Press Release 27 March 2017

Top Ten Things to Do in Wiltshire this Easter

Take time out this Easter and visit Wiltshire – a timeless county with lots of family-friendly things to do! VisitWiltshire have put together their top 10 things to do to for a short break away or day out for the family, including what’s on, attractions to visit and places to stay!

What’s On

Easter Egg Hunts… of course
Why not take part in one of the Easter Egg Hunts that will be happening around the county including at the National Trust properties of Stourhead and Mompesson House. 
Bowood House & Gardens will be opening for their new 2017 season on 1 April and they have an Easter Bunny Trail running from Friday 14 – Monday 17 April.

Steaming Hot Events
Hop aboard the Easter Egg-spress and meet the Easter Bunny as he travels on the Swindon & Cricklade Railway where children will each receive a chocolate egg. Visit Crofton Beam Engines for their Easter steaming weekend from Saturday 15 – Monday 17 April.

Chocolate Making and Tasting
Sample some treats at an Easter chocolate tasting workshop at Goodfayre in Cross Keys Arcade, Salisbury. Children both big and small will enjoy the chance to taste chocolate from around the world.

Sporting Fun
If you fancy some non-stop racing car action, then the Spring Action Day at Castle Combe Circuit on Saturday 8 April is a must. It’s the official start to the performance car season with drifting demos and passenger rides. Petrol heads will love it! The Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race is taking place over Easter weekend is where visitors can see canoeists begin their gruelling journey in Devizes along the Kennet & Avon Canal. Look out for children’s TV star Steve Backshall who is taking part this year! 

Live Theatre Shows
Experience the dangers and delights of Dinosaur World in the interactive show taking place at Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre from Wednesday 19 – Thursday 20 April. Suitable for ages 3+. Don’t forget to check out Salisbury Playhouse, Salisbury Arts Centre, The Pound Arts Centre and Wiltshire Music Centre for additional ideas.

Religious Events
Salisbury Cathedral will be holding various services during the Holy Week. The Churches Conservation Trust’s Imber Church has its Easter Open Days from Friday 14 – Monday 17 April from 11am – 4pm. This is a rare opportunity to visit the ‘lost’ village of Imber in the heart of Salisbury Plain. 

Attractions to Visit

Spring Babies and Family Fun
A number of Wiltshire attractions have plenty of new animals born at this time of year including Roves Farm, Cholderton Charlie’s Farm and Studley Grange Butterfly World and Craft Village.   

Longleat’s New Marvellous Monsters
Open from Saturday 8 April, visitors can look out for the swarm of Marvellous Monsters, 20+ larger-than-life animatronic bugs, which will be taking over the park in order to raise awareness for the need to conserve these species. Visitors will come face to face (or maybe eye to antennae) with these humongous creepy crawlies and get a brand new perspective on these bizarre but fascinating creatures. 

Museums in Wiltshire 
Trowbridge Museum will be running various craft activities for young children over the Easter holidays including making delicate daffodils and woolly lambs! Wiltshire Museum in Devizes will be offering textiles and felt-making activities suitable for ages 11 and under on Wednesday 19 April and The Salisbury Museum will be giving you the chance to help make a giant mosaic for Easter followed by storytelling and an Easter archaeology trail on Saturday 15 April.

Rainy Day Fun
Take a trip to The Merchant’s House on Marlborough High Street and learn about the conservation of this impressive 17th century house. Find the clues and crack the codes at Salisbury Escape Rooms or 11th Hour Escape Rooms. Enjoy a spot of ‘indoor’ retail therapy at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Swindon or Cross Keys Arcade in Salisbury. Improve your culinary skills at one of the Wiltshire cookery schools, Vaughan’s Cookery School, Lucknam Park Cookery School or The Farm Cookery School.

Places to Stay

Beechfield House, near Melksham, is offering a two-night B&B break including chocolate Easter surprises and free entry to the Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday morning. Offer available Friday 14 – Monday 17 April from £195 per room per night based on two sharing with kids going free!

Swindon Marriott Hotel, a large good value family hotel will be serving a delicious Easter lunch on Sunday 16 April. Standard double rooms on B&B basis start from £65 per room per night. Easter lunch is £21.95 per adult and £9.95 per child.

Woolley Grange Hotel, Bradford on Avon, not only offers great family accommodation but also has a special Easter Afternoon Tea and Bunny Trail throughout April. Double rooms on B&B basis start from £130 per room per night. Afternoon tea from £21.50 for adults and £6.95 for children under 10 years old.

For details of all our Easter Special Offers please click here. 

There is so much more to see and do in Wiltshire. Don’t forget to check out the VisitWiltshire website - it’s a great place to find out more: 
•    What’s On -  www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/whats-on
•    Accommodation -  www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/accommodation
•    Special Offers - www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/special-offers

Please note offers are subject to availability and terms and conditions may apply. To keep up to date follow us on Twitter @VisitWiltshire #timeforwiltshire and like us on Facebook.

For further information or to arrange a press visit please contact Florence Wallace, Travel Trade & PR Manager, flowallace@visitwiltshire.co.uk Tel: 01722 341309 or 07436 588860 

Notes to editors:

VisitWiltshire is the official Destination Management & Marketing Organisation for Wiltshire representing 600 partners. It is a public/private sector membership organisation with our main funder being Wiltshire Council. VisitWiltshire's priority is to grow the county's Visitor Economy by raising awareness of the destination and generating additional tourism visits and spend. Wiltshire's Visitor Economy currently generates an estimated £1.5billion and supports over 29,000 jobs.

Images from our Time for Wiltshire Spring album can be downloaded from our Flickr gallery via this link - https://www.flickr.com/gp/129320754@N03/F64WP1 and Timeless Pleasures album via this link - https://www.flickr.com/gp/129320754@N03/24Rz30. Photos may be used in print and/or online for the promotion of tourism to Wiltshire and any photos used must be credited to www.visitwiltshire.co.uk, unless otherwise stated in the title of the photo. Full terms and conditions can be found here.