10 brilliant things to do with the kids this Easter in Norfolk and North Suffolk

If you are looking for ways to keep the kids busy over the Easter break without driving halfway across the country, there is plenty happening right here in Norfolk and North Suffolk. From big family day-outs with animals and egg hunts to hands-on museum sessions and a proper Easter panto by the sea, there is a really strong mix this year of outdoor fun, creative activities and local events that feel special without being too complicated to plan.

1) Pensthorpe Easter Egg-stravaganza, Fakenham
Running from Saturday 28 March to Monday 6 April, Pensthorpe is staging its Easter Egg-stravaganza, which includes Norfolk’s first Easter Garden, a family egg hunt, a brand-new outdoor play area, pond dipping, daily flamingo talks and plenty of spring wildlife around the reserve. It is the sort of place where you can comfortably make a full day of it rather than just popping in for an hour. Pensthorpe says the site is open 10am to 5pm in late March and April, and families book a specific Easter Egg Hunt time slot as part of the booking process.

2) Easter Gone Wild at Banham Zoo
If your children love animals and like a bit of action built into the day, Banham Zoo’s Easter Gone Wild looks a really good shout. It runs from Saturday 28 March to Monday 13 April and includes a giant Easter Egg Safari, themed keeper talks, games and a live Easter stage show. Banham has also published a daily activity schedule, which makes planning easier: 10:00 ranger meet and greet, 11:45 Easter Bunny Bubble Party, 12:30 Easter Stage Show, 13:30 Easter games, 14:30 Easter Stage Show and a 15:30 Foam Party finale. That gives families plenty of structure while still leaving time to explore the zoo itself.

3) Easter egg hunt at Blickling Estate, Aylsham
For a classic Easter outing in beautiful surroundings, Blickling Estate has an Easter egg hunt running daily from Saturday 21 March to Monday 13 April. The timings change slightly across the run: the trail is 10am to 4pm up to Sunday 29 March, then 10am to 5pm from Monday 30 March, with the final trail starting one hour before closing. The theme this year is a tea-party adventure, so it has that old-school National Trust feel while still being very child-friendly. It is a lovely option if you want chocolate, fresh air and a decent walk all in one go.

4) All Things Bright and Beautiful at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse, Dereham
Gressenhall is always a strong family favourite and this Easter it is running All Things Bright and Beautiful from Saturday 28 March to Monday 13 April, open 10am to 5pm each day. What makes it especially handy for parents is that there is more than one thing to do once you arrive: spring-themed art and craft sessions run daily from 11am to 12 noon and 2pm to 3pm, while the farm side of the site offers the chance to spot newborn animals and burn off energy on the woodland adventure playground. If you want a day that mixes animals, crafts and outdoor play, this is one of the best rounded options locally.

5) Saints, Knights, and Easter Delights at Norwich Castle
If the weather is not playing nicely, Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery has a very solid indoor option with Saints, Knights, and Easter Delights running from Saturday 28 March to Monday 13 April. Staff-led activities run 10am to 3pm on most dates, while on Sundays and Friday 3 April families can still enjoy self-led activities 10am to 5pm. The event includes medieval arms and armour, character encounters, craft sessions and a trail through the Medieval Life Gallery. It is a nice pick for children who like dressing up, making things and getting stuck into stories rather than just walking round displays.

6) Made in Norwich: Easter Family Fun at the Museum of Norwich
Another good city option is Made in Norwich: Easter Family Fun at the Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell. Activities run from Saturday 28 March to Saturday 11 April, 10am to 4.30pm, with the museum closed on Sundays and Mondays. Families can make a paper Easter bonnet, follow an Easter trail around the museum and, on Tuesday 31 March and Tuesday 7 April, there are special object-handling sessions from 10.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 3.30pm. It is a smart choice for younger children who enjoy making things, and it also gives the day a bit more substance than a simple craft drop-in.

7) Easter Crafts Children’s Workshop at Ancient House, Thetford
If you want something smaller, cheaper and more hands-on, Ancient House Museum of Thetford Life has an Easter Crafts Children’s Workshop on Wednesday 1 April. There are three bookable sessions: 11am to 12pm, 1pm to 2pm and 2.30pm to 3.30pm. Children will make Easter crafts including a wooden egg decoration and a rabbit card, and the workshop is just £2 per child, including one accompanying adult and museum admission. This one is ideal if you are after a simple Easter activity that feels local, manageable and not too expensive.

8) Somerleyton Hall Gardens Easter Egg Hunt, Somerleyton
Over in North Suffolk, Somerleyton Hall Gardens is running its Easter Egg Hunt 2026 from Wednesday 1 April to Monday 6 April. The event runs 10am to 5pm, with last entry at 3pm, and children receive an Easter egg prize at the end of the trail. Set against the gardens, maze and wider Somerleyton grounds, this feels like a proper Easter day out rather than just a quick hunt and home. It is a lovely one for families who want spring gardens, a bit of space and a more relaxed pace than the bigger attraction sites.

9) The Great EGGS-pedition at Africa Alive, Kessingland
Also in North Suffolk, Africa Alive has The Great EGGS-pedition! running from Saturday 28 March to Monday 13 April. Families are invited to follow a trail map, track down six African eggs and then head to a live animal talk where rangers reveal the mystery species. The site also has a published daily schedule, which is helpful if you are travelling with younger children: 10:00–10:45 ranger meet and greets, 11:45–12:15 Easter Bunny bubble party, 12:30–12:50 comedy magic show, 13:30–14:00 Easter fun and games, 14:30–14:50 comedy magic show and 15:30–16:00 Foam Party Finale. For a full-day wildlife trip near the coast, it is one of the standout picks this Easter.

10) The Little Mermaid – Easter Panto at Marina Theatre, Lowestoft
If you fancy mixing up the usual egg hunt routine with a theatre trip, Marina Theatre in Lowestoft has The Little Mermaid – Easter Panto on Monday 30 March at 2pm and 6pm. It is a proper family panto with songs, audience participation and plenty of silliness, which makes it a good option for a treat day in the holidays or something to build a seaside lunch around. Not every Easter outing has to involve mud, chocolate and a scavenger hunt, and this is a nice reminder that a holiday show can be just as memorable.

So if you are trying to fill the diary over the Easter break, there is no shortage of local options. You can go big with a zoo or wildlife park, keep it traditional with a garden egg hunt, or opt for crafts and museum sessions if you want something a bit calmer. The main thing this year is that there are plenty of genuinely local choices across Norfolk, Norwich and North Suffolk, so you can plan a family day out without travelling far at all.