The Easter holidays are a lovely break in the school calendar. After the long winter months, it’s the perfect time to reset, spend quality time together, and get some spring sunshine. Whether you’re looking to go away, plan days out, or just make the most of time at home, a bit of planning goes a long way.
If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a guide to help you get ahead and make this Easter holiday one to remember.
Start with the School Calendar
Before you book anything or start planning activities, check the school holidays. These can vary slightly across regions, so make sure you have the exact start and end dates. Once you know when the Easter holidays begin, count how many days you have to fill.
Factor in any work commitments or family events that are already planned. If you’re co-parenting or have extended family nearby, it might be helpful to coordinate plans early to avoid clashes or last-minute re-arrangements.
The school is getting stricter with the fines they issue for taking time off outside of the holidays, so it definitely pays off to be fully aware of the dates you can have off. Although it may cost a little more to travel during these times, it’s something that can be less of an issue if you try to budget for and save for a family trip in advance.
If you want to be as organized as possible, consider adding a Skylight Calendar to your family wall. Place it in the kitchen for everyone to see. It will help you stay on top of everyone’s routine and make keeping track of school holidays easier.
Decide on Your Budget
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Budgeting for a family holiday starts with being realistic. Easter holidays can get expensive if you’re not careful. Costs can creep up fast between day trips, meals out, crafts, treats, and the odd new outfit.
Sit down and figure out what you’re comfortable spending over the two weeks. Don’t just think about big things like travel or tickets—budget for the little things too.
If you’re doing an Easter egg hunt, hosting a family lunch, or taking the kids to the cinema, it all adds up. Once you’ve got a ballpark figure, you can start making choices that fit comfortably within it.
Look for free or low-cost events locally, and don’t forget how much fun you can have at home with a bit of creativity.
Get the Kids Involved
You don’t have to do all the planning alone. Sit down with your children and ask what they’d like to do over the Easter holidays. You might be surprised by their ideas.
Some will want a full-on adventure, while others are just as happy with a pyjama day and a hot chocolate. Giving them some say in the schedule makes them feel included and helps manage expectations.
It also makes it easier to get them on board when it comes to organising or tidying up afterwards. You could even create a big family wall calendar for the holidays, so everyone knows what’s happening and when.
Plan a Few Days Out
Just one or two days out can break up the Easter holidays and give you something to look forward to. In the UK we’re lucky to have loads of family friendly attractions within easy reach. Think about visiting a local farm, zoo, castle or adventure park.
National Trust and English Heritage sites usually run Easter trails, and many local councils run events in parks or community centres. Check websites and social media in advance to see what’s on.
Booking in advance usually saves you money and avoids disappointment. If the weather’s looking good, pack a picnic to keep costs down.
Just remember to pack spare clothes – spring sunshine can turn into showers very quickly.
Make the Most of Your Own Home
You don’t have to go anywhere fancy to enjoy the Easter holidays. It’s the perfect time for crafting, baking, and outdoor play.
Stock up on craft supplies, get some icing sugar and sprinkles for cupcake decorating, and dig out any toys the kids haven’t played with in a while.
Organise a scavenger hunt in the garden or the local park, with small clues and chocolate eggs as prizes. Set up a tent or build a den in the living room for a camping-at-home night.
You could even have a movie afternoon with popcorn and homemade tickets. These little moments at home can be just as special as the big outings, and they’re often the ones your kids will remember most.
Think About Meals in Advance
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Food can quickly become a stress point during the Easter holidays, especially when everyone seems to want snacks every five minutes.
Try to plan out a rough meal schedule before the holidays begin. Batch-cook a few easy dinners that you can freeze and pull out on busy days.
Stock the fridge and cupboards with quick options like wraps, pasta, and fruit. Keep a few baking mixes on hand for rainy day activities that double as snacks.
And don’t forget to plan for the Easter weekend itself—whether you’re doing a traditional roast or something more relaxed, knowing what’s on the menu helps avoid last-minute dashes to the shops.
Keep an Eye on the Weather
British spring weather is unpredictable.
The Easter holidays can bring sunshine, rain, wind, and sometimes all three in one day. Keep your plans flexible and always have a Plan B. If you’re planning an outdoor trip, check the forecast the day before and pack accordingly—wellies, waterproofs, suncream, and hats might all be needed on the same day.
On wet days, have a few ideas for some indoor activities ready to go. From puzzles to board games to baking sessions, this means you will always have something to hand for the moments the kids get bored that also helps to keep them away from their screens.
Make sure you don’t beat yourself up if you allow them some screentime, even though! Sometimes you need to have a hot drink and 10 minutes of calm when the kids are off school.
Create Simple Traditions
Family traditions don’t need to be big or expensive. The Easter holidays are a great time to start a few activities hat suit your family’s rhythm. It could be as simple as a nature walk on Good Friday, painting eggs, or cooking the same favourite dinner on Easter Sunday.
These little traditions help mark the time and create structure. Ask your kids what they enjoyed most from last year and build on it. These small rituals become part of the holidays; they are remembered long after the chocolate is gone.
They’re also a great way to stick to your budget, showing that joy doesn’t always come from spending more.
Plan a Fun Easter Egg Hunt
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One of the best bits of the Easter holidays for little ones is the Easter egg hunt. It’s easy to organise and fun for all ages, and you can make it as straightforward or as complicated as you like. Whether you do it indoors or out in the garden, a good hunt is a winner.
Start by deciding how many children will be taking part and what kind of eggs or prizes you will be using. Chocolate is the obvious choice but you can also add in small toys, activity vouchers or even homemade coupons for things like a movie night or choosing dinner. For younger children keep clues visual and simple. For older ones add riddles or challenges. You can write clues on little pieces of paper or print them out in fun colours.
If you have a mix of ages, consider splitting the hunt into stages so the little ones don’t get left behind. Another idea is to assign each child a colour, and they will only collect eggs of that colour. This avoids arguments and helps you keep everything fair.
Use your garden, house, or local park if allowed. Make use of bushes, planters, cushions, and furniture for hiding spots. Just remember where you put everything – you don’t want to find a melted egg behind the sofa in July. Another great way to avoid this is use prefilled Easter Eggs with toys rather than chocolate.
You can tie the egg hunt into other Easter holiday activities. Get the kids to decorate their own egg hunt baskets or make bunny ears out of a card before the hunt begins. Take photos to capture the fun and finish it all off with a special snack or treat. An Easter egg hunt doesn’t cost much but adds magic to the holidays and gives everyone something to look forward to.
Finally
Whether you’re off on a trip or staying close to home, the Easter holidays offer the perfect time to slow down, reconnect, and make memories together.
A little bit of planning, a realistic budget, and a flexible mindset go a long way. Focus on what brings your family joy, not what looks good on social media.
That’s what makes a holiday truly special.
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