The Easter weekend is almost upon us, which means it’s time to start planning your Easter egg hunts!
If the idea of creating your own at home fills you with dread, then you’re in luck – there are plenty of brilliant egg hunts taking place across the UK that make for a fun-filled family day out. The best part? You don’t have to spend loads of money so your little ones have a great experience.
In fact, there are plenty of popular, budget-friendly events that will be offering up secret trails, exciting activities, Easter bunny sightings and of course, delicious chocolate treats.
We’ve rounded up some of our favourite Easter egg hunts of 2017, sure to appeal to both parents and children alike!
1. National Trust Cadbury Egg Hunts
With over 250 hunts taking place across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, it shouldn’t be difficult to find one of Cadbury’s popular hunts near you.
Searching for chocolates isn’t the only activity on the schedule – there’s everything from carnivals, face-painting, arts and crafts and family games, so it’s a perfect family day out.
As a bonus, everyone who completes a hunt will also be rewarded with a Cadbury treat!
How much? Prices vary depending on your location but entrance fees are usually between £1.50-£3. You may also need to pay the entrance fee into the park. Click here to find your nearest Cadbury Egg hunt.
2. Brewery Square, Dorchester
Head down to Brewery Square from Good Friday to bank holiday Monday where there will be free Easter egg hunts for children up to 15 years old.
Taking place from 10am to 4pm, all participants need to do is pick up a form from the concierge office, hunt for the eggs, and then return the form for a free Easter prize.
As a bonus, CBeebies star Mr. Bloom from Mr Bloom’s Nursery will making a guest appearance on Good Friday, with a special set kicking off at 11am for forty minutes, ideal for entertaining little ones (and you won’t have to spend a penny to watch the show).
3. Where is Peter Rabbit? Treasure trail, Cumbria
The World Of Beatrix Potter™ Attraction has created a very special treat for parents and children alike on Wednesday 12 April, in the Lake District.
From 10am, treasure seekers can search high and low across the area’s breathtaking landscape to discover one of just 100 hand-made collectable ceramic eggs, from local artist Sue Donne.
If you find one of the eggs, your luck doesn’t end there – you can check its corresponding number to see if you’ve won one of the amazing ten prizes donated by local businesses including overnight stays at stunning hotels for families of four.
There will be an interactive map with clues to help you on your quest, and the eggs will be hidden in open view in various parks, tourist attractions and public places.
Entry fee is £4 in order to download the Treasure Trail map – and all proceeds will go to WaterAid, which provides clean water and sanitation to some of the world’s poorest communities.
4. Wynyard Hall, Durham
Wynyard Hall are hosting a series of fun-filled sessions on Easter Sunday for kids.
There will be a host of activities on offer including storytelling on the lawns of their stunning gardens, singing, games, arts and craft and a competition for the best Easter bonnet.
Tickets cost £8 per child, but accompanying adults go free. There will be three sessions at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm, making it easy to get organised and incorporate it into your Easter Sunday plans.
5. Etihad Stadium Easter Egg Hunt, Manchester
Aspiring footballers are in for a treat as the Etihad Stadium brings an Easter twist on their classic Stadium & Club Tour, running until Easter Sunday.
Follow in the footsteps of Manchester City’s biggest players from Kevin De Bruyne to Sergio Aguero on the 70-minute behind-the-scenes tour which showcases the best of the club’s history, all the while keeping your eyes peeled for the Easter eggs hidden along the way. Keep count as you could be in with a chance of winning a signed first team shirt!
Little Blues can have a go at guessing the amount of eggs stashed in their exhibition space cabinet – and the winner will take home a City goodie bag!
There will be plenty of other exciting games and activities on offer, and you can even showcase your football skills by taking part in a crossbar challenge.
If you don’t have time to get down to the stadium, the club is also offering a Manchester-wide egg hunt, with brilliant prizes up for grabs.
Click here for more information on the Etihad Stadium Easter Egg Hunt.
6. Belmont House and Gardens, Kent
Head down to Belmont House on Easter Sunday for a fun-filled afternoon in its breathtaking gardens, where plenty of chocolate treats and eggs will be hidden amidst the colourful flowers and plants.
When the kids are done Easter egg hunting, there’s still plenty of activities on offer at the Orangery where they can take part in arts and crafts, not to mention Belmont’s Tearoom will be open from 12pm serving homemade cakes and cream teas.
Open from 12pm to 3pm, admission is priced at £5 per child and £10 per adult, while from 2.15pm onwards the house itself will be open for guided tours (normal house tour admission will apply).
7. Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens
On Easter Sunday the gardens will be host to a very exciting egg hunt – 10 Golden Tickets will be hidden around the area, with some brilliant and yummy prizes available for those who manage to find them!
There will also be plenty of chocolate-themed activities including a stand where you can make your own chocolate kebab with mouthwatering marshmallows, fruit, cakes and brownies, or a workshop where you can taste different cocoas and learn about how it’s turned into chocolate.
With outdoor games including giant versions of Jenga and Connect Four, the event is sure to make for a memorable family day out.
Click here for more information on the Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens Easter programme.
8. Harold Park, Bradford
Harold Park will be home to a free egg hunt on Easter Monday, kicking off at 11am until 1pm, taking place next to the Bowling Green. There’ll be delicious treats hidden around its gardens and lakes, not to mention there’ll be plenty of local wildlife such as ducks, geese and squirrels to look out for!
For those who’ve gone the extra mile, there’ll be an Easter bonnet competition, with judging taking place at Midday.
Click here for more information on Harold Park.
9. Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens
Looking for an egg hunt with a twist? How about a dinosaur-themed trail? From Saturday 8 April until Sunday 23 April, Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens will hide a series of dinosaur eggs amidst its Jurassic Gardens exhibition.
The lush vegetation is also home to a host of amazing dinosaur models – see if you can find the stegosaurus grazing, or try not to disturb the sleepy crocodile lazing by the pool.
Follow the Easter trail where each egg contains a clue to help you crack a mystery code at the end for a dinosaur-themed prize!
Entrance to the museum is free, but tickets to the Dino Egg Hunt cost £2.50 per entry.
Click here for more information on the Dinosaur Egg Hunt.
10. Church Farm, Liverpool
Taking place from Good Friday until Easter Monday, Church Farm’s Easter egg hunt kicks off with a tractor ride into a magical forest.
There, you can search for clues and play the games to complete a puzzle page – and with a wide range of different challenges, it’s sure to suit the whole family. When completed, kids receive a certificate not to mention a delicious chocolate gift.
