Easter traditionally marks the start of the British holiday season, and with the weather showing signs of significant improvement, families throughout the country have got the perfect excuse to get out and enjoy themselves this April.

We know how difficult it can be to keep the whole family entertained on a day out or short break. That’s why we’ve created a superb round-up of special Easter events, exciting activities and astounding attractions to keep everyone busy. We’ve also included a selection of special Easter accommodation offers and attraction discounts, to help visitors make the most of their trip to Bristol without breaking the bank.

Take a look at just a couple of the highlights below, or for more information log on to Bristol’s official visitor information web site www.visitbristol.co.uk.

EASTER SCHOOL HOLIDAY

2 – 18 APRIL 2010

Easter Eggstravaganza

Bristol Zoo Gardens, Clifton

Get eggcited this Easter by taking part in the Easter Egg Hunt around the Zoo. The Easter Bunny and Spring Bear will also be making a special appearance (2 – 5 April).

Get Animated

At-Bristol, Harbourside

With lots of models and props to see, including a set from Aardman’s latest Wallace & Gromit animation, A Matter of Loaf and Death, Animate It! at At-Bristol will take you on a journey through animation past, present and future.

Easter at Brunel’s ss Great Britain

Brunel’s ss Great Britain, Harbourside

Explore the fun Easter Animal Trail on board the ship. The best children’s drawings win prizes (2 – 5 April).

Easter Egg Trails

Tyntesfield, Wraxall

Enjoy fun trails and activities throughout the grounds of Tyntesfield Estate. Make spring crafts in the Sawmill and follow Easter egg trails which will be supported by Cadbury (11 am – 3 pm).

Easter Family Activities

Fleet Air Arm Museum, Somerset

Everyday throughout the Easter period there will be a variety of special activities for you and your

family to enjoy, from daily Easter Egg Trails to Family Activity Egg Drops, where you and your family can design and build your own parachute for an egg.

Travel by Train or Coach

Visitors to Bristol who travel on First Great Western trains or National Express coaches can now take advantage of money-saving 2For1 offers and discounts at Bristol attractions, hotels, restaurants and events. Simply pick up a leaflet at the station or log on to http://visitbristol.co.uk/site/things-to-do/easter-in-bristol to find out more.

For more information on any of the events covered, go to the city’s official tourism website www.visitbristol.co.uk or call the Tourist Information Centre on 0333 321 0101.

Essential Italy are pleased to offer this Easter weekend rate at this beautiful 4 star hotel on the Amalfi Coast.

Offer: 3 Nights / 4 Days, from Friday 2nd April to Monday 5th April, 2010 for just £470 per person

The “Happy Easter” Package includes:

- Welcome drink

- Fruit Basket and a bottle of Spumante in the room

- B&B arrangement in a classic room

- Easter Gift

- Easter Lunch on the Sunday 4th April (drinks excluded)

- Buffet lunch on Monday 5th April (drinks excluded)

- Children 0-12 years old free in parent’s room (lunch and dinner extra)

Hotel Relais Oasi Olimpia, Sant’Agata - http://www.essentialitaly.co.uk/oasi_olimpia_relais.php

This lovely building has been in the owner’s family for many years, and just six years ago was restored into a luxurious retreat. The house is located in private gardens and is just a short walk form the charming town of Sant’Agata sui due Golfi, where there are bars, pizzerias and even a Michelin star restaurant (Don Alfonso).

The hotel boasts it’s own wonderful restaurant and in the summer months both breakfast and dinner are served on the terrace. The restaurant kitchen also allows guests to experience ‘hands-on’ cookery lessons.

The 11 rooms are all on the first and second floors and are a mixture of classic, suites and one penthouse suite on the top floor complete with huge private terrace and outdoor jacuzzi pool. The rooms are beautifully decorated and spacious and all have external terraces, with chairs and table, and views across to either the Sorrento or the Positano coastline.

The pool is set in the gardens and is the perfect place to relax after a day out exploring this fascinating area of Italy.

Location: Sant’Agata 1km walking distance, Sorrento 10kms, Positano 20kms, Naples 50kms

Enjoy an Easter with a difference and a great Pine Sunday too, by helping one of the Lake District’s most colourful characters – Sammy the Squirrel – hunt for the treasured pine cones that he hid before going into hibernation!

Sammy – mascot of iconic Lake District cruise company, Ullswater ‘Steamers’ – hid a stash of pine cones in various locations around his favourite lake before the hard, long winter set in. The hungry red squirrel is now eager to find them again, but needs the help of children and their families.

