Wed. Nov 13th, 2024

Crofton Roman Villa Wednesday 10th & 17th April Fun with Pots! Discover what the Romans used for cooking, eating and drinking. You will be able to handle real Roman pottery nearly 2,000 years old. Then you can make your own clay pot to take home.

Sessions at 10.30am. For up to 11 year olds. No booking needed. Children to be accompanied. Entry £4.00 per child, adult carer free. Car parking available off York Rise. The villa is adjacent to Orpington Station. Tel: 01689 860939 www.cka.org.uk/crofton-villa.htm

 

Bluewater’s Egg-cellent Adventure  Thursday 28th March until Monday 22nd April invites little ones to explore the mall and look for items that have been transformed into eggs by the dastardly Professor Oeuf! With his Egg-a-tron 3000, the professor has scrambled 8 well known things into eggs, with some up to 6 feet tall! Maps are £1 and every child completing the trail will receive a sweet treat. Find out more at bluewater.co.uk

Spring into Easter at Kent Life Come and celebrate Easter at Kent Life in Maidstone between 6 and 22 April 2019. Meet the cute baby lambs, goat kids and piglets which are often born around springtime. Have a go at bottle feeding the lambs and kids which take place in sessions throughout the day (no need to book for these, just turn up on the day). Everyone can also hop on a fun farm ride or for a small charge get creative and decorate the perfect Easter gift in the Paint-a-Pot studio.

There are lots of indoor and outdoor play areas to enjoy around the attraction including Easter Shows in the Big Top, a bouncy castle and cuddle corner.  Children can also enjoy donkey rides for a small extra charge. Watch the exciting owl flying demonstrations and meet Kent Life’s very own Mister Moo!

Easter Weekend Special Activities: Friday 19 to Monday 22 April www.kentlife.org.uk

 

Bertram Bunny’s Easter Adventure at Borde Hill Garden (6 to 22 April). Hetty the Hen has laid 10 golden eggs and hidden them in the Garden. Children will be able to help Bertram Bunny find them before Felix the Fox eats them for his supper. There will be activities on selected days, including storytelling and Easter crafts to make and take home.  £2 per trail, plus garden admission, to include a delicious chocolate prize. www.bordehill.co.uk

Head to Chiddingstone Castle in Kent to enjoy a Funny Bunny Easter Hunt. Pick up a clue sheet to help find all the Easter bunnies which have been hidden around the Castle grounds (14 to 17 April, and 21 to 24 April).  The clue sheets will be available from the front desk for just £2. Castle and museum collections, adult £9.50, child (5-13) £4.50, free under 5’s. www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

Easter Fun at Emirates Spinnaker Tower at Portsmouth waterfront city throughout the school holidays. Bing and Flop from CBeebies show will be making an appearance on 13 and 20 April. Meet and greet sessions at hourly intervals through the day (reserve online) are included in the standard admission prices. www.spinnakertower.co.uk

Hop into Easter fun at Hever Castle. Hunt for the colourful carrots around the grounds in the fun free Easter trail or spot the bunnies in the Castle (*free with Castle entrance). Celebrate spring by making and decorating an Easter bonnet at daily craft workshops (small additional charge) with a chance to show off your creations in a daily parade with prizes for the best bonnets. As well as the Easter themed activities visitors can enjoy a dazzling display of spring blooms from daffodils to hyacinths, camellias and early tulips. (6 to 22 April). Prices – Castle & Gardens, adult £17.75; child (5-17) £9.95 (under 5’s free).

Drusillas Park Peter Rabbit. Peter Rabbit will be leaving his radishes and tree house behind to visit Drusillas Park where the mischievous rabbit will be appearing in the events area at intervals throughout the day. (17 April). Prices and to book online.  www.drusillas.co.uk/peter-rabbit

Easter Eggstravaganza Bocketts Farm Park is a family day as the lambing seasons gets into full swing with over 350 newborn lambs due. There will be daily Meet the Shepherd sessions, the opportunity to learn about the lambs and even watch one being born. Children will be able to get up close to the baby chicks, ducklings and bunnies in the Small Animal Village, in addition to activities such as goat milking, tractor rides, pony rides and pig racing.  On completion of the Easter stamp trail children will take home a chocolate treat. (30 March to 23 April, 10am to 5:30pm). Price, adult £11.95, child £12.95 (3-17 years), child £10.95 (2 years). www.bockettsfarm.co.uk

Easter Bunny Specials boat trips on the Wey and Arun Canal with favourite Easter characters to entertain. A chocolate gift and drink is included for each child and hot cross buns for the adults. The boat departs from the wharf beside the Onslow Arms pub in Loxwood. (19, 21 and 22 April, 11am, 12pm and 2pm). Price £10 per person. https://weyarun.org.uk

Easter opening, Busbridge Lakes near Godalming, Surrey is the home to one of the largest collections of water birds in the country, set in 30 acres of heritage gardens and parkland with many specimen trees, three lakes, follies and caves. Open on selected days only. (14 to 22 April, 10.30am to 5.30pm). Price: adults £10, senior citizens £8 and child £5 (3 to 13 years).

A Cadbury Easter egg trail at Shalford Mill will have a Wonderland themed trail to follow the white rabbit and find clues from children’s classic, Alice in Wonderland. Children can claim enough points to win a chocolate egg. All activities are outside the mill. (20, 21 and 22 April, 11am to 5pm). Price: child £3. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Easter Family Fun RHS Garden Wisley will feature face painters, storytellers, sow and grow and puppet show, and a spring trail to discover the garden’s hidden displays. The garden is open from 10am (9am at weekends) to 6pm and the events are included in normal garden admission. (5 to 22 April, 10.30am to 4.30pm).
Price: Normal Admission. www.rhs.org.uk

 

 

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By Penny McCarthy

Penny McCarthy is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of Parents News UK, a pioneering publication launched in 1993 to serve the needs of busy parents in Southwest London. Alongside her husband, Fergus McCarthy, Penny played a crucial role in the rapid expansion of the printed edition, which grew from a local startup to a widely circulated monthly publication with a reach of 192,000 copies across Kent, South London, and beyond. Under Penny’s leadership, Parents News quickly became a trusted resource for families, providing valuable information on education, entertainment, sports, and family-friendly events. Her vision helped the publication extend its influence with franchises in Northern Ireland and Cornwall, catering to a growing demand for accessible, family-oriented content. In 1997, recognising the importance of digital media, Penny spearheaded the launch of Parents News UK Online. The website initially mirrored the content of the printed editions and has since evolved into a comprehensive online resource for parents, achieving significant popularity with up to 700 daily hits. In 2017, the publication transitioned fully to an online platform, continuing to inform and engage families across the UK. Today, Penny remains deeply involved in the ongoing success of Parents News UK, focusing on innovative advertising opportunities and future growth plans. Her dedication to supporting families through accessible and practical content has made Parents News a cherished name in households across the country.

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