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.

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.

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…