Essex

First on the list for Essex Easter things to do is breathe. You can do this! Yes, your kids will bounce off the walls with sugar. Yes, your parents will buy EACH of them 48 Creme Eggs, even though you pleaded with them not to. And yes, by the end of the hols you&#8217;ll have taken away iPads for bad behaviour more times than you&#8217;ve reached for those Creme Eggs. But there&#8217;ll also be (semi) smiles, because you&#8217;ve earned parenting brownie points by taking them to as many of these Essex Easter activities as your schedule allows. Now hop to it (soz).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/1-8-1000x667.jpg" alt="RHS Garden Hyde Hall Easter event" class="wp-image-21826" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/1-8-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/1-8-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/1-8-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/1-8.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



From 5-21 April Chelmsford&#8217;s <a aria-label="RHS Garden Hyde Hall (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall/whats-on/easter-at-hyde-hall" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RHS Garden Hyde Hall</a> has giant eggs hidden around its grounds, where kids win a choc prize at the end. There&#8217;s also family-friendly crafts and storytelling adventures. Plus an outdoor bubble show and garden adventure trail.



Fancy the theatre? Braintree&#8217;s The Institute has two shows on to cheer everyone up (even you: it&#8217;s got a bar). First up&#8217;s <a href="https://theinstitutebraintree.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173651176" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Exciting Science</a> on 7 April, with experiments including a volcanic eruption, turning a vacuum cleaner into a missile launcher plus more.



Or why not book <a href="https://theinstitutebraintree.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173650562" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Ultimate Bubble Show</a> for 10 April? Guinness World Record Holder Ray&#8217;s all set to create bubble sculptures and displays. Yup, there&#8217;s a volcano bubble, bubble ghost, tornado and a rather impressive-sounding square bubble.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/4-6-1000x667.jpg" alt="Braintree Village Big Kid Circus " class="wp-image-21827" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/4-6-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/4-6-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/4-6-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/4-6.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Circus lovers are in for a treat at Braintree Village (you know you love the circus as much as they do). The <a href="https://www.bigkidcircus.co.uk/tickets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Big&nbsp;Kid&nbsp;Circus</a> is on&nbsp;from 16-21 April with a ton of talented performers. Their 30-foot-tall King Kong and all-female ‘Globe of Death’ group should get you booking alone.



There&#8217;s lots to do when it comes to events on courtesy of the Essex Wildlife Trust. <a href="https://www.essexwt.org.uk/events/2025-04-18-fingringhoe-egg-citing-easter-friday" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fingringhoe&#8217;s Egg-Citing Easter</a> (18 April) is perfect for getting out and about, with kids finding animal eggs and matching them to the creature on the trail around the reserve. 



Or head to Billericay&#8217;s <a href="https://www.essexwt.org.uk/events/2025-04-07-hanningfield-hoppy-easter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hanningfield Hoppy Easter</a> (7 April) for another trail, this time finding different activity stations including natural crafts (and lots of exploring to tire them out).



Take little monkeys to check out the animals and more at <a href="https://www.colchester-zoo.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colchester Zoo</a> from 5-21 April with their <a href="https://www.colchesterzoologicalsociety.com/event/easter-holidays/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Easter Holidays line-up</a>. You should also head to Billericay&#8217;s <a href="https://www.barleylands.co.uk/events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Barleylands Farm</a> (5-21 April). They&#8217;ve lots of Essex Easter things to do, like games and animal experiences.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/5-3-1000x667.jpg" alt="Nuclear High Ropes Kids Go Free" class="wp-image-21832" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/5-3-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/5-3-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/5-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/5-3.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



If your treasures are as addicted to their phones as ours tempt them outside with activities at Brentwood&#8217;s <a href="https://nuclearhighropes.co.uk/whats-on/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nuclear High Ropes</a>. Besides the fact kids <a href="https://nuclearhighropes.co.uk/whats-on/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">go free this Easter</a> (hello a more stable bank balance) there&#8217;s climbing, zip trekking and high ropes to stop them thinking about those things usually glued to their hands. Promise.



If their hormones are still too much, burn off steam on the water at <a href="https://mersea-island-watersports.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mersea Island Watersports</a>. There&#8217;s stand up paddle boarding (SUP), kayaking, windsurfing, sailing and wing foiling –that&#8217;s a wind-propelled watersport developed from kitesurfing, windsurfing and surfing if you&#8217;re not in the know (no, we weren&#8217;t either).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/2-9-1000x667.jpg" alt="Video Gaming Workshop Essex" class="wp-image-21830" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/2-9-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/2-9-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/2-9-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/2-9.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Yup, we&#8217;ve just harped on about reducing tech, but it can be educational if you head to the right place. The Harwich Arts and Heritage Centre has a free two-hour <a href="https://signals.org.uk/events/video-game-making-ages-7-14/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Video Gaming Workshop</a> on 7 April. Suited for ages 7+, they&#8217;ll create a unique 2D game with characters, sound effects and backgrounds.



