Here’s some great ideas for Easter days out in East Anglia…
Paradise Wildlife Park at Broxbourne, has an amazing range of animals including tigers, lions, monkeys, zebras, camels and wolves and what makes it special 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.
Africa Alive in Kessingland, near 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.
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.
Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens at Filby, near 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.
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.
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.
Mountfitchet Castle is a 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.
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. The Easter special takes place 2-18 April.
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, 2-18 April, and there’s a free Easter Egg for every child.
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.
The Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey Discover farming through the ages and learn about the rural history of Cambridgeshire with object and interactive displays 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.
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.
East Anglian Railway Museum in Chappel Station, near 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.
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.
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.
Colchester Zoo features many different habitats, including the chance to see some of the most critically endangered animals in the world. Experience a jam-packed day out, no matter the weather, with a range of indoor activities that include hand feeding the colourful lorikeets a nectar treat, watching your little one release their wild side at the Jungle Tumble soft play, or even transforming into your favourite animal at the Face Painting Station. Whist venturing around the zoo be sure to stop and enjoy the variety of animal encounters that take place at selected times throughout the day – the perfect chance to see your favourite animal.
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.
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.
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 more.
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 with two Jousts to enjoy each day, alongside plenty of fun activities and displays.
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.
Colchester Castle is the largest keep ever built by the Normans. A fascinating museum with many hands-on displays.
Norwich Castle is former Norman Royal Palace now packed with treasures to inspire and intrigue visitors of all ages. There’s plenty of educational displays, plus arts and crafts for children.