Anyone travelling with Ullswater ‘Steamers’ between April 3 and 20 can help locate a pine cone, and win a prize, by finding the clues on wildlife cards hidden in the ‘Steamers’ Lake Guides. They can then head to the online competition page at www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk to enter their answer and potentially win one of 50 prizes.

Ullswater ‘Steamers’, in conjunction with the Lake District conservation and nature project, Flora of the Fells, will also be running a real treasure hunt around Ullswater on April 15.

Prizes will be available on the day to those heading to the Ullswater ‘Steamers’ pier at Glenridding and signing up for the treasure hunt, by paying a £1 donation to conservation in the Lake District. Each entrant who returns a ticket with one of the hidden pine cones will win a prize, with up to 40 prizes available.

Both fun treasure hunts will enable visitors to learn more about local wildlife, as the wildlife cards highlight some of the characteristics of Red Squirrels, Holly Blue butterflies, Oyster Catchers, Nut Hatches and the Marsh Marigold.

Ullswater ‘Steamers’ cruises will be operating as usual throughout Easter, providing an idyllic cruise in some of Britain’s most stunning scenery. A return trip cruise lasting 70-minutes, from either Glenridding at the foot of the lake, or Pooley Bridge at its top, to Howtown costs £9.00 for an adult, £4.50 for a child, or £24.00 for a family.

A family ticket covers two adults and up to three children (aged 5-15) or one adult and three children. Under 5s travel free.

To find out how to make your Easter revolve around pine cones rather than eggs, visit www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk or call 01768 82229.

A whole host of Easter events are taking place across The National Forest.

In the Easter Holidays there will be two Wildlife Watch drop-in sessions for families at Rosliston Forestry Centre. Between 2-4pm on Tuesday 6 April “Fantastic Frogs” is an opportunity to learn about the life cycle of a frog and make a mobile to take home. The following Tuesday 13 April there will be fun pond dipping to discover what lies beneath the surface of the flight pond. All equipment is provided. Wildlife Watch sessions also take place at the centre every Tuesday afternoon in half term and summer holidays.

Visitors to Rosliston Forestry Centre can embark on an Easter Egg Hunt on Monday 5 April. This kicks off a whole range of holiday fun, including drop-in sessions (2-4pm) to try out the following activities:
• Climbing wall and Bushcraft Day on 7 April
• Laser Combat on 8 April
• Archery on 12 April

Twycross Zoo’s new Visitor Welcome Centre “Himalaya” opens for Easter. This world-class building is a landmark for the East Midlands Region and a visitor attraction in itself. Enjoy a meal in the restaurant with views overlooking the Himalayan landscape themed Snow Leopard enclosure. The new visitor centre will host Himalaya – a Wildlife and Wilderness Watercolour Artist Exhibition from Friday 2 to Tuesday 6 April. And from Friday 2 to Monday 5 April the zoo will have its ‘Going Ape’ exhibition with activities and information on apes. Visitors will also be invited to join in the Easter Bunny Zoo Trail.

Conkers has a fortnight of family fun from Friday 2 to Sunday 18 April with Easter Egg orienteering hunts, ranger tours and lots more. Nick Spellman, the animal man, is back as are the dream ponies and circus workshops. For more information visit the website www.visitconkers.com Based upon life in a British woodland and with more than one hundred indoor and outdoor activities themed around Forest life and the environment, families enjoy hours of fun at Conkers.

Easter is a fantastic time to visit Calke Abbey as it is lambing time. Visitors can see the young lambs close up and meet the wardens as they care for the flock. Children will love the Easter Trail, sponsored by Cadbury’s, running from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 April (11:30am–3.30pm), which leads to an Easter prize.

Swadlincote Ski and Snowboard Centre has Kids Easter Fun Activity Days from Friday 2 to Friday 16 April (11am-5pm). These include skiing or snowboard lessons, tobogganing, Sno-Tubing, lunch, certificate and badge for just £25.50. Pre-booking is essential for these popular sessions.

The centre will also be hosting an Easter Extravaganza from Friday 2 to Monday 5 April where visitors can have a half hour ski or snowboard taster lesson for just £5, toboggan for just £1 per ride, Sno-Tubing for £2 per 15 minute session or ski or snowboard open practice just £5 per hour. Other events include a family quiz night on Thursday 15 April with fantastic ski centre prizes. There will then be a Freestyle Competition on Saturday 24 April with skiers and boarders welcome and excellent live bands.

