Easter is one of the most widely celebrated religious and secular holidays in the United Kingdom. Rooted in the Christian faith, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ after the crucifixion, it has also evolved into seasonal traditions such as Easter egg hunts, family gathering activities, Easter holidays, and travel.
In this article, we’ll explore the various types of Easter events taking place across the UK, along with different ways to celebrate with your family and friends in 2026.
🗓️ When is Easter 2026 in the UK?
This year, Easter falls on 5 April 2026 in the UK. Generally, everyone enjoys a long weekend as both Good Friday (3 April 2026) and Easter are bank holidays. 1
You might notice that Easter dates change every year, but it generally falls between late March and late April.
The exact date of Easter each year is based on the lunar calendar. It is the first Sunday after the full Moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox. 2
2025: 20 April
2026: 5 April
2027: 28 March
2028: 16 April
2029: 1 April
🎉 Traditional Ways to Celebrate Easter in the UK
In the UK, Easter is traditionally marked by these celebrations:
Participating in
Easter egg hunts
- Children and adults hunt for hidden Easter eggs based on clues
- Location could be indoors or outdoors
Sharing Easter food with family and friends
- Families bake hot cross buns and simnel cake
- They also serve roast lamb during the long weekend
Church services and community events
- Christians attend Good Friday and Easter services
- Many participate in town events and spring celebrations
📍 Easter Events in the UK (By Region)
Getting ready for Easter with the family? Here are some popular Easter events and activities across England, London, and key regions that you can explore. 3
Search online for local council listings, National Trust, and farm parks in your town or city, using the keywords easter events near me for the latest event updates
☀️ England
If you're looking for a historic and vibrant Easter outing, here are two recommendations to consider.
Event name: Easter Egg Hunts – National Trust (England-wide)
Location: Various National Trust properties across England
Type of activity: Family-friendly Easter trails and seasonal outdoor activities at historic houses, gardens, and estates
Approximate timing: Late March – Mid April 2026 (Easter school holidays; dates vary by site)
Admission price: Trail participation approx. £3.50 per child (varies by site) + standard property admission (free for National Trust members; non-member prices vary by location)
Event name: Easter Quest at Beeston Castle (By English Heritage)
Location: Beeston Castle and Woodland Park (Cheshire)
Activity: Family adventure quest with historic site exploration and questions to answer for a chocolate reward
Timing: Sat 28 Mar - Sun 19 Apr 2026 (10 am - 5 pm)
Admission price: Adult: approx. £8.10–£11.80 (varies by date) | Child admission: approx. £5.40–£7.20 (varies by date), Adventure Quest participation: £2 per child (in addition to entry ticket)
☀️ London
If you are looking for a more artistic and music-related Easter celebration in London, here are two recommendations:
Event name: The Passion of Jesus Re-enactment
Location: Trafalgar Square
Activity: Street performance & drama telling the Easter story
Timing: Good Friday (12 pm to 5 pm)
Admission price: Free event (no ticket required)
Event name: Rise Up! An Easter Gospel Experience
Location: Sinfonia Smith Square – Smith Square Hall, London
Activity: Gospel concert celebrating Easter with performances by London International Gospel Choir, Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir, and Gospel Rising
Timing: Sat 4 Apr 2026, 7:00 pm (part of the Easter Festival programme)
Admission price: Adults approx. £20–£35 | Children/concessions approx. £10–£20
☀️ North of England
If you are based in the North and looking for some farm and field-based Easter egg hunt fun, here are two recommendations.
Event name: Easter Egg-stravaganza – Matlock Farm Park (Derbyshire)
Location: Matlock, Derbyshire
Activity: Egg hunt & lamb feeding, farm animal fun
Timing: 3–6 Apr 2026 (Easter weekend)
Admission price: Adults approx. £14–£18 | Children approx. £12–£16 (under 2s usually free)
Event name: Quarry Bank Mill Easter Adventure (Cheshire)
Location: Near Manchester/Liverpool area
Activity: Trail points with egg fun
Timing: 28 Mar – 12 Apr 2026
Admission price: Adults approx. £15–£18 | Children approx. £7–£9 (National Trust members free)
☀️ Midlands
For those in the Midlands, we've got you covered with these fun activities, too.
Event name: Thoresby Park Spring Carnival
Location: Thoresby, Nottinghamshire
Activity: Carnival-themed events with family entertainment
Timing: 3–5 Apr 2026 (Easter weekend)
Admission price: Adults approx. £8–£12 | Children approx. £5–£10 (some attractions extra)
Event name: Easter Celebration – Manor Farm Park & Woodlands
Location: South Derbyshire (near Nottingham / Leicester)
Activity: Easter trail + meet the Easter Bunny
Timing: 28 Mar – 6 Apr 2026
Admission price: Adults approx. £12–£16 | Children approx. £10–£14
☀️ South of England
Now, let's look at some Easter events that will be held in the Southern region of England.
