Alice in Wonderland Trail, Brodsworth Hall and Gardens, Yorkshire
In the season of chicks and bunnies, what better way to spend your Easter than by following the White Rabbit down the Alice in Wonderland Trail? A series of six magic mirrors will give you the Alice-like experience of growing both very tall and very small, and there are other surprises along the way as you follow the enchanted pathways through this Victorian garden, all inspired by Lewis Carroll's classic story. If you're still keen to explore afterwards, Brodsworth features a stunning collection of miniature Victorian gardens including an Alpine rock garden, a fern grotto and a wild rose dell.
• Brodsworth Hall and Gardens, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN5 7XJ, 01302 722598, english-heritage.org.uk, 31 March, 1 April, 3-15 April, 10am-5.30pm, adult £5.70 (admission to gardens only), child (5-15) £3.40, English Heritage members free
Roald Dahl Museum, Buckinghamshire
This Easter, the Roald Dahl Museum is the perfect place to introduce the little ones to the writer's classic stories, plus it's more or less the home of chocolate (giant Wonka bars provide the doorway to one room). There will be craft activities, storytelling, galleries depicting Dahl's most famous creations, and an Easter egg hunt around the museum, with prizes for children who manage to find all the eggs. For grown-ups, and new for this season, you can see the garden hut where Dahl wrote daily for 35 years, including his tatty armchair and collection of curios – among them, the hip-bone he had removed during the second world war. You can also explore Dahl's village haunts, by way of a marked-out trail.
• 81-83 High Street, Great Missenden, 01494 892192, roalddahlmuseum.org, 3-13 April, 10am–5pm Tue-Fri, 11am-5pm Sat 7 April, closed Monday 9 April, adult £6, child (5-18 years) £4
Day out with Thomas the Tank Engine, North Yorkshire
Yorkshire's friendly railway line welcomes back Thomas the Tank Engine and his many friends, including Diesel, Percy and the Fat Controller. Enjoy a train ride behind Thomas aboard his friends Annie and Clarabell, watch a magic show, take a turn on the fairground rides and play in the Imagination Station at Bolton Abbey, where children can draw, listen to stories and watch Thomas films. The train runs between Bolton Abbey and Embsay stations every half hour.
• Bolton Abbey Station, Bolton Abbey, Skipton, BD23 6AF, embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk/dowt.html, 6–9 April, 10am–4.30pm, £12 per person if bought on the day (for children this includes a gift) or book online for quicker entry and save £2 per ticket
Meet Robin Hood at Old Wardour Castle, Wiltshire
The grand ruins of Old Wardour Castle and the surrounding countryside provide a fantastic setting for a family day out any time of the year, and this Easter weekend, a variety of activites will bring the legend of Robin Hood to life for visiting children. Meet Robin, have a go at archery, enjoy the convivial company of the merry men and hear the classic story told again. Or if you favour the Sherriff of Nottingham over the outlaw, join forces with him and hunt Robin down around the castle ruins.
• Old Wardour Castle, Near Tisbury, Salisbury, 01747 870487, english-heritage.org.uk, 8-9 April, 11am-5pm, adult £5, child (5-15 years) £3.50, English Heritage members free
The National Botanic Garden of Wales, Carmarthenshire
Where better to ring in the first holiday of spring than in these beautiful botanic gardens as everything comes into bloom. They host an Easter extravaganza every year, which is always great fun for the whole family. This year the Quack Pack are on show as one man and his dog herd a flock of India runner ducks around a challenging obstacle course. There's also balloon modelling, fire juggling, a magic show, and live music. Add to this entertainment provided by the Llanarthne Dancers and the Dyfed Carriage Club and you have a whole weekend of fun. Or if you're in the mood for something a bit quieter, have a stroll around the grounds enjoying the vibrant blooms, stunning views and grand buildings.
