What’s on in Hampshire: April 2024

Guaranteed to put a spring in your step, Paultons Park's entrance will be festooned for Easter with colourful giant Easter eggs and bunnies at every turn. Meet some wonderful Easter characters and enjoy over 70 wonderful rides and attractions.

New for 2024, come and join the Learning Team and the Gardening Team on the Cathedral estate to explore our grounds this Easter holiday. We will be learning about the trees on the estate, looking at tree rings, looking for bugs, learning about our composting and so much more!

Join thousands of people and take on Southampton. Get ready for an incredible day of running across the city, with events for all ages and abilities including the ABP Southampton Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km Race and Fun Run.

This spring half-term, get ready for an egg-citing FREE Easter adventure with Visit Southampton's new family trail.

Winchester’s free annual Bunny Hop Easter Trail is a great way to explore the city and its local shops and businesses. Hop around the city’s beautiful historic streets in search of Easter-themed words hidden in the windows of local businesses, then return your completed trail sheet for an Easter-themed treat.

Hop into Spring and celebrate Easter at Beaulieu as history comes to life! Have the chance to experience remarkable vehicles, meet colourful characters who are back out and about on the attraction, and take part in fun family activities from 29th March – 14th April!

With all the feel of a classic village fete, Mottisfont’s Easter Egg Hunt is packed with traditional springtime activities, set in these glorious stream-fed gardens. Look out for egg rolling, bean bag throwing and other energetic outdoor games, plus spring-themed crafts including daffodil pinwheel-making. The trail weaves through the walled kitchen garden, across grassy paddocks and by a sparkling chalk stream where bridges provide the perfect spot for a game of Pooh Sticks. You’ll find a spring ‘art gallery’ too, where kids can display their drawings for everyone to enjoy. There’s plenty of space and seating for spring picnics, plus delicious ice cream varieties from local makers Jude’s.

Go wild for Hinton Ampner's Easter Trail as you don your bunny ears and take on the challenges the Easter bunny has left behind. A chocolate prize awaits for the best hopping, bouncing bunnies!

This spring, treat the whole family to a world of adventure at The Vyne on an Easter trail. Make your way along the trail and find nature-inspired activities for the whole family. Prices are £3 per trail which includes an Easter trail sheet, bunny ears and dairy or vegan ad Free From* chocolate egg. *Suitable for people with milk, egg, gluten, peanut and tree nut allergies.

Hop on over to Winchester Science Centre this spring for the return of Boom & Bloom between Saturday 16th March and Monday 15th April, including every day during the Easter school holidays. There'll be all the usual Science Centre fun like hands-on exhibits, exciting live demos and minibeast adventures, plus even more to excite children aged five to 12 and their families. Solve the puzzles to earn an Easter treat and find out the difference between rabbits and hares in the Eggs-travaganza Easter Hunt and discover all about the science of a childhood favourite, bubbles, in the fun-filled 20-minute live show, Bubble Trouble - both included free with admission.

THERE'S LOTS HAPPENING AT THE NEW FOREST WILDLIFE PARK THIS EASTER, AS WE STEP INTO SPRING! You might be lucky to see one of the new giant otter cubs who will be stepping outside to say hello to the wildlife park visitors. See how they play with their big sister and proud parents as they explore their home in the ancient New Forest. Did you know that some otters LOVE to play with pebbles? This Easter, it's not about how many Easter eggs you can find, but how many pebbles are hidden across the park. Can you help find them for the otters? There's also special weekend crafts over the Easter holidays.

A visit to Marwell Zoo will be egg-stra special this Easter thanks to a host of seasonal activities including a very egg-citing visit from the Easter Bunny. Marwell's Det-egg-tive Trail will be running throughout the Easter break (Friday 29 March to Sunday 14 April) for wannabe sleuths to help find the cheeky egg thief.

Birds of prey will be back flying high above Fort Nelson for four special free days of fun during the Easter holidays.

Visit the park this easter as the park starts to spring to life! There will be children's activities running throughout the holidays.

Visit the park this easter as Staunton starts to spring to life! There will be children's activities running throughout the holidays.

Looking for Easter Activities for the whole family? Enjoy a fun-filled guided paddle with New Forest Activities, along the Beaulieu River in stable 'Canadian style' canoes. Spend time taking in the stunning scenery of the river before disembarking for an Easter egg hunt with a twist! Leave no leaf unturned as your little ones hunt for those hidden chocolate eggs along the riverside. Then, you'll enjoy another beautiful scenic paddle back to base. All participants will receive a delicious chocolate egg (even the grown-ups too!) Great for all ages, all equipment provided.

Want an activity so good you'll drop your Easter bonnet? Join New Forest Activities for some target shooting with a twist! Learn how to shoot a real bow and arrow as you release your inner archer and compete head-to-head for the biggest Easter egg up for grabs! Based in the beautiful New Forest at their Hazel Copse Farm site in Beaulieu, you'll be surrounded by nature while you enjoy Easter themed archery games and pick up a new skill along the way. Their expert instructors will be on hand to help you with tips on how to improve your shot and technique so that you can walk away as Easter champion with your chocolate Easter egg trophy!

We need your help, time travellers! Can you help save Easter?

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens look gorgeous in the spring and the whole family is sure to enjoy the self-guided Easter trail through the blossoming flowers.

Enjoy a 'steam' packed three-day Spring Steam Gala at The Watercress Line (26th - 28th April). It's a great opportunity to see and ride behind two visiting locomotives and the home-fleet locomotives. Explore all four heritage stations along the 10 mile line overlooking the South Downs National Park, enjoy brake van rides, free guided tours and more.

As spring sweeps in we wake the Brickworks' Machinery from its winter slumber for the first of our grand steam events of 2024. We will be joined at this event by our resident traction engines.