11 min readThe Easter Holidays are here! Spring is in the air and it’s time to kick back, relax and have some fun with your little ones. There’s no time like the Easter Holidays for making family memories.
School is out, the easter bunny is hiding lots of eggs and across Greater Manchester, there are plenty of fun-filled activities to help you make some cracking memories.
1. Easter Holiday fun at RHS Garden Bridgewater
This Easter, there’s so much going on at RHS Garden Bridgewater. Hop on down to the beautiful garden during the Easter holidays for a whole host of fun and games. For some supersized fun, there’s a giant egg hunt running from Saturday 1 to Sunday 16 April, find all of the eggs decorated by local artists and school children to win a chocolate prize. Then from Tuesday 4 April to Sunday 16 April, you can join in with a range of activities including crafts, theatre and even planting carrots at the events marquee. Garden admission applies but all activities are included and children under 5 go free.
2. Spring Holidays at the Science and Industry Museum
Do your kids' school holidays involve a lot of video games? Well, let them game on, with a trip to the Science and Industry Museum. Power UP, the ultimate gaming experience turns the museum into a playground of supersized fun bringing arcade games to life, the best video games from the past five decades as well as real-life versions of your all-time favourites. The Actual-reality Arcade is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm and kids can explore the world of Binary coding from 10 am to 4 pm every day. That’s not all, Turn it Up: The power of music will allow families to learn more about weird, wonderful instruments and the power of sound in an interactive exhibition.
3. The Really Wild Egg Trail Chester Zoo
Forget your standard Easter Egg hunt. This Easter, things are getting really wild at Chester Zoo. From Saturday 1 to Sunday 16 April, six giant animal eggs will be hidden around the zoo, but they may not be what you’re expecting. Let your little ones learn more about the wonderful creatures that start their lives in eggs, and give them a chance to see some of the world’s most incredible creatures first-hand. The Really Wild Egg Trail is free with zoo entry and everyone that completes the trail will get a free Nat Geo Kids magazine.
4. Easter Family Fun at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Looking for a family-friendly getaway this Easter? Then look no further than the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel. Their Manchester Family Weekender package gives the whole family 20% off a two-night stay in a spacious double double or interconnecting room along with £50 credit to spend on food and drink at their Refuge restaurant and bar. But, that’s not all! From Friday 7 to Monday 10 April, the Vault will be turned into a family fun area with delicious treats and a screening of Peter Rabbit throughout the Kimpton Clocktower Social Hour. Little guests will also be welcomed with an Easter Egg hunt in their hotel room, a special activity pack and the chance to enter an Easter Bouquet colouring competition.
5. Easter at The Corn Exchange
Easter is in the air at Manchester’s Corn Exchange. Their new Return to Wonderland City Hunt has been launched just in time for Easter. Follow the white rabbit and join this Alice in Wonderland trail, which will get you outside to experience the city like never before. The corn exchange will provide an iPad and hamper filled with everything you will need to complete the adventure, but be quick as you only have 90 minutes. Kids under 8 go free.
Plus, a number of The Corn Exchange’s wonderful eateries have special offers and treats especially for the Easter Holidays. Kids can eat free from Sunday 2 and Thursday 6 April at The Real Greek while on Easter Sunday (9 April) Riva Blu will give all little ones a free Lindt Chocolate Bunny and Vapiano have a bunny shaped Margarita pizza and a drink for £7.95 for under 10s. Alongside this Pizza Express, Zizzi, Vapiano and Salvis have all launched spring menus and easter treats that will make your school holidays even tastier.
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6. Easter Adventures at Dunham Massey
From Saturday 1 to Sunday 16 April, Dunham Massey is putting on some eggs-tra special activities to celebrate the Easter holidays. This year, they’re celebrating Dunham Massey’s pets and animals as well as the stunning natural surroundings. You can follow the Easter trail to the stables and have your own hobby horse race, learn about a very special pet parrot, spot dee and butterflies in the winter garden and enjoy the log pile natural play area. The trail is suitable for all ages and costs £3 with a booklet at the visitor centre, each trail includes a vegan easter egg to enjoy.
7. Easter at Tatton Park
Tatton Park is gearing up for Easter with some unmissable family activities. From Saturday 1 to Sunday 16 April, hop along to ‘The Tiger Who Came to Tea Garden Tea Party Trail’ as you put on a tiger mask and explore this special tea party trail in the beautiful blooming spring gardens. The trail also extends into the garden and from Friday 7 to Monday 10 April, the Tiger will be in the stableyard for photo opportunities. But that’s not all, there’s also a chance to learn about the sheepdogs of the farm with live demonstrations every day from 11 am to 4 pm.
Plus, during the bank holiday weekend from Friday 7 to Monday 10 April, there’s an Easter pop-up market selling artwork, treats and gifts. There’s also an Easter Family Silent Disco on Saturday 8 April from 2:30 pm to 3:0pm. Dust off your dancing shoes and your best easter bonnet. Tickets cost £6.50pp.
