Easter Bank Holiday Weekend in Manchester and the North

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.

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

Sample the seasonal menu or simply a steaming hot cross bun at the Whitworth’s ‘café in the trees’. Magnificent in all weather, the space overlooks the gallery’s striking Art Garden – an ‘urban sanctuary’ developed by renowned landscape designer Sarah Price around a series of textures, colours and scents that gradually reveal themselves throughout the seasons.

Kimsooja: To Breathe at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, 30 March–29 September 2019, free entry - Visit now

Bathe in a pool of iridescent light at Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s 18th-century chapel, which South Korean artist Kimsooja is preparing to convert into an immersive artwork underpinned by eastern notions of the Void.

Kannan Arunasalam: The Tent at The Tetley, 16 February–2 June 2019, free entry - Visit now

Head to The Tetley in Leeds where British-Sri Lankan documentary filmmaker and human rights lawyer Kannan Arunasalam’s first solo exhibition explores the ethnic Tamil people’s ongoing struggle for civil justice following the quarter-of-a-century long Sri Lankan civil war.

The pizza scene in Manchester boasts some of the UK’s best – here are our top picks for long weekend indulgence.

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 our number one go-to 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.

The Gaddum Restaurant, Lake District Visitor Centre, Windermere, LA23 1LJ - Visit now

Combine an escape into the countryside with a memorable dining experience at the Lake District’s latest high-end restaurant. Overlooking Lake Windermere, The Gaddum offers a deliciously seasonal, locally sourced menu within 30 acres of stunning grounds.

Windermere Jetty Museum of Boats, Steam and Stories, Rayrigg Road, Windermere,, Cumbria, LA231BN - Visit now

A brand-new museum dedicated to the simple, timeless pleasure of boating opens on the banks of one of England’s largest and most picturesque lakes.

Refuge: The Art of Belonging at Abbot Hall, Cumbria, 15 February–29 June 2019, from £7 - Visit now

If you are heading to Cumbrian, we recommend a stop at Abbot Hall Art Gallery where Refuge: The Art of Belonging serves as a vital reminder of the significance behind the common proverb: ‘Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it’.

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.

Manchester’s craft beer scene is vibrant and varied and a four day weekend means that there’s room for twice as many hangovers as usual…