As well as these special Easter activities, The National Forest contains a wealth of things to do and see throughout the whole year. For more information on attractions, activities, events and places to stay in and around The National Forest, the 2010 visitor guides to the Forest and Beyond are bursting with great ideas. These are available from Tourist Information Centres or from the National Forest Company.

The National Forest spans more than 200 square miles across parts of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire and is one of England’s most ambitious environmental projects – to create a new Forest for the nation. Already more than seven and a half million trees have been planted in The National Forest, which offers more than 700 miles of paths to explore in over 400 woodlands. The gentle undulating landscape is perfect for walking, cycling and horse-riding. And through the creation of new habitats, The National Forest is an ideal location for bird and wildlife watching.

The Easter period is always a popular time for a few days away. This year, Easter at the start (April 2 – April 5) when hopefully Spring will have had a chance to set in and the weather warmed up. For families, the Easter School Holidays means plenty of time to enjoy some of the amazing destinations and attractions the UK has to offer. Short break specialist, Superbreak (www.superbreak.com) has a range of excellent packages available over the Easter period for couples and families alike!

FAMILIES

Outdoor family fun in Wales – £349 per family of four. From orienteering and archery, to laser clay shooting and a special junior Rangers club for the kids, there is enough tranquil or adrenaline filled activities at the Bluestone holiday park to keep everyone entertained, whatever their age. Set in 500 acres of natural splendor, largely within the renowned Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Bluestone is a new generation holiday village and comprises of 182 stylish, comfortable timber lodges set around a private village boasting a pub, restaurants, wine bar, shops and a superb holistic spa – all for the exclusive use of staying guests. Visitors to Bluestone can also make a splash at the amazing Blue Lagoon waterpark, work up a sweat at the state-of-the-art Landsker Sports Club, or choose from a wide array of activities both on and off-site. Under 12’s can try their first Off Road Safari or learn how to build shelters in Bushcraft with the rest of the family. Under 6’s can try a Princess & Pirates party or a Teddy Bears picnic. Priced from £349 per family of four staying in a lodge on a self catering basis for three nights arriving 2 April.

Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate at Cadbury World – from £187 per family of four – Everyone loves Easter Eggs at Easter so why not go one further with a chocolate themed day out at Cadbury World in Birmingham. With hands-on fun, interactive zones and the chance to get close to real liquid Cadbury chocolate this really is a better day in, than most days out. Packages are priced from £187 per family of four includes two night’s accommodation at the three star Jurys Inn Birmingham (two adults and two children sharing a room) and a one day entry pass to Cadbury World. Breakfast is included for the adults, children pay locally. Valid Friday to Sunday in April.

Animal Magic in Hertfordshire – £138 per family of four – Take the kids to Paradise Wildlife Park in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire and get up close and personal with tigers, lions, monkeys, zebras, reptiles, birds and camels. What makes Paradise unique is the fact you can touch and feed many of the animals. Paradise is widely regarded as the most interactive zoo in the UK. A family of four can stay one night at the four star Marriott Cheshunt, just two miles from the park from just £138. Price includes breakfast for the adults, children pay locally and entrance to the park for the family. Based on 2 or 3 April arrivals.
COUPLES

Love Never Dies theatre night in London – from £149pp – Come to London this Easter and enjoy a night out at the theatre seeing Andrew Lloyd Webbers latest show that has just opened, Love Never Dies which continues the story of the Phantom of The Opera 10 years on. Packages cost from £149 per person staying one night at the newly opened four star Pestana Hotel Chelsea Bridge including breakfast and a top priced ticket to see Love Never Die. Valid on Friday 2 April. Saturday 3 April also available at £156pp. Based on two sharing.

Chill out with a three night trip to Chester – £125pp – Combine a trip to this historic city of Chester with a relaxing stay at the four star Mollington Banastre Hotel. Located just one and a half miles from the city itself, the hotel has a choice of restaurants, the elegant Garden Room or the relaxed Brasserie, both offering excellent cuisine and good service. Other facilities include a leisure club with swimming pool, gym, squash court, aerobic studio and beauty spa. A stay costs from just £125per person including full breakfast. Valid for a arrivals on 2 April and based on two sharing.

For more information and bookings call Superbreak 01904 644455
or visit www.superbreak.com

EASTER ESCAPE TO 15th CENTURY SWAN HOTEL AT LAVENHAM, SUFFOLK

Escape this Easter to the beautiful 15th century Swan at Lavenham, a country retreat in the heart of Suffolk’s rolling countryside. The historic hotel is offering two night Easter weekend breaks between 2 and 5 April from £240 per person including a delicious three course dinner in the two AA rosette Gallery Restaurant and a full Suffolk breakfast both days.

