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We're fully immersed in the school Easter holidays and there's lots going on across Kent. Here's our latest guide:
ASHFORD DESIGNER OUTLET
Easter has arrived at the shopping centre with a trail running until Easter Monday, April 22. There will also be an Easter arts room until Sunday, April 14 where children and adults alike can find a giant boxed Easter egg, featuring some classic Easter scenes that need colouring in. There is also a special Easter shopping event between Thursday, April 18 and Easter Monday, April 22.
Determined to not be a stuffy museum, Canterbury’s The Beaney is embracing the Easter holidays with an Easter trail, where young visitors can learn about the traditions of Easter and hunt for hidden egg clues around the galleries to find the secret code and crack it for a chocolate surprise. The trail runs until Easter Sunday, April 21. While at the museum, educate the kids music-wide, by visiting the Gerald Scarfe - Stage and Screen exhibition of the illustrator’s famous works, including Pink Floyd’s The Wall and Disney’s Hercules. This exhibition runs through to June and includes children’s activities from £1.50. Details at canterburymuseums.co.uk/beaney
CADBURY EASTER EGG HUNTS, NATIONAL TRUST
At National Trust properties across Kent there are themed trails and egg hunts daily throughout the holidays, most ending on Easter Monday, April 22. Sites include Chartwell, Scotney Castle, Ightham Mote, Emmetts Garden, Knole and Sissinghurst. More details at nationaltrust.org
The free dinosaur attraction has stomped back in to the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre after its success in 2017. A new selection of dinosaurs will be making the centre their home through to Tuesday, April 23. The event sees life size animatronic beasts including a Parasaurolophus, Shunosaurus, Raptorex and Stegosaurus. It will be open from 9am until 6pm Monday to Saturday, with a later close of 8pm on Thursday and 10.30am until 4.30pm on Sundays apart from Easter Sunday when the centre’s closed. Details at royalvictoriaplace.com
DOC.YARD’S LAB, CHATHAM DOCKYARD
Young visitors can see some of Doc’s sound experiments in a 20-minute interactive - and loud - experience. The fun runs until Saturday, April 20 in the No.1 Smithery. Go to thedockyard.co.uk
Join the hunt for dragon eggs by cracking the clues and following the family trail at Dover Castle which leads to a dragon, certificate and sticker.... plus a chocolate treat. It costs £1 per child for intrepid adventurers, plus standard admission. Details at englishheritage.org.uk
At Rochester Castle, the family trail runs until Easter Monday, April 22, and is suitable for ages five to 12 - though anyone can have a go - and there’s a chance to win a prize. The trail costs 80p, plus standard admission costs. To find out more go to visitmedway.org
Upnor Castle’s trail runs until Easter Monday, April 22. There’s a chance to win a small prize at the end for children. The trail costs 80p per child, plus admission fees. Details at visitmedway.org
Family fun at Hever Castle & Gardens throughout the holidays includes hunting for the colourful carrots around the grounds in the Easter trail or spotting the bunnies in the castle. There are also daily Easter bonnet craft sessions and daily prizes for the best bonnets. Children can also have their faces painted. There’s a chance to explore the gardens and for children over seven to explore the Tudor Towers adventure playground. Go to hevercastle.co.uk
HEMPSTEAD VALLEY SHOPPING CENTRE, GILLINGHAM
There will be free family fun at the centre every day until Saturday, April 20, including visits from the kmfm street team, Easter-themed crafts and free face painting. Events will be outside Boots from 11am to 3pm. Details at hempsteadvalley.com
Enjoy some cracking days out this Easter holidays at Howletts, near Canterbury, and Port Lympne Reserve, near Hythe. At Howletts you can discover the outdoor exhibit Animals of the Ice Age, and meet a new elephant calf and baby gorilla. At Port Lympne, see Kent’s only giraffes, spot lions in their new habitat and meet rhino calves. School holiday activities and talks run through to Easter Monday, April 22. To find out more visit aspinallfoundation.org
HOP FARM FAMILY PARK, NEAR PADDOCK WOOD
There will be a daily programme of fun indoor entertainment, including magic shows, party dancing and balloon modelling, as part of activities throughout the school Easter holidays, which run until Saturday, April 22. Details at thehopfarm.co.uk
The Kent and East Sussex Railway opened its new LEGO exhibition Civilisation for the Easter holidays last weekend, with hundreds coming to see the spectacle of full-sized figures from civilisations around the world. Running until Easter Monday, April 22, it includes an Aztec, a Samurai warrior, Egyptian pharaoh and an ancient Greek philosopher. As well as learning about ancient civilisations, visitors can pose for selfies with the life-sized figures in colourful costumes and intriguing poses. Children can also build their own models from LEGO bricks and add them to a huge world map. The Bright Bricks exhibition,costs £18 or £12 for children with unlimited train journeys on the day. Details at kesr.org.uk
ROYAL ENGINEERS MUSEUM, GILLINGHAM
Easter children’s activities are inspired by the exhibition the Sapper As An Artist. Children can paint and design their own mug, coaster or egg cup or try a Headwear Hunt, looking for unusual hats, caps and helmets. Activities cost £2 plus standard admission. More details at re-museum.co.uk/for-kids
Read more: All the latest entertainments and events news across Kent
