Celebrate a fun inspired Easter in Shakespeare Country

Celebrate a fun inspired Easter in Shakespeare Country with a host of activities for all the family. Search for clues to win prizes with Easter trail’s and egg hunts, watch a performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company, wander around new and exciting exhibitions, learn boat skills, experience ghost hunts or visit the major new Dungeon attraction at Warwick Castle. With so much to do, you’re guaranteed to keep all the family entertained this Easter.

Take part in an Easter trail around Mary Arden's Farm with opportunities for the children to stroke the baby animals. On 3 April, be among the first to visit the new exhibition at Shakespeare’s Birthplace. Promising a spectacular new visual experience of theatre, sound and light, visitors to the new exhibition, entitled Life, Love and Legacy, will see real treasures and artefacts, such as Shakespeare’s First Folio, literally brought to life as they learn about the works of the great playwright.

Enjoy two different performances by the Royal Shakespeare Company at The Courtyard Theatre. The Winter’s Tale plays in repertoire from 31 March - 3 October and see’s Shakespeare strip away the trappings of a man's success in a bewitching exploration of what constitutes true happiness. From 18 April - 3 October watch As You Like It, Shakespeare’s comedy of romance and confusing gender roles. On 8 April from 5:30pm – 6:15pm, David Farr, Director of The Winter's Tale, will give a talk about his production. On 11 April from 10:30 – 11:30am children can listen to the magic of Shakespeare's plays with a lively, interactive storytelling session about The Winter’s Tale.

Warwick Castle’s brand new major attraction ‘The Castle Dungeon’ opens on 4 April. Stunning, authentically themed with live actors and top of the range special effects, it will transport visitors into the darkest chapters of the Castle’s history. In true dungeon style, gore seeking guests will be greeted by decaying bodies, chanting monks, mediaeval medical instruments, leeches and a torture chamber. From 10 – 13 April experience the truly spectacular sight of Warwick Castle under siege with up to 300 people divided into two warring factions to battle it out to the bitter end.

Experience the ‘Ghosts of Bombay Manor’ at the Creaky Cauldron from 10am - 5pm each day. For those brave enough join ghost hunters for a candlelit ghost tour at 7:30pm or take in a ghost walk of Stratford at 9pm. On 4 April from 9.30pm experience a ghost hunt and vigil for seven hours with seven different paranormal experiments in one of England's most haunted buildings. On Easter Saturday from 9.30pm join a ghost hunt and vigil "Walking in the footsteps of the Stratford Ripper" whilst on 18 April explore your nightmares and face your demons with a ghost hunt and vigil.

Over the Easter weekend, children can take part in a ghoulish Easter quiz at The Falstaff's Experience, Stratford’s most haunted building. The first 100 children with correct answers will receive an Easter prize. Experience a ghost cruise along the River Avon with stories and magic on Easter Saturday with Stratford Town Walk. Enjoy daily walks throughout the Easter period to discover historic Stratford and all it has to offer. For entertainment with a difference, join a ghost walk and discover the buildings where there are gruesome tales of ghosts, witches, murder and mayhem.

From 4 – 19 April, children can join in the fun at the Stratford Butterfly Farm with an exciting butterfly and insect quiz. Children must solve the clues to work their way around the Farm learning new things as they go. Each clue will lead them somewhere before eventually leading to an Easter prize.

From Saturday 4 – Sunday 19 April, enjoy an Easter trail at Kenilworth Castle from 10am – 5pm. Crack the clues to complete the egg-citing trail and collect a fantastic Easter prize. Enjoy the splendour of the mediaeval “Tournament of Foote” from Sunday 12 – Monday 13 April. See costumed ladies and nobles demonstrating the refined pursuits of singing, dancing and storytelling before watching mediaeval Knights demonstrate the skills of war.

Ragley Hall will open for the Easter Holidays from 4 – 19 April. Enjoy the house, gardens, adventure playground and woodland walk whilst children are kept entertained with seasonal activities and events. The guides at Stoneleigh Abbey will unveil their new Jane Austen period costumes at Easter. For 400 years the Abbey was the country seat of Jane Austen’s relatives. So inspired by the house, Jane wove descriptions of the interiors, views of the grounds and cameos of the family into her novels. Jane’s fascination with Stoneleigh is revealed during the Abbey’s Jane Austen tour every Sunday and Wednesday at 1pm.

From 10 - 13 April join Upton House for its Easter egg trail from 12 - 4pm. Follow the clues around the terraced gardens to win chocolate prizes with visits to the face painter on the Sunday and Monday. On Saturday 11 April from 11am - 4:30pm, visit Coughton Court for a Cadbury Easter egg hunt, seasonal craft activities, face-painting and an old fashioned sponsored duck race. Join Hidcote Manor Garden for their Easter egg hunt sponsored by Cadbury’s on Sunday 12 April from 10am - 4pm. Help the property team solve the Easter puzzle and win a delicious chocolate Easter egg.

Hill Close Gardens in Warwick re-opens to the public on Good Friday with a guided walk for gardeners from 2.30 - 3.30pm. Learn about Victorian spring flowers and unusual varieties of fruit tree in blossom as well as the work on the new summerhouses and garden designs. On Easter Sunday children can enjoy a traditional Easter egg hunt from 2 - 5pm. On Saturday 18 April a talk will be given by expert horticulturalists on "Know and Grow Vegetables" in the visitor centre from 2.30 - 3.30pm. The Restaurant in the Park is holding an Easter egg hunt in Jephson Gardens over the Easter weekend from 11 – 3pm with all proceeds going towards the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance.

Take part in an Easter quiz trail at The Almonry Heritage Centre in Evesham with prizes and craft activities in the Victorian School Room. Wander around the Blossom exhibition in this unique 14th Century building until 21 April. Make your own special Easter cards at the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum on Thursday 9 April from 2pm - 4pm.

Throughout Easter week attend a celebratory exhibition of the renovation of the Machado Gallery in Barford. Enjoy Cornish clotted cream teas with scones freshly made to order served in the house or walled gardens. Alternatively enjoy daily pottery fun sessions with a potter’s wheel and ceramic painting at Honeybourne Pottery.

Learn paddle and boat skills whilst playing games and journeying on the river at the Leam Boat Centre. Children’s beginner’s courses take place on 7, 8 & 9 April from 10:30am – 1pm whilst children’s improvers and advanced courses take place on the same dates from 2pm – 4:30pm. Adults can enjoy an evening kayak course and a trip to the River Wye on 16, 23, 30 April & 7 May or a day trip on Saturday 9 May.

Experience the thrill of horse-racing at Warwick Racecourse. The flat racing season starts on Easter Monday with the first of six races scheduled for 2.20pm. Enjoy a scenic flight over the Warwickshire countryside with Avon Air Centre which is offering a special family flights promotion over Easter from Friday 10 - Monday 13 April. Buy any full price flight voucher for one adult and a child can fly for half price.

For theatre and attraction tickets, accommodation, brochures, special offers and more information visit the official website: shakespeare-country.co.uk.

Leamington Spa Tourist Information Centres for discounted tickets for Warwick Castle, Alton Towers, Madame Tussauds and Blenheim Palace.