25 March 2026

Step into Spring: Easter adventures at Britain's listed properties

A woman with dark hair is smiling and wearing a black-and-white patterned blouse with a necklace. She is in front of a plain background.
By Joanne Townsend Administration Assistant
A wooden rabbit, yellow flowers, and speckled eggs are arranged with a sign that reads

After quite a gloomy Winter, Spring is arriving and the school’s Easter break is coming up which will offer the perfect opportunity for families to get outdoors to explore somewhere new and make the most of the longer spring days.

If you are looking for something to do over the Easter holidays, why not visit a listed property as many of them are putting on a range of special activities and seasonal events.  There are lots of Easter trails in historic gardens or maybe you would like to take part in a craft event or workshop.  There are lots of ways for visitors of all ages to experience history in a fun and engaging way.

Below we have highlighted just a few of the spectacular properties that make a truly fun filled day out for the whole family.

Aerial view of a historic stone manor with turrets, surrounded by green lawns and trees under a partly cloudy sky.

Chiddingstone Castle

Grade II listed Chiddingstone Castle is set in 25 acres of Kentish countryside in Edenbridge.  The castle and its grounds are open to the public and visitors can explore the collection rooms, Great Hall, Victorian Kitchen, Library and Servant’s Hall.

This Easter you can admire the Castle and its breathtaking grounds by taking part in its Easter holiday trail which will be on from 4th April until 19th April.

From the late March until early April, they have their ‘Blossom viewing’ where you can admire the beautiful blossom in full bloom.  Whilst visiting Chiddingstone, why not treat yourself to a bite to eat or afternoon tea at the lovely tea rooms.

Plan your visit and see everything that is on offer at Chiddingstone Castle here Chiddingstone Castle Historic Castle & Museum in Kent — Visit TodayChiddingstone Castle

Osterley House and Park

This stunning Grade I listed Georgian house and its surrounding Grade II gardens and park are managed by the National Trust.

Situated in West London this beautiful estate is easily accessible from central London giving visitors the opportunity to explore its 350 acres of stunning landscaped grounds.

Over the Easter holidays, they have lots going on including their Easter adventure trail in the formal gardens where you will take place in lots of art and nature inspired activities.  The trail is £3.50 per person in addition to the normal admission price, but includes an Easter trail sheet, bunny ears and a chocolate egg.  The trail is running from 28th March – 12th April from 10am -5pm with last entry at 4pm.

‘Bluebells in Bloom’ – from the 1st April you can celebrate Spring at Osterley by taking a stroll through the woodlands and enjoy seeing all the beautiful Bluebells in full bloom.

In the school holidays visit the craft cart where you can take part in popular arts and craft activities for families on Thursdays between 12pm – 3pm.

You can find out everything that’s going on at Osterley House and plan your visit here Osterley Park and House | London | National Trust

A large red-brick manor with tall columns, two corner turrets, and a wide lawn under a blue sky.
A large stone castle with multiple turrets sits on a manicured lawn under a cloudy sky.

Scone Palace

Scone Palace is a Grade A listed building located near Perth in Scotland; it is the historic crowning site of Scottish monarch.

There is always something happening at Scone Palace and they have their Easter fun day taking place on Easter Sunday where they are celebrating 60 years of being a visitor attraction.  The day will be packed with seasonal activities including family friendly entertainment, games and music.  There will be an Easter egg hunt in the maze and walled garden as well as a golden bunny trail where you have to find the hidden golden bunnies in the Palace state rooms.  Why not join in the tradition of rolling your eggs down historic Moot Hill or enjoy the live DJ that will be playing tunes from across the last six decades.  There will also be an inflatable fun zone, fairy trail, craft activities and so much more.

The Easter fun day is set to be a great day to enjoy with all ages and you can find out more about everything that is going on here  Family Fun Day – Celebrating 60 years of Scone Palace welcoming visitors – Scone Palace

RHS Garden Bridgewater

RHS Bridgewater is a modern garden, rooted in a historic setting in Salford, Greater Manchester.  It is on the site of the estate of Worsley New Hall in Salford.  The hall was demolished in the 1940’s but the gardens were brought alive by architect Tom Stuart-Smith creating a world-class garden for the Northwest of England which opened in 2021.  It is a 154 acre garden and its setting attracts lots of visitors.  Whilst the main RHS Garden Bridgewater is a new contemporary creation it features a Grade II listed garden cottage as its centrepiece.