Event name: Ham House & Garden Easter Egg Hunt
Location: Surrey
Type of activity: Traditional egg hunt and garden exploration, perfect for a family cottage experience
Approximate timing: 28 March – 6 April 2026
Admission price: Adults approx. £16–£20 | Children approx. £8–£10 (National Trust members free; small trail fee may apply)
Event name: Egg-citing Easter Adventure
Location: Birdworld, Hampshire
Type of activity: Animal-themed Easter trail (family-friendly outdoor adventure with activity stations, character meet-and-greets, and interactive wildlife experiences)
Approximate timing: 28 March – 12 April 2026 (Easter school holidays)
Admission price: Adults approx. £14–£18 | Children approx. £10–£14 (under 3s usually free; small additional trail fee may apply)
These curated activities are suitable for the entire family, especially for kids, too!
💡 Tip for Families During Easter Celebrations
Here are some helpful tips to save a little extra and make sure everyone gets to enjoy the celebrations and special moments without any last-minute stress or disappointment.
✅ Tip 1: Book your tickets in advance
Many historic sites and the local council offer online booking with early-bird pricing. For example, English Heritage offers a 15% discount on admission when you book to join the Easter Quest online in advance, which varies by day. 4
We highly recommend booking at least a few weeks in advance to secure your preferred visit date and time, especially when it's bound to be a busy Easter weekend. This also gives you the advantage of getting the cheapest slot available for the whole family.
✅ Tip 2: Consider a heritage membership
If you are looking for unlimited entries and perks that often save money after a few visits for the entire family, regardless of your location across England, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
Here are some examples of benefits that you can enjoy if you invest in the National Trust membership:
- Free or reduced entry for children
- Free parking at National Trust car parks
- Unlimited access to campsites and cottages for an Easter family holiday
✅ Tip 3: Visit midweek instead of the exact holiday
Many families tend to go on a long holiday, whereby parents tend to apply for leave earlier ahead of the Easter weekend to have less crowded experiences, shorter queues, and easier parking.
Many of the Easter celebrations run for weeks, so you can choose a weekday or a weekend where it's not too close to the exact bank holidays, so that you can avoid congestion and higher weekend pricing.
🏡 How to Celebrate Easter at Home
For those of you who prefer a homey and cosy Easter celebration at home, we’ve got you covered too! You can still have plenty of fun on a budget. All you need to do is plan simple, family-focused traditions rooted in the UK. 5
🖌️ Decorating Easter eggs
This activity unleashes your artistic side, regardless of your age. Usually, families will gather around the table to decorate the Easter eggs before hiding them for an indoor Easter egg hunt.
Just prepare some coloured dyes, coloured papers, glitter, glue, and brushes in advance, and you'll soon find yourself immersed in the whole process.
Parents, explore these fun Easter games to try out with your children.
🧁 Preparing an Easter feast
Remember when we talked about buns, cakes, and roasted lamb earlier? You can make sure everyone gets involved in the baking or roasting process.
While baking, you can remind the children about the significance of hot cross buns — where they are baked and served as a remembrance of Christ's crucifixion. If you have a sweet tooth, you can try out this lovely Simnel cake recipe too.
🎤 Singing Easter songs
Finally, Easter is also a time to reflect on one’s faith and beliefs. An Easter celebration is never complete without a selection of songs.
Whether it’s traditional Easter hymns or contemporary worship songs, it’s certainly a wonderful time to sing and uplift your spirits — even at home.
We hope you have enjoyed the recommendations in this article, and have a good Easter celebration with your family and loved ones.
The great gift of Easter is hope.
Basil Hume
References
- GOV.UK. (2016, January 26). UK bank holidays. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/bank-holidays
- When is Easter? (2025). Rmg.co.uk. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/time/when-easter
- S, C. (2026, January 7). Top 10 Easter Events in the UK 2026. Cottages.com. https://www.cottages.com/blog/uk-easter-events
- Easter Quest at Beeston Castle. (2026). English Heritage. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/beeston-easter-quest-2026/
- Hodgson, L. (2025, April 14). A Very British Easter: Celebrating Traditions With Treats and Festivities. The Hamlet British Store. https://thehamletny.com/blogs/events/a-very-british-easter-celebrating-traditions-with-treats-and-festivities
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