What's On for Kids in North East England | April and Easter Holidays 2019

Welcome to my bumper guide to what's on across North East England for kids this April and over the Easter Holidays. As always, please double check details before heading out as events can change and this guide is written well in advance. Disclosure: I have worked with many of the attractions mentioned in this post in the past but have not been paid/received any incentive to include them in this post.

We're busy bees this April and have lots of plans ourselves including a trip to the Peak District and Alton Towers over Easter, Battle of the Burgers at Exhibition Park and Peter Pan Easter Panto at Tyne Theatre and Opera House. We also visit Whitehouse Farm every Easter and can't wait to see their new developments this year - the plans look fantastic. I'll definitely be making use of our (many) annual passes and visiting Alnwick Garden's dinosaur event, Woodhorn for their free crafts and a National Trust Egg Hunt too. Oh and after receiving this year's English Heritage Guide through the post I have a few castles I want to tick off my list if we have time too.

For more ideas for Days Out across North East England, why not join our North East Days Out Facebook Group? Join 3000 local parents and carers who share their recommendations for days out they've enjoyed. It's a lush little community. Click here to join.

April Giveaways

• Easter Family Panto Ticket Giveaway to see Peter Pan at Tyne Theatre and Opera House (worth £75 ends 7 April) - click here to enter
• Gaming Chair Giveaway (worth £74.99 ends 21 April) - click here to enter
• Win 1 of 20 family short breaks to Forest Holidays with HARBIO (ends 21 April) - click here to enter
• Win a Haribo Hamper. Follow and RT here (ends 18 April)

Low-Cost Days Out Ideas for April

• Visit Leonardo Da Vinci's Exhibition at Sunderland Winter Gardens - read our review here
• The Best Places to See Lambs this Easter
• A Guide to National Trust Egg Hunts
• The Ultimate Bucket List for Children in Northumberland
• 20 Free and Discounted Days Out by Bus
• Free Nature Trail at Derwent Waterside Park
• Free Sculpture Trail at Thornley Woodland Centre 
• 20+ Family Friendly Beer Gardens 

Easter Holidays On-going Events

• Little Farmer Experience at Whitehouse Farm - find out more here
• Easter Eggstravaganza at Whitehouse Farm - find out more here
• Build a Teddy Tastic Friend at Whitehouse Farm - find out more here
• Art Academy and Art School at Laing Art Gallery - find out more here
• Family Crafts at Preston Park - find out more here
• Magical Creatures Week at Preston Park - find out more here
• Easter Week at Preston Park - find out more here
• Amazing Inventions Trail at Sunderland Winter Gardens - find out more here
• Giant LEGO brick animals at WWT Washington - find out more here
• Easter Fun at Manor Walks - find out more here
• The Fallen Forest Crafts at Woodhorn - find out more here
• Spring Sports at Souter Lighthouse - find out more here
• Easter Holiday Activities at Gibside - find out more here
• Easter Holiday Fun at Washington Old Hall - find out more here
• Nature Adventures at Wallington Hall - find out more here
• Springtime Family Fun at Cragside - find out more here
• Egg Decorating at Ormesby Hall - find out more here
• Now You See Me Exhibition at Lindisfarne Castle - find out more here
• An Archaeological Easter at Alnwick Garden - find out more here

• Easter Eggstravaganza at Discovery Museum - find out more here
• Mad Hatter's Tea Party with Spirit of the Bay Train - find out more here
• Clown Nose Trail at Discovery Museum - find out more here
• Easter Quest at Belsay Hall - find out mroe here
• Easter Quest at Warkworth Castle - find out more here
• Easter Quest at Birdoswold and Chesters Roman Fort - find out more here
• Easter Trail and Crafts at Stephenson Railway - find out more here
• The Percy Past Trail at Alnwick Castle - find out more here
• Metrognomes to the rescue show at intu Metrocentre - find out more here
• 16 - 22 April - Spanish City Fun Fair - find out more here 

Easter Holidays - One-off Events

• 6 April - Forest Friends Teddy Bear's Picnic at Northumberlandia - find out more here (morning) and here (afternoon)
• 6 April - Origami Succulents Workshop at Gateshead Central Library - find out more here
• 6 April - FREE Spring Fair at Arbeia Roman Fort - find out more here
• 6 April - Dumbo Crafts at Empire Cinema Sunderland - find out more here
• 6 & 7 April - Sweetie Slime Making at Stadium of Light - find out more here
• 6 - 10 April - Peterkin the Jester at Alnwick Castle - find out more here
• 7 April - Easter Eggstravaganza at Tanfield Railway - find out more here
• 7 April - Free Mini Train at Exhibition Park - find out more here
• 7 April - Seashore Safari at Souter Lighthouse - find out more here
• 7 April - Happy Feet at Seven Stories - find out more here

