The first four-day weekend of the year is upon us, with Easter celebrations set to take place all over the county.

From Easter quests at historic castles to egg hunts in country parks, we’ve got the ultimate guide to a brilliant bank holiday in Kent

GOOD FRIDAY

BROGDALE, Faversham

Over the Easter weekend, there will be an outdoor trail that takes visitors through the orchards full of spring blossom. Follow the trail map, hunt giant Easter eggs and figure out the word quiz to get a chocolate treat at the end. There will also be a chance to see baby farm animals, and maybe even the Easter Bunny if you keep your eyes peeled…

Details: Brogdale Farm, Brogdale Road, Faversham ME13 8XZ. Tickets cost £8.50 for adults, £5 for children. Also takes place on Saturday and Easter Sunday. Book online here.

PENSHURST PLACE, Tonbridge

Experience what it's like to survive in the great outdoors with a host of bushcraft activities. Children can try their hand at challenges such as axe-throwing, archery and bushfire cooking, all with the supervision of expert guides. There will also be an interactive story about the rise and fall of famous Tudor families, all performed by the Historic Legacies cast.

Details: Penshurst Place, Penshurst, Tonbridge TN11 8DG. Activities are free with a standard entry ticket. Also takes place on Easter Sunday. Book online here.

SINDEN THEATRE, Tenterden

Join Dorothy, Toto and the whole gang as they journey over the rainbow and along the yellow brick road this Easter. The spring panto features colourful characters, including the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion, as well as upbeat music, hilarious jokes and bright scenery that will turn the black-and-white Kansas into a technicolour extravaganza.

Details: Sinden Theatre, Ashford Road, Tenterden TN30 6LT. Tickets start from £10. Also takes place on Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. Book online here.

SPA VALLEY RAILWAY, Tunbridge Wells

Interactive theatre returns to Spa Valley over the Easter weekend. The immersive experience begins when you board the train with Little Red Riding Hood to escape the Big Bad Wolf. The train will journey through to Eridge Station, where everyone will help Little Red find the Easter Bunny and can collect a special egg for her Granny. As a thank you, Little Red will then hand out Easter eggs to her friends on the way home.

Details: Tunbridge Wells West Station, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5QY. Tickets cost £15 for adults, £7.50 for children. Also takes place on Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. Book online here.

SATURDAY, APRIL 8

LULLINGSTONE CASTLE AND THE WORLD GARDEN, Swanley

Take part in a fun family quiz in the first event of Lullingstone’s 2023 season. There will be themed clues and questions dotted around the gardens that your family will need to figure out in exchange for a tasty reward at the end - not to mention the chance to meet some friendly Easter characters along the way!

Details: Lullingstone Castle, Dartford DA4 0JA. Tickets cost £12.50 for adults, children go free. Also takes place on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. Book online here.

REUTHE’S LOST GARDEN, Sevenoaks

Enjoy an Easter party for children of all ages on Saturday. The Easter Bunny will be hopping onto the dancefloor for a boogie as the DJ plays the biggest party hits. There will also be games, photo opportunities and a guest appearance from Reuthe’s alpacas, Nuzzle and Scratch. Kids can also take part in the outdoor Easter trail, find clues hidden in the gardens and take a photo with the Easter Bunny.

Details: Reuthe's The Lost Gardens of Sevenoaks, Sevenoaks Road, Seal Chart, Sevenoaks TN15 0HB. Tickets to the Easter party cost £3, tickets to the trail cost £6. Book online here.

WATERSTONES, Folkestone

Children can join a storytelling session on Saturday and listen to We’re Going on an Egg Hunt, by Martha Mumford and Laura Hughes, read aloud. Visitors can then go on their very own egg hunt around the store and guess how many eggs are in the jar to win a prize. There will also be craft activities for children to make their own bunny ears.

Details: Waterstones, 16 Sandgate Road, Folkestone CT20 1DP. This event is free.

CYCLOPARK, Gravesend

Set out on an adventure around the Cyclopark to find all of the letters hidden around the park and win yourself an Easter treat. You can also meet the Easter Bunny and his host of furry friends - the perfect opportunity to snap a family photo. Families can also enter the play park for free.

