Warwickshire's tourist board reveals cracking days out this Easter
Warwickshire’s tourist board Shakespeare’s England has unveiled some of its cracking days out for families in the wider region during the school holidays.
From meeting birds of prey and marvelling at rare butterflies, to painting robots and castle adventures, local tourism bosses have picked out a variety of suggestions to keep the whole family entertained.
Meet majestic birds of prey
Families can get up close to magnificent birds of prey when an expert falconer returns to St Mary’s Guildhall in Coventry for a special one-day Easter holiday event on 2 April. Visitors will meet owls, kestrels and falcons inside the medieval Great Hall and even have the chance to hold a bird for a photo. Tickets are £12.50 pp, click here to book.
Discover Stratford in 60 minutes with new walking tour
A brand-new one-hour Stratford Town Walk launches on 1 April, offering visitors a quick way to discover the town’s Shakespearean heritage, historic streets and riverside views. Running Monday to Friday at 2pm, the guided and accessible walk highlights key landmarks and includes discounts at local cafés, pubs and attractions. Dog-friendly. More details and pricing: www.stratfordtownwalk.co.uk
Explore a local National Trust site
For those seeking an egg hunt and other Easter activities amongst nature, explore one of the National Trust’s sites including the 14th century monastery at Coventry Charterhouse, Charlecote Park, Baddesley Clinton, Packwood House, and Upton House and Gardens. For more details visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/warwickshire
Explore the locations that inspired Oscar-winning film Hamnet
Pick up a Nature Explorer Backpack at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and run around the meadow with a butterfly net, pick up leaves from the ground in the orchard and study the creepy crawlies in the statue garden. Families can also experience daily live performances in the garden of Shakespeare’s Birthplace during the Easter break. For pricing and more details visit www.shakespeare.org.uk/visit/whats-on/easter-holidays-at-family-homes
Marvel at Blue Morpho butterflies
Hundreds of dazzling Blue Morpho butterflies will fill the tropical Flight Area at Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm this Easter. Families can watch butterflies emerge from chrysalises, see eggs and caterpillars up close, meet stick insects during mini-beast demonstrations, and learn about bees with a visiting beekeeper on 9 April. For more details and pricing, visit www.butterflyfarm.co.uk
Robot painting comes to Compton Verney
Families can get hands-on at Compton Verney this Easter with robot painting. The Kineton RAF STEM team are back (1 & 8 April) with their ‘super sphero’ robots. Direct and instruct the spheros via the tablets provided, to move through paint and create an experimental painting.
Younger children can build bird nests and make clay eggs at forest school, while older children can try animation filmmaking. Families can also explore the sculpture park and exhibitions. Children go free. More: www.comptonverney.org.uk/news/spring-at-compton-verney/
Dig in to Warwick’s history
Discover Warwick’s history beyond its famous castle; including a free 45-minute tour of the town’s Court House on Easter Saturday, where visitors can learn more about the harsh justice meted-out by the court magistrates in Victorian times. On 28 March,
a new exhibition called ‘Warwick Unboxed’ is also opening at Market Hall Museum, highlighting the people who have lived and worked at Warwick Castle in the last 300 years. For more details about Easter activities in the town, head to www.visitwarwick.co.uk
Rev up your Easter egg hunt
Embark on a traditional Easter egg hunt amongst some of Britain’s oldest classic cars between 3 and 6 April. Throughout the holidays, children can also follow the Great Big Bunny Hunt around the cars, build and decorate their own “hatched” car craft, and join interactive family tours exploring the technology behind the museum’s collection. For pricing and more details visit www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/easter-holiday-activities
Take your pick from a 15-show extravaganza at Warwick Castle
Families can watch the UK’s largest bird of prey display, explore the Zog Playland and interactive dragon trail, see Britain’s largest trebuchet in action and step into magical storytelling at the Princess Tower among others. For pricing and more details visit www.warwick-castle.com
Indulge in a short Easter break
Make the most of the long Easter weekend with a trip to Mallory Court, which last year was named the best large hotel in England at the VisitEngland Awards. Unwind in the property’s Elan Spa, explore their gardens, and sample lunch in The Warwick restaurant, which is overseen by MasterChef: The Professionals winner Stu Deeley. For more information visit www.mallory.co.uk
Explore Easter trails, take on bunny races and enjoy animal encounters
Families can enjoy a full day of Easter-themed fun at Fairytale Farm near Chipping Norton between 28 March and 12 April, where children can tackle a family riddle hunt, try bunny hop sack races and egg-and-spoon challenges, as well as meet animals during petting sessions and get creative at craft stations. For more information and pricing visit www.fairytalefarm.co.uk
For more ideas and inspiration on what to do in Warwickshire, visit www.shakespeares-england.co.uk