Easter at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor
Elizabeth Gaskell's House garden. Photo by Chris Tucker
Elizabeth Gaskell's House garden. Photo by Chris Tucker.

Easter at Elizabeth Gaskell's House at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, Manchester 2 — 16 April 2023 Tickets from £0.00 — Book now

Head to Elizabeth Gaskell’s House this April for some special family craft activities inspired by Victorian cards and Easter bonnets.

Visit the house and, while you have a wander and see some of the newly renovated rooms, let the kids get stuck in making their own mini masterpiece in the Servants’ Hall. There’s craft and colouring to enjoy, as well as the popular Cranford The Cat trail around the house – all included in the admission price. If the weather permits, you can even enjoy a picnic in the lovely garden, surrounded by flowers; if conditions prove inclement, the tea room will serve you fresh brews and homemade treats.

Activities are available 11am to 4.30pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays 2 to 16 April (excluding Sunday 9 April, when the secondhand book sale takes place in the Servant’s Hall) included in admission. Entry is £7 for adults and free for children under 16, when accompanied by an adult.  Tickets can be pre-booked up to a month in advance.

If the weather permits, you can even enjoy a picnic in the lovely garden, surrounded by flowers; if conditions prove inclement, the tea room will serve you fresh brews and homemade treats.

For more Easter card action – plus Christmas, birthday, New Year, memorial, reward and Valentine’s – arrange a time to view the Laura Seddon Collection up the road at the Manchester Metropolitan University Special Collections Museum, in the Reading Room at Man Met’s All Saints Library. 

The Laura Seddon Collection of Victorian and Edwardian greetings cards – donated to the university in 1992 – is one of the largest and most comprehensive sources for the study of 19th-century greetings cards, with over 32,500 examples, ranging in date from the 1840s to the 1920s, with the majority from the 1880s-1890s; the “Golden Age” of the greetings card. Some are very rare, some represent the earliest examples of commercial cards (including Britain’s first commercially produced Christmas card), and some were created by renowned 19th-century artists and illustrators including Walter Crane, Kate Greenaway and Beatrix Potter. Don’t forget to check out Manchester Poetry Library while you’re there.

Easter at Elizabeth Gaskell's House at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, Manchester 2 — 16 April 2023 Tickets from £0.00 Book now

Where to go near Easter at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House

Manchester
Library
Gaskell Society

These regular talks in both Manchester and Knutsford unpack the meaning and significance of Elizabeth Gaskell’s writing.

Manchester
Gallery
Chuck Gallery

Chuck Gallery is the first private art space in North West England dedicated to the promotion of contemporary African art in Manchester and beyond. Our focus is the provision of a varied collection of high quality, original and exceptional artwork

Pankhurst Centre
Manchester
Museum
The Pankhurst Centre

The Pankhurst Centre houses a small museum and heritage centre that remains as a legacy to the Pankhurst family and the Suffragette movement born in this city.

Much Ado About Nothing at Victoria Baths
Manchester
Event venue
Victoria Baths

Victoria Baths no longer functions as a ‘water palace’ and Turkish Baths, but the Grade II-listed building hosts regular events and is a stunning visit, with stained glass, terracotta tiles and mosaic floors.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
Big Hands

Big Hands is the one-time haunt of legendary Manchester band Elbow; it’s shabby, loud and dark, with a jukebox and excellent roof terrace.

The Whitworth
Manchester
Gallery
The Whitworth

This much-loved gallery-in-a-park is open for business, showcasing some of the city’s finest contemporary and historic exhibitions.

Cafe at the Museum
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
The Cafe
at the Museum

Manchester Museum’s cafe is run by the people behind award-winning cafe Teacup Kitchen. The menu features home-baked cakes, the finest loose leaf teas and breakfast, as well as a wide selection of mains and meals for kids.

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