Easter days out by train in 2026

Are you starting to plan your Easter family days out and looking for inspiration? Here at Grand Central, we’ve done our research and put together some of the best things to do at Easter this year in Yorkshire and the North East. Explore our recommendations below and get planning your Easter days out by train!

Easter days out in Yorkshire 

This part of the country offers an array of exciting events and fun days out this Easter, for both adults and children alike. Discover some of the top ones below! 

Easter on the Farm at Monk Park, Thirsk 

Friday 3rd - Sunday 5th April 2026

Monk Park Farm in Thirsk is the perfect spot for your Easter days out this year. This fun-filled event is held annually every Easter weekend, offering plenty of exciting activities and extras with your ticket: 

• All-day admission to the farm 
• Woodland Egg Hunt 
• A ride on the mini train
• Access to outdoor play areas 
• Chocolate treats for all children 
• The opportunity to bottle-feed lambs 
• Habd-feed the animals 
• Cuddle the baby chicks 
• Free parking 

The park is easily accessible from Thirsk Station, perfect to pair your Easter day out with a relaxing train journey. 

Shrek the Musical at Leeds Grand Theatre

April 7th - April 11th 2026

Fancy a trip to the theatre, anyone? This April Shrek the Musical is coming to Leeds Grand Theatre, just in time for the Easter holidays. If you have Shrek fans in the family, this is definitely not one to be missed! Other productions throughout the month include: 

• TINA - The Tina Turner Musical (until Saturday 4th April) 
• Frankie goes to Bollywood: April 24th - 25th 

Hop on a train to Leeds, and catch a performance at the Grand Theatre this Easter! 

Rowntree Park's Easter trail, York 

Wednesday 1st April 2026

Another great contender for Easter days out in Yorkshire is Rowntree Park in York. Every year they hold an Easter trail, and this year it takes place on the 1st April. The iconic annual event invites visitors to search the sprawling park for clues to help the Easter bunny find her missing friend, with rewards up for grabs for all your hard work! The park is just over a mile from York station, making it a perfect pairing for an Easter day out in the city. 

Further options for Easter days out in Yorkshire include: 

• Easter trail at Harewood House, Leeds 
• Easter Wonderland at Mother Shipton's Cave, Knaresborough
• Easter egg extravaganza at Cliffe Castle, Keighley 
• Easter Adventures at East Riddlesden Hall, Keighley
• Themed trails at Industrial & Bolling Hall, Bradford 
• Little Wild Wood at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Doncaster 

Easter days out in the North East 

If the Easter adventures in Yorkshire sound great, but you were hoping to spend some time in the North East, don’t fear! There’s plenty of similar exciting events happening in this neck of the woods, too. 

The Active Sunderland Easter Family Fun Event 

Thursday 9th April, 2026 - 11:00am - 4:00pm

The Active Sunderland Easter Family Fun Event is held annually at Herrington Country Park, situated around 6 miles from Sunderland Station. This is a great contender if you’re looking for Easter family days out in the North East, featuring the traditional Penshaw Bowl egg-rolling competition, designed for children aged 9 and under. Contestants are invited to bring their own decorated hard-boiled eggs, and these are rolled down the hill to see whose egg goes the furthest! Other activities you can enjoy at the event include themed arts & crafts, character-led walks, and athletics. Plenty to keep the kids busy, and you might even enjoy it too! 

Sunderland Winter Gardens Dino Egg Hunt 

The iconic Winter Gardens in Sunderland is another great contender for Easter fun in the city. The gardens themselves are home to over 2,000 plants and a scenic treetop walkway offering a great view of the gardens and the city beyond. Most years around Easter, the Gardens also host a Dino Egg Hunt, ideal for little ones with a love of dinosaurs! The hunt features ‘Tina the Triceratops’ and invites visitors to scour the Museum Galleries and Winter Gardens for dinosaur eggs, all for £1 per ticket! The ideal Easter day out on a budget.

Adventure Access Easter Kids Club, Seaham

1st & 2nd April - 8th & 9th April - 9:30am - 3:15pm 

Want to pair your Easter activities with a day at the seaside? If so, the Adventure Access Easter club in Seaham could be the ideal solution. The club is for anyone aged 6 and over, and will run for 4 days in April. The club invites visitors to try their hand at kayaking, stand-up paddelboarding and kneeboarding, as well as having access to an inflatable water park. Parents are invited to watch from the shore, or family sessions are available for those wanting to join their children on the paddleboard! Afterwards, perhaps you’ll have a wander around Seaham and grab some legendary fish and chips? Whatever you get up to, it’s bound to be a fun-filled day out.

Further options for things to do at Easter in the North East include: 

• Egg hunt at the Alnwick Garden
• Spring wildlife walks at Howick Hall & Gardens, Alnwick
• Wynyard Hall Easter Fayre, Billingham
• Take the kids to Craft egg catapults at the Life Science Centre, Newcastle
• Easter bunny afternoon tea party at Dobbies Garden Centre, Birtley 

Book your Easter train tickets with Grand Central 

Now you’ve discovered a wide selection of options for things to do at Easter, all that’s left to do is pick your preferred spot and plan how you’re going to get there. Opt to travel by train and enjoy our array of on-board facilities on your way to an exciting Easter day out. If you’re travelling as a family this Easter weekend, find out more about travelling with children. We recommend booking in advance to secure the best fares, and you can do this at the top of this page, through our journey planner, or on the mobile app.