Here’s some great ideas for Easter days out in East Anglia…
Herts Paradise Wildlife Park (Main image, courtesy of www.enjoyhertfordshire.com) at Broxbourne, has an amazing range of animals including tigers, lions, monkeys, zebras, camels and wolves and what makes it really unique is the fact that you can get up close and personal, meeting and feeding many of the animals. There are three themed adventure playgrounds, children’s rides, indoor soft play areas, and more. 01992 470490
Suffolk Africa Alive in Kessingland, nr Lowestoft puts South Africa right on your doorstep. Experience the plains of Africa – an awe-inspiring presentation of the African Savannah, where the animals roam freely together as they do in the wild. Get up close and personal with our Rhinos, Giraffes and Zebras, climb aboard the roadtrain, encounter the ‘King of the Jungle’ and enjoy a stunning bird’s-eye view of the lions domain from the Lookout Lodge. Plus farmyard, lemurs, reptiles and more. 01502 740291
Cambs Linton Zoo is a wonderful combination of beautiful gardens and wildlife from all over the world with lots to see including tigers, snow leopards, lynx, tapir, zebras, wallabies, owls, toucans, storks, hornbills, lemur, parrots, spiders and many others set in 16 acres of spectacular gardens; many featuring aviaries landscaped with rockeries and waterfalls. 01223 891308
Norfolk Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens at Filby, nr Great Yarmouth, has a 250-year-old landscaped garden, a play area and superb willow pattern garden. You’ll find its renowned collection of Asian Mammals, birds and reptiles in the pleasantly landscaped grounds and gardens of Thrigby Hall. Attractions for all age groups include Snow Leopards, rare tigers, gibbons, deer otters, crocodiles in a swamp house, avaries, waterfowl, gift shop & cafe. 01493 369477
Norfolk Amazona Zoo in Cromer, is home to a wide range of animals from Tropical South America including Jaguar, Otters, Spider Monkeys and Flamingos. All the animals have arrived through the generosity of other British Zoological Gardens; None are imported from the wild. 01263 510741
Beds Woburn Safari Park You’ll need to devote a whole day to take in everything at Woburn. Drive through the Bedfordshire safari park, with 30 species of animals in natural groups just a windscreen’s width away: rhinos, giraffes, lions, tigers, elephants, monkeys and lots more, plus the action-packed Wild World Leisure Area. There’s a foot safari too, and seven daily animal demonstrations and feeding times including penguin feeding and a sea lion demonstration. Children can also enjoy the swan boats and train and the Mammoth Play Ark. 01525 290407
Essex Mountfitchet Castle History experience at Stansted Mountfitchet, where you can travel back in time to medieval England of 1066 as you wander through Mountfitchet Castle and Norman Village at this world famous unique living heritage site. Adjacent to the historic castle is The House on the Hill Toy Museum. 01279 813237
Essex Audley End House near Saffron Walden, is a palatial Jacobean house built by the 1st Earl of Suffolk Lord Treasurer to James I, remodelled in the 18th-19th century with a magnificent great hall, rooms and furniture by Robert Adam and park by ‘Capability’ Brown. Take a trip on the Audley End Miniature Railway, a delightful 1.5 mile ride on Lord Braybrooke’s private 10″ gauge railway through the estate woodland. 01799 522399
Norfolk Bure Valley Railway offers 18 mile round trips in steam and diesel trains through picturesque countryside. It’s Norfolk’s longest fifteen inch gauge and runs between Aylsham and Wroxham, the ‘Capital of the Norfolk Broads’. Take the Easter Eggspress over the Easter weekend, 6th to 9th April, and there’s a free Easter Egg for every child. 01263 733858
Cambs The Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey Discover farming through the ages and learn about the rural history of Cambridgeshire with objects displays and interactives for all ages. Visit a village shop and see a magnificent 17th Century stone barn and the workshops, which include a basket maker and a blacksmith, and explore a traditional and a Fenman’s Hut. Walk around this lovely abbey still featuring superb Norman interiors. At different times, it housed Benedictine monks, the Knights Templars and nuns of the Franciscan order, the Poor Clares. 01223 860988
