By Parkdean Resorts 28/02/2018
Less than 30 minutes from the M25, the vibrant Essex coastline is just a hop, skip and a jump away from London - making it the perfect place to visit for a seaside staycation. Offering the quintessential British beach holiday experience, Essex is home to golden sands, lively seaside resorts, colourful piers and amusements, and serene coastal landscapes. With its bays and inlets creating over 350 miles of coastline, you're guaranteed to find your perfect place to relax by the sea.
Whether you want to head into the buzzing resorts of Clacton-on-Sea or Southend-on-Sea or take a step back and explore some of Essex’s hidden treasures away from the shore, there’s something for everyone. And what better time to visit than during the Easter holidays?
With spring in full swing and plenty of Easter-themed activities to keep the kids (and adults!) entertained, it’s the perfect time of year to visit. Today, we’re bringing you a hand-picked selection of our top things to do in Essex over Easter.
Barleylands Farm Park
With a wide range of animals ranging from fluffy bunnies to reptiles and even birds of prey - as well as a fantastic children’s play area complete with a giant jumping pillow - Barleylands Farm Park is a great family day out, whatever the time of year. While we rarely need an excuse to hang out with cute baby animals, Easter is the perfect time to visit.
Barleylands runs fun events all through the Easter holidays. From a giant Easter egg hunt to meeting the newborn spring arrivals and even bottle-feeding baby lambs, the line-up of Easter-themed activities is guaranteed to put a smile on your kids’ faces. Don't forget to say hello to the Easter bunny, who'll be hopping around the park waiting to meet the little ones!
Barleylands Farm Park is within easy driving distance from all of our Essex holiday parks, so it’s certainly a great option for a day out.
Video sourced from WeAreBarleylands
Beth Chatto Gardens
Once upon a time, the famous Beth Chatto Gardens were nothing more than an overgrown wasteland. However, through the hard work and dedication of gardener and author Beth Chatto herself, the landscape was transformed into the stunning and vibrant informal garden seen today. The garden is a paradise for nature lovers, who can explore the different types of flora and fauna before tucking into some delicious tea and cake at the garden’s very own tearoom.
If you visit here during the Easter period, you’ll be met with beautiful spring blooms that light up the garden, and there are usually Easter egg hunt events planned, too. Visitors can follow the self-guided trail, hunting for hidden eggs and collecting a treat after completing the trail - and kids and adults alike will love exploring these beautiful gardens.
The garden is just ten minutes away from Weeley Bridge Holiday Park, and it’s a must for any green-fingered gardener looking for inspiration.
Danbury Country Park
After taking in the exciting sights and sounds of Essex’s bustling seaside towns, Danbury Country Park offers a relaxing retreat where you can unwind and stretch your legs. This stunning, privately owned estate is home to acres of woodland paths, lakes and meadows - just waiting to be explored. If you’re lucky, you might even see the cute resident ducklings waddling around by the lake’s shore.
During Easter, there’s a fantastic child-friendly adventure event called the Easter Bunny Trail! Perfect for families with young children, the trail guides visitors through the park before giving them the chance to paint their own colourful hen’s egg.
Finally, it’s time to meet the Easter Bunny himself! Make sure you grab a souvenir photo and a chocolate egg before heading back to the car or stopping for a spot of lunch on the picnic benches - and remember, booking is essential, so make sure you call ahead.
Thanks to being dog friendly and under an hours’ drive from all of our holiday parks in Essex, a visit to Danbury Country Park is a must.
Video sourced from daleksonacid
The Naze Centre
Situated on a headland on the North Essex coast, the Naze Peninsula is home to an important nature reserve - providing a temporary home for migrating birds, as well as other resident wildlife. It’s also home to Naze Tower, an impressive historic structure which was once used to guide passing ships along the Essex coast. Today the tower is home to a museum and art gallery, and stands tall next to the reserve's visitor centre.
Easter is an especially great time to visit, with the brighter skies illuminating the landscape and spring flowers making an appearance. When it comes to Easter activities, the fun’s not limited to the kids - and creating a colourful Easter flower arrangement is the ideal way to while away a relaxing afternoon, surrounded by the beautiful natural landscape of The Naze. That doesn't mean the kids are forgotten, though! The Naze Centre typically hosts an Easter egg hunt around this time of year, so there’s something to keep everyone occupied.
Less than a mile away from Naze Marine Holiday Park, the Naze nature reserve is a beautiful place to stroll along to on a sunny spring day.
Video sourced from Kevin Jay
Easter activities at Parkdean Resorts
Don’t forget, our fantastic entertainment team will be on hand to provide plenty of Easter fun - just steps from your accommodation - so make sure you take a look at your welcome pack upon arrival to see what’s on in your particular park. On a Parkdean Resorts Easter break you can look forward to*:
● Family Easter egg hunts around the park
● Easter themed games and activities
● Easter fancy dress competitions
● A full programme of spectacular evening entertainment seven days a week at Highfield Grange and enhanced entertainment at other parks across the Essex coast, including lively weekend shows
Whether you’re looking for a weekend escape or want to make the most of the school holidays with a longer break, we've got the perfect Easter holiday for you and your family. Book your break online today.
*Entertainment schedules and activities vary by park - and are subject to change. For more information, call us on 0330 123 4850.