• Llanarthne, CSA32 8HG, gardenofwales.org.uk/whats-on/events/, 6–9 April, 10am–6pm, adult £8.50, child (5-16 years) £4.50
Hedingham Castle, Essex
Hedingham Castle is hosting a medieval day this Easter, with a whole raft of festivities beneath the towering Norman keep. Explore the wares and sample the victuals at the food and crafts market, try your hand at archery, watch the Knights of Arkley as they demonstrate the traditional sport of jousting, enjoy the falconry display and round it off with a glass of mead or two in the Castle Inn. Take some time to explore the beautiful castle grounds and the historic castle interiors, from the Minstrels' Gallery to the Banqueting Hall – and if you're really keen you can come back on the Tuesday for the arts and crafts activities day.
• Hedingham Castle, CO9 3DJ, hedinghamcastle.co.uk, 8 and 9 April, 11am–4pm Friday, Saturday and Monday, 10am-5pm on Sunday, adult £11, child £8.50
Bath comedy festival and adult Easter egg hunt walking tour, Bath
Famously grumpy old man Arthur Smith is hosting probably the only egg hunt this Easter that's not targeted at kids – in fact they make a point of saying it's not suitable for children under 14. Whatever that means, it should prove intriguing enough to attract quite a crowd to join his magical mystery tour of the city, in conjunction with the local Natural Theatre and various other comedy stalwarts as part of the city's annual Comedy Festival. Hopefully lots of laughs, maybe a drink or two, and no traces of egg on your face at all.
• Meet at the Natural Theatre, Widcombe Hill, BA2 6AA, bathcomedy.com, 11am and 2pm for 1.5 hours, 7 April, £10, Advance booking only on 0800 411 8881 or at brownpapertickets.com. Read more about Bath at coolplaces.co.uk/guides/uk/england/somerset/1-bath
The Hot Cross Bun festival at the Widow's Son, East London
The sad story goes that the widow who lived in a cottage where this East London pub now stands expected her only son back from sea on Good Friday in 1824 and baked some hot cross buns for his return. Her son never came home, but she continued to bake for him every year, hanging the buns from a beam in her cottage. The cottage was replaced by a pub in the mid-19th century, and the Widow's Son pub has kept the tradition going ever since, when each Good Friday a sailor or wren adds a new bun to a net strung from the ceiling. The pub is nothing special, but Friday is a great day here, with seafarers, singing and lots of drinking. Come down for a tipple and a bun and enjoy the atmosphere.
• Widow's Son, 75 Devons Rd, E3 3PJ, Friday 6 April
Egg rolling, Edinburgh
Egg-rolling is a long-standing Easter tradition, that takes place all over the world, but Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh is a particularly popular spot for the activity. Bring your children to enjoy the quirky tradition of rolling hand-dyed Easter eggs down the hillside of this extinct volcano and enjoy the epic vistas over Edinburgh and the surrounding countryside. There are also popular egg-rolling events at Avenham Park and Holcome Hill in Lancashire and at Bunker's Hill in Derbyshire.
• Arthur's Seat, EH8; Avenham Park, Preston PR1; Holcome Hill, Ramsbottom BL0; Bunker's Hill, Derbyshire DE45. 6–9 April. Read more about Edinburgh at coolplaces.co.uk/guides/uk/scotland/midlothian/8-edinburgh
British bluebells, New Forest
Britain's favourite flower is almost always in bloom around Easter time, and the flowers love the damp, shady conditions of the New Forest's gorgeous ancient woodland. Bluebells do not grow wild anywhere else in Europe so it's a particularly British passtime. Two of the best places to spot bluebells are the Broomy Inclosure, north of Linwood, and the Pondhead Inclosure, near Lyndhurst, but if you're really keen you can take a guided eight-mile bluebell walk with a volunteer ranger the following weekend. The walks start at Clayhill Heath, near Lyndhurst, and you get the full lowdown on the flowers, plus the wildlife and everything else you might see along the way.
• Clayhill Heath Car Park, near Lyndhurst, New Forest, thenewforest.co.uk/activities, Bluebell walk: 15 April, 10am–4pm, £5 in advance, 02380 286840
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