Bonnets, bunnies and Brunel in Bristol
Half term has only just been and gone and yet suddenly it is Easter already. Apart from feeding the kids the obligatory chocolate eggs, what other Easter options are out there to keep you and the kids entertained?Outside at Easter
If you are looking to get out into the fresh air this Easter, Bristol’s attractions have pulled together a range of activities.
Westonbirt Arboretum is a great place to head to with over 3,000 trees and a range of family activities. The arboretum is holding a special Easter Challenge on 21 March where participants can follow a trail of clues around the arboretum to solve the riddle and even have a go at making some personalised Easter decorations from cards to bonnets and pom-pom chicks.
Or, if you are looking to learn, then why not visit the Eggtastic Family Event from 22-24 March –first you need to find the eggs which have been laid throughout the arboretum and then can you work out who laid them! Forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt
Continuing the egg theme, Bristol Zoo Gardens has organised a Sensory Easter Trail with a unique chance to see, touch, hear, smell and experience the world of eggs. The trail is suitable for all ages and offers the opportunity to learn about the eggs of many different species, from frogs and flamingos to crocodiles. Visitors who go to Bristol Zoo Gardens over the Easter weekend will also receive a special chocolate egg prize.
Bristolzoo.org.uk
At Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, spring has really arrived with baby camels, donkeys and zebra expected to be born around the Easter period. The zoo is also holding Easter themed activities, small animal holding sessions of chicks, rabbits and guinea pigs, daily hawk displays and reptile talks. Noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk
If you are looking for something different to do on Easter Sunday then pay a visit to the Tobacco Factory’s Easter market which has something for everybody with about 30 stalls and a strong bias towards ethical, eco friendly, fair-trade, organic and local products. It is a great place to eat, drink, enjoy live music and let your kids take part in the special Easter free creative workshops.
Tobaccofactory.com
Easter Eggcitement
If you are looking for culture and fun combined, then Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s ss Great Britain is a great destination for all the family, with plenty of child friendly activities on offer including an interactive journey back in time and the chance to experience the thrills of rigging by climbing to the mast top.
Ssgreatbritain.org
Explore-At-Bristol is an ideal option if the weather is bad. Describing itself as a ‘true 21st science centre’, it offers a range of exhibitions for all ages. ‘Fossils and funny bones’ is sure to entertain those under eight, encouraging imaginative play and hands on activities to explore the prehistoric world. Also currently running is the ‘Love Sport’ exhibition which allows visitors to shoot for goal in Penalty Pressure or slam-dunk in Hectic Hoops basketball.
Bristol’s Sacred Trail
Few UK cities can match the stunning ecclesiastical legacy located within a short distance of Bristol’s busy modern shops and offices, and Easter is the perfect opportunity to discover these gems.
It is estimated that annually 20,000 tourists visit glorious St Mary Redcliffe, described by Queen Elizabeth I as “the goodliest, fairest and most famous parish church in England.” And people from many nations make a pilgrimage to visit Wesley’s New Room, founded in 1739 and the oldest Methodist building in the world. It remains just as it was in the 18th century – yet is tucked away in the heart of the very modern Broadmead shopping area.
A free downloadable mp3 audio tour ‘Bristol Churches Trail’ will visit many of Bristol’s stunning churches. It lasts three hours covering classical, ruined, unusual and modern buildings.
Visitbristol.co.uk
Something for the adults
If you are fed up with buying standard Easter eggs from the supermarket and are looking for a more sophisticated touch, Goldbrick House on Bristol’s Park Street is running an Easter egg chocolate master class on 11 March. Not only will you learn all about chocolate from a master chocolatier, you will make your own eggs to take home and impress your family and friends.
If you are looking to explore your creative side, then why not visit the new Bristol Drawing School at Paintworks, celebrating its official launch on 21 March with open days throughout the Easter weekend, which will be followed by a Drawing Matters exhibition from 28 March.
Drawingschool.org.uk
Or, book a lesson at The Village Pottery in Clifton and make your own egg cup on the potter’s wheel. Lessons for one person cost £20 for half an hour or for two people it costs £40 for an hour.
Whilst you are in Clifton, you could also take a tour of the famous Suspension Bridge – free guided tours start on Easter Sunday at 3.00pm and will run on every Sunday until September.
Where to stay
This Easter, why not treat yourself to a stay at the South West Bed & Breakfast of the Year 2007/2008. Fern Cottage near Bristol, is offering a special price of just £225.00 for a three night Easter break including award winning breakfast full of locally sourced produce. To make it even more special, every double room booked will include a delicious Easter egg made by a local chocolate company.
If you are looking for a peaceful break in the heart of Bristol’s beautiful Clifton Village - just a short walk from the magnificent Suspension Bridge, then Rodney Hotel may be the perfect destination. A special Easter rate of singles for £44 and doubles for £62 includes VAT and breakfast.
The magnificent Georgian Berkeley Square Hotel is also offering special Easter discounts with rates of £55 for an executive single room and £70 for an executive double.
The beautifully restored Sugar House, previously a collection of Grade II-listed warehouses from the 1700s, is now home to Hotel du Vin Bristol. Located close to the rejuvenated waterfront in Bristol, the hotel is offering a special Easter deal – when one night is booked over the Easter weekend, another night is only half price. And on Monday 24th March an exciting wine dinner with Pisano Winery from Uruguay with Daniel Pisano takes place, giving you another reason to stay an extra night.
If you are looking for flexibility, the Premier Apartments might be an option. Less than five minutes on foot from Bristol Temple Meads station and less than ten minutes from Bristol’s main shopping area and waterfront, an apartment gives you the option to have your own Easter egg hunt and with prices from £65 per night, you can’t go wrong.
Premierapartmentsbristol.com
Mercure Holland House Hotel and Spa also has an Easter weekend offer with dinner, bed and breakfast for a family of four with tickets to Explore-At-Bristol, all for £160 per room, per night.
Accorhotels.com
Ramada Plaza is celebrating Easter by offering a rate of £76.50 per person, based on a minimum of a two night stay and two-person occupancy. This includes full breakfast each day and a three course dinner on the first night of your stay.
Other Easter activities include:
- Berkeley Castle: The castle is celebrating the start of its 2008 season with a traditional family Easter event in its Great Hall including face painting, cake stands, a fancy dress competition and an Easter egg hunt.
(Berkeley-castle.com)
- Slimbridge Wetland Centre: Visit Slimbridge between 21 March and 20 April for family friendly activities every day including arts, crafts, wildlife films and a discovery trail around the grounds where you’ll meet cranes, flamingos and birds from around the world. After an early start on 5 April, join the wardens for a behind the scenes visit to join in with the breeding birds survey. Or, on Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Friday’s from 7 April you can take a Land Rover safari to the wilds of the reserve in search of the Brown Hare. Wwt.org.uk/visit/slimbridge
- The National Trust has this year teamed up with Cadbury to ensure its Easter Trails do not fail to excite young and old alike. Events are being held from 21-24 March at locations including the impressive 17th century mansion, garden and deer park at Dyrham Park near Bristol and the spectacular Victorian country house and grounds at Tyntesfield.
Nationaltrust.org.uk
For further information on activities, events and accommodation this Easter visit Visitbristol.co.uk.