There is always so much going on here especially at this time of year.  You can visit the Spring plant fair, or attend a Spring wreath or art workshop, or there are lots of workshops about growing your own herbs, fruit and vegetables that can be booked.

Over the Easter holidays let the children become a detective, you can buy a detective pack for £3 which will help them find clues to solve the crime and rescue the Easter bunny.  The detective pack includes an activity worksheet, colouring pencils, puzzles and activities and at the end every young detective receives a chocolate prize.

You can find out everything that is going on at RHS Garden Bridgewater here What’s on at RHS Garden Bridgewater / RHS

An historic stone house with a round turret, surrounded by lush gardens and brick walls under a cloudy sky.
Circular formal garden with a stone fountain, trimmed hedges, and a historic stone building in the background.

Sudeley Castle & Gardens

This impressive Grade I listed castle located in the Cotswolds is known for being the only private castle in England with a queen buried within its grounds; Queen Katherine Parr was buried here in 1548 in St Mary’s Chapel.

You can explore the 10 beautiful gardens whilst they are bursting into bloom, each one with its own style and design, there are exhibitions to enjoy, or you can take a walk around the impressive Castle rooms learning about the Castle’s famous inhabitants.  There is also a fun adventure playground for the children to run around and enjoy.

At Easter there are some extra adventures to enjoy; You can ‘Hunt the Queen’s Hare’, follow the trail of golden eggs which will guide you through the grounds and once you have found the hare you will be rewarded with an Easter treat.

On Easter weekend history comes alive with a special Easter show starring Queen Elizabeth I and her travelling court, there will be laughter and drama along with audience participation in this family friendly performance.

Find out everything that you need to know if you are thinking of visiting Sudeley Castle here Sudeley Castle & Gardens || Wedding | Historic Attraction 

Bude Castle

Bude Castle is located in the seaside town of Bude in Cornwall.  This Grade II listed Castle was originally built in the early 19th century and today serves as a heritage centre.

There is always something new to discover at Bude Castle and at Easter there are lots of family activities to enjoy.  You can join in with the detective activity where you can purchase a worksheet from Café Limelight and solve clues around the site.  There are also free lawn games that you can take part in on 7th,9th,14th and 16th April from 11am-12pm.  On 8th and 15th April from 1am-4pm children can enjoy an inflatables session, there will be a small charge for this, please note that this will be weather dependant.

You can find out more about what is going on at Bude Castle here What’s On – The Castle Bude

A stone castle-like building with arched windows and a turret, set on a grassy lawn under a clear blue sky.
A stone manor stands behind landscaped gardens with gravel paths, trees, hedges, and trimmed shrubs under a blue sky.

Penshurst Place

The Beautiful Penhurst Place is a Grade I listed property located in Tonbridge, Kent.  You can visit the stunning gardens and grounds which include a woodland trail, an adventure playground and the formal gardens.

Over Easter, there is a garden trail which is included in the admission price called the’ Easter Bunny’s Bonnet Bonanza’ where you can wander through the gardens and help the Easter bunny replace the Easter bonnet items that blew away.  This is running from 28th March up to 18th April 10am-5pm.

There is so much on offer at Penshurst Place whether you want to take a walk around the spectacular house and enjoy all of its history or visit the plant centre which is stocked with a range of alluring plants that can be found in the gardens.  For something a little different, why not visit the Toy museum which consists of around 2,000 items with toys dating from the Georgian period to the 1980’s.

Penshurst Place is a great day out and you can find out everything you need to know here Explore Penshurst Place

When on a day out visiting Britain’s rich heritage, it’s impossible not to pause and appreciate the stories held within our country’s remarkable listed buildings. These historic treasures, whether centuries‑old manor houses or characterful cottages, stand as living reminders of our past, but they also require thoughtful care to ensure they endure for generations to come.

Protecting them isn’t just about preservation and sympathetic restoration, it also means ensuring they’re properly protected with specialist insurance tailored to their unique materials and construction methods. That’s where Abode comes in. As listed property specialists, we understand the intricacies and responsibilities that come with owning a piece of history, providing expert support and bespoke cover to help protect both your home and the history it represents.

If you own a listed property and would like to speak to us about your insurance needs, please contact us today on 01622 476 433.

Written by
An outlined image of a mobile phone.
Call Us

Call us on 01622 476433 and speak to a member of our team

CALL US
An outlined image of an envelope.
Email Us

Email info@abode-insurance.com and a member of our team will get in touch with you

email us
An outlined image of a TV screen.
Complete our quote form

Complete our quote form and a member of the team will be in touch with you shortly

contact us

Related articles