• 8 April - Animating Artefacts at Segedunum Roman Fort - find out more here 
• 8 April - Crafty Colours Crafting at Custom's House - find out more here
• 8 April - Monday Funday at Miss Tina's - find out more here
• 8 April - Pony Cart Rides at Bamburgh Castle - find out more here
• 8 April - Den Building at Rising Sun Country Park - find out more here
• 8 April - Campfire Fun at Rising Sun Country Park - find out more here
• 8 & 10 April - Unleash Your Inner Leonardo at Sunderland Winter Gardens - find out more here
• 8 & 10 April - Enchanted Doors at Preston park - find out more here
• 8 & 11 April - Jungle Arts and Crafts at The Word - find out more here
• 9 April - Easter Unicorn Party at The Keel Row - find out more here 
• 9 April - Space Day at Great North Museum - find out more here
• 9 April - Relaxed Tuesdays at South Shields Museum - find out more here
• 9, 11, 16, 18 and 22 April - We're Going On A Bear Hunt Down A Tunnel (Victoria Tunnel and Seven Stories) - find out more here
• 9 & 11 April - Wind-themed Crafts at Discovery Museum - find out more here
• 10 April - Tom's Amazing Energy Show at Discovery Museum - find out more here
• 10 April - Animal Stories at The Word - find out more here
• 10 April - LEGO drop-in at The Word - find out more here
• 10 April - Chess drop-in at The Word - find out more here
• 10 April - FREE Crafty Romans at Arbeia Roman Fort - find out more here
• 10 April - Wild Wednesday at Woodhorn - find out more here
• 10 April - Make and Take at Laing Art Gallery - find out more here
• 11 April - Kiki's Kabin Easter Laser Tag - find out more here
• 11 April - Get Crafty at Shipley Art Gallery - find out more here
• 11 April - Movies at the Museum (Labyrinth) at Preston Park - find out more here
• 11 April - Make & Take Crafts and Train Rides at Stephenson Railway - find out more here
• 11 April - GLOW UV Culture Camp at Gateshead Central Library - find out more here
• 11 - 14 April - Great North Steam Fair at Beamish - find out more here
• 12 April - Easter Magic Show at The Keel Row - find out more here 
• 12 April - Little Inventors Makers Day at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens - find out more here
• 12 - 15 April - Easter Egg Hunt at Hauxley Nature Reserve - find out more here
• 13 April - Follow George Easter Woodland Party at Castleside Parish Woods - find out more here
• 13 April - Easter Bunny and Peter Rabbit at Ocean Beach - find out more here
• 13 April - Kiki's Kabin Easter Party - find out more here
•  Puppetry for Children Day at Ouseburn - find out more here
• 13 April - Sweets and Surprises at South Shields Museum - find out more here
• 13 & 14 April - Unicorns, Dragons and Fairies at Preston Park - find out more here
• 13 - 16 April - Potter Inspired Characters at Alnwick Castle - find out more here
• 13 - 17 April - Birds of Prey at Alnwick Castle - find out more here
• 14 April - Easter Eggstravaganza at Tanfield Railway - find out more here
• 14 April - Throwback to the Fifties at Stephenson Railway - find out more here
• 14 April - The Cherry Pickers at Gibside - find out more here

• 15 April - Arty Party at Custom's House - find out more here 
• 15 April - Easter Arts and Crafts at The Word - find out more here
• 15 April - Create and Craft Kite Making at Rising Sun Country Park - find out more here
• 15 April - Horses, Horses, Horses at Sunderland Winter Gardens - find out more here
• 15 April - Comic Capers at Segedunum Roman Fort - find out more here 
• 15 April - Miss Tina's Easter Family Fun Day - find out more here 
• 16 April - Human's That Rock the World - Picasso Workshop at Thought Foundation - find out more here
• 16 April - Relaxed Tuesdays at South Shields Museum - find out more here
• 16 April - Foam Print the Natural World at Great North Museum - find out more here
• 16 April - Easter Picnic Party at Miss Tina's - find out more here
• 16 April - Minibeast Safari at Low Barns Nature Reserve - find out more here 
• 16 April - Pony Cart Rides at Bamburgh Castle - find out more here
• 16 & 18 April - Egg-themed Crafts at Discovery Museum - find out more here
• 17 April - Science Buddies Catapult Challenge at Sunderland Winter Gardens - find out more here
• 17 April - LEGO drop-in at The Word - find out more here
• 17 April - Chess drop-in at The Word - find out more here
• 17 April - Bears in the Woods at The Word - find out more here
• 17 April - Make and Take at Laing Art Gallery - find out more here
• 17 April - Egg Drop Challenge at Discovery Museum - find out more here
• 17 April - Dinosaur Day at Great North Museum - find out more here
• 17 April- FREE Crafty Romans at Arbeia Roman Fort - find out more here 
• 17 April - Wild Wednesday at Woodhorn - find out more here
• 17 April - Build a Peter Rabbit at Rainton Meadows - find out more here
• 17 April - Artventurers Easter Party at Gateshead Central Library - find out more here 
• 17 April - Stick and Fetch at Seven Stories - find out more here
• 18 April - Culture Camp : Musical Theatre at Gateshead Central Library - find out more here
• 18 April - Birds of Prey at Great North Museum - find out more here
• 18 April - Get Crafty at Shipley Art Gallery - find out more here
• 18 April - Make & Take Crafts and Train Rides at Stephenson Railway - find out more here
• 18 April - Penshaw Bowl and Egg Rolling Competition at Herrington Country Park - find out more here
• 18 April - Easter Arts and Crafts at The Word - find out more here

Good Friday (19th April)

• Easter Trail and Peter Rabbit Movie at Custom's House - find out more here
• Easter Egg Hunt at Northumberlandia - find out more here
• FREE egg decorating and bouncy castle at The Keel Row - find out more here
• An Edwardian Easter at Tanfield Railway - find out more here
• Fish and Chips Heritage Train Rides at Stephenson Railway - find out more here
• Farmyard Flyer at Preston Park - find out more here
• Giant Easter Duck Trail at WWT Washington - find out more here
• Battle of the Burgers at Wylam Brewery - find out more here
• Easter Bunny at Woodhorn - find out more here
• Easter Fun at Beamish - find out more here
• Medieval Alchemist at Alnwick Castle - find out more here
• Beer and a Bite Night at Gibside - find out more here
• Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt at (most) National Trust Properties - find out more here
• Dinosaur Street Theatre at Alnwick Garden - find out more here

Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday 

• 20 April - Alnwick Easter Market with Punch & Judy and live music - find out more here
• 20 April - Battle of the Burgers at Wylam Brewery - find out more here
• 20 April - Spring Time Adventurers with For Paws at South Shields Museum - find out more here
• 20 April - Round Table Duck Race at Alnwick Garden - find out more here
• 20 April - Cardboard Cars and Drive-in Movie at Thought Foundation - find out more here
• 20, 21 and 22 April - Easter Egg Hunt at Northumberlandia - find out more here
• 20, 21 and 22 April - An Edwardian Easter at Tanfield Railway - find out more here
• 20, 21 and 22 April - Farmyard Flyer at Preston Park - find out more here
• 20, 21 and 22 April - Giant Easter Duck Trail at WWT Washington - find out more here
• 20, 21 and 22 April - Easter Bunny at Woodhorn - find out more here
• 20, 21 and 22 April - Easter Fun at Beamish - find out more here
• 20, 21 and 22 April - Medieval Alchemist at Alnwick Castle - find out more here
• 20, 21 and 22 April - Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt at most National Trust Properties - find out more here
• 20, 21 and 22 April - Dinosaur Street Theatre at Alnwick Garden - find out more here
• 21 and 22 April - Eat-A-Long Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory at Tyneside Cinema - find out more here
• 21 and 22 April - Medieval Archer at Bamburgh Castle - find out more here
• 21 and 22 April - Ride the Easter Eggspress - find out more here
• 21 April - Seashore Safari at Souter Lighthouse - find out more here
• 22 April - FREE Family Fun Day at The Keel Row - find out more here
• 22 April - Easter Coastal Trail at Low Newton - find out more here

27th and 28th April

• 26 - 28 April - Durham Aventure Festival - find out more here
• 27 April - Let's Ride Pop-Up at Exhibition Park - find out more here
• 27 April - Hexham Spring Festival - find out more here
• 27 April - Tynemouth Fake Festival - find out more here
• 27 April - The Gruffalo Party at Seven Stories - find out more here
• 27 April - Tin Can Alley Championship at Alnwick Garden - find out more here
• 27 - 28 April - Horses at Work at Beamish - find out more here
• 28 April - Big Fish Little Fish Family Rave at Northumbria Student's Union - find out more here
• 28 April - Bird Ringing Demonstration at Souter Lighthouse - find out more here

Family Theatre in April

• 2 - 6 April - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at Theatre Royal - find out more here
• 7 April - Sooty's Magic Show at Custom's House - find out more here
• 8 April - I Weigh (ages 13+) at Gosforth Civic Theatre - find out more here
• 8 - 9 April - Horrible Histories at Whitley Bay Playhouse - find out more here
• 8 - 13 April - Fame the Musical at Sunderland Empire (12+) - find out more here 
• 9 April - I Weigh at Gateshead Central Library (ages 13+) - find out more here
• 8 - 13 April - Annie at Theatre Royal - find out more here 
• 10 - 11 April - Arbuthnot's Silly Game Show at Custom's House - find out more here
• 12 April - Mischief and Mayhem in Moomin Valley at Northern Stage - find out more here
• 14 - 15 April - Chicken Licken at Gala Theatre Durham - find out more here
• 15 April - Mister Twister at Whitley Bay Playhouse - find out more here
• 16-17 April - Easter Storytelling at The Hullabaloo - find out more here
• 16 - 18 April - Northern Ballet at Northern Stage - find out more here
• 18 Apil - Northern Ballet Puss in Boots at Northern Stage - find out more here
• 18 April - Relaxed Family Concert with Maia - find out more here
• 20 & 21 April - Peter Pan Panