Easter comes early this year, March 29th – April 1st, which gives us an opportunity to enjoy the glories of spring as well of course, as eating chocolate!

There’s so much more to Easter than just choccy eggs, for many it has the deepest religious significance, for others it affords a long weekend of spending time with your loved ones hopefully with some bright cheery spring sunshine then and beyond.

This Easter pop along to a National Trust property near you for a family trail. Jam-packed with outdoor activities, games, riddles and crafts, every Easter celebration is different and ends with a chocolate egg. Plus, don’t forget the free traditional egg-rolling from the View Point at Box Hill over the Bank Holiday weekend!

Make your way along the trail and find bunny-inspired activities to test your family’s agility, your wits and creativity at Claremont Landscape Garden, March 23rd-April 14th.

Hop to Winkworth Arboretum in Godalming to help Basil the Bunny start his first day as the Easter Bunny’s assistant. Become Basil’s alarm clock, race him to work, and meet his Easter friends. March 23rd-April 7th.

One of Polesden Lacey’s statues has sprung to life in the Easter trail. Grizwald the Griffin needs some help to cook up an Easter feast. Follow the interactive trail around the grounds, where there will be plenty of fun activities for all the family. March 23rd-April 21st.

Hop into spring with Easter Adventures trail at Dapdune Wharf. Bounce through the rabbit racecourse, test your archery skills, plant a seed, add your pledge to nature and discover what’s in the mystery wellies and more, March 29th to April 1st.

Discover the myths and legends of the Punch Bowl and look out for the Exmoor ponies at Hindhead Commons with activities and challenges for all on the Easter Trail, March 29th-April 14.

Enjoy a spring showers themed trail at Runnymede this Easter, March 29th-April 1st. Wander through the meadows at Runnymede and find activity stations as you go, including Welly Wanging, Wheelbarrow Racing, and Smelly Wellies.

Thousands of daffodils (over 40 varieties) are spread across the Pleasure Garden at Petworth. A free map and trail booklet will take families on a spring adventure that weaves through the gardens. Stop off at six wildlife-willow sculptures on the way for fun games and activities, March 29th-April 14th. Also shop at an artisan makers market. Full details of Petworth Spring Festival here.

Join West Horsley Place for family craft activities and a fun Easter trail on April 3rd, 4th, 5th and 10th, 11th and 12th. Explore the ancient manor house with more than 1,000 years of history, enjoy make-and-take seasonal crafts and then head outside to discover the formal garden, spring flowers and trail. Tickets can be booked at West Horsley Place Trust.

Join Painshill this Easter for an egg-cellent BIG statue trail, March 16th-April 14th, and see if you can find all the colourful characters. Giant eggs are waiting to be found in the beautiful landscape and an Easter map will help you follow this magical egg hunt to find all 20 eggs. There is also an activity Easter sheet on the back of the map to take this home and enjoy! Book here to join the quest of a fun filled hunt! Free anytime for members. Included in general admission for those with day tickets.

The Barn Emporium in Petersfield is the perfect place to visit this spring for a Mother’s Day gift, refresh your wardrobe or spruce up your home décor. It hosts over 50 independent traders selling handcrafted and vintage items. With free customer parking why not also visit Durleighmarsh Farmshop and the Tea Barn. Discover more here.

Visit Gilbert White’s House & Gardens this Easter, join family and friends for a walk through the beautiful spring gardens and try the ‘record-breaking birds egg hunt’ – there are some brilliant birds in the world and on this year’s egg hunt you will find out all about them – and finish the day with a lovely lunch or afternoon treat in White’s cafe. More here.

To get you in the mood for the Easter weekend there’s a pop up market and loyalty market at The Otter Nursery, Murray Road, Ottershaw on Saturday, 23rd March. Shop at more than 20 artisan market stalls, meet the Easter bunny, face painting and other activities, a free gift for children as well as food and drink to savour and discounts on trees and plants.

There’s plenty of family fun coming up at Camberley Theatre this spring from modelling with clay to interacting with dinosaurs, from cheering your favourite Milkshake characters, to swashbuckling adventures! From singalong favourites to a tap dancing horse and a host of adventures along the way! They look forward to welcoming you soon… Details and to book, camberleytheatre.co.uk Fired Frog Pottery Cafe are a family-friendly ceramics cafe based in St Johns in Woking. They are open throughout the Easter holidays for two-hour pottery painting sessions, as well as running their regular adult only Prosecco and Pottery nights and workshops and classes. Just book online to go and visit!

Image: National Trust/Paul Harris