‘Eggciting Eastertainment’ - free (or cheap) family things to do this Easter!

Easter is coming and with it the promise of chocolate eggs, days out, having fun and making memories.

But there’s no need for the Easter holidays to cost a fortune.

Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures or quieter indoor crafts, we've got a list of activities that’ll keep everyone happy and won't cost a thing (or, at most, a few quid).

Easter egg hunts at National Trust

There’s nothing quite like getting out into the fresh air and hunting for Easter treats to excite the little ones - and the big ones too for that matter.

The National Trust is famous for its Easter egg hunts.

For just £3.50 per trail, you’ll get a trail sheet and Easter bunny ears to wear along the way.

You’ll also get a free chocolate egg and under 5s go free.

Find your nearest National Trust Easter egg hunt.

Visit an Easter market or festival

Why limit festive market fun to just Christmas? Easter markets are popping up all over the place and many are free to enter.

From food stalls to kiddie rides, face painting to chocolate treats, there’s so much to do at Easter markets.

Here are a few to get you started:

• Easter Chocolate Festival - York - 16 – 20 April – free entry.
• Taste Cheshire Food & Drink Festival - 19 – 21 April - £12 adults, £1 children, under 5s free.
• Easter at Camden Market – 19 – 20 April – free entry.
• Easter holiday fun at Resorts World Birmingham - 14 – 15 April and 21 – 23 April - free entry.
• Leeds Local Easter Market - 12 – 13 April - free entry.

Make furry friends at urban (and rural) farms

If there’s an animal lover in your family, then head to one of the many urban farms around the UK, where entry is often free.

Some farms have special Easter events that put on things like bottle-feeding lambs, pony rides, Easter egg hunts and even visits from the Easter Bunny.

For example, Deen City Farm in Merton Abbey, London has an exciting line-up of spring-time activities this Easter, including workshops, an Easter Trail and a special visit from Polka Theatre on 5 April. Tickets range from £3 to £10, depending on the event.

While the popular Reddish Vale Farm near Stockport has lots of Easter activities going on, including egg trails and meet the Easter bunny. Easter events are running from 12 – 21 April. Tickets are from £6.

My pet pals – free family fun at Pets at Home  

Talking of animals, if you’re a pet lover don’t miss out on Pets at Home’s free family fun this Easter.

From 5 - 19 April, free My Pet Pals workshops will be taking place where you can learn all about Pets at Home animals and how they’re looked after.

‘Eggstatic’ events at museums

It’s not just the National Trust and farms putting on fab free family events this Easter. Many museums are too.

Whether it’s hands-on arts and crafts or Easter-themed scavenger hunts, many museums are putting on special holiday events.

For example:

• Barnsley Museums offer Easter-themed walks, crafts and storytelling.
• Manchester Museum has free Easter drop-in activities for kids, including making springtime flowers.

Bag cheap cinema tickets

Want to enjoy the latest blockbuster without blowing your budget?

Check out these deals for family-friendly films this Easter:

• Cineworld family ticket - adults pay kids’ prices with the Cineworld family ticket. It’s valid for 1 adult, 3 children or 2 adults, 2 children (aged 14 and under).
• Cineworld’s Movies for Juniors - discounted weekly screenings on a selection of family films from just £2.50 per ticket – for kids and adults!
• Family films at Vue - from the mystic wonderland of A Minecraft Movie to the enchanting woods of Disney’s live-action Snow White, it’s all going on at Vue this Easter.  And when you book online, you can grab tickets from £2.49.

Kids eat for free or £1

All these days out and fun activities is hungry work. If you get tired of hearing ‘I’m hungry’ every five minutes this Easter, then take the stress out of mealtime with these great deals:

• Kids eat free at Morrisons - get a free kid’s meal at Morrisons when an adult spends £4.99 or over on a meal. Free cereal is also on offer in the mornings.
• Asda’s ‘kids eat for £1’ - Asda’s £1 meal deals for kids are running at more than 205 Asda cafes all year round. As well as a hot nutritious meal, children receive a free piece of fruit when purchasing the hot kids £1 meal deal. Find your nearest Asda café.
• Ikea – kids eat for 95p - take a trip to an Ikea restaurant and kids can eat from 95p for pasta with tomato sauce, soft drink and a piece of fruit. The deal is available from 11am.
• Sainsbury’s – kids eat for £1 - enjoy one children’s hot main meal or lunch bag for £1 when you buy an adult hot main meal from £5.20 in a Sainsburys café.
• Pausa café at Dunelm - kids get one mini main, two snacks and a drink for free with every £4 spent at a Pausa Café at Dunelm.
• Kids eat for £1 at Dobbies Garden Centres - kids can eat breakfast with any adult traditional or full breakfast or a child’s hot meal or pick n mix lunch box with any adult main course for just £1 at Dobbies Garden Centres. The offer is available every day and includes a free child’s drink.

Rainy day fun at home

Easter can be notoriously rainy. But there’s still plenty of fun to be had indoors.

Grab some supplies and get creative with these DIY activities:

• make your own Easter eggs (be warned it could get messy!)
• paint Easter eggs
• make pom-pom chicks and bunnies
• make an Easter wreath

• create Easter paper chain characters
• plant flower seeds in old bottles and pots
• bake an Easter cake

And, if we’re lucky with the weather (fingers’ crossed), here’s some free family activities you can enjoy this Easter:

• go for a walk or have a picnic
• ride bikes or try some wild swimming (just make sure it’s safe!)
• visit your local library and swap books

So there you have it, Easter fun for the whole family without draining your bank account.

Have a ‘eggciting’ time!