Top Family Days Out this Spring

With their first few lambs already a-leaping, Easton Farm Park is getting ready to host the return of their popular Spring Babies Carnival. 

Running from Friday 29th March to Sunday 14th April, the Carnival gives families a chance to see the farm’s spring babies including adorable newborn lambs, goat kids, piglets, chicks and more! 

Along with interactive animal sessions, there are fun rides, arts & crafts, an indoor soft play and an outdoor adventure area, with a giant bouncy pillow and 30 acres of woodland to explore making Easton Farm Park the perfect place for a family day out this spring.  

To plan your visit and book, visit https://eastonfarmpark.digitickets.co.uk/availability/ 

Jimmy’s Farm Zoo & Wildlife Park are celebrating the arrival of spring with their Spring Fayre, which will host 100 food and drink stallholders from all over East Anglia on 4th, 5th and 6th May. This is a free event, but if you’d like to still see the animals or explore the park then normal admission applies.  

Of course, the farm itself is also on our list of must-do things this spring. A centre of excellence for British rare breeds, Jimmy’s Farm, Zoo & Wildlife Park is home to over 100 different animal species and breeds, from pigs to polar bears, and rabbits to reindeer! This spring the park also welcomes Diego, a European brown bear who has been rescued by Jimmy's Farm from a zoo closing down in Sweden.

It’s a great place for a family day out with a chance for children to learn about conservation efforts and disappearing habitats in The Lost Lands of the Tundra, where they can observe the rescued polar bear, Ewa, in her beautiful habitat, as well as arctic foxes and the UK’s largest pack of arctic wolves. There’s also a magical butterfly enclosure to explore, a reptile house to visit, and a whole host of rare and exotic species to see from armadillo to zebu! 

With an adventure playground, bouncy pillows and the enchanting Wonderwoods, as well as delicious food available in the farmshop and restaurant, Jimmy’s Farm, Zoo & Wildlife Park will keep the whole family entertained.  

For more information and to book visit https://jimmysfarm.com/

Suffolk Wildlife Trust have lots of spring events lined up to help you and your family get outdoors and welcome spring’s wildlife renewal. 

Discover the joy of crafting seed bombs at Carlton Marshes, perfect for cultivating vibrant wildflowers in your very own garden. No need for reservations; simply drop in to the visitor centre on any Saturday and Sunday in March. For just £3, you'll receive all the materials and guidance necessary to create your own seed bomb to grow beautiful flowers, ready to nurture bees and butterflies in your gardens at home. 

It’s easy to extend this experience into a full day out by exploring some of the 405 hectares of flower-studded marshland, where you might be treated to a spring display of breeding waders including lapwing and redshank. Children will love playing on the wild adventure playground and adults can enjoy refreshments from the welcoming café. 

Hollywells Park in Ipswich's Pond Dipping afternoon will help children discover which freshwater invertebrates are lurking in the park’s pond this spring. This event will run on Friday 5th April and is aimed at children aged 6-11 years old, although children under 6 will be welcomed too if they are attending with an accompanying older sibling. 

Booking is essential, tickets are available to book at https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/events/2024-04-05-wild-families-pond-dipping 

Or join Wildlife Explorers at Martlesham Wilds on Thursday 11th April to discover the new life bursting forth this spring. Children will use compasses and binoculars to search for nesting birds, examine footprints in the mud and encounter the shoots of spring to find out which spring wildlife is renewing the Wilds.  

For more information and to book tickets, visit https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/events/2024-04-11-wildlife-explorers-wilds   

There’s no better sight in spring than a carpet of bluebells across a woodland floor, and Suffolk is blessed with lots of places to go to enjoy them.   

Head to Captain’s Wood near Woodbridge for one of the most astonishing displays to be found anywhere in the county. Enjoy a spring walk through this precious ancient woodland habitat of ancient trees and spectacular wildflowers. Tread quietly for a chance to spot fallow deer roaming amongst the bluebells!  

Plan your visit at https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/captainswood

Reydon Woods, situated less than 3 miles from the charming coastal town of Southwold, is also famed for its spectacular bluebells in the spring. You’ll enter this ancient woodland through a tunnel of trees, where you’ll find a winding footpath through the dappled light of the woods. Be sure to listen out for the charming songs of the blackcap and nightingale. 