Norfolk Bressingham Steam &?Gardens is set in a nationally-known garden with narrow-gauge railway rides, a Victorian steam roundabout, locomotive sheds, stationary engine displays, a royal coach, traction engines and gardens. Plus there’s the ‘Dads Army’ national collection, housed in a recreation of Walmington-on-Sea. Easter Sunday and Monday there’s a special children’s entertainer. 01379 6868900
Cambs Nene Valley Railway is a 7.5-mile steam-operated that runs alongside the River Nene from Peterborough through Wansford to Yarwell. Wansford is the main station and here you’ll find plenty of steam activity over Easter. 01780 784444
Essex East Anglian Railway Museum in Chappel Station, nr Colchester is a working museum representing 100 years of railway engineering and architecture in East Anglia. Thomas the Tank and Friends will be visiting the Musuem over the Easter weekend, with special steam rides and more. 01206 242524
Cambs Imperial War Museum at Duxford is one of the world’s most spectacular aviation heritage complexes with a world renowned collection of nearly 200 aircraft and one of the finest collections of military vehicles. Children will love Whizz, Bang, Wallop!, IWM’s Easter holiday activities, with lots of model making. 01223 835000
Norfolk Pettits Animal Adventure Park in Reedham, has a fabulous range of family rides, including a roller coaster, while you can also meet a lot of animals, including Lemurs and Alpacas.01483 701403
Essex Colne Valley Railway is a pretty, award-winning station where you can take a steam train ride in a most attractive part of the Colne Valley. Riverside picnic area, a garden railway, a 600 metre miniature railway ride, farm park and station to explore with shops and restaurant buffet cars. Open over the Bank Holiday weekend. 01787 461174
Suffolk High Lodge Forest Centre at Thetford Forest is the Forestry Commission’s premier recreation site in East Anglia. You can walk, cycle, play, picnic, barbecue or simply relax and enjoy the forest. There are walks ranging from one to three miles and cycle trails for all abilities. High Lodge is also the home of the cycle hire and sales facility, Bike Art and the high wire forest adventure course, Go Ape (above). 01842 815434
Norfolk Dinosaur Adventure ParkSet in Weston Park, near Lenwade, you can discover giants from the past on the dinosaur trail, see creepy crawlies in the secret animal garden and find the lost tribe on the Neanderthal walk. There’s also an adventure play area, Raptor Racers and a Jurassic Putt. 01603 876310
Norfolk BeWILDerwood at Hoveton is an award winning forest of wild family fun and adventure. Treehouse, zip wires, jungle bridges, Crocklebogs, boat trips, storytelling, marsh walks and really yummy food. 01603 783900
Essex Colchester Zoo is one of Europe’s finest zoos with over 250 species in 60 acres of beautiful parkland. Enclosures include Orangutan Forest, Penguin Shore, Playa Patagonia, Dragons of Komodo – a sea lion pool with a 24m underwater tunnel – and Tiger Taiga which houses the rare Amur Tiger. Plus the African zone where you can see elephants, giraffes, zebra and rhinos. Their Easter Wonderland event runs from 31 March-15 April, with shows, activities and more. 01206 331292
Essex Hedingham Castle in Castle Hedingham is a splendid Norman keep, built in 1140 by the famous deVeres, Earls of Oxford. There are two days of family fun over Easter (24-25th) with egg hunt, food and crafts. 01787 460261
Suffolk Framlingham Castle Walk along the top of the castle walls, taking in the beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. It was here that Mary Tudor waited to hear whether she or Lady Jane Grey had been declared queen after the death of Edward VI. 01728 724189
Essex Colchester Castle is the largest keep ever built by the Normans. Fascinating museum with many hands-on displays. 01206 282939
Norfolk Norwich Castle Former Norman Royal Palace now packed with treasures to inspire and intrigue visitors of all ages. 01603 493625
