Easter Bank Holiday Weekend in Manchester and the North

Creative Tourist

This year, your four-day eggs-tra special Easter Bank Holiday features early on, rolling from Good Friday on 29 March to April Fool’s Day.

The clocks ping forward on Sunday 31 March, so there’s more in the way of daylight hours to enjoy on Easter Monday – so perhaps pencil in a trip to one of our parks and gardens. Read on for some of our top ideas for things to do this Easter Bank Holiday weekend in Manchester and across the North, with or without chocolate…

Our top picks

RHS Garden Bridgewater

RHS Garden Bridgewater, Occupation Road (Off Leigh Road), Worsley, Salford, Greater Manchester, M28 2GU - Visit now

RHS Garden Bridgewater invites you on a supersized family adventure this Easter holiday as The Giant Easter Egg Hunt returns 29 March to 14 April – try and find all the larger-than-life eggs hidden around the garden or have a go at fun planting and craft activities for the whole family. And if you’d prefer a trip without the wee ones, chill out with a coffee and cake in one of the cafes, or head to the garden centre for some treats to brighten up your own outdoor spaces.

RHS GARDEN BRIDGEWATER
Image: Harris Bugg Studio

Jungle Book at Aviva Studios

Jungle Book at Aviva Studios, Manchester, Until 31 March 2024, from £10.00 - Book now

Brought to the stage by visionary director Robert Wilson, this spellbinding production is like no version of Jungle Book we’ve seen before.

A scene from the stage adaptation of Jungle Book featuring 5 performers in costume
Image courtesy of Lucie Jansch.

Easter Holidays at Temple Newsam

Easter Holidays at Temple Newsam - Fabulous Food and Fancy Feasts at Temple Newsam, Leeds, Until 14 April 2024, from £4.20 - Book now

Embark on a journey of culinary history and uncover the secrets of food and dining from times gone by in the magnificent grounds of Temple Newsam, Leeds.

Easter Holidays at Temple Newsam
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

Easter at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House

Easter at Elizabeth Gaskell's House at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, Manchester, 31 March–11 April 2024, from £0.00 - Book now

Head to Elizabeth Gaskell’s House this April for some special family craft activities – make your own Easter bunny or spring chicken. While you’re there, enjoy the spring colour in the garden, along with a nice slice of cake (we’re sure chocolate will be on the menu!).

Elizabeth Gaskell's House garden. Photo by Chris Tucker
Elizabeth Gaskell's House garden. Photo by Chris Tucker.

Mayfield Park

Mayfield Park, Mayfield Park, Manchester, M1 2PY - Visit now

Manchester’s newest green space is well worth checking out as the days get a little longer and hopefully a little warmer. Tucked away behind Mayfield Depot, with its bars and oft-changing eateries, there are play facilities for the little’uns plus the chance to spot dippers and other wildlife on the newly daylighted River Medlock.

Mayfield Partnership

Richmond Tea Rooms

Richmond Tea Rooms, Richmond Street, Manchester, Manchester, M1 3HZ - Visit now

Where better to kick back and while away some of those extra hours off than an Alice In Wonderland-themed gaff that features an Easter icon in the form of the White Rabbit, and serves up dainty afternoon teas and perfectly crafted cocktails.

Image courtesy of Richmond Tea Rooms

Manchester Open 2024 at HOME

Manchester Open at HOME Manchester, Manchester, Until 28 April 2024, free entry - Visit now

The latest of the famous biennial Open exhibitions is on until Sunday 28 April 2024, with the HOME Gallery walls filled with 480 artworks celebrating Greater Manchester’s creative talent, selected by a panel consisting of art experts and community representatives.

Connection by Tinuke Fagbourn
Connection by Tinuke Fagbourn.

Manchester Wine Tours

Manchester Wine Tours, Various locations in Manchester city centre, Manchester , M1 - Visit now

Kelly Bishop’s Manchester Wine Tours are fun-packed affairs, with plenty of great chat, amusing tales and, of course, great vino with equally great people. Best of all, you can use “CREATIVETOURIST” for 10% off any tour in March or April.

Manchester Wine Tours

Goodtime Games

Goodtime Games, 212 Burton Road, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2LW - Visit now

Rain or shine, Goodtime Games’ shelves are piled high with hours and hours of turn-based amusement, with owners Tom and Melissa on hand to offer up a wealth of knowledge and recommendations. While you’re there, nip up the way to the Burton Road OG of Cocoa Cabana for some Easter-inspired chocolate treats, including delicious hot choc, or wheedle in a trip to La Chouquette in nearby Didsbury Village.

goodtime games
Goodtime Games

Dunham Massey

Dunham Massey, Altrincham, Greater Manchester, WA14 4SJ - Visit now

With over 300 acres of freely roaming fallow deer, ancient trees to climb and wild trails to tread, Dunham Massey is one of our top go-tos for a quick city escape. And Easter – when the country estate bursts into bloom with white carpets of snowdrops and yellow coverings of daffodils – is the perfect time to visit.

Dunham Massey
National Trust

Formby Beach

Formby Beach, Victoria Rd, Formby, Liverpool, L37 1LJ - Visit now

April might still be a little early for a bracing dip, but it’s the perfect time to visit Formby Beach – spring being when the local native red squirrel population is most active. The beautiful National Trust reserve is bordered by a glorious stretch of coastal pinewoods. Combine with a trip to nearby Crosby Beach either, where contemporary sculptor Antony Gormley’s striking iron men gaze into the horizon.

By Berit from Redhill/Surrey, UK (Formby beach) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Beer Gardens in Manchester & Salford

Spring is springing, so fingers crossed we might be able to sneak in an alfresco pint over Easter.

The New Oxford
Easter Holidays in Manchester and the North
Spotlight on

Things to do over the Easter Holidays

Looking for some ideas to keep little and big kids as busy as the Easter bunny? Check out our guide.

Take me there

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