To a Christian, Easter Sunday means everything, when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is meant to be a symbol of hope, renewal, and new life. For the rest, you can feel spring heralding in the air, when the days begin to seem longer after the clocks go forward, bringing back the light to evenings, and the rain abates while the temperatures rise. It might only be the an extra-long weekend but there are still plenty of exciting ways to make the most of your double bank holiday.
Asian Voice explores activities that will help you maximise your holidays and look for last minute getaways in and around London
• Search for Easter Egg Hunts and Family Trails at WWT London Wetland Centre's giant yellow ducklings. The Hampton Court Palace, Museum of Brands (1 to 17 April), Kentwood House and Down House (14 to 17 Apr) all have Lindt Gold Bunny Hunts, Cadbury and Easter Adventure Quests lined up. Follow the Morning Adventures Easter trail among blooming daffodils at the Kew Gardens.
• Enjoy river-themed activities and fireworks at the Tall Ships Regatta (13 to 16 Apr) at the Tall Ships Regatta
• Kids can be taken to the Osterly Park (1-17 Apr) for an adventure-packed time with 30 life-sized animated dinosaurs roaring and screeching at the Jurassic Kingdom.
• Horniman's Robot Zoo will showcase a heard of mechanical animals (11 Feb to 29 Oct)
• For the film buffs, meet sorcerous beasts at Harry Potter's Forbidden Forest at Warner Bros Tours, explore Star Wars identity with props and films at the O2 and inspire children to become a tv presentor at Kidzania, with special activities lined up in all the family-friendly museums across London
• Dramatic performance featuring 100 actors will perform The Passion of Jesus at Trafalgar Square on Good Friday (14 Apr)
Easy getaways from London
If you have not planned your Easter holidays yet, there is still some hope for that last-minute getaway from town. Wales – with its fine, sandy beaches and rugged coastline could offer some great value late holiday cottages for the weekend break. Devon is also a popular destinations for a last-minute cottage holiday. It's a good choice for the family, sandwiched between sand beaches in the north and south, and a beautiful countryside, adventure parks and quaint country cottages, Devon could be the perfect getaway for families.
The upmarket and bustling shopping town of Beverly, East Riding of Yorkshire, set amidst charming courtyards cobbled streets has many independent stores and antique shops along with high street brands that makes it a true shopping get-away. The Browns Depatment store is a must visit there and an array of specialist shops, antique arcades, aromatherapy and bookshops- this vibrant and friendly shopping town is complete mix of traditional and modern fare.
You could consider a family or romantic getaway in a lodge. Enjoy campfires in the musty forests by the day and get back to a quiet evening and a snug sleep at the lodge, without compromising on your closeness to nature. A nature-break away from an agenda-packed urban life, will leave you rejuvenated. A detox break in Nottinghamshire with pure Japanese meditation, close to Newark is great if you want a relaxing holiday of self-reflection and stillness with some Japanese culture.
Many airlines and tour operators have keep aside some Easter special seats and holiday-packages and it is always wise to speak to them before booking a ticket. A place of quaint cottages, stunning architecture, islands, diverse cities, natural landscapes - Scotland is a preferred destination for many, specially the connoisseur of whiskey. You just need to get ready for walking the beautifully sloping streets and getting the high on-the-rocks.
From buttery new potatoes to the tangy rhubarb and delicacies made out of fresh spring produce, nature provides the perfect gourmet treats for the foodie traveller in UK. A trip to Bristol's Old City and St Nicholas markets, walking through Georgian squares to explore diverse street food stalls can be a foodie's dream-come true. The Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink in Devon also caters to nearly 20,000 people. You can also indulge in the illustrative English tradition of the afternoon tea, on a riverboat as you float down the Cliveden reach in Windsor, Berkshire, in the ninetieth-century style as introduced by the Duches of Bedford with feshly baked scones, dainty sandwiches and the Valrhona Chocolate Afternoon tea to give you company.
The April temperatures are significantly higher and the days are longer, making is a great time for a beach holiday. Best known for spectacular beaches, Cornwall is worth trying out this season. There are a host of cottages to choose from, even for late travellers, and if you are willing to move out from the heart of the town, affordable cottages with unmatched views should not be hard to find.
A little distance away from Kielder Water and Forest Park in Falstone, is Northumberland, packed with luxurious shephard huts that provide outdoor activities like fishing packages, beautiful trails following the Kielder Waters to beauty therapies and locally sourced fresh breakfast. The Leeds Centre for Contemporary Art and Learning at Tetley provides cutting-edge contemporary art and live performances giving you a chance to get creative. Situated in the former Tetley Brewery in Central Leeds, you can enjoy displays and exhibits from cutting edge artists, interact and learn new skills from artists.
The UK is small enough to drive down to most places. The coastline provides ample beach-holidays and activities from surfing to sun-bathing or just building those memorable sand-castles in the golden sands. Enjoy the azure horizons, sunsets and sun-breeze at Norfolk, or simply go shopping and detoxing. With this wide selection of holiday destinations within UK - what are you waiting for?
