QUARTER EASTER EGG TRAIL

The free family-friendly trail will run from 25-31st March in Cardiff City Centre.

Morgan Quarter’s free Easter Egg Trail will take them you an adventure through the historic Morgan and Royal Arcades.

The trail runs through to 31st March, with the trail maps available to collect from The Pen and Paper in Royal Arcade. The trail will guide families around both the Royal and Morgan Arcades, collecting stamps along the way, with a prize of a sweet treat at the end.

Morgan Quarter centre manager, Marika Jones said:

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be hosting the Easter Egg Trail for a second year! We wanted to do something fun and free for families to get involved with during the school holidays.

These activities help to show off everything that our incredible arcades have to offer. Last year’s Easter Trail had more than 420 participants, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to create lasting memories with your loved ones in the historic Royal and Morgan Arcades this Easter break.”

To find out more about Morgan Quarter including a list of stores and opening times, visit the website at HERE

ROXY LANES OFFERS £5 BOWLING FOR KIDS ALL EASTER 

Roxy Lanes will be offering kids £5 bowling, from 29th March – 14th April before 5pm, along with their brand-new ‘Mini Ballers’ menu, where kids can choose a main, side and soft drink for just £7.95. 

Roxy Lanes The Friary has a huge array of gaming all under one roof! More than just a ten pin bowling alley, you’ll also find karaoke rooms, batting cage, ice-free curling, duck pin bowling, beer pong, American pool, shuffleboard, bank shot shuffleboard and tech darts.

For more details go HERE.

BREWERS FAYRE BARRY ISLAND – EASTER EGG HUNT

Brewers Fayre Barry Island is running a fantastic Cadbury’s Easter Egg Hunt for the little ones, and a delicious Feed The Family for £18 offer to enjoy during the Easter holidays!

From the perfect Sunday roast to hunting for eggs, they’ve got your Easter covered. A feast out with the family is a breeze with the Feed the Family for £18 offer, and the kids can have endless fun in the soft play areas with the Play At passes. They can also join in with the Easter egg hunt for free Cadbury® Easter eggs!

Fo more details on Brewers Fayre Barry Island go HERE.

THE PILGRIMAGE

The year is 1416, and the Freemen of Gwent have returned from France where they fought victoriously under King Henry V’s banner at Agincourt the previous year.

However, they feel the need to atone for their sins to save themselves from dire retribution, and what better place to achieve this than at Tintern Abbey, on their home doorstep. 

Come and meet these fierce men-at-arms and their families in the warmth of their camp near their homes in Wales, and learn about their way of life and worship.

You do not need to book tickets for this event.

It runs from Friday 29th march at various dates through till Sunday 30th June. For more details, go HERE.

TINTERN ABBEY

GOWER FRESH BUNNIES, BUBBLES AND FOAM

Join them this Easter for a day full of adventure and excitement at the farm. You’ll get to explore the farm on our awesome Easter Trail and find clues along the way. Collect stamps on your map and, best of all, receive an Easter egg at the end! And don’t worry, they’ve got special treats for those with dietary needs, so everyone can enjoy the fun.

On your way stop by the Bubbles Tent for lot sof fun with bubbles.

Make sure to stop by the Easter Flower Arch to snap a family photo and capture a memory you’ll cherish forever. Keep going along the trail and you will come across the lower barn, where you can see and pet cute animals at Will’s Petting Zoo. Entry is free, and for a small fee, you can interact with the animals and feed them.

It’s a great opportunity for children to get up close and personal with the animals. And have you heard about our new barn where you can Meet & Feed the Reindeer? The reindeer are fussy eater and only like their special Northern moss, apparently is very nourishing and delicious. They have plenty of it at the farm, where you can buy some and give it to the reindeer yourself. They promise they will love you for it. Come and see how much they love their new home and the extra space. It’s going to be so cool! 

And that’s not all, they’ve got a Easter CraftingFace PaintingRefreshments and Food for you to enjoy (fees apply). So many things to do and see, you’ll be busy all day!

When you’ve finished the Easter Trail and all the other fun stuff, and if you still have some fuel left in the tank, you won’t want to miss the highly energetic, FUNtastic Roly Poly’s Foam Party, yayyyy. You have no idea, even the slightest idea of how fun that will be. It’s going to be an absolute blast!

For details on all of those, go HERE.

DYFFRYN GARDENS EASTER EGG TRAIL

There are 10 activities this year, all are hands-on, Easter-inspired, egg-themed and designed for everyone in the family to enjoy. We’re bringing back a few firm favourites from last year such as the egg run, feed the bunny and animal dress-up stations and adding some special new additions too.

Complete the trail and collect a dairy or vegan and Free From* chocolate Easter egg. The Dyffryn Easter trail is an opportunity for every member of your family, from youngest to oldest, to have fun and make memories together.

Prices are £3 per trail (normal admission also applies) which includes an Easter trail sheet, bunny ears and dairy or vegan and Free From* chocolate egg. While we give away cardboard bunny ears with each trail we also love seeing everyone in their Easter finery – bonnets, hats, ears and tails are strongly encouraged! We also recommend sensible shoes for running, jumping and hopping but the trail is also accessible for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, walking aids and prams.