The special Easter offer is based on two sharing an enchanting double or twin classic room; guests staying a third night on Good Friday or Easter Monday can enjoy dinner B&B for just £60 per person.

Steeped in history, the Swan has served as a hostelry for nearly 600 years, ancient oak beams and inglenook fireplaces blend with rich furnishings and modern luxuries, while outstanding food is served in the restaurant, informal lounges and the historic Old Bar, which boasts a wonderful collection of World War II memorabilia.

To book call the Swan Hotel at Lavenham on 01787 247477 or email bookaroom@theswanatlavenham.co.uk; details can also be found on www.theswanatlavenham.co.uk.

Macdonald Hotels & Resorts Partners with Thorntons Chocolates!

Up to 50% off plus £10 Voucher across all hotels AND Thornton’s Chocolate up for grabs at selected hotels

Leading family friendly hotel group, Macdonald Hotels & Resorts, has launched a cracking good offer for Easter.
Perfect for families looking to enjoy an Easter holidays break in the UK, Macdonald Hotels is offering up to 50% off rates for stays between 31 March and 25 April 2010.
Available at each of Macdonald Hotels’ 40 four and five star properties in the UK, families can not only take advantage of the fantastic discounts, but will also receive a £10 voucher per room, per night, which can be redeemed against a choice of golf, spa or dinner at their chosen hotel.
Included in the offer, two children up to the age of 12 will stay for free and go free at breakfast.
And if that wasn’t enough, the offer coincides with Macdonald Hotels’ partnership with Thorntons, the nation’s favourite chocolate company, who together are offering Thorntons Metropolitan Easter eggs and boxes of Metropolitan chocolates – the newest range of must-have chocolates – at selected hotels.

Available at selected hotels including, Aviemore Highland Resort, Forest Hills Hotel & Resort, Craxton Wood, Elmers Court Hotel & Resort, Berystede Hotel & Spa and Linden Hall Golf & Country Club, each property will be giving away three sets, comprising of a Metropolitan Easter egg and box of Metropolitan chocolates.

The up to 50% off plus a £10 voucher per room, per night is available at all Macdonald Hotels on bookings placed between 25 February and 25 April 2010 for stays between 31 March and 25 April.

To book this offer please call Central Reservations on 0844 879 9200 or visit www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/egg, quoting promotional code EAM. Terms and conditions apply.
To check out some of the other delicious chocolates in the Thorntons Easter range, or to find your nearest store, visit www.thorntons.co.uk

Chocolate Fact Box:
• The first Thorntons chocolate shop was opened in Sheffield by Joseph William Thornton
• Thorntons have been making chocolates for over 100 years and are now the UK’s largest independent confectioner
• Chocolates should be kept at room temperature (between 18-20ºc) and not in the fridge!
• If you’re tasting lots of chocolate varieties, sip a little water or lime juice between pieces as this will cleanse your palate
• Depending on the type of cocoa bean used, you should be able to pick up sweet, spicy, fruity, flowery, grassy, nutty or even woody aromas from your chocolate

The Columbia Beach Resort, one of Cyprus’s most exclusive hotels located in the secluded Bay of Pissouri, and sister Columbia Beachotel next door, are both offering a special five night short break for the Easter weekend. With selected spa treatments in its award-winning* Columbia Spa the packages also give visitors the chance to experience the celebrations and culture of the Greek Orthodox religious feast that is celebrated island-wide.

This year orthodox Easter is celebrated the same week as Catholic and Anglican Easter and it’s a great time of year to visit Cyprus when the weather is warm and the island vibrant with spring flowers.

Located on the south west coast of Cyprus the two hotels owned by Columbia Hotels & Resorts are close to the traditional village of Pissouri situated on the hills above the bay. Here visitors can get a taste of the cultural festivals of Easter week. Just as the UK celebrates with hot cross buns in Cyprus it’s customary to cook Easter breads such as Flaounes and Tsoureki. It is also the tradition to dye eggs red (in memory of the blood of Christ), also blue, yellow and green which are displayed in bowls and baskets throughout Easter.

On Good Friday in villages across Cyprus there is a candlelit procession through the streets and on to local churches. Then on Easter Saturday an open air mass takes place at midnight and visitors to either the Columbia Beach Resort or the Beachotel will have a complimentary transfer to the local church in Pissouri village to participate.

