Easter Bank Holiday Weekend in Manchester and the North

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 from 2 to 24 April 2022. Hit the giant Easter egg hunt and 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.

The Whitworth, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M15 6ER - Visit now

Check out the Open House exhibition and sample the fayre at the Whitworth’s ‘café in the trees’. Magnificent year round, the space overlooks the gallery’s striking Art Garden, an ‘urban sanctuary’ developed by renowned landscape designer Sarah Price – in partnership with fragrance expert Jo Malone – around a series of textures, colours and scents that are gradually revealed throughout the seasons.

Another Hand, Unit F 253 Deansgate, Mews Level, Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4EN - Visit now

Another Hand is one of Manchester’s most recent restaurant openings, and offers an exciting brunch menu, small plates come evening and an outside terrace for if the weather behaves itself. The folks at Another Hand champion local producers, and mews neighbour Dormouse Chocolates feature in the desserts. Don’t forget to head along from Unit F to Unit O to pick up some cocoa treats to take home…

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.

Sheila Hicks: Off Grid at The Hepworth Wakefield, Wakefield, Until 25 September 2022 - Book now

Running 7 April to 25 September, this major exhibition delves into the work of Sheila Hicks, one of the world’s foremost artists and sculptors working with textiles, fibre, colour and form, showing how she crosses the boundaries between art, architecture and design. While you’re there, amble round the Hepworth Wakefield Garden, designed by acclaimed landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith to include outdoor sculptures by Dame Barbara Hepworth, Sir Michael Craig-Martin and Kim Lim.

Robert Indiana: Sculpture 1958-2018 at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield, Until 8 January 2023, from £0.00 - Book now

Hop over to Yorkshire for a colourful display both indoors and out of the work of Robert Indiana, a leading member of the Pop Art movement. Presenting 56 pieces, the retrospective features earlier relief and collage works, including found objects from the area around his studio, paintings created later on in his career, and six aluminium sculptures, which fill the lawn outside the Underground Gallery.

Chester Rows, Bridge St, Watergate St, Eastgate Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 1NG - Visit now

Chester’s historic Rows are part of the Government’s High Street Heritage Action Zones initiative, revitalising 14 historic high streets across the North West, and more than 60 across England. Stroll along the unique walkways and you’re bound to stumble across a quirky cafe or bar that takes your fancy as well as boutique shops and even some live performances and art installations as part of a spring-summer programme being rolled out this year.

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.

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.

We’ve been teased with a little bit of sun over the last few weeks, fingers crossed it breaks out into a full blown heatwave over Easter.