Easter bank holiday breaks in the UK

You can’t beat the Easter bank holiday when it comes to devouring chocolate eggs, marvelling at gardens blooming with flowers, and enjoying some long-overdue sunshine (hopefully). So it’s easy to see the appeal of our country houses, all of which are on the doorstep of some of the UK’s best-loved national parks and landscapes. 

Whether you want to spend the bank holiday with family and friends or simply treat yourself to an Easter getaway, this is a great time to plan a special weekend of walking, sightseeing, and relaxing in stunning coast and countryside locations. 

Here’s our handy guide to staying at some of our wonderful UK country houses over Easter and making the most of the local events, festivals, and fairs taking place nearby. 

Stay at: Derwent Bank 

Visit: Theatre by the Lake

Perched on the edge of Derwentwater in the Northern Lake District, few British playhouses can match the stunning location of Keswick's Theatre by the Lake. Visit over the Easter bank holiday and you can catch the opening weekend performance of Howard Ashman’s famous horror comedy musical, Little Shop of Horrors. This much-loved venue is less than a 10-minute drive or 40-minute walk from Derwent Bank, our lakeside house on the opposite shore.  

Stay at: Larpool Hall 

Visit: Whitby National Scooter Rally  

Sandwiched between the stunning North York Moors and the Yorkshire coast, Whitby is the seaside town most famous for its fish and chips, charming harbour, and Gothic abbey. But for one weekend a year it becomes a magnet for scooter enthusiasts from far and wide when Whitby Pavilion hosts its annual national scooter rally. Dig out your parka jackets, dust off your soul records, and experience this fantastic three-day event full of live music, market stalls, and more. Stay at Larpool Hall and you’ll be less than a 40-minute walk or an eight-minute drive from the venue. 

Stay at: Nether Grange 

Visit: Howick Hall & Gardens  

Bulb enthusiast, Lady Grey, planted many varieties of snowdrops and daffodils in the gardens at Howick Hall. Expect a colourful spring display of daffodils, crocuses, and snowdrops, and perhaps sightings of red squirrels as you stop for a hot drink in the tearoom. Best of all, it’s just a 16-minute drive from our country house in the coastal village of Alnmouth. 

Stay at: Monk Coniston 

Visit: The Old Man of Coniston 

With spring in full swing, Easter is a great time to go walking in one of the most pristine parts of the Southern Lake District. Stay at Monk Coniston and you’ll be just a 30-minute stroll from Coniston, the village on the shores of Coniston Water that served as the inspiration for Arthur Ransome’s 1930 novel, Swallows and Amazons. Have your own adventure by climbing The Old Man of Coniston. At over 800 metres high it’s one of the Lake District’s tallest fells but has several well-marked trails directly from the village to the top that all reward with stunning views. 

Stay at: Harrington House 

Visit: Icons of British Fashion at Blenheim Palace  

The largest event in the palace’s history is set to open from 23 March to 30 June. Every room in the palace celebrates a different designer and icon of British fashion. There’s a curated selection of drawings, materials, clothing, patterns, photos, and more on display. Stay at our stunning country house in the Cotswolds and this fascinating exhibit is less than a 40-minute drive away. 

Stay at: Dolserau Hall 

Visit: Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn Wildlife  

Spring marks the return of the ospreys to Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn Wildlife near our country house in Dolgellau, Snowdonia. You can watch live pictures from the nests at the visitor centre and keep a watchful eye through the telescopes.