The Easter break is ‘thump, thump’-ing in, like the holiday’s giant egg-delivering rabbit mascot… Plan what to do over its two bank holidays, or fill the school hiatus, with our pick of themed events at child-friendly hotels for all ages and seasonal stays for grown-ups.
KIDS (AGE THREE AND UP)
GET EGG-DUCATED AT THE AMPERSAND HOTEL
The Drawing Room at the Ampersand Hotel
Having seen first-hand the unshakably kind service the Ampersand’s staff provided in the face of a toddler redecorating their Drawing Room’s cream carpet with chocolate, this stay’s certainly Easter-proof. Indeed, this kind of behaviour is almost encouraged: you’ll find an art-piece egg (and some mini ones) in your room. This welcoming nature extends to setting up cots or beds, and arranging itineraries at Kensington’s museums, parks and more, all with their own exciting Easter events; after, recap what they’ve learnt with the science-themed afternoon tea.
Hidden Easter egg? It’s not all sugar highs and lows. The Apero restaurant’s Mediterranean Easter meal of Jerusalem artichoke in kataifi pastry with truffle, roasted lamb shank and chocolate and salted-caramel mousse with kumquat sorbet is an adult affair.
Smith perk The Ampersand’s chocolate Easter egg is usually reserved for Deluxe rooms and above, but if you’re a Smith member you’ll receive it with any room booking when staying overnight on the 31 March. Just mention it in the ‘About your stay’ section when booking through the Smith site.
GROWN-UPS
GET SOME SUGAR AT CHATEAU DENMARK
Chateau Denmark
More flamboyant than an Easter bonnet, with more rock than an egg in a gaily swinging basket, Chateau Denmark, in London’s guitar-peddling neck has hosted Bowie, the Stones, the Sex Pistols and more. But these days, its hell-raising highs come in the Wonka-esque form of a chunky Tony’s Chocolonely egg (on request), deliciously coma-inducing Suavemente cocktails (with Patron, chocolate and coffee liqueurs and salted caramel), and Japanese mochi and sweet-bean-filled dorayaki.
Tattu Restaurant
Hidden Easter egg? If mere chocolate is a touch pedestrian for you, head up to Tattu Restaurant (on top of the hotel’s Now Building) for a white chocolate, coconut, passionfruit and mango dragon egg.
KIDS (AGED THREE TO 12)
GO GREEN AT ESTELLE MANOR
Estelle Manor
Pack the muck-about clothes and extra Wet Wipes. Estelle Manor’s kids’ clubs (Estelle Explorers for three- to five-year olds and Estelle Adventurers for six- to 12-year olds; both £140 a day and must be booked in advance) will have them building shelters, safari-ing into the woods, taking tree-bark rubbings, planting, bug-hunting, junior off-roading and doing natural crafts. Older ones can arm themselves for archery, rifle-shooting and axe-throwing (under the watchful eyes of the safety instructors, of course).
Estelle Manor activities
Hidden Easter egg? The Manor’s spa looks like a period-drama setting, with neoclassical columns and Roman-style baths to frolic in. Some of its wide-ranging treatments will get you feeling especially spring-y, such as the botanical steam and hay sauna.
GROWN-UPS
GET CRAFTY AT THE GROSVENOR ARMS
Get ready to daff’ about and flex your flowering-arranging know-how at the Grosvenor Arms. The Georgian inn has invited local florists Bright Blooms in to guide green-fingered decor whizzes in an Easter wreath-making workshop. They’ll bring the materials and you just bring your mood-board, ensuring it’s dotted with spring pastels, woodland florals and some less natural accoutrements: dried and naturally dyed sprigs in rainbow brights, fruits and more.
Wreath-making at the Grosvenor Arms
Hidden Easter egg? Stay over the long weekend and on Saturday (8am to 3pm) the bakery team from sister hotel At the Chapel will leaven your spirits like they do loaves, with a pop-up selling spiced cruffins, bunny biscuits and hot-cross buns.
KIDS (AGE FOUR AND UP)
PARTY HARD AT LUCKNAM PARK
Lucknam Park
Parents, prepare to feel a twinge of envy at the joyful children’s party pastimes spread over three days (from 29 to 31 March) at Lucknam Park, when little ones will help groom ponies in the on-site stables, be rewarded with Pop(pable) art by a balloon magician, get their face painted, watch gundogs perform feats, hunt for eggs and meet the Easter bunny IRL. And that’s when they’re not learning to ride a horse, herding ducks, playing football or croquet, or biking over the estate.
