Easter in the Peak District is a magical time; spring is in the air, the buds are in bloom, it’s lambing season, and with the rise in temperatures and longer daylight hours, it’s a great time to get out on a family walk or family bike ride.
However, the weather can actually be quite hit or miss. The Peak District has had deep snow this time of year, yet there can also be warm and bright sunny days with your kids running around in shorts and T-shirts! As always, layers are key, and make sure you pack the wellies and hiking boots. Check out our guide for what to take to the Peak District.
This Easter Peak District 2023 page will be kept updated as much as possible, but please check the individual event websites before your visit for any last minute changes.
DATES FOR PEAK DISTRICT EASTER SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 2022 are Saturday 1st April to Sunday 16th April (inclusive of Good Friday and Easter Monday) for schools in Derbyshire, Staffordshire, South Yorkshire and Sheffield.
It is free for all local businesses to be listed in this Peak District Easter what’s on guide. Please email by Friday 24th March if you would like your event included.
Do also check out our top things to do in the Peak District with kids for more general ideas to keep your little ones busy over the Easter holidays.
Check out the events calendar for details on what’s on in the Peak District for families throughout the year.
1. Easter Adventures at Ilam Park
1st to 16th April (10:30 to 15:00)
Click here for more information
This spring, treat your family to an Easter adventure at Peak District National Trust properties. Strut your stuff like a bird, try welly wanging, check out a bee’s eye view, spot birds using binoculars, enjoy some chilled out cloud spotting and lots more. Make your way along the trail and find 10 nature inspired activities for the whole family.
The price of the trail is £3 per child and includes the trail activities, pencil, activity leaflet to take home and a Rainforest Alliance certified chocolate egg at the end.
2. Easter egg hunt at Longshaw Estate
1st to 16th April (10:30 to 15:00)
Click here for more information
Make your way along the trail and find nature-inspired activities for the whole family. The trail takes place between 1st – 16th April 2023, from 10:00 to 15:30, with last entry at 14:30, so come along and explore the beautiful woods and moorland of Longshaw. The price of the trail is £3 per child and includes an activity sheet, pencil and a chocolate egg at the end.
3. Easter egg hunt at Lyme Park
1st to 16th April (10:30 to 16:00 for Lyme Park)
Click here for more information on Lyme Park
Make your way along the trail and find nature-inspired activities for the whole family. The trail takes place between 1st – 16th April 2023, with last entry at 4.30pm, so get your wellies on and hunt around the garden for Easter games and things to do. Prices are £3 per trail which includes an Easter trail sheet, pencil, bunny ears and Rainforest Alliance Certified dairy or vegan and Free From* chocolate egg.
*Suitable for people with milk, egg, gluten, peanut and tree nut allergies.
4. Severn Trent Easter Trails
Severn Trent are organising Easter Trails at Carsington Water and Tittesworth Reservoir from 1st April to 16th April (10am to 4pm). An Easter Trail at Ladybower Reservoir is yet to be announced.
Carsington Water
Click here for further information
The Easter Bunny has left a trail of eggs around Stone’s Island at Carsington Water. Follow the route to find the eggs and answer the questions. Once completed return to the café/ restaurant/ RSPB shop to receive your prize! (Non-chocolate alternatives will be available.)
No need to pre book, just come to the Visitor Centre to buy your activity sheet. £3 per trail sheet, each completed trail sheet will receive one prize. The trail follows Stone’s Island Trail which is a 1.5km (1 mile) loop which is pushchair friendly. The trail runs daily from 10am to 4pm
Combine your visit with a bike ride around Carsington Water or the classic Carsington Water walk.
Tittesworth Reservoir
Click here for further information
The Easter Bunny has also left a trail of eggs around the Foster’s Trail at Tittesworth Water. Follow the route to find the eggs and answer the questions. Once completed return to the Visitor Centre to receive your prize! (Non-chocolate alternatives will be available.)
No need to pre book, just come to the Visitor Centre to buy your activity sheet. £3 per trail sheet, each completed trail sheet will receive one prize. The trail follows Foster’s Trail which is a 3km (2 mile) loop which is pushchair friendly. The trail runs daily from 10am to 4pm.
Combine your visit with the pram friendly Tittesworth Reservoir walk or The Roaches walk is not too far away.
5. Lambing at Blaze Farm
Saturday 1st April to Sunday 16th April (closed Monday 3rd, Tuesday 4th and Tuesday 11th April)
Full 1 hour slots at 10-11am, 11.15am-12.15pm, 1-2pm, 2.15-3.15pm or 3.30-4.30pm.
