Six things to do with the kids this Easter Holiday in the Thames Valley
The Easter Holidays are here and we at The Business Magazine hope you will soon be logging off and taking some well earned rest. We have put together some holiday activity inspiration for the Thames Valley should you be short of ideas for the kids during the break.
Visit Windsor Castle for a picnic
Celebrate the Royal Jubilee at Windsor Castle this Easter (9-24 April) where some fascinating children’s workshops and activities are taking place.
A Jubilee Jamboree offers a variety of activities inspired by the Platinum Jubilee such as enabling kids to make their own crowns to wear.
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Relax with a picnic within the Pug Yard Learning Centre at the Castle and there may even be live music too.
Windsor Castle is not only a massive 13 acre building, it is also the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world and has been home to British monarchs for more than 1,000 years.
Check out the flag flying from the Round Tower – if it is the Royal Standard then the Queen is in residence. Time your visit right, and you can enjoy the spectacle of the Changing of the Guard when soldiers are replaced on their duty positions around the castle.
Take part in the Easter nature trail at Savill Garden
Nature is the theme of Easter activities at the Savill Garden (top image) in Windsor Great Park (8-24 April).
Solve riddles and search for solutions to puzzles about the natural world, trees plants and animals as you explore the special Easter trail around the large Garden.
Admire the flowers and cheerful vistas, and discover some amazing trees. Adults and children have to work together to explore all the facets of a tree’s life cycle and if children obtain all the right answers, they can claim a Nature Detective badge.
Take part in an Easter Egg hunt
It’s Easter – so what better way than a fun Easter Egg Hunt to enjoy some family time than by getting out and about in the fresh air.
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You are certainly spoilt for choice. There are lots of Easter Egg hunts and trails taking place throughout the Thames Valley in some really lovely locations.
Combining an Easter Egg trail with a Bonnet Parade (16 April), Highclere Castle’s annual event is always popular. Hunt your way around Capability Brown gardens and parkland well known for their Downton Abbey connections and every child wins a chocolate egg and get creative to join the Easter Bonnet Parade for a chance to win more sweet treats. Alternatively try out the National Trust site at Basildon Park (8-25 April) for an Easter trail searching out nature activity stations around the estate to win an Egg.
Meet the Easter Bunny
Search out the I-Spy clues along a farm trail at Cobbs Play Barn (4-18 April) before collecting an Easter Egg reward while at Wellington Country Park there is a Mega Egg Hunt (15-17 April) involving a search for giant Eggs hidden by the Easter Bunny around the Park. Then meet the Easter Bunny to claim your egg – and perhaps stop off afterwards and enjoy a circus performance at Circus Wellingtonia.
Visit Legoland Windsor
Ever tried a Flying Theatre Ride? Legoland Windsor has launched its new LEGO® MYTHICA attraction complete with the UK’s first ever theatre ride in the company of the Sky Lion through mystical realms. There’s also an Hydra’s Challenge interactive water ride complete with thrilling twists and turns and spinning drop tower rides.
Guaranteed to entertain, amuse and keep everyone happy, Legoland Windsor has over 55 rides, attractions and live shows covering 12 Themed lands such as Knight’s Kingdom, Land of the Vikings, Pirate Shores and Heartlake City. Discover model scenes from around the world made from approximately 40 million LEGO® bricks or join favourite heroes while attempting training activities to learn ninja skills in the LEGO® NINJAGO® world. Some of the themed areas such as DUPLO® valley are more suited to little ones while others are more challenging involving opportunities to soar through trees and avoid the dragon. Naturally too you can try your skills at building with LEGO®, creating the master building of your dreams at The Brick in Miniland or take the wheel of an electric vehicle and earn a LEGOLAND Driving Licence.
For families seeking an adrenalin packed day out in the woods, complete with thrills and challenges, Bracknell’s Go Ape is the perfect destination.
It is definitely not for the faint hearted as the challenges can take you high into the trees. Taking the Challenge Course around Swinley Forest can take up to three hours to complete, as you attempt to pass between trees from one obstacle to another.
Climb up tall climbing nets, zoom along a 160 metre Alpine zip wire, take a double Tarzan swing complete with Pendulum swing. Younger children can opt for a much lower version complete with zip wires and intricate crossings while slightly older ones can try the Treetop Adventure Plus.
Alternatively try a family exploration of the Forest using all-terrain Segways or discover who has the best aim when throwing axes at a target! Complete the day with a visit to the nearby Look Out Discovery Centre where hydrogen rockets can be launched, play with boats in an indoor stream or simply go for a walk among the trees of Swinley Wood.
