Looking to do something different during the Easter Holidays? How about leaving the car at home and taking the family out on the rails somewhere new? Here’s our guide to some great Easter day trips by train.

What kind of Easter Day Trips by Train are there?

There are so many things to see and do around Great Britain. We’ve hatched a selection of different activities that you can easily do as part of Easter day trips by train, meaning that you can leave the car at home and not worry about the stress of holiday traffic!

Try some Classic Easter Egg Hunts with National Trust

Easter Day Trips by train for a classic Easter Egg hunt are about as egg-cellent as it can get! They’re a great way to get outdoors while the kids scoop up some tasty treats for their efforts. Here are some that you can easily get to without worrying about traffic jams and shelling out for parking (okay, we’ll stop with the Easter puns now).

Rufford Old Hall

Starting off in Lancashire, we have Rufford Old Hall. It’s home to a rare surviving Tudor-era Great Hall and acres of beautiful gardens and woodland. It’s the perfect setting for an Easter Egg hunt.

If you’re a bookworm, don’t forget to peruse the second-hand bookshop. Who knows what gems you might find?

When: 29 March to 14 April, 11am to 4:30pm. The trail is £3 per child on top of the normal admission fee.

Where: Rufford Old Hall is a 30-minute walk (flat, with pavement throughout) from Rufford Station, which is on the Preston to Ormskirk line. Change at Preston for trains to/from Scotland and the wider North West, and change at Ormskirk for Liverpool.

Railsmartr Top Tip: Travelling to/from Colne, Accrington and Blackburn? The train from Colne to Preston usually becomes the Preston to Ormskirk service (and vice-versa), so there’s no need to change or worry about a short connection time. Just make sure to double-check with the guard. Otherwise, the train normally leaves from Platform 3C at Preston (subject to last-minute changes) which is at the far south end of Platform 3. You’ll find a map of the station here.

Knole

Looking to get out of London? It’s not far to Knole, which is a leisurely stroll from Sevenoaks Town Centre. You can let off some steam in over 1,000 acres of trees, valleys and beautiful parkland. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the deer, too.

If you prefer to stay indoors, you can always climb up the Gatehouse Tower and explore the many Showrooms. There’s a popular myth that Knole is a ‘calendar’ house – meaning that it has 365 rooms, 52 staircases, 12 entrances and seven courtyards. Sadly, this isn’t the case, but it doesn’t take away from the grandeur!

When: 29 March to 14 April, 10am to 5pm. The trail is £3 per child on top of the normal admission fee.

Where: Knole is a 35-minute walk from Sevenoaks station (flat and paved throughout, with some narrow paths on Knole grounds). The fastest trains take around 25 minutes from London Bridge. You can also easily access Sevenoaks from Hastings, Tunbridge Wells, Dover, Ramsgate and Ashford.

Railsmartr Top Tip: Don’t forget that kids travel for just £1 Off-Peak on Southeastern services. Travelling in a group of four or more? We might offer you a Groupsave ticket where one or more of the kids gets an adult ticket! Don’t worry – this is the cheapest option as it means that the grown-ups (plus the grown-up child!) get to take advantage of a 34% discount. If you’re travelling from London, make sure that you aim for a Ramsgate, Hastings or Dover train. They’re the fastest and most likely to have a table and power sockets.

Dinefwr

Deep in beautiful mid-Wales, you’ll find Dinefwr. It’s home to a 12th-century castle, a 17th-century manor house and 800 acres of National Nature Reserve. Just like at Knole, you can also go deer spotting.

There’s also a stretch of raised, accessible boardwalk so that you can enjoy some of the beautiful outdoors without worrying about wandering on uneven surfaces and getting muddy. On top of the Easter trail on offer, don’t miss the Easter Egg rolling race on March 31st!

When: 23 March to 1 April, 10:30am to 3pm. The trail is £3 per child on top of the normal admission fee.

Where: The entrance to Dinefwr is around a 20-minute walk from Llandeilo station (flat, paved) then a short wander through the grounds of the park. It’s on the beautiful Heart of Wales Line which runs from Swansea to Shrewsbury.

Railsmartr Top Tip: Make sure you plan ahead, as while the route to/from Llandeilo is beautiful and a great laid-back day trip with the kids, it isn’t the most frequent! You’re best visiting on a Monday to Saturday, though there is a suitably-timed Sunday train if you’re visiting from South Wales.

Alloa Tower

Fancy following in the footsteps of Kings and Queens? Pay a visit to Alloa Tower this Easter. It’s the largest surviving keep in Scotland and was originally built to guard a ferry crossing on the River Forth.

It’s worth the climb up to the top, too. You can see nine Scottish counties!

When: 30 March to 1 April, 12pm-3pm. Usual entry fees apply.

Where: It’s a roughly 10-minute walk from Alloa station (flat, paved). You’ll find direct trains from Glasgow Queen Street and Stirling. If you’re coming from Edinburgh or Perth/Inverness, you’ll need to change trains.

Railsmartr Top Tip: Coming from Edinburgh? It’s worth changing trains at Larbert rather than Stirling. This means that there’s no need to change platforms. Just hop off and wait on the same platform for your connecting train to arrive!

Embark on an Easter Adventure Quest with English Heritage

Easter day trips by train with English Heritage couldn’t be easier. We’ve handpicked some great options for you that are a stone’s throw from a station. Just pick one that takes your fancy! Make sure to show your train ticket when you arrive, too, as you’ll get a 20% discount.

Eltham Palace

Looking for a quirky mix of medieval and modern within easy reach of London? It’s easy to pop into Eltham Palace. You can enjoy the tranquillity of the many landscaped gardens while the kids let off some steam in the amazing adventure playground.

Why not have a wander around the Palace itself? It wasn’t just home to people, either. You can discover the purpose-built home of a beloved pet lemur!

When: 23 March to 14 April. It’s £2 per child on top of the usual entry fee.

Where: It’s around a 15-minute walk (flat, paved) from either Mottingham or Eltham stations. Trains run frequently to/from London and Dartford.

Railsmartr Top Tip: Travelling with a buggy? You’re best using Mottingham station. There’s step-free access to/from both platforms.

Carlisle Castle

Carlisle Castle has been a working fortress until well within living memory. It’s held a royal prisoner and withstood many sieges as it’s served to protect the border city of Carlisle.

You can learn about the fascinating history of Carlisle Castle, the story of how Queen Mary was held captive and more. It’s a must-visit for any history lover.

When: 23 March to 14 April, 10am to 5pm. It’s £2 per child on top of the usual entry fee.

Where: It’s around a 15-minute walk (flat, paved) from Carlisle station. You’ll find train services from Newcastle, London, Glasgow, Preston, Lancaster, Workington, Whitehaven and more.

Railsmartr Top Tip: Travelling with Avanti West Coast? Why not treat yourselves and upgrade to Standard Premium? You can find out more here.

Kenilworth Castle

Kenilworth Castle is steeped in a history of sieges and royal scandals. Whether you want to wander in the footsteps of aristocrats or chill out in the beautiful Elizabethan Garden, there’s sure to be something up your street.

Don’t forget to visit the family-friendly exhibition either. It’s a great way for the kids to get hands-on with history.

When: 23 March to 14 April, 10am to 5pm. It’s £2 per child on top of the usual entry fee.

Where: It’s around a 25-minute walk (flat, paved) from Kenilworth station. You’ll find train services to/from Nuneaton, Leamington Spa and Coventry. Change at Coventry for Birmingham, and change at Leamington Spa for Banbury and Oxford.

Railsmartr Top Tip: Coming from London? It’s best travelling from London Marylebone with Chiltern Railways and changing at Leamington Spa. You can get a Family Ticket for £60.80 that covers up to two adults and four children.

Satisfy a Sweet Tooth at York’s Chocolate Story

If you (or the kids) just want to cut straight to the chocolate, then York’s Chocolate Story is one of the best Easter day trips by train for you. This Easter, everyone can get hands-on and celebrate Easter in the most indulgent way possible.

You can try your hand at rolling delicious Easter Egg truffles in chocolate or even take part in a chocolate masterclass! It’s also a great chance to learn about the history of chocolate and how it’s made, and to fill your boots in the gift shop with all of the chocolate that your heart could possibly desire.

When: Guided tours are available all year round. Limited tickets are available (at the time of writing) for masterclasses on 25/27/29 March. Pre-booking is essential. Prices vary depending on the activity you choose.

Where: It’s around a 20-minute walk (flat, paved) from York station. York is served by train services across Great Britain, including London, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield.

Railsmartr Top Tip: Unable to book ahead for a seat? Aim for Coach C on LNER trains, Coach D or the rear three carriages (depending on train type) on TransPennine Express trains and Coach F on CrossCountry trains.

Have a Regal Time at Hampton Court’s Lindt Bunny Hunt

Looking for the most regal of Easter day trips by train? It’s worth popping into Hampton Court Palace. This Easter, you can indulge in a Lindt Gold Bunny hunt as you wander through the grounds. Everyone who takes part gets a chocolate bunny of their own!

Aside from the hunt, don’t forget to roam the 60 acres of immaculate gardens and soak up the Tudor dramas that took place in the Palace.

When: 23 March to 14 April, 10am to 5:30pm. It’s included in the usual admission fee.

Where: It’s around a 10-minute walk (flat, paved) from Hampton Court station. It’s served by direct trains from London Waterloo. If you’re travelling from Woking, Guildford or beyond, then you’ll need to change at Surbiton.

Railsmartr Top Tip: It’s worth checking if a Travelcard is the best option for your journey. If it’s the cheapest option for a return trip to Hampton Court, that’s what we’ll offer you. As well as travel to/from Hampton Court, it’ll include unlimited travel on the Underground, trains and buses within London Zones 1-6!

How can I best plan Easter Day Trips by Train?

Easter day trips by train can be exciting, but they can be quite daunting if you don’t know where to begin! Don’t worry, we’ve written plenty of useful content to make sure that you’re prepared for your trip.

Looking to know more about travelling with family? Check out our article. It’s packed with hints and tips on being prepared, bagging the best seats and finding the cheapest deals.

It’s also worth checking out our guide to getting across London. If you’re after more inspiration, we’ve written about day trips from London, Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh.

Is there anything else I should know?

Ready to book some amazing Easter day trips by train? Railsmartr is the place to do it. We’re completely independent, so we’re happy to ‘tell you like it is’ when it comes to taking the train! Make sure you check ahead with our guide to Easter engineering works, too.

We also don’t charge any fees. Ever. Change your mind? Weather not quite what you expected? Not a problem. If your ticket is refundable, you’ll get the whole lot back. If it isn’t, feel free to change it to another date. Just buy tickets for a new date, pop us an email with all the details and we’ll do the rest.

We’ve also introduced split tickets. They’re a great way to save a packet on your journey without having to do any extra legwork!

_{All information and any rail fares stated on this page were correct at 13:00 12/03/2024. All information is issued in good faith. They’re subject to change at any time and Railsmartr are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided.}