35 Egg-cellent Easter activities for kids in Bristol

Have you planned your Easter holidays yet? There are some cracking (sorry) Easter activities for kids taking place in Bristol, and it’s not all about egg-hunting. There are bear, llama, wildlife, unicorn horseshoe and glow-in-the-dark eggs to be sought out at attractions in and around Bristol, plus lots of other special Easter activities. Just take a look at this egg-cellent (sorry) lot…

Easter egg hunts and trails in and around Bristol:

1.Easter Trail at Wapping Wharf (8-26 April, excluding Easter Sunday)

Pick up an activity sheet from The Bristol Cheesemonger (or Better Food Company if it’s a Monday), and search for bright coloured eggs in the windows of Wapping Wharf’s restaurants and independent shops. Employ your cleverest clue-cracking whizzes to spell out an Easter-themed sentence in exchange for an egg-citing reward.

2. Big Bear Sculpture Trail at Wild Place (6-28 April)

Go on a bear hunt and go and catch a big one…or twenty ginormous ones at Wild Place Project this Easter. Ahead of their summer Bear Wood opening (when they will become home to real life bears), the six foot tall, artist-painted bear sculptures have been hidden around the grounds, with four mini trails to complete while seeking them out.

3. The Calmer Llama Trail in Bristol Shopping Quarter (6-22 April)

52 Calmer Llamas decorated by local schools and youth groups have been hidden around Broadmead, The Arcade, The Galleries, and Cabot Circus using special maps (available from The New Room, Specsavers on Merchant Street, Barber Browns on Bond Street and Cabot Circus the information desk). Extra activities will take place at The New Room throughout the Easter holidays, including a ‘Calmer Llama celebration week’ when all the llamas will be displayed.

4. Giants Easter Hunt, Clifton Observatory (8-22 April)

Clifton Observatory invites Easter sleuths to take part in their Giants’ Easter Hunt! Explore the Camera Obscura and the Giant’s Cave searching for clues that will lead to an Easter surprise. Head to the Observatory and ask the receptionist for your pack.

5. Celebrity Dusty Duck Trail at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre (30 March-6 May)

14 unusual birds are making a home for themselves at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre this Easter. The giant Dusty Ducks have been designed by celebrities – including Steve Backshall, Joanna Lumley, Chris Packham and Kate Humble –  and will form a trail around the wetlands as part of their farewell tour before they go to auction. Slimbridge are also running Aardman Model Making workshops on 17 April (Dusty Duck is designed by Aardman).

6. The Gibbs Family Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt at Tyntesfield (6-22 April)

If you’re a National Trust member, Easter is a great time to maximise your membership! Discover more about Gibbs family, inhabitants of Tyntesfield during the 1800s. There are Victorian activities to get involved with, such as speaking Spanish, cup and ball, and quoits and a yummy treat at the end…

7. Giant Easter Egg Hunt at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm (6-27 April)

Sniff out all the eggs, including three bonus golden eggs, hidden around the zoo in this animal-themed Giant Easter Egg Hunt. There are chocolate eggs on offer for victorious trail hunters as well as Easter arts and crafts for a small donation towards their chosen charity, the World Land Trust.

8. Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt at Cheddar Gorge & Caves (6-22 April)

Ahh the best kind of trail I’ve heard of so far – a NEON glowing egg trail! Cheddar’s Easter Bunny has hidden glow-in-the-dark eggs in Gough’s Cave and left behind mysterious clues for egg-seeking families to solve, in return for an edible treat! Don’t miss the Easter crafts taking place in the Museum of Prehistory.

9. Easter Egg Hunt & nature trails at Dyrham Park (6-22 April)

What does it really mean if you spot six magpies? Were blackbirds really once baked in a pie? The spectacular Dyrham Park (another National Trust place, towards Bath), will be exploring 17th century myths and legends from nature in an Easter trail around the ancient parkland. And if little ones need a little motivation, know there is a Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt if you complete the trail. The egg trail costs £2.50 per trail on top of normal entry. Easter weekend is expected to be busy so if you prefer a quieter time, aim for a mid-week visit.

10. Enchanted Easter at Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park  (5-23 April)

Avon Valley are turning Easter into magical, fairytale fest! As well as a Golden Egg trail (with choccie egg and return park visit to win), there will also be egg decorating, plus lots of unicorn and fairytale-themed activities including a Dragon’s Lair Mini Maze, unicorn trick show, unicorn horseshoe trail, Princess meet and greets plus lots more! Enchanting.

11. Easter Crafternoon at Blaise Community Garden (14 April)

Explore the delightful Victorian walled garden next to Blaise House Museum (2-4pm), before taking part in the Easter Bunny Trail. There will be various art and growing activities to take part in during the day for budding Easter crafters.

12. Easter Wildlife Eggsploration (14 April)

Hosted by Blaise Castle Museum, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery and Avon Wildlife Trust at Blaise Castle Estate, this Easter eggs-ploration is not a hunt for choccie eggs, but real ones! Drop in any time between 1pm-4pm to help create a giant birds nest, decorate an egg, make a bird feeder to take home and explore the nature table. There will also be a nature walk at 2.30pm, so be sure to reserve your free place on the day.

15. Funderworld Theme Park at Durdhams Down (5-28 April)

The ever-popular Funderworld fair returns to The Downs in Bristol. There are over 50 rides and attractions including all the faves – classic ghost trains, dodgems, and waltzers, as well as new and thrilling rides.

16. Easter at Bristol Cathedral (5-14 April)

See the retelling of the story of Holy Week and Easter within the walls of the cathedral.

17. Make a promise to the planet at We The Curious (6-27 April)

Easter is all about positive actions that humans can take to tackle the challenges facing our future on Planet Earth. Investigate what’s in the air we breathe, become an Air Detective and check out the data behind the news headlines, examine the role of protein in our diets and cook up an alternative storm in the Kitchen. You can even journey into outer space for a fascinating view of our impact on the climate in Spring Stargazing 3D, plus lots more!

18. Celebrating 10 years of Bristol Aquarium (6-28 April)

Celebrate 10 fish-tastic years of Bristol Aquarium with games, interactive activities and talks. Discover the wonders of the deep, find out about eggs-traordinary marine animal births and the strange lives of underwater creatures.

19. Dinosaur Detectives at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery (10 April)

Budding palaeontologists can geek out on dinosaurs in a hands-on workshop. Meet the Bristol dinosaur, handle fossils, dress up and make a fossil cast to take home. Suitable for children aged 6-8 years.

20. Easter Forest Fun at Arnos Vale (10 April)

Get your kids outside this Easter and take them along to play in the woods, create Easter decorations using natural materials, and dig in the mud at Arnos Vale Cemetery in this Easter-themed Forest School.

25. Fire & Iron Festival at Brunel’s SS Great Britain (12-22 April)

Watch blacksmiths Kingdom Forge (named after Isambard KINGDOM Brunel) demonstrating traditional Victorian metalworking and crafting methods in a bustling Victorian Dockyard. They’ll be using the same processes used to make the rivets and chains of the magnificent SS Great Britain alongside ‘real-life’ characters from the Victorian age. You’ll also be able to get involved with coal shovelling and riveting, chat to the blacksmiths, climb the rigging (if you dare!), explore the sights and smells of the ship and accompanying museum, Being Brunel.

26. Easter Holidays cookery classes for children at Cooking It!

Got some budding GBBO contestants in your household? Send them off to learn how to make and decorate their own Easter Egg on 9 April at Cooking It! Other Easter holiday cookery classes for 7-13 year olds include baking classes, Yankee Doodle classes (involving handmade burgers, brownies, cowboys in blankets and burger buns) and a Mad Hatters Tea Party Workshop.

27. University of Bristol Botanic Garden Easter Sculpture Festival (19-22 April)

This year’s festival features more sculptures than ever before. All inspired by faraway shores, there are Greek gods, sculpted animals, twirling figures, stained glass creations and more.

28. Experience Easter at Bristol Cathedral (5-14 April)

Navigate your way through the retelling of the story of Holy Week and Easter within the stunning walls of the cathedral.

Family-friendly Easter theatre in Bristol

30. The Jurassic Parks at The Wardrobe Theatre (2-13 April)

The Park Family embark on an adventure into a misty past in this hilarious take on Spielberg’s classic. It’s a theatrical celebration of cinematic nostalgia and a powerful reminder of the ones we love. Suitable for ages 8+.

31. Princess Ida at The Redgrave Theatre (3-6 April)

Princess Ida presents a comedic twist on a traditional medieval fairytale. Betrothed in childhood to a Prince, Ida rebels,  renounces mankind and founds a university for women instead. Hilarity ensues with the prince trying to win back his promised bride. For an extra dollop of fun, take the whole family to the matinee performance on 6 April and dress up as a prince, soldier or princess to join the cast onstage!

32. Shh…Bang at Tobacco Factory Theatres (11-16 April)

A delicate dance-theatre performance from Peut-Être Theatre for children and grown-ups, playfully exploring sound and silence. Two characters set out on a journey through a world filled with Boings, Whooshes, Tick-Tocks and Cacophony!

33. The Deep Sea Seekers at The Wardrobe Theatre (17-22 April)

Have you ever dreamt of swimming with dolphins? Arm wrestling an octopus? Exploring the ocean in a submarine? Then join Alph, Betty and Gammo on this magical, interactive journey across the seven seas meeting incredible creatures, exploring unmapped shores and tackling unwelcome plastic with plenty of songs, humour and audience particpation along the way.