Easter Sunday 2025 Events in Kent, UK
Easter Sunday in Kent (20 April 2025) offers a vibrant mix of family-friendly activities, religious services, egg hunts, and festivals. Whether you’re looking to celebrate the holiday’s spiritual significance or simply enjoy a fun day out, there are events across the county to suit all ages.
Below is a curated list of Easter Sunday events (and some spanning the Easter weekend) in Kent. We’ve prioritized happenings in Canterbury, Maidstone, and Dover, but also included other notable events around Kent. Each listing includes a brief description, location with time, cost (if any), and a link for more details or booking.
Canterbury Easter Events 2025, Kent, UK
The medieval cloisters of Canterbury Cathedral provide a serene backdrop for Easter worship. Easter Day Service at Canterbury Cathedral – Celebrate Easter’s spiritual heart at Canterbury Cathedral’s Easter Day Eucharist, led by the clergy and choir in this world-famous Gothic cathedral canterbury-cathedral.org.
Location & Time: Canterbury Cathedral, 11:00 AM on Easter Sunday (20 April 2025) for the main Eucharist service (with Solemn Evensong at 5:30 PM)
Cost: Free (open to all; arrive early for seating).
Details: See the Cathedral’s official Easter schedule canterbury-cathedral.org
Canoe Wild Easter Egg Hunt – Swap land for water in this unique egg hunt along the River Stour.
Description: Canoe Wild will hide Easter eggs along a scenic river route – find all 10 eggs by canoe or kayak and meet the Easter Bunny for a surprise treat. It’s a fun twist on the traditional hunt, ensuring you won’t end up with any “soggy Easter eggs”
Location & Time: Grove Ferry Picnic Site (near Canterbury); runs throughout the Easter weekend (including Easter Sunday), with morning and afternoon sessions.
Cost: £ – A small fee (contact Canoe Wild for booking, equipment provided). Details: Check the Canoe Wild website here for exact times and to book your Easter paddle.
Fifth Trust Vineyard Garden Egg Hunt – A free community egg hunt set in a beautiful garden center just outside Canterbury.
Description: The Fifth Trust Charity hosts an egg-citing hunt in the Vineyard Garden Centre’s grounds – kids search for hidden eggs among spring blooms. There are games, a café on-site, and an Easter bonnet competition.
Location & Time: Vineyard Garden Centre (Barham, near Canterbury); drop in anytime 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM over Easter weekend (12–21 April, with Easter Sunday inclusive)
Official website: vineyardgardencentre.co.uk
Cost: Free entry and parking (small £5 fee per participant for the hunt)
Maidstone Easter Events 2025, Kent, UK
Leeds Castle’s majestic setting will host a Horrible Histories knights’ quest this Easter.
Horrible Histories Knights’ Quest at Leeds Castle – Ditch the typical egg hunt and become a knight for the day!
Description: Leeds Castle presents an interactive Horrible Histories “Easter Escapades: The Knights’ Quest” where families join medieval knights on a mission to help Queen Isabella lay siege to the castle. Participants create a knightly persona (design a shield and crest, practice swordplay) and follow a trail of challenges across the castle grounds. Those who complete the quest are rewarded with a chocolate coin – and a lucky few might even earn a ceremonial “knighthood” at the end. Perfect for children and adults alike who want to dive into the life of nutty knights.
Location & Time: Leeds Castle (Broomfield, Maidstone); the quest runs daily 5–21 April (open 10:00 AM–5:00 PM, including Easter Sunday)
Cost: Included with standard castle admission (tickets ~£30 adult, £20 child; under-4s free). No advance booking needed for the quest.
Details: Visit the official Leeds Castle event page for more info leeds-castle.com
“Spring into Easter!” at Kent Life – A family-favorite Easter festival on a heritage farm.
Description: Kent Life’s outdoor farm park bursts to life with newborn animals and Easter fun. Meet adorable lambs (and even catch bottle-feeding demonstrations), say hello to piglets and goat kids, and explore the BIGGEST Easter egg trail the farm has ever hosted. Kids can hunt for giant eggs around the 28-acre site to win prizes. Other activities include petting zoo areas, tractor farm rides, indoor and outdoor play zones, and even crafty fun like paint-a-pot sessions
Location & Time: Kent Life Heritage Farm Park (Lock Lane, Sandling, Maidstone)
Open 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily 5th–20th April (special egg trail running throughout Easter weekend 18–21 AprilCost: Standard admission (£12.95 adult, £11.35 child, under-2s free) – book online in advance
Details: See Kent Life’s website for tickets and the full Easter itinerary
Dover Easter Events 2025, Kent, UK
An aerial view of Dover Castle, which invites families on an Easter Adventure Quest through its grounds. Easter Adventure Quest at Dover Castle.
Experience a historic treasure hunt in an iconic fortress.
Description: English Heritage’s Easter Adventure Quest turns Dover Castle into a giant adventure playground for budding explorers. Pick up a quest sheet and crack clues hidden around the castle’s medieval tunnels, towers, and ramparts. Successful adventurers who solve the puzzles are rewarded with a chocolate treat at the end.
It’s a fun way for kids to learn castle history while burning off chocolate-induced energy!
Location & Time: Dover Castle (Castle Hill Road, Dover); quest available daily 5–27 April from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (drop in anytime, including Easter Sunday)
Cost: £2 per child plus normal castle admission (castle entry ~£24 adult, £14 child; free for English Heritage members). Details: No booking required for the quest – just ask at the gate. More info on the English Heritage event page english-heritage.org.uk.
The Big LEGO Brick Build at Dover Castle – A hands-on LEGO history event at the castle.
Description: Join master builders at Dover Castle to help reconstruct the ancient Roman Pharos (lighthouse) entirely out of LEGO bricks! Families can drop in and add their own pieces to this giant model throughout the day. Watch as the brick lighthouse grows taller, recreating one of Britain’s oldest beacons in miniature. This interactive build runs alongside the Quest, so you can enjoy both on your visit.
Location & Time: Inside Dover Castle; open 12–21 April (including Easter Sunday) during castle hours
Cost: Free with standard castle admission (no extra charge for the LEGO event, castle entry ~£24 adult, £14 child; free for English Heritage members)
Details: See English Heritage’s website for “The Big Brick Build” event schedule (no advance booking needed).
Easter Trail at Betteshanger Park – Outdoor adventure in a country park near Deal.
Description: Betteshanger Park invites families to hop along with “Billy the Easter Bunny” on a nature trail through its woodlands. Pick up a clue sheet and track down the hidden eggs scattered among the trees and along walking paths. Solve all the clues and you can meet Billy Bunny himself to claim an Easter egg prize and snap a memorable photo!
The park also offers cycling trails and playgrounds, making it a great all-day outing.
Location & Time: Betteshanger Country Park (Sandwich Road, Deal); trail available 5–21 April, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM daily
Cost: £ A small fee (around £4–£5 per child) for the trail pack, plus parking fee; no charge for accompanying adults walking the trails.
Details: Visit Betteshanger Park’s website or visitor centre for trail maps and on-the-day registration.
Other Notable Easter Events (2025) in Kent
Broadstairs Easter Food Festival (Thanet) – A free foodie festival by the sea, running all Easter weekend.
Description: From Friday 18th to Sunday 20th April, Victoria Gardens in Broadstairs transform into a bustling food fair with 100+ stalls featuring Kent’s finest produce, street food, and drinks. Sample local chocolates, cheeses, hot cross buns, and Easter treats, or relax in the vintage tea parlour and champagne tent overlooking the beach. Family activities (like Easter crown crafts and seaweed pressing) and live music add to the fun.
Location & Time: Victoria Gardens, Broadstairs; 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (approx.) each day 18–20 April. Cost: Free entry (food and drink for purchase).
Details: See the Broadstairs Food Festival website for trader line-up and schedule.
Easter Steam-Up at Spa Valley Railway (Tunbridge Wells) – Take a nostalgic steam train ride for Easter. Description: The Spa Valley Railway is celebrating with an “Easter Steam-Up” from 18–21 April, showcasing two historic locomotivesRide in vintage coaches behind the 1887 “Green Dragon” engine (famous from The Railway Children film) and a classic Caledonian Railway engine. It’s a journey back in time as you chug through the spring countryside. Great for train enthusiasts and families alike – kids often get an Easter treat on board.
Location & Time: Tunbridge Wells West Station (TN2 5QY); trains depart throughout the day Good Friday through Easter Monday.
Cost: £ Ticket fares apply (day rover tickets around £15–£20 adult, £10 child). Details: Check the Spa Valley Railway’s official site for the timetable and to book seats in advance
Easter Egg Hunt at Belmont House & Gardens (Faversham) – An Easter Sunday special at a stately home. Description: Belmont House (a Georgian country house) welcomes families for a grand Easter egg hunt in its beautiful gardens on Sunday 20th April. Children receive a map to find lettered eggs hidden among flowering shrubs and lawns – collect all the letters to spell out a secret word and win a chocolate prize. Afterwards, enjoy Easter crafts in the Orangery (making bonnets and cards) and catch one of the falconry displays on the lawn at 11:30 AM or 2:00 PM featuring hawks and owls in flight.
Location & Time: Belmont House, Throwley (near Faversham); Easter Sunday from 10:00 AM (last entry mid-afternoon). Cost: £ Small charge per child for the egg hunt (around £5) plus normal garden admission (£8 adult, £4 child). Details: See the Belmont House website or call ahead for event tickets and timings.
National Trust Easter Egg Trails – Across Kent’s National Trust properties, family Easter trails run through the school holidays. For example, Scotney Castle (Lamberhurst) offers a garden adventure trail with giant eggs and games, Ightham Mote (Sevenoaks) has a nature-themed hunt around its moated manor, and Emmetts Garden (Sevenoaks) features a spring trail through blooming gardens. Each trail typically comes with bunny ears, a trail sheet, and a chocolate egg prize at the end.
Location & Time: Various National Trust sites in Kent; most trails run daily from late March through 21 April (including Easter Sunday) during each property’s opening hours. Cost: £ Trail kits usually £3–£5 per child + normal NT admission (free for NT members).
Details: Visit the National Trust’s “Easter Adventures in Kent” page for a full list of locations and to book tickets if required.
Make the most of Easter Sunday 2025 in Kent by exploring these diverse events. Whether you’re hunting for eggs in a castle, enjoying a countryside festival, or singing “Alleluia” in Canterbury Cathedral, you’ll find something memorable for everyone. Be sure to check each event’s official website for any updates, pre-booking details, or weather advisories before heading out. Happy Easter!
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