Details: Cyclopark, The Tollgate, Watling Street, Gravesend DA11 7NP. Tickets cost £5. Also takes place on Good Friday and Easter Monday. Book online here.

EASTER SUNDAY

BELMONT HOUSE AND GARDENS, Faversham

Explore the garden of this beautiful estate, which will be adorned with Easter decorations. There will be wooden eggs waiting to be found all over the garden, and a number of themed crafts and activities taking place inside the Orangery. You can also admire the spring gardens as you hunt for eggs.

Details: Belmont House and Gardens, Belmont Park, Throwley Road, Faversham ME13 0HH. Child tickets cost £6. Book online here.

DOVER CASTLE

Challenge your family to games and see who comes out on top. Dover Castle will be hosting traditional games such as egg rolling and the egg and spoon race, as well as an Easter trail with a chocolate prize at the end. There will also be live music, storytelling sessions and the castle’s sword school.

Details: Dover Castle, Castle Hill Road, Dover CT16 1HU. The Easter trail costs £2 in addition to standard entry. Also takes place on Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Monday. Book online here.

DREAMLAND, Margate

Straight from the West End comes family favourite, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Regency Productions have pulled out all the stops for this magical show, which includes old-school slapstick, musical classics and, of course,a jaw-dropping flying car. Also, on Easter Sunday the vintage fairground will be welcoming visitors to take part in a free egg hunt and enjoy a family free screening.

Details: Dreamland, Marine Terrace, Margate CT9 1XJ. Show tickets start from £21. Performances also take place on Thursday, Good Friday and Saturday. Book online here.

HEVER CASTLE, Edenbridge

Get stuck into Easter crafts with an egg decorating workshop at Hever Castle. There will also be a chance to help the Easter Bunny solve a puzzle and hunt for his Easter eggs for a chocolate treat, with lots of interactive activities around the castle grounds. Your family can also take part in games such as the egg and spoon race and egg rolling.

Details: Hever Castle, Hever Road, Edenbridge TN8 7NG. Activities are free with a standard entry ticket. Also takes place on Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Monday. Book online here.

EASTER MONDAY

GREAT COMP GARDEN, Sevenoaks

The Easter Bunny hunt will put your family’s detective skills to the test. Visitors will be tasked with exploring the seven-acre garden to find all eight of the Easter bunnies hidden in and around the plants, trees and shrubs. There will be one last tricky riddle at the end and, if you solve it, you will get a chocolate prize to take home.

Details: Great Comp Garden, Comp Lane, St Mary's Platt, Sevenoaks TN15 8QS. Activities are free with a standard entry ticket. Also takes place on Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday. Book online here.

POWELL-COTTON MUSEUM, Birchington-on-Sea

Enjoy outdoor activities and fascinating museum displays over the Easter weekend. Along with its impressive display of historical artefacts, the Powell-Cotton Museum will also have a number of spring activities for the whole family, including creating your own bug magnet, playing bug-bingo and hunting gem bugs in the museum. There will also be tree walks and scavenger wheels, all included in your free animal buddy backpack.

Details: The Powell-Cotton Museum Quex Park, Birchington-on-Sea CT7 0BH. Tickets cost £3.50. Also takes place on Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday. Book online here.

TROSLEY COUNTRY PARK, Gravesend

Put on your walking boots and follow the Easter trail around this country park. Figure out the clues to find the Easter Bunny and you will be rewarded with a surprise gift. You can also spot the spring flowers and wildlife that live in the park as you explore.

Details: Trosley Country Park, Waterlow Road, Vigo Village, Gravesend DA13 0SG. Tickets cost £7. Book online here.

WESTWOOD CROSS, Broadstairs

Stop off at the shopping centre on Monday and grab yourself a free Easter egg from Benji the Bunny. Benji and his friend Joey will be bouncing around the centre all day, handing out treats and posing for photos. If you share your photo with Benji and Joey on the Westwood Cross Facebook competition post, you might even win an Easter gift bundle including a £20 M&S gift card.

Details: Westwood Cross, Margate Road, Westwood, Broadstairs CT10 2BF. This event is free, no need to book. Also takes place on Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday.