Best things to do this Easter

The Easter Bunny will be visiting Chichester Canal this Easter with family activities and treats for children on board an Easter Bunny Boat Trip on a Canal boat as you glide along the two mile section of the Canal, seeing resident wildlife (including a bunny or two!) and enjoying craft activities. Pre-booking essential. 

Did you know that Fishbourne Roman Palace was home to the country’s first-ever rabbit nearly 2,000 years ago? During the Easter holidays mischievous rabbits will be hiding around the gardens. Sweet prizes await once you've tracked them down! Plus, from 1st to 5th April you can enjoy crafty fun including making a bunny pots, planting Roman carrots, dressing up and more (small additional fees per child apply to some activities.

One of West Sussex's best loved attractions, the Weald & Downland Living Museum offers perfect family friendly activities as well as a great opportunity to enjoy the beautiful South Downs surroundings and atmospheric historic buildings. Stimulate little minds and imaginations, and keep small hands busy Waking up the Wild as you soak up fresh air, meet the resident ducks, sheep and geese (and more) and evoke times gone by as history comes to life around you. Usual Weald & Downland ticket prices apply or consider a membership if you plan to visit more than once this year.

Join Petworth House & Garden for their annual Spring Festival. Offering family friendly activities as well as demonstrations and talks by gardening and horticultural experts, including writer, illustrator and gardener Arthur Parkinson (known for his books, Chicken Boy and the recently released, Hen Party) this is a spring celebration for everyone to enjoy. Follow a free family trail in the Pleasure Garden (buggy friendly), with activities reflecting the inspiring and educational story in the book Tilly Plants a Tree.

Don't miss: the Makers Market which pops up on 11th & 12th April; a collaboration with Petworth Pop Up, featuring handcrafted homewares, candles, jewellery, food and drink, and more. A host of golden daffodils and other stunning spring flowers to enjoy, thanks to the stunning display created by Petworth's gardening team.

The awe-inspiring Arundel Castle reopens on 1st April. Soak up almost 1000 years of history as you explore some of the original features still in place including the Norman Keep, medieval Gatehouse and Barbican, as well as the Baron's Hall, 14th Century Catholic Fitzalan Chapel, Regency Library and Victorian bedrooms.

Arundel Castle : The Drone Awakens

See a magical new adaptation of Roald Dahl's The BFG this Easter at Chichester Festival Theatre. In this unforgettable story, Sophie, a young orphan is snatched by a giant and taken far away to Giant Country. where she learns that human-eating giants are guzzling 'norphans' the world over - but her new friend, the BFG, is different. The BFG is a dream-catching, snozzcumber-munching gentle soul who refuses to eat humans, and together they devise a daring plan to save children everywhere. For an extra delicious treat, full-sized human beans can take their little ones to enjoy snozzcumber finger sandwiches, wobble-tastic rainbow jelly, strawbunkle tart, gloriumptious fruit macaron and more at a very special BFG Afternoon Tea to remember at the Minerva Bar.  Prices start from £19.95 and you're encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment.

The BFG magic spills over into Chichester with a BFG Family Trail to explore within the city centre. Families are challenged to track down the dream jars dotted around the city's shops with a code to crack and prizes to be won. 

Come and enjoy an easter egg hunt in a truly grand setting. The Easter Bunny has snuck into Stansted House and hidden Easter Eggs amongst the stunning State Rooms and atmospheric Servants Quarters. Children are challenged to hunt them all whilst keeping an eye out for that mischeivious bunny. The Stansted Yew Maze and Light Railway will also be open during the Easter Holidays (weather and staff permitting). A stop at the wonderful Pavillion Tea Rooms is also highly recommended.

An easter egg hunt on an epic scale, this is an unforgettable and action packed Easter family day out. Not only can you hunt down the eggs which are scattered across the farm but you'll also get the chance to meet farm animals, enjoy a farm walk, get hands on with easter arts and crafts, hop aboard pedal tractors, pet guinea pigs, enjoy a tractor ride (book early to avoid disappointment) and enjoy animal talks. Prebooking essential, from £6 with family packages available.

Families will love the new and hotly anticipated Elmer & Friends exhibition at The Novium Museum. 'Elmer & Friends: The Colourful World of David McKee' brings the late author and illustrator's much-loved family tales and picture books to life with original illustrations and multi-sensory, interactive displays. Book your tickets for the exhibition now! The exhibition arrives on 18th April and runs until mid-September. Excitingly the Easter holidays brings the Elmer Easter Trail, perfect colourful entertainment for smaller children and Elmer fans.

Families are invited to Breakfast with The Ivy Bunny at The Ivy in Chichester this Easter weekend. An unforgettable family experience, children will love the bunny ears to wear (cue plenty of photos!) on as they complete an activity sheet as you enjoy a delicious Ivy breakfast together. Children will have their very own Ivy Easter Bunny to take home, too.

Breakfast with The Ivy Bunny runs 9am - 11am on 3rd, 4th, 5th April 2026
Price: £24.95 for children and £29.95 for adults and are inclusive of breakfast and gifts. Book your table here.

Easter Craft Clubs at Jam Cafe, Chichester
From 30 March to 11 April 2026, Jam Cafe is hosting creative drop-in craft sessions. Each day offers something different, including cyanotypes, Taylor Swift themed activities, Easter garlands and painting your own Lego figure.

Sessions run at 10am, 12pm and 1pm. They are open to all ages (including adults), and booking is required for each participant.

Craft Camp Easter Holiday Clubs
For a full day of activities, the Jam Cafe also runs their Easter Craft Camp. Themes include Colour Splash Painting on 31 March, Mythical Lands on 7 April and Textiles and Woven Purses on 9 April. All camps run from 9am to 2pm, with drop off at 9am and collection at 2pm.

Children take part in guided craft sessions throughout the day, supported by activity leaders.

Don’t Miss: The Mythical Lands camp as it is one of the most popular sessions and often fills up first.

For more information, email info@creativebeatz.co.uk