If you want to inhale history while the kids inhale everything Easter visit <a href="https://www.layermarneytower.co.uk/events/easter-sunday-and-monday/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Layer Marney Tower</a>. Their 20-21 April event includes tower and garden access (history, see), an egg and spoon race, tractor rides and a toddler egg hunt for small ones who&#8217;ve just learnt to walk. Dogs on leads welcome, too.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/4-7-1000x667.jpg" alt="Audley End Miniature Railway Essex Easter things to do" class="wp-image-21831" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/4-7-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/4-7-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/4-7-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/4-7.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Train-fanatic? The egg hunt has reached its next stop with an Easter trail at the East Anglian Railway Museum. Who to see? <a href="https://www.quaytickets.com/dayoutwiththomas/en-GB/shows/day%20out%20with%20thomas%20at%20east%20anglian%20railway%20museum/events/5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thomas the Tank and Friends</a>, of course (18-21 April). Then there&#8217;s Saffron Walden&#8217;s <a href="https://audley-end-railway.co.uk/seasonal-event/easter-special-springtime-at-the-railway/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Audley End Miniature Railway</a> event from 5-21 April, where kids take a ride, go on trails, meet the Easter Bunny and play games.



Need yet more Essex Easter things to do to keep them happy (and by that we mean knacker them out)? There&#8217;s a <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wildlife-weekend-tickets-1246053001069" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wildlife Weekend</a> over in Southend&#8217;s Prittlewell Priory from 12-13 April. Expect animal handling, crafting, face painting, activity trail and seriously tasty grub.



And don&#8217;t forget about <a href="https://www.marshfarm.co.uk/events/the-great-easter-grotto/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marsh Farm</a> in South Woodham Ferrers. On our Essex Easter things to do list, it includes trails, adventure rides and crazy golf (18-21 April). Remember it&#8217;s cashless, so bring your phone/card/watch/other half for payments.



If you&#8217;ve superheroes/villains in the fam (my kids are the latter) then check out this <a href="https://festivalleisure.co.uk/events/heroes-and-villains-🦸♀%EF%B8%8F⚡/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Basildon event</a> (20 April). Another free event, they get to meet their fave TV, car and movie characters. Plus, all money raised on the day gets split between Great Ormond Street and Reach Equine. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/3-9-1000x667.jpg" alt="Street Dance event Harlow Hip Hop Up" class="wp-image-21828" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/3-9-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/3-9-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/3-9-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/3-9.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<a class="
		" href="https://festivalleisure.co.uk/events/heroes-and-villains-%f0%9f%a6%b8%e2%99%80%ef%b8%8f%e2%9a%a1/#"></a>Calling all age 6+ movers and groovers (we&#8217;re aware now naff that sounds): Harlow&#8217;s Passmores Academy has a <a href="https://www.hiphoppop.net/post/this-easter-learn-from-some-of-the-uk-street-dance-scene-s-best">Hip Hop Up Easter Street Dance Event</a> on 8-9 April. Learn routines from some pretty good choreographers (don&#8217;t panic: they won&#8217;t be doing the stuff in this pic). There&#8217;s going to be some seriously bad dad dancing isn&#8217;t there.



Over in Colchester at <a href="https://www.bethchatto.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beth Chatto</a>, little ones can join with adults for a <a href="https://bcet.bethchatto.co.uk/courses/family-printing-and-stamp-workshop.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Family Printing and Stamp Workshop</a>. Suitable for ages 7+, learn how to use different printing and stamping techniques. You&#8217;ll also make a collagraph and stamps to stamp onto paper (10 April).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/Untitled-design-14-1000x667.jpg" alt="Hedingham Castle Knights Easter" class="wp-image-21829" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/Untitled-design-14-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/Untitled-design-14-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/Untitled-design-14-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/03/Untitled-design-14.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Last on our Essex Easter things to do? Don your fair maiden impression for the <a href="https://www.hedinghamcastle.co.uk/events/middle-england-joust-m2l7n" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Knights of Middle England Joust</a> at Hedingham Castle (20-21 April). There&#8217;ll also be Medieval music, archery and falconry. Hoppy Easter. Sorry, we couldn&#8217;t help ourselves.

Chick it out! 20 Essex Easter things to do with kids

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