Family Trails, Crafting, Seed Sowing, Falconry and More at The Bishop’s Palace!

Located in the heart of Wells, The Bishop’s Palace has been home to the Bishop of Bath and Wells for over 800 years. The gardens span 14 acres and are credited with the prestigious RHS partner garden status. The Palace is also home to the famous swans that ring the bell on the Gatehouse for food – why not pick up a bag of swan food from the Ticket Office and try for yourself! The gardens are abundant with wildlife, with so many different sights, smells, sounds, and textures, making them a haven of adventure.

This Easter, little adventurers can embark on an egg hunt throughout the gardens (throughout Easter), get creative with our Easter crafting workshop (10th April), and join a sunflower seed-sowing activity (17th April). For an extra special experience, marvel at the breathtaking falconry displays, where majestic birds of prey take to the skies in a spectacular showcase (12th April).

Inside the 800-year-old Palace, families can enjoy the new multimedia tours, allowing children to uncover the rich history of the Palace through quizzes, talking bishops, and treasure hunts!

The Palace has also introduced a new Palace Passport. Children can collect stamps from each of the children’s activities to fill the Passport for a prize at the end of the year. This Easter, three stamps are up for grabs, so don’t forget to start your collection!

The Bishop’s Table, the on-site café at the Palace, offers the perfect respite for tired explorers. With a children’s menu and plenty of fruit, snacks, and drinks, it’s the perfect place to unwind this Easter.

Wells and Mendip Museum

Situated in the heart of Wells on Cathedral Green, between the Cathedral and Vicars’ Close, the Wells and Mendip Museum offers a fascinating variety of displays and galleries, bringing to life the natural history and heritage of Wells and the Mendip region.

Children can take a look at Stone Age tools, explore the excavations at Wookey Hole Caves and find out about the hidden world beneath the Mendip Hills.

The Wells and Mendip Museum makes a fantastic day out with the kids in combination with The Bishop’s Palace and Wells Cathedral.

The Square

The Square is a soft play centre in Wells, which offers safe, fun play areas, including enclosed bouncy spaces, to suit children of different ages, but mainly under 5s. The Square also has a party area.

Somerset Rural Life Museum

At the Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury, families can explore rural life in Somerset from the 1800s onwards and discover more about the county’s heritage, including its landscapes, food and farming, working life and rural crafts.

Wells Cathedral

During the holidays, families can enjoy a range of family-friendly activities at Wells Cathedral With arts, crafts and other activities inspired by the Cathedral or by visiting exhibitions, the holiday activities are designed to help children discover and get creative.

Family holiday activities at the Cathedral are free with adult entry and take place in the Education Room (unless otherwise advertised).

To combine your Easter family day out with a visit to one of Wells’ most iconic attractions, visit the link below.

Vicars’ Close

Just a short stroll from The Bishop’s Palace, Vicars’ Close is a hidden gem that transports visitors back in time. As the oldest continuously inhabited medieval street in Europe, its picturesque cottages and cobbled path offer a glimpse into Wells’ rich history.

This Easter, why not extend your visit with a leisurely walk down Vicars’ Close? It’s the perfect spot for a family photo or a quiet moment to soak in the beauty of Wells. With its charming medieval architecture and unique atmosphere, it’s an unmissable stop on your Easter adventure.

Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm

Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm is a family-owned zoo located 6 miles to the south of Bristol. The zoo welcomes over 170,000 visitors a year and has an exciting, large animal collection of over one hundred species including African elephants, giraffes, lions, a tiger, rhinos and spectacled bears. Visitors can enjoy close encounters with some amazing animals.

Hestercombe Gardens

Hestercombe House and Gardens comprises stunning restored gardens and a mixture of delightful woodland walks and lakeside views. With a contemporary art Gallery, two eateries (a café and restaurant) and a second hand bookshop, there is much to explore.

Hestercombe is putting on a range of family activities over February half-term, including garden trails, pizza-making, model boating, family crafts and 17th century mill demos.

You can get 50% off entry to Hestercombe with a Friends of the Palace membership (see Hestercombe’s website for any days when this may not be valid), so this makes a perfect pair of family days out for Half Term.

Wookey Hole Caves and Attractions

Wookey Hole Caves is a spectacular underground network of caverns beneath the Mendip Hills. The UK’s largest show caves system, guided tours are offered and there are a host of other attractions at the site including a ‘dinosaur valley’, a paper mill and more. It’s only a 5 minute drive from Wells, so an easy trip for families.

Cheddar Gorge and Caves

One of Britain’s most spectacular natural landmarks, from its awe-inspiring cliffs to its extraordinary stalactite show caves, Cheddar Gorge & Caves holds many fascinating secrets about our prehistoric ancestors, and is an international centre for caving and rock climbing. You can also just enjoy a walk and breath-taking views.

Ham Wall Nature Reserve

If you’re searching for family day out ideas, Ham Wall, on the Somerset Levels, is a fantastic choice. A wetland teeming with wildlife, Ham Wall is home to rare species like water voles and otters and magnificent birds like bitterns and kingfishers. Enjoy stunning views across the marshes and make some time to follow secluded paths through the mystical landscape.

The main path through the reserve is wide and flat making it pushchair friendly. It’s also a great location for family bike rides away from traffic.