8. Happy Hoppy Easter at The Hive
This Easter, The Hive at Bolton’s Moss Bank Park is egg-tastic. On Saturday 1, Sunday 2, Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 April, the whole family can join their eggstravaganza with an egg hunt, crafts, campfire and tasty treats. Activities include decorating willow eggs and creating your own pair of bunny ears. Tickets are £9 per child, this includes one accompanying adult. Any additional adults are charged £3.00 per adult.
9. Peppa Pig’s Aquarium Adventure at SEA LIFE Manchester
Easter may be traditionally about bunnies and chicks, but SEA LIFE Manchester is hosting everyone’s favourite pig instead. Giggle and snort with Peppa throughout the Easter Holidays, as she’s organised an interactive trail that can help you get to know some of the fantastic sea life creatures. Enjoy cool photo opportunities, join in with visual games and activities, get crafty and best of all look out for your chance to meet Peppa. Tickets cost £18.50 per adult and £15.50 per child (Included with SEA LIFE admission).
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10. Easter Family Fun at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House
This Easter, get crafty at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House. It’s time to get creative and let the kids get stuck in with making their masterpiece in the servants' hall, inspired by Victorian cards and Easter bonnets. Visit the gorgeous house, travel back in time and even take part in the Cranford Cat trail. Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is open from 11 am to 4.30 pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays (excluding Sunday 9 April) entry costs £7 for adults and free for children under 16.
11. Easter at Waterside Sale
Sale’s Waterside Arts is hosting a series of child-friendly performances this Easter. The first, on Thursday 6 April is Mister Magnolia. Join Mister Magnolia on his wacky adventures, filled with colourful characters, live music, puppetry and audience interaction! It’s a fun, family extravaganza, not to be missed! Based on the book by the wonderful Quentin Blake. The performance starts at 1:30 pm and tickets cost £7.50.
Then, on Saturday 15 April, watch the classic story of the Little Mermaid come to life. Join Ariel and all of your favourite characters for an under-the-sea adventure with singing, dancing, sparkling scenery and stunning costumes. The performance starts at 2 pm and tickets start at £13 for children and £15 for adults.
12. Bury Transport Museum’s Foul Play: Once Upon a Crime
On Thursday 6 April, team up with your favourite fairy tale characters in a very special ‘who done it’ activity. Explore the depths of the Bury Transport Museum as you hunt for clues, unravel riddles and discover which infamous fairy tale villain is responsible for the crime. Tickets cost £14 and there are two sessions, one at 10 am and one at 1 pm.
13. Stockport Plaza’s Easter Pantomime: Puss in Boots
For some purr-fect Easter Entertainment, Stockport Plaza is hosting an Easter Pantomime and this year it's Puss in Boots. Join the fluffiest, toughest hero of them all as he takes to the stage to bring the classic tale to life over the Easter bank holiday. It’s sure to leave you feline fantastic this easter holiday Tickets include Family and Group offers. The pantomime runs from Friday 7 April to Monday 10 April.
14. Pirates and Mermaids Cruise
This Easter take to the seas, or rather the quays. The Irwell Pirates have been joined by the Mersey Mermaids to take over the Manchester Ship Canal this easter. Say Ahoy to your new friends and join Manchester River Cruises for an hour-long cruise, departing from Salford Quays as the pirates and mermaids are preparing a whole host of activities for kids. Help the pirates navigate Manchester’s waterways to find the mermaids' treasure and enjoy fancy dress, singalongs and more. The tours run from Monday 10 April to Friday 14 April and tickets cost £10 for kids, and £12 for adults, there’s also a glass of pirate rum punch for grown-ups to enjoy.
Free Events
15. Springfest at Victoria Baths
This Easter, Victoria Baths are putting a spring in your step, as the beautiful building is turning into a celebration of music and art from across Greater Manchester and beyond. Expect live music, art exhibitions, creative activities and delicious food ready to make a great day out. Springfest is free to attend and takes place on Saturday 15 April from 11 am to 4 pm.
16. Marie Louise Gardens Easter Egg Hunt
On Thursday 6 April, the Easter Bunny will be visiting Marie Louise Gardens in Didsbury for an eggcellent day out. From 11 am to 1 pm, you’ll be able to hunt for eggs and bunnies to earn a very special chocolate egg.
17. Diggle Scarecrow Trail
The village of Diggle is being taken over by Scarecrows, can you spot them all? This self-led trail in Oldham runs from Saturday 1 April to Sunday 16 April and is run by Friends of Diggle School. This year’s theme is music, so you may find rock gods and pop icons hiding in gardens across the village. To join in, pick up a £3 trail sheet sold by several local businesses in the village including The Gate Inn, Diggle Chippy, Diggle Lock and Grandpa Greenes.
18. Easter Holiday Crafts
Barlow Moor Community Library is hosting an Easter Holiday Craft session for free on Thursday 6 April. Let your little ones make easter eggs and even unicorns as they get crafty in the school holidays.
To learn more about what’s going on across Greater Manchester during the Easter Holidays, visit our What’s On Page.
For more inspiration to help you entertain your little ones keep an eye on our blog.