*Suitable for people with milk, egg, gluten, peanut and tree nut allergies.

The trails run between 10am to 5pm from Saturday 23rd to Sunday 31st march. For more details on the events at Dyffryn Gardens in the Vale of Glamorgan, go HERE.

EASTER AT FORAGE

You can join everyone at Forage for a wholesome experience on Penllyn Estate Farm at the family-friendly Easter event where memories will be made. Your time will be filled with fun activities, cute animals and of course you’ll get to meet a very special fluffy guest…

THE EASTER BUNNY – The fluffy myth themselves will be in attendance for you to snap a rare photo together and children will love climbing inside a golden egg!

FARM DISPLAYS – Get close to these gigantic machines from our combine harvester to tractor and seed drill, sure to inspire and delight your keen, little farmers.

FORAGE ANIMALS – The cute little lambs will join you on the Forage lawn alongside the famous alpacas and cheeky pigmy goats. 

Easter at Forage is Sunday 31st March and Monday 1st April and costs £6.50 per person – under 2s go free. For more details, go HERE.

EASTER EGG HUNT AT TREDEGAR HOUSE

Make your way along the trail and find nature-inspired and garden fete activities for the whole family. Join in the fun with some traditional games and follow in the footsteps of Percy and Lulu in spring 1929, two of Lord Tredegar’s servants .

The trail takes place between 25th March – 1st April 2024, from 10:30 to 4pm, with last entry to the house at 3:45pm, so come along and explore the beautiful gardens of Tredegar House. Prices are £3 per trail which includes an Easter trail sheet, pencil and bunny ears.

You can then choose from either a chocolate egg* or a vegan and Free From chocolate egg* that is suitable for people with milk, egg, gluten, peanut and tree nut allergies.

*The National Trust wants to contribute to a better world for people and nature. That is why they source their cocoa responsibly by buying from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. HERE

For more details of the events at Tredegar House in Newport go HERE.

EASTER AT CANTREF ADVENTURE FARM

Daily Easter Egg Hunt with the Easter Bunny 23rd March – 7th April.

Come to Cantref Adventure Farm this Easter Holidays and Bottle Feed Lambs, Meet Newborn Lambs, Join the Easter Bunny for an Easter Egg Hunt, Have a Tractor & Trailer Ride, Hold and Stroke the Pets, Laugh at naughty Mr Ev’s in his Show and more ………..

They also have a large heated indoor Soft Play Area, Ball Cannons, Pedal Tractors, Adventure Play, Adventure Bounce, Sand & Water Play, Crazy Golf, Zip Line, Swamp Boat Ride, Sledge Ride and more……..

There is plenty to keep the kids entertained all day and the sledge ride is great fun for the grown ups too! The views of the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains from Cantref are spectacular. So come and have a great family day out with the kids this Easter at Cantref Adventure Farm.

For more details on the Easter Egg Hunt go HERE.

IT’S A HOPPY EASTER AT PLANTASIA

Hop down to Plantasia Tropical Zoo on Sunday 31st March for your Hoppy Easter event!

Some-bunny’s taken over the jungle and filled it full of hoppy bunny Easter decorations and egg-citing activities for all the family.

  • Hop to it, as you follow the bunny tracks trail around the jungle in search of the animal’s eggs. How many will you find? All successful trail completions will be entered into a prize draw
  • Feel hoppy with our Easter face painting fun
  • Grow your own Sunflower with a seeds giveaway (whilst stocks last)

Online General Admission tickets:

Adults (16yrs+) £8.95 | Concessions £6.95

Child (3-15yrs) £6.95 | Child (0-2yrs) FREE

Carer FREE | Family (2 Adults 2 Children) £28.95

Annual passes, Golden Tickets, other complimentary tickets and corporate discounts can be used for this event.

For more details go HERE.

EASTER GOOSE TRAIL AT NEWPORT WETLANDS

The Newport Wetlands Easter trail is an egg hunt like no other. Meet Gwen the goose and help to find her missing eggs. Along the way there will be activities and puzzles to complete and learn about the wetland creatures making their home on this special  reserve.

There is no need to book, the trail is available 10am – 4pm daily from the visitor centre kiosk. You will receive a trail activity booklet and your very own Gwen the goose mask! There is a charge of £2.50 per trail pack.

The trail is suitable for buggy’s and pushchairs. Dogs, other than assistance dogs, are not permitted on this trail.

For more details on the trail, which runs from Saturday 23rd March through to Sunday 14th April, go HERE.

Here’s our Top Ten favourites to visit over Easter

THE GAVIN AND STACEY TRAIL

Here at SOUTH WALES LIFE we put together a guide to all that is Gavin, Stacey and the town of Barry, starting with the most famous house of all.

The nice things is, you can visit Barry Island, go for a little drive around to some of the Gavin and Stacey sites. I defy anyone not to go to Stacey’s house and not smile. A little word of warning, the hill where the house is, is incredibly steep. Be prepared for a few stops on the way. When you get there however, it is so worth it.

Take a look at our feature HERE.

We have other pages packed with ideas for things to do at Easter, and beyond, we’ve listed them below.

We also have a series of features looking at OUR SOUTH WALES places to visit, right on our doorstep. Take a look at the features below.