Spring Watch in Cheshire
To help keep energetic kids entertained over the school break, we’ve been busy rounding up loads of brilliant activities across the county. So, get ready to mix up your days with essential ‘chilling time’ at home, rampaging around play parks and gardens, tracking down the treasure trails or pursuing the Easter bunny! Here’s a whole basketful of ideas for you to consider - and they don’t all include eating chocolate!
Voyage into the Virtual Past, Present and Future of the Waterways
Treat the kids to a different experience this holiday and unlock the wonders of our waterways at National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port. Using interactive and augmented reality technology, you can truly experience what it was like to live and work on the great waterways. Visitors can take a boat trip through an industrial landscape, visit the museum blacksmith and explore historic boats and homes through the ages, complete with cottage gardens. Check out their website to plan your family day out and check out the events and exhibition programme which includes family activity during school holidays. W: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/nwm
Dinosaurs Unleashed at Liverpool ONE
Visit Liverpool ONE from 29th March for a dinosaur adventure like no other. Chase Raptors, follow Apatasauruses and, of course, hide from the mighty T.Rex, as part of a new Dinosaurs Unleashed augmented reality app. Enjoy lots of surprises popping up around Liverpool ONE during the 10-week “invasion”. Download the free app and collect points as you hatch dinosaurs from giant eggs within Liverpool ONE via a range of augmented reality features. Hatch all the virtual creatures along the interactive egg hunt, discover the ultimate selfie spot on “Chavassic Park” and meet the real-life rangers on hand with plenty of prehistoric fun facts. Download ‘Discover at Liverpool ONE’ from the App Store or Google Play'. W: www.liverpool-one.com
Bounce over to Cockhedge Shopping Park for heaps of free family fun!
If you are looking for something to do on Saturday 20th April, head down to Cockhedge Shopping Park from 12noon to 4pm where there’s lots happening on the mall! Let your young ones get stuck in to a fairy cake decorating workshop and meet the Easter Bunny who will be handing out chocolate goodies. Don’t miss the Wire FM Street team and your chance to win a fantastic family day out at Cadbury World! And what’s more, if it’s retail therapy you need, you can shop till you drop, with two hours free parking. W: www.cockhedge.co.uk
Have an Eggciting Easter in Chester!
This Easter Chester city centre has something for everyone! Go on a journey with Chester’s Easter Eggsplorer city wide egg hunt running 30th March-28th April. For every 10 eggs you find, collect a sweet and enter to win one of eight eggcellent prizes! Keep the kids happy with free Disney Classics Film screenings of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and ‘Pinocchio’. Whilst in Chester, why not indulge in a little retail therapy and enjoy food & drink in the many inviting cafés, bars and restaurants. See their website for booking links, to view prizes and to see all city events and offers for kids and kids at heart! W: www.experiencechester.co.uk
Plan a perfect day out at Bents
A great day out has just got even better with something for everyone to enjoy at Bents this spring. With lots of fun-filled events, a newly launched Creation Station, Indoor Beach and Jurassic Cove Adventure Golf there’s lots to keep the little ones entertained. And add to that Bents’ many retail departments featuring great brands for the garden and home, a choice of dining destinations including the popular Pet Café and Bents really is a complete day out for all the family. W: www.bents.co.uk
Real cows, real flavour at Backford Belles Jersey Ice Cream
Enjoy award winning ice cream from Backford Belles which is set in traditional sandstone farm buildings. They make over 20 flavours for you to enjoy including Salted Caramel, Oreo and Wild Cherry - all made using the milk from their Jersey cows, which you can see grazing in the fields. There’s plenty of indoor & outdoor seating so that you can relax with a cup of tea, milkshake or hot chocolate and let the kids run free on the climbing frame, swings and toy tractors. Over the Easter weekend they are running a fun-filled Easter Hunt competition, and, with the arrival of spring, they have calves, chickens, ducks, budgies and guinea pigs to greet! W: www.backfordbelles.com
You’ll find a whole basketful of Easter activities at Anderton Boat Lift
A fantastic day out for all the family, at Anderton Boat Lift there is so much to discover! Take a river cruise along the River Weaver Navigation, enjoy a guided boat trip through the lift or simply explore with free entry into the coffee shop, interactive exhibition, gift shop and grounds. This Easter weekend, take the little ones to enjoy free family fun at the fantastic Easter Eggstravanganza. There will be arts and crafts in the marquee, meet and greet with all your favourite characters AND a special Easter Treasure Hunt! T: 01606 786777 W: andertonboatlift.co.uk
What’s on at GreenWood this spring?