A great spot for families, the woods have numerous dens, fashioned from cut wood and fallen branches, giving your children a place to play amongst the butterflies in a natural playground with more than just a hint of fairy tale magic! 

Plan your visit at https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/reydonwood

Savour the spectacle of spring at RSPB Minsmere - a great place to enjoy breeding and migrant birds, spring flowers and early insects. 

There’s always a range of family-friendly activities to take part in. The RSPB Minsmere’s Explorer’s programme helps children to learn about birds, wildlife, the countryside, and issues affecting wildlife habitats.

Visit before 24th March and you can take part in the Avery Avocet Trail, helping children celebrate the return of these long-legged wading birds. Or visit during the Easter holidays (from 16th March to 14th April) to take part in Beatrice Bittern’s Egg-cellent Quest, a trail to help children identify the creatures that make Minsmere their home.

Trail sheets for both spring events are £3. There’s no need to book, just turn up to start your adventure. 

Families are also invited to bring children along to Minsmere’s Pond Dipping events to find out which fantastic and ferocious beasts live beneath the water’s surface. From mighty dragonfly nymphs, to water scorpions and magnificent great silver diving beetles, children will be guided by expert volunteers to help identify all that they find. There’s even the chance of spotting the family of water voles who live in the pond!

Running on selected dates, from 1st April to 30th August, there’s plenty of options to book your spot. For more details about events at RSPB Minsmere, visit https://events.rspb.org.uk/minsmere

Christchurch Mansion, one of Suffolk’s most treasured buildings with over 500 years of history, is hosting Woolly the Mammoth’s Spring Trail - an interactive exploration that brings the freshness of spring to life, right in the heart of Ipswich.

From the vibrant blossoms in the park to the cheerful chorus of birdsong, there’s a whole world of wonder awaiting families at the Mansion this spring. Keep an eye out the bustling wildlife, from the industrious bees to the dainty ladybirds amongst the flowers. 

An accessible hedgehog trail around the Mansions’ ground floor is also available. Trails cost £5 each, and include a gift suitable for children aged 3+. There’s no need to book, you can collect a copy of the trail from the giftshop on arrival. 

A series of delightful, spring-themed craft sessions are also being held at Christchurch Mansion on selected dates this April. Perfect for children aged five and above, these interactive workshops offer a chance to create wiggly caterpillars, leaping hares or pop-up chicks to take home. These sessions will take place in the grand surroundings of the Great Hall, giving children a truly memorable crafting experience. 

Sessions last 45 minute and run between 10.30am and 3.45pm. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Tickets cost £5 per child, and booking is recommended as spaces will be limited. To book visit https://ipswich.cimuseums.org.uk/events/

The East Anglia Transport Museum is reopening for the 2024 season on Friday 29th April, with a special celebratory event to launch the Blackpool Railcoach 634 (the Terror Tram) into service. There will be an intensive Blackpool tram service running throughout the weekend, to showcase the Terror Tram livery. 

The museum is also planning Easter celebrations to mark the Easter weekend, with a children’s Easter treasure hunt planned to take place on Saturday 30th March and Sunday 31st March. Booking in advance is not required.

To plan your visit go to https://www.eatransportmuseum.co.uk/  

With longer and warmer days on the horizon again, there are plenty of opportunities this spring to dust off the bikes, hop on the saddle and get out for a family bike ride.   

Southwold provides an ideal starting point for a gentle cycling adventure. Located within the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape, it only takes a few minutes of pedalling along the safe and quiet roads in any direction to enjoy scenic views of the coast or countryside. Artistic Walberswick, historic Dunwich and cultural Halesworth are all within an easy ten-mile radius, making it the perfect base for a family day out. 

And if you’re visiting the area while on holiday, Southwold Cycle Hire has over 140 bikes in various shapes and sizes to hire, all of which come with helmets, locks and pumps as standard. Children’s bikes, trailers and bikes seats are available too, making sure that even the very youngest can enjoy the adventure. 

Alternatively if you would prefer a more leisurely pedal, Eezybike have an extensive range of electric bikes, with collection from Aldeburgh and Orford.

There’s no shortage of places to explore on two wheels around the Suffolk Coast. We’ve got a full list of cycle routes and maps available for download in our comprehensive Cycling Guide: Cycling on The Suffolk Coast  

There’s not much longer to wait until Fun Swim Sessions return to the Beccles Lido, a traditional outdoor swimming pool scenically situated next to the River Waveney. 

From 18th May the pool will be open daily and heated again to 28 degrees, allowing children to swim and play on the slide and springboard, or on the giant inflatable Aquaruns. Younger children and babies will love the toddler pool and splash pools – entry to which is included with Fun Swim admission. 

The Big Dog Ferry will returns, launching from the jetty at the Lido from 29th March. Enjoy a trip down the River Waveney to The Locks pub or get out on the water with canoe, kayak and paddleboard hires with The Canoe Man. These will both run through to September and can be booked online at https://www.beccleslido.com/

It might not quite be ice cream weather yet, but the beaches of The Suffolk Coast are stunning all year round, and of course spring is no exception! In fact, spring might be the best season – the sea is beginning to warm up, the golden sands are already sparkling, but you’re more likely to find yourself there without the summer crowds. 

With two award-winning stretches of golden sand, and easy access to toilets, shops, cafés and restaurants Lowestoft beach is a firm family favourite. After a day building sandcastles and paddling, head to East Point Pavilion for lunch and drinks, it's also the perfect place duck into if you get caught in a sudden spring shower!

The popular beach at Southwold is popular with visitors, offering a traditional seaside experience with beach kiosks serving ice creams, a beach hut lined promenade (some of which are available to hire) and the famous Edwardian pier. 

Or head to Felixstowe to enjoy the sand and shingle beach, which is backed by a promenade complete with traditional beach huts and a new Beach Village, with outdoor gym, ping pong tables and climbing wall. 

Or why not hire your very own beach hut? Huts are available to hire at both Lowestoft, Southwold and Felixstowe offering you the perfect base for a family day of building sandcastles, playing beach games, and having a paddle, with the option of warming up with a hot drink in the hut when needed! Our Beach Hut Hire Guide has all the information you need! https://www.thesuffolkcoast.co.uk/articles/beach-hut-hire-on-the-suffolk-coast

For more beach information, take a look at our comprehensive guide to all of the best family-friendly beaches along The Suffolk Coast, and plan where else you will visit this spring: https://www.thesuffolkcoast.co.uk/articles/top-familyfriendly-beaches

Whizz out to sea and discover The Suffolk Coast by boat with Jet Adventures in Lowestoft. Setting off from Lowestoft Harbour, you can enjoy historic harbour tours, coastal sightseeing, seal watching at Scroby sands, as well as special and custom trips.

Nature lovers will enjoy a trip on board Tilly, Kitty or Tilly Too with Suffolk River Trips, setting off from three locations; Snape Maltings Quay, Orford Town Quay and Woodbridge Town Steps. From here you can enjoy a relaxing boat trip with commentary, looking out for the rich flora and fauna and some of the UKs rare wildlife and birdlife. Trips run from April - September from Snape and May - September from Woodbridge and Orford.

Explore the breathtaking River Orwell with a trip on the Orwell Lady; With 3 cruise routes to Pin Mill, Harwich Harbour and Orwell Bridge (1 hour duration so popular with families with young children) leaving from Orwell Quay on Ipswich Marina. Or step on board Sailing Barge Victor; a traditionally rigged 19th century sailing vessel, you can join skipper Wes and his crew on a cruise along the River Orwell from Ipswich. 

Deben Cruises also invite you to enjoy a two-hour boat journey along the River Deben, one of the most beautiful and scenic spots on the Suffolk Coast, with trips departing twice daily on most days, May to October.

Or you prefer to be the captain of your own ship (or boat) then boat hire is available on the Suffolk Broads through Hippersons Boatyard in Beccles or Oulton Broad Day Boat Hire. From Beccles, you can explore the southernmost stretches of the Broads National Park, or from Oulton Broad, head inland to Somerleyton or into Norfolk.