After Midnight Mass it’s back to the Columbia Beach Resort and Beachotel for a traditional Mayiritsa dinner. The 40 days of fasting of Lent are broken by eating a special Easter soup of lamb combined with the dyed-red eggs, the traditional breads and cheese pies. Then Easter Sunday is a time for fun and celebrations in all villages. Family and friends eat together on long tables through the streets and eat lamb cooked on a spit. Guests of both hotels will enjoy a similar Easter Sunday lunch prepared by renowned chefs.

The five night stay in Pissouri Bay concludes with a trip to the village of Omodhos, about 800 ms above sea level, founded in the Byzantine era and famous for its monastery and winery. Here a walk along the cobbled streets and little alleyways with their local arts and crafts is a good way to experience Cyprus off the main tourist trail.

Easter Packages:

• 5 nights accommodation in a Junior Suite (Resort) Standard Side Sea view Room (Beachotel)
• Transfer to and from Pissouri Village for Midnight Mass on Easter Saturday
• Traditional Mayiritsa Dinner after Mass
• Easter Sunday lunch
• 1 Relaxing massage or 1 Body Scrub per person
• A trip to Omodhos village (3 hours)

Price for two persons based on shared accommodation:
5 Star Columbia Beach Resort: £1,210/ €1345 (£605 per head)
4 star Columbia Beachotel: £850/ €950 (£425 per head)
Note prices do not include flights. Flights to Cyprus are available through British Airways www.ba.com, Cyprus Airways www.cyprusairways.com and EasyJet www.easyjet.com
The Columbia Spa features a hair salon and fitness facilities including squash and tennis courts, a well-equipped gym and an aerobics hall with regular workout and relaxation sessions. Guests can enjoy therapies from Daniele de Winter (specialists in anti-ageing), Molton Brown spa and the marine-based range Phytomer. The 80m lagoon style pool that flows from the spa through the heart of the Resort provides a place for exercise and relaxation.

Both the Columbia Beach Resort and sister Columbia Beachotel are of traditional Cypriot design with cool marble floors, shutters on the windows and reclaimed terracotta tiles on the roofs. Clever use of planting, wooden features and local stone mean that old and new blend together in a sympathetic but very elegant and luxurious style. For more information visit www.columbia-hotels.com.

Following the phenomenal success of its 2009 tour, Wild Things: Live! is back on the road for Easter 2010. If your kids are bored with the traditional Easter bunnies and chicks, then this roadshow is for them! The interactive experience, presented by SeaWorld and Busch Gardens in Florida, features animal educators bringing up close encounters with a variety of furry, feathered and fanged creatures from around the world including penguins, squirrel monkeys and exotic reptiles. Wild Things: Live! will visit selected shopping centres around the UK & Ireland between Friday 2nd April and Friday 9th April 2010.

The entertaining and educational roadshow gives families a chance to get up close and personal with amazing animals, learn about conservation and have the chance to win a family holiday to Florida to visit SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Aquatica and Discovery Cove.

Wild Things: Live! is free of charge and will run during shopping centre opening hours at the following locations:

Good Friday 2nd April: WESTFIELD, London
Saturday 3rd April: ST DAVIDS, CARDIFF
Easter Monday 5th April: DUNDRUM, DUBLIN
Wednesday 7th April: BUCHANAN GALLERIES, GLASGOW
Thursday 8th April: TRAFFORD CENTRE, MANCHESTER
Friday 9th April: MERRY HILL, BIRMINGHAM

For further details visit www.seaworldparks.co.uk

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to stay in the capital this Easter holiday at a discounted price. Guoman Hotels is offering 50% off at its collection of four luxury four and five-star centrally located hotels: Charing Cross, The Cumberland, The Royal Horseguards and The Tower.

All hotels are perfectly located allowing guests to explore the sites of London with Charing Cross minutes away from theatre land, The Cumberland a stone’s throw away from the array of shops on oxford Street, The Royal Horseguards for sites including the London Eye and Houses of Parliament and The Tower for amazing views of Tower Bridge and St. Katherine’s dock.

Prices start from just £75 per room per night and are based on two adults sharing a double/twin room, on a room only basis. Rates are subject to availability at the time of booking. Offer is valid for bookings made before 18 April 2010 for stays between 26 March 2010 and 18 April 2010, including the bank holiday Easter weekend.

Visit www.guoman.com/eastersale or to make a booking simply contact the reservations office on 087 1971 1790.