Hidden Easter egg? Don’t throw a tantrum – over-18s can find sweet treats at a cocktail-making class, see serious displays of horse showmanship and tour the gardens’ spring blooms. And remember: there’s no age limit on face-painting.
GROWN-UPS
ENJOY EDIBLE ARTWORK AT ROSEWOOD LONDON
Rosewood London
The Rosewood’s Art Afternoon Tea is a masterpiece year-round. But cakes inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s Almond Blossom or Yayoi Kusama’s Flowers that Bloom at Midnight feel particularly on trend as London blooms. For Easter, pastry chef Mark Perkins has upped his game with an exquisite blossom-bedecked egg (order in advance). And, of course, there’s a cocktail with special seasonal flavours to wash it down.
Hidden Easter egg? Getting hammered at afternoon tea is maybe not quite the ‘done thing’, but in iconic Scarfes Bar it’s more acceptable. We recommend the Happy Mistake (with tequila, white chocolate and roasted pineapple) or the No 6 (with whisky, sauternes, matcha and evaporated chocolate).
KIDS (JUNIORS)
DEEP DIVE INTO FARM LIFE AT THE LYGON ARMS
The Lygon Arms
Farmer Adam Henson (owner of the Cotswolds Farm Park) has probably handed out an Attenborough’s worth of fun animal facts during his Q&As over the years, and he’s still dedicated to educating, be the query weird, funny or gross. At the Lygon Arms on 29 March, he’ll be launching his book Curious Questions From Adam’s Farm – and you can give him material for his second (must be booked in advance). Otherwise, there are lawn games, croquet, a pool to play in and an Easter-egg hunt.
Hidden Easter egg? If you have not-so-little ones who’ve outgrown cockerels and cows, there are more toothsome beasts close by at Cotswold Wildlife Park.
GROWN-UPS
TIPTOE THROUGH THE TULIPS AT HECKFIELD PLACE
Heckfield Place
You needn’t go to the Netherlands for rainbow-bright tulips; come spring, they run through Heckfield Place’s market garden with rabbit rampant-ness, in hues that you’d swear nature swatched from Farrow & Ball. Children are welcome, but there’s still plenty of space for serenity: join the resident wellbeing psychologist for a nature-therapy session while the estate’s gloriously green; discover what super-chef Skye Gyngell does with asparagus and forced rhubarb; sow seeds and weave willows; or pet the Guernsey herd.
Heckfield Place grounds
Hidden Easter egg? With delicate egg sandwiches, bitter-chocolate tarts and carrot cake with candied walnuts, the afternoon tea in the sunny, wisteria- and peony-clad glasshouse is a sophisticated take on seasonal tropes.
KIDS (ALL AGES)
RUN WILD AT THE LAKES BY YOO
The Lakes by Yoo
There’s never a dull moment at Cotswolds retreat the Lakes by Yoo – especially from 23 March to 14 April, when smalls to teens will be so well-distracted that you might forget you brought them. For those on the younger side, there are crafting sessions, farm visits, teddy bear and Easter egg hunts. Older kids can zipline, learn bushcraft, shoot arrows, try the trapeze, conquer the climbing wall, play football, forage and navigate a treetop obstacle course (book in advance).
Hidden Easter egg? As with the activities for kids, Yoo’s more adult wellness pursuits could be divided into ‘the gentle’ and the ‘not so much’. They swing from spa spoiling with Kate Moss’s Cosmoss products (she was involved in some of the design here) to cold-water plunges.
GROWN-UPS
GET A NATURAL GLOW-UP AT NATIVE MANCHESTER
Native Manchester
There are worse ways to spend the bank holidays than with a towel over your head and your face hovering over a steaming bowl of botanicals, or deep-soaking in Himalayan rock salts, lathering up with a charcoal-infused soap. It might be in one of the UK’s most dynamic northern cities, but Native aparthotel implores you to relax. Vegan brand Roots presents its eco-forward skincare and bath products at a pop-up on 30 and 31 March, with the best local female DJs holding court on the eve of the 30th and lo-fi chill-out sessions on the Sunday.
Hidden Easter egg? No egg, but the bar’s Clearly Chocolate cocktail (with vodka and many sweet thangs), and Hotel Chocolat a five-minute walk away, will satisfy any urges.
Hop to it — book a last-minute bank holiday break now.
(Tattu Restaurant image by It’s Me Louis, Estelle Manor images by Mark Anthony Fox, and image of the Lygon Arms by Lynk Photography)