£5 per adult and children from 2 years old, £1 for children under 2 years old – no concessions. Maximum of 30 people per session.
Click here to book and more info
The annual lambing experience at Blaze Farm is about seeing at first hand the wonder of a ewe giving birth to her lambs and observing how she cares and feeds her family thereafter.
Please note that there are no opportunities to feed a lamb. Baby lambs are much better off being cared for by their mother’s, which is natures way. The only lambs that are hand fed are the ‘Kade’ lambs (lambs waiting for new mummies) and they get fed by the farmers using the multi-feeder whilst they’re waiting.
However, handling of the lambs is possible. Please be calm and patient, wear a disposable apron, take a seat, and a lamb will be handed to you by one of the vet students or helpers. Wash hands thoroughly afterwards using the hand washing facilities provided (hand sanitiser is not an adequate substitute).
Please refer to the Blaze Farm website for safety information. It is recommended that you wash your wellies before entering the lambing shed. Also, if you’re pregnant or think you might be pregnant, you must not enter the lambing shed or come into close contact with any animal that is giving birth or has recently given birth. Furthermore, dogs are not allowed on the Blaze Farm nature trail in the month of April.
6. Easter fun at Heights of Abraham
Open every day over the Easter holidays
Read our guide to Heights of Abraham
Head to Heights of Abraham in Matlock Bath for some Easter Weekend family fun and help the Easter Bunny find his friends! Follow the trail and spot the bonkers bunnies hiding across the estate. Some of the bunnies will be holding letters to make a magic word. Work out the magic word and then find the Easter Bunny who will be hopping around the summit, whisper it in his ear and receive a tasty treat!
And whilst you’re looking for bunnies, take a visit to the show caverns, ride the cable car, and go crazy in one of the two adventure playgrounds!
7. Thornbridge at Easter
1st to 16th April, 10am to 4pm
Pre-book your garden entry online for 20% off
Read our guide to Thornbridge Gardens
Spring into the new season at Thornbridge Gardens as the daffodils, bluebells, and tulips join us once again! Kids can also enjoy the giant sandpit, basketball, swing ball, and of course the famous net-a-duck.
Easter activities include:
- Easter Egg Garden Trail with prizes
- Easter Crafts and competitions
- Tasty Easter treats
- Kids Plant Potting station
- Meet The Animals, pet a Pigmy goat, piglet or one of the Estate’s sheep, and maybe a lamb!
8. Memories of the 1940s at Crich Tramway Museum
9th to 10th April 2023 (although open every day over the Easter holidays)
Read our guide to Crich Tramway Museum
Crich Tramway Museum has reopened for the year and on Sunday 9th April and Monday 10th April they are holding a ‘Memories of the 1940s’ event.
“Take a step back in time to 1940s Britain on the Homefront, with entertainment, re-enactors, children’s bootcamps and a morale boosting visit from our ‘Winston Churchill'”.
9. Easter fun at Matlock Farm Park
Matlock Farm Park is a lovely day out for young families – feeding animals, playgrounds, pony rides, go-karts and much more – and one of the top things to do in Matlock.
Over the Easter weekend they have some great family events lined up that are free with farm park entry. Book farm park tickets online or simply pay on arrival on the day.The park is open 10am to 5pm on these days.
The Snow Sisters!
Friday 7th April 10:30-4:30
And they’re back, by popular demand….
Time to channel your inner Anna and Elsa and join in with the fantastic Snow Sisters’ Singalong shows!! Throughout the day at five showtimes, the sisters will be singing their well known songs for you to join in with on the Rainforest lawn, followed by meet & greet photo opportunities.
Come along and let it go!!
Jurassic Fun Day!
Friday 9th April 10:30-4:30
A ROOAAAARING Time! Come along and get involved in some fantastic dinosaur fun this Easter Sunday!
Learn about Rita the great T-Rex and other baby dinosaurs at outdoor shows throughout the day, see them wander the park to get up close for photos and maybe hop aboard the Jurassic themed bus for games and dig site fun.
The BIG Bubbleman!
Friday 10th April 10:30-4:30
Don’t miss this BUBBLE SPECTACULAR!!
The Big Bubbleman, his bubble mill, wands and special potions make the most AMAZING bubbles! Whether it’s monster bubbles the size of a CAR, or swirling clouds of smaller bubbles being chased by happy children, this is pure joy!