Nestled beneath the treetops at the foothills of Snowdonia National Park, hides a land full of outdoor fun and adventure waiting to be discovered this spring! Be entertained in the extraordinary Forest Theatre, get creative in the craft area and keep your eyes peeled amongst the trees for giant eggs on the Easter trail, which will run from 6th-28th April. Plus, to celebrate Mother’s Day, on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st March, GreenWood are offering free entry to all mums and Ben & Holly will be making a very special appearance on Sunday 7th April to meet all the little ones! W: www.greenwoodfamilypark.co.uk
DIVE INTO THE EASTER EGGSTRAVANZA AT SEAQUARIUM
From Saturday 6th to Sunday 28th April, Rhyl SeaQuarium will be holding a whole host of extra Easter activities for the whole family, which are all included in the standard admission price. At their ‘Easter Eggstravaganza’ event children will be encouraged to follow a free ‘Eggsplorers’ Trail and unscramble a secret Easter password to win a prize. There will also be an Easter Eggsplorers Craft Club where children can make their very own Easter Bonnet and enter an Easter Bonnet Competition by uploading their photos to Facebook with lots of prizes to be won for the best bonnets! T: 01745 344660 W: www.seaquarium.co.uk
Easter Family Fun at Gulliver’s Theme Parks!
This year Gulliver’s are hosting their Easter Eggstravaganza complete with super springtime activities and entertainment. Once again children and adults can enjoy a huge selection of rides and attractions. Don’t forget to use the special offer voucher in this edition (terms and conditions are on the voucher). Gulliver’s will be celebrating Easter on selected dates throughout April. Short breaks are also available across their three resorts - you can choose from Warrington, Matlock Bath and Milton Keynes. Give your family the ultimate Easter adventure this holiday! W: www.gulliversfun.co.uk
EASTER FUN AND FREE ACTIVITIES AT BLAKEMERE
Enjoy Easter Bank Holiday at Blakemere Village with lots of fun free activities to keep all your young ones happy within the Courtyard every day from 11am-4pm! The weekend’s line-up includes free Face Painting, Chick Handling, traditional Punch and Judy Shows and a Circus Skills Workshop! Families can also take part in their Easter Bunny Trail for just £3 per child and suitable from aged 3 upwards. Running from April 6th-22nd, young trailblazers need to help the Easter Bunny find his friends who are hiding around the Village, then collect a prize and a chocolate treat with each completed trail map purchased! Find more details on their website or in the listings. W: www.blakemerevillage.com
Spark your curiosity and celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Periodic Table at Jodrell Bank
Visit Jodrell Bank, a world-leading deep space observatory in the heart of Cheshire, and join them in a special celebration for the 150th anniversary of the Periodic Table. Why do some things burn, or float, or stick to magnets? The answer –It’s Elemental! Their brand new live science show, It’s Elemental, will surprise and excite you with the everyday elements you encounter. Expect live experiments, interactive demonstrations, and lots of loud bangs! There’s plenty of other activities going on throughout the Easter holidays including fun and interactive sessions for the Under 7s, Telescope Walking Tours, Meet the Expert Q&As and Bee Backpack Trails! W: www.jodrellbank.net
Easter antics at Ness Botanic Gardens
Adventure down to Ness this Easter, where there’s lots going on. Design mum a special card for Mother’s Day and don’t forget to bring her back, as all mum’s go free to the gardens on Mother’s Day. New for 2019 is the Very Hungry Rabbit Trail – follow the interactive trail to find what the mischievous rabbit has been up to in the garden – can you spot him? And, if you want to get creative, design a potato head person with real grass seed for hair to take away and watch the hair grow! W: www.liverpool.ac.uk/ness-gardens/whats-on/events-ness/
Head to Tatton Park for a fairytale Easter
Tatton Park will make all your dreams come true this Easter! From the 19th -22nd April, find the Fairy Godmother in the Mansion, spot Rapunzel in the Gardens and run around with the Gingerbread Man at the Farm. Answer all of the clues for a delicious chocolate treat! Visit Dairy Wood in the Parkland and help Little Red Riding Hood find her Easter eggs - watch out for the Wolf! There’s also lots of cracking entertainment in the Stableyard! Magic shows, puppet shows, glitter tattoos and seasonal food and gifts (times apply on the day). Take a selfie with their fairytale characters and enjoy Easter treats in the shops and restaurants. W: www.tattonpark.org.uk/easter
Feed curious minds with breathtaking science shows
Discover over 65 exhibits and attractions at Techniquest Glyndwr this half-term! North Wales’ premier Science Discovery Centre has a whole host of activities for all the family running every day, creating memories to last a lifetime. Be it their amazing live science shows, engaging exhibits or knowledgeable staff they’ve got everything to feed curious minds! TQG Discovery Centre is located just off the A483/A541 junction at Plas Coch, Wrexham – follow the brown tourist signs from the A483. W: www.tqg.org.uk
You’ll be jumping for joy at Red House Farm this Easter!
The Easter holidays will arrive with a bang at Red House Farm with a host of new activities for the Easter holidays, including pizza making! Everyone’s favourites will be there such as the Barrel Train ride, Easter Egg and Bunny Hunt, but new for this year, they will be moving into the Funyard from April through to October where delights such as the jumping pillows, pedal carts, bouncy castle, inflatable slide, giant sand pit and much more await you! Keep an eye on their website for more details. W: www.redhousefarm.co.uk
