Sarah
13 March 2020
Are you planning an Easter holiday in Sussex this spring? With the weather improving and the days getting longer, Easter falls at a time perfect for a family holiday or a short break. We’ve picked out some of the best things to do in Sussex this Easter, from family events to outdoor adventures, for big kids and little kids. Make the most of the school holiday and the long weekend and enjoy a relaxing break in beautiful Sussex.
Join the fun at Sussex’s favourite family attractions
Image credit: Fishers Farm Park
Look no further than the Fishers Farm Park for the ultimate Easter day out that the whole family will enjoy. On top of all its usual fantastic attractions, you’ll meet newborn lambs, tiny goat kids, fluffy chicks, ducklings and bunnies, and there will be a whole schedule of special events and activities for families to get stuck into.
Image caption: Drusilla's Park
Drusilla’s certainly know how to make the Easter holidays extra fun! Come and meet some of the best-loved children’s characters, including Bing and Flop, Hello Kitty and Peter Rabbit. Curious kids will also love getting to know some incredible birds of prey when experts from Sussex Falconry drop by with owls and hawks for a special event.
Enjoy a family-friendly Easter festival
Image credit: Plumpton Racecourse
The Easter Festival at Plumpton Racecourse takes place over Easter weekend and is a popular day out for the family. As well as the thrill of seven races on each day, there is a host of entertainment for the younger members of the family. You can expect an Easter giveaway, face painting, donkey rides, falconry displays, games and live music, and a funfair to set the atmosphere. With under 18s going free (when accompanied by an adult), it’s the ideal family day out.
For a similar event in West Sussex, check out the Easter Eggstravaganza at Fontwell Park!
Enjoy Easter with the National Trust in Sussex
The beautiful National Trust properties of Sussex come to life during the Easter holidays with lots of special events for little ones and big ones too! Go on a Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt at Bodiam Castle, visit Sissington’s special nature hub, choose from two exciting trails at Scotney Castle or take on a special quest to bring back spring at Smallhythe Place. Wherever you choose to visit, there’s one thing you can be sure of - there will be plenty of chocolate involved!
See the spring colours of Sussex’s gardens
Image credit: Arundel Castle
What says 'spring' more than a swathe of colourful tulips? During the whole of April, Arundel Castle boasts a magnificent display of over 60,000 tulips in an array of horticultural designs throughout the gardens. Whether or not you’re a garden enthusiast, we guarantee that with over 120 different varieties of tulip bringing an explosion of colour, you’re sure to be impressed. Cameras at the ready – it’s a great opportunity to snap some special family photos with a pretty backdrop.
Image credit: Borde Hill Gardens
Bertram Bunny is bringing all kinds of pirate-themed Easter fun to his fantasy Easter island at Borde Hill Gardens, and both you and your little ones are going to love it. While the kids solve the puzzles and find treasure on the Easter trail, you can admire the first signs of spring around the garden and woodland from daffodils to rhododendrons – why not pack a picnic and bring your canine for a fun-filled family day outdoors? Don't forget to collect your chocolatey treats at the end of the trail!
A good day out for crafty kids who happen to like chocolate too! During the Easter holiday, West Dean Gardens near Chichester will be running plenty of Easter-themed activities including two Easter trails for different age groups. Kids will love stumbling upon giant noughts and crosses, an egg and spoon race and flowerpot bean toss in the gardens. Follow the trail into the Walled Garden and along the lower lawn where you will find all sorts of craft activities that little ones can get stuck into such as ‘turn a recycled egg into a daffodil’ to ‘make your own hand-felted egg’.
Experience Easter on the railway
Hop over the border into Kent and join in the 75th-anniversary celebrations of Thomas and friends! Take a train ride with the much-loved Thomas the Tank Engine and the Fat Controller on the Kent & East Sussex Railway. Head to Tenterden Station where Thomas will be taking his fans on a 25-minute trip along the scenic railway to Rolvenden on selected days during the Easter holidays. After you’ve jumped off the train, make the most of a range of other activities including a trampoline, carousel, storytelling and re-enactments of classic Thomas stories.
Hop on and off this fun, family attraction and make the most of the activities available at each station, from soft play activities at Horsted Keynes to the interactive SteamWorks exhibition at Sheffield Park! Why not pick up a Bluebell Railway spring passport? Full of things to see and do, it’s a great way to get the very best out of a day on the railway – complete 15 tasks in each seasonal section to claim a special badge!
Where to stay in Sussex for Easter
Our collection of cottages for Easter come in all shapes and sizes, including large accommodation for big groups, family-friendly cottages, cosy escapes for couples and not forgetting our dog-friendly collection! Find a cottage perfect for you and enjoy these things to do in Sussex this Easter.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.