Easter 2026 falls on the first weekend of April, with Good Friday on 3 April, Easter Sunday on 5 April and Easter Monday on 6 April. Most West Sussex schools break up around Friday 27 March and return around Monday 13 April, giving families just over two weeks to fill.
The timing is brilliant this year. Arundel Castle reopens on 1 April after its winter closure, the lambs are arriving at farms across the county, and spring is properly getting going on the South Downs. Here's our guide to the best family activities, events and days out across West Sussex over the Easter holidays.
1. Arundel Castle Reopens for the Season
This is big news every spring. Arundel Castle reopens on Wednesday 1 April after being closed all winter, and Easter is one of the busiest and most exciting weekends of the season.
The castle and gardens will be running special events over the Easter weekend (3-5 April), so standard garden-only tickets won't be available on those dates. Instead, you'll get access to the full castle experience: the medieval keep with its views across the Arun Valley, the castle rooms, the Fitzalan Chapel, and the stunning gardens.
April is also the start of the castle's famous tulip displays, with one of the largest collections of tulips in England planted across the gardens. The timing overlaps perfectly with the Easter holidays.
Location: Arundel Castle, Arundel, BN18 9AB
When: Opens 1 April 2026. Closed Mondays (except bank holidays). 10am-5pm (gardens), 12 noon-5pm (castle rooms), last admission 4pm
Cost: Check arundelcastle.org for 2026 ticket prices
Ages: All ages. Castle keep involves steep stairs; gardens accessible for buggies
Top tip: Easter Monday (6 April) is a bank holiday, so the castle will be open. It'll be busy, but the gardens are big enough to absorb the crowds. Arrive early for the best experience.
2. Amberley Museum Easter Holiday Activities
Amberley Museum is one of the most reliably brilliant family days out in West Sussex, and their Easter holiday programme runs from Wednesday 1 to Sunday 12 April 2026.
There's a Spring trail around the museum, plus hands-on activities in the Learning Space on selected days (Wednesdays 1st and 8th, Fridays 3rd and 10th April, 11am-2pm) where kids can paint their own Easter and spring-themed stencilled gifts. On Thursdays 2nd and 9th April, the West Sussex Woodturners will be on hand to help kids try traditional woodturning and take home a small wooden keepsake (£2 per person).
The Pottery Studio with resident potter Nancy Scantlebury-Thompson is open daily throughout the Easter holidays, where you can make something with a spring and Easter theme in clay to take home and paint (£2.50 each).
Don't forget the narrow-gauge railway rides and vintage bus rides, both included with admission at no extra cost.
Location: Amberley Museum, New Barn Road, Amberley, Near Arundel, BN18 9LT
When: 1-12 April 2026, 10am-4.30pm
Cost: Check amberleymuseum.co.uk for 2026 prices. Kids often get free or reduced admission during holidays
Ages: Best for 3-10
: ️ **Food:** Limeburners Cafe on site; outdoor picnic areas available
Dogs: Welcome on short leads
Top tip: The pottery studio is a highlight. Kids can genuinely get creative making clay animals, eggs and spring decorations. Budget an extra £2.50 per child and allow 20-30 minutes.
3. Petworth House Spring Festival
The National Trust's Petworth House is running its annual Spring Festival from Saturday 4 to Sunday 19 April, which covers the entire Easter period beautifully.
The festival includes talks from horticultural experts, garden demonstrations, a community art installation, art and craft workshops, and family activities. From Saturday 28 March to Sunday 12 April, families can pick up a free "Tilly Plants a Tree" trail map to explore the Pleasure Garden with games and activities along the way.
On Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 April, there's a two-day Makers Market held in partnership with Petworth Pop-Up, which is a great excuse to combine a garden visit with some shopping.
The 700-acre deer park is free to enter (no National Trust membership required), so even if you don't want to pay for the house and gardens, a walk through the park to spot the deer herd is a lovely free Easter outing.
Location: Petworth House, Petworth, GU28 0AE
When: Spring Festival 4-19 April 2026. Trail from 28 March.
Cost: Free event; normal Petworth admission applies. Deer park is free to enter.
Ages: All ages. Trail best for 3-8
Top tip: The deer park is genuinely one of the loveliest free walks in West Sussex. Pack a picnic, keep dogs on leads, and you might spot the fallow deer herd, which has been at Petworth since medieval times.
4. Fishers Farm Park
Fishers Farm Park is open every day over the Easter holidays, and spring is one of the best times to visit. This is lambing season, which means newborn lambs taking their wobbly first steps, feeding sessions, and that unmistakable spring-on-a-farm atmosphere that kids absolutely love.
Beyond the animals, Fishers has an enormous amount going on: outdoor adventure playgrounds, tractor rides, the Splash Attack water zone (opens April), the indoor soft play barn, a glow barn, baby sensory room, and the Barn Theatre shows. It's genuinely one of the few places where babies, toddlers and older kids are all properly catered for at the same time.
Location: Fishers Farm Park, Newpound Lane, Wisborough Green, RH14 0EG
When: Open daily over Easter holidays, 10am-5pm
Cost: Check fishersfarmpark.co.uk for current prices
Ages: 0-12
Parking: Free
Top tip: The Splash Attack water zone opens in April, so bring a change of clothes and a towel. Kids will get absolutely soaked and will love every second of it.
5. Nymans: Winnie-the-Pooh Story Trail
This is a lovely one for younger children. The National Trust's Nymans garden near Haywards Heath is running a Three Cheers for Pooh! Story Trail from Saturday 18 April to Sunday 28 June. Extracts from A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh stories are paired with E.H. Shepard's original illustrations in a family-friendly trail through the gardens.
Nymans itself is beautiful at Easter. The garden is one of the finest in the South East, with spectacular spring displays of magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons and bulbs around the romantic ruins of the house. It's a proper garden that adults love too, so this works brilliantly as a multigenerational outing.
Location: Nymans, Staplefield Lane, near Haywards Heath, RH17 6EB
When: Pooh trail from 18 April; gardens open daily 10am-5pm (last admission 4.30pm)
Cost: Normal Nymans admission (National Trust members free). Trail is free with admission.
Ages: Trail best for 3-7; gardens suitable for all ages
Top tip: Combine the Pooh trail with a stop at the Nymans cafe, which has a good children's menu and outdoor seating overlooking the garden. The woodland walk is pushchair-friendly on the main paths.
6. Weald & Downland Living Museum
The Weald & Downland Living Museum near Chichester is one of the best family attractions in West Sussex, and they run Easter holiday activities every year. At the time of writing (February 2026), specific Easter events haven't been announced yet, but they always deliver. Previous years have included Easter egg hunts, spring crafts, traditional cooking demonstrations, lambing, and hands-on historic activities.
The museum itself is worth the visit year-round: 50+ historic buildings spread across 40 acres of South Downs countryside, a woodland play area, farm animals, and it's where the BBC's The Repair Shop is filmed.
Location: Town Lane, Singleton, Chichester, PO18 0EU
When: Open daily during Easter holidays
Cost: Check wealddown.co.uk for 2026 prices
Ages: Best for 3-12
Top tip: Check the website closer to Easter for the full programme. Their half-term events are always popular, so pre-booking is recommended.
7. WWT Arundel Wetland Centre
Spring is a fantastic time to visit WWT Arundel. The wetland centre comes alive in April with breeding birds, ducklings on the water, and the gardens starting to bloom. Boat safaris run regularly, and there's pond dipping, a coastal creek area, Pelican Cove, and excellent adventure play areas.
It's one of those places where the whole family finds something to enjoy. Little ones chase ducks, older kids complete the explorer trails, and parents get to sit on a bench with a coffee overlooking the lake.
Location: WWT Arundel, Mill Road, Arundel, BN18 9PB
When: Open daily
Cost: Check wwt.org.uk/arundel for prices. Book online for savings.
Ages: Best for 2-10
Dogs: Not permitted (assistance dogs only)
Top tip: Book online at least a day ahead for the best price. Ask at reception about feeding times and boat safari availability when you arrive.
8. Free Easter Days Out
Not everything has to cost money. West Sussex has brilliant free options over Easter:
Beaches. The weather is warming up, the beaches aren't yet packed with summer crowds, and the light at this time of year is gorgeous. West Wittering Beach is stunning (parking charges apply), while Climping Beach near Littlehampton is quieter and often empty on weekdays. East Head at the mouth of Chichester Harbour (National Trust, free to walk) is perfect for a spring wander.
South Downs walks. April is bluebell season on the South Downs. The woodland around Slindon Estate (National Trust, free to walk) near Arundel has some of the best bluebell displays in the county. The walk from Amberley to Arundel along the river is flat, pushchair-friendly in dry weather, and beautiful in spring.
Petworth deer park. Free to enter, no membership needed. 700 acres of parkland with a herd of fallow deer. Bring a picnic.
RSPB Pulborough Brooks. Free for RSPB members, small parking charge for non-members. Spring is brilliant here, with lapwings, skylarks and the first swallows arriving. The trails can be muddy, so bring wellies.
Quick Reference: Easter 2026 at a Glance
| Activity | When | Cost | Best Ages | |----------|------|------|-----------| | Arundel Castle reopening | From 1 April | Ticket price | All ages | | Amberley Museum Easter activities | 1-12 April | Admission + small craft charges | 3-10 | | Petworth Spring Festival | 4-19 April | NT admission (park free) | All ages | | Fishers Farm Park | Daily | Admission price | 0-12 | | Nymans Pooh Trail | From 18 April | NT admission | 3-7 | | Weald & Downland Museum | Daily | Admission price | 3-12 | | WWT Arundel | Daily | Admission price | 2-10 | | Beaches and walks | Any day | Free (parking charges may apply) | All ages |
Easter 2026 Key Dates
- Schools break up: Around Friday 27 March (check with your school)
- Good Friday: 3 April
- Easter Saturday: 4 April
- Easter Sunday: 5 April
- Easter Monday (bank holiday): 6 April
- Schools return: Around Monday 13 April
Planning Tips
Book ahead. Easter is one of the busiest periods for family attractions in West Sussex. Fishers Farm, Amberley Museum and Arundel Castle all get very busy over the bank holiday weekend. Pre-booking online is essential and often cheaper.
Weather. April in West Sussex is unpredictable. Pack layers, waterproofs and sun cream. Yes, all three. In the same bag.
Packed lunches. Cafe queues at popular venues can be long over Easter. Packing your own lunch saves time and money, and most venues have picnic areas.
Combine indoor and outdoor. Have a backup plan. If the morning forecast looks grim, start with an indoor venue (Amberley Museum, Fishers Farm soft play, Weald & Downland) and switch to outdoor if the weather improves.
Don't forget the coast. Even if the weather isn't beach-perfect, a spring walk along the shoreline is free, refreshing and the kids will love throwing stones in the sea.
All details were correct at the time of writing (February 2026). Some venues hadn't published their full Easter 2026 programmes yet, so we'll update this article as more information becomes available. Check venue websites before visiting.