Easter Getaways: Three Fun Family-Friendly Destinations

The Easter weekend falls unusually late this year, thanks to a rare celestial event. Unlike Christmas, the Easter festival doesn’t have a fixed date, but is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. This is when the sun crosses the earth’s equator and the day is approximately of equal length to the night. 

In the Northern hemisphere, the spring equinox marks the astronomical end of winter as the sun rises earlier and sets later, stimulating the renewal of plant growth cycles and sending wildlife into the breeding season. Weather forecasters use the meteorological season to mark the beginning of spring, which is always on March 1.

The equinox doesn’t have a fixed date, because the Earth doesn’t always take exactly 365 days to rotate around the sun; there’s always some time slippage that accounts for the variability in the date. This year, the spring equinox falls on March 21. However, the next full moon (known as the Pink Moon) after this will not occur until Sunday 13 April.

This is because the previous full moon, known as the ‘Worm Moon’ coincides with a rare total lunar eclipse on 13-14 March. Therefore Easter Sunday will fall almost as late as it possibly can, on 20 April. This can seem like a long stretch to wait for the Bank Holiday weekend, but it will mean that the days are longer and hopefully the weather will be warmer. 

This makes Easter 2025 an ideal time to plan a day out or even a weekend away. If you dread the thought of navigating the Bank Holiday traffic as everyone rushes to make the most of the long weekend, why not consider minibus hire with a driver? This will mean you can leave the hard work to a professional, while you focus on enjoying some family time.

Here are some inspirational ideas for family-friendly days out this Easter that are within easy travelling distance of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and the London regions.

Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire

Waddesdon Manor near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire is a stunning French Renaissance style house set in beautiful landscaped gardens. It was built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in 1874 to host high society guests, and to house his extensive collection of fine art. 

It’s possible to tour the lavishly decorated interiors of the house and browse the collection of paintings, sculptures and over 300 precious objects. There are masterpieces by Reynolds and Gainsborough, and an extensive collection of prints, drawings, ceramics, furniture, tapestries and much more. 

The gardens are particularly beautiful in spring time when the trees and flowers are fresh with new life. There is a woodland playground with swings, slides and climbing frames that are sure to keep younger visitors entertained. The whole family can enjoy garden walks together and admire exotic birds in the aviary. 

Youngsters can also enjoy an Easter egg trail and face painting, with a free chocolate egg at the end of it. Visitors are free to pick a picnic spot among the extensive grounds, so bring a blanket and pack some goodies. Otherwise, there are various food-to-go outlets and a restaurant and cafe on the site. 

Beaulieu, Hampshire

Beaulieu on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire is a historic estate that is home to the National Motor Museum. From the 5 April, there will be a chance to see a new exhibition titled “We Had One Of Those”. It’s a collection of popular family cars from the 1960s up to the 00s, and is sure to trigger a lot of fond childhood memories!

Meanwhile, younger visitors will be fascinated by the cars that their parents grew up with, such as the old-school VW Beetle, the Vauxhall Cavalier, the Ford Fiesta, and the unloved but ubiquitous Austin Allegro. The exhibition is presented with a nostalgic soundtrack, and accessorised by fluffy dice, beaded seat covers and questionable air freshener choices. 

Paultons Park, Hampshire

If your kids are always fizzing with excess energy, or you just need somewhere for them to burn off all of that sugar, then Easter at Paultons Park in Romsey is the place for you. The much-loved home of Peppa Pig will be adorned with giant bunnies and eggs, and your kids are promised a very Hoppy Easter with over 70 rides and attractions to explore.