Children also have the opportunity to make their own big bubbles or create smaller multi-coloured bubbles with hoops and trays of bubble liquid.
10. Chatsworth Estate
As well as the Farmyard and Adventure Playground reopening for Easter holidays, Chatsworth are also doing a could of family events: ‘Witch’s garden: folklore and potions’, and ‘Children’s paper posies workshop’.
The Farmyard and Adventure playground
The Farmyard and Adventure playground at Chatsworth re-open for the Easter holidays and there are usually extra activities laid on for families. Details to be announced soon.
Whilst visiting the Farmyard and Adventure playground, you may want to try our Chatsworth Hunting Tower walk or our pram friendly Baslow to Edensor walk through the Estate.
Witch’s garden: folklore and potions
4th, 5th, 11th and 12th April, (10.30am to 12pm)
£6 per child | £2.50 per adult
All children must be accompanied by an adult. Max 1 adult per child
Click here for full details
Explore the Kitchen and Cutting Garden and discover which plants have been used through the ages for spells and magic. Children will be able to pick some ingredients to create their very own potion, before casting a ‘magic spell’ by the wishing tree.
The event will take place at the Chatsworth Stickyard, which is located in Stand Wood near the farmyard. Please note, there is a fairly steep incline to reach the venue
Children’s paper posies workshop
3rd April and 11th April (10.30am to 12pm and 1pm to 2.30pm)
£7.50 per child | £2.50 per adult
All children must be accompanied by an adult. Max 1 adult per child
Click here for full details
Have fun learning how to make a posy of bright spring flowers using paper and card. You will learn how to create petals, leaves and stems and assemble these to form colourful, seasonal flowers. Create a pretty posy and display them in a pot that you will decorate – it’s the perfect way to brighten up your home for Easter.
Each child must be accompanied by one paying adult and your creations will be yours to take home and keep. Children must be able to use scissors and glue.
This workshop will take place in the Old Potting Shed in the garden. Please park in the main car park – parking is included with your ticket – before meeting a member of the learning team at the top garden entrance next to the Stables 10 minutes before the session starts.
11. Lego build sessions at Brick Corner, Buxton
Something on every day from 1st to 15th April
Click here for further info and to book
If your kids are Lego fans, then a visit to the family-run Brick Corner café in Buxton is an absolute must. Here there are boxes galore of Lego for your kids to play with and let their imaginations go wild, whilst parents sit back with a coffee and slice of cake in peace (although by all means, there are no age limits if parents want to get involved!)
And over the Easter holidays, there are Lego robotic and coding sessions to get involved in. These are 90 mins (approx.) sessions where kids follow a guided Lego build, and then code their build to move!
This is one of our top things to do in Buxton with kids.
12. Family activities at White Hall Outdoor Activity Centre
For ages 6-8: 3rd to 6th April and 11th to 12th April
For ages 9-13: 3rd to 6th April
Click here to book and for further details
Click here for our review of White Hall Outdoor Centre
White Hall Outdoor Centre, just outside Buxton, are running outdoor adventure days for children aged 6 to 13 years olds. There are two packages to sign up for:
Activities on offer:
- High and low ropes
- Zip wires
- Climbing walls
- Mountain biking
- Orienteering
- Artificial cave
- Problem solving
- Shelter building
13. Play LAB in Rowsley
Open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
Every weekday of Easter holidays until 14 April 2023
Tickets are FREE, but please book in advance – click here to book
Experience creative play both in the physical and digital world at Play LAB in Rowsley! Fill the room with 3D digital shapes and play with digital toys, in a laboratory like you’ve never seen before.
Play LAB uses large scale projection, screen-based visuals and physical objects. Once you have finished your lab experience, create your own colouring masterpiece to take home or have it added to the digital world.
And the best bit… it’s FREE!
14. Spring Spectacular at Gulliver’s Kingdom Matlock
Click here for full details
Gulliver’s Kingdom Matlock is a top attraction in Matlock Bath and a fantastic theme park for younger kids.
Join the Easter Bunny and Candy Crew for mad-cap antics and candy activities this April at Gulliver’s. Discover Lollipop Trees, Colossal Candy Canes and take some Sweet Selfies along the way.
The Easter Bunny will be making special appearances plus you’ll be able to take part in brand-new family games and attractions, all with a candy-themed twist.
And that’s it for Peak District Easter 2023 events announced so far. Please email if you have any to add.
You may also like to read:
Short family walks in the Peak District
Best family bike rides in the Peak District
Top things to do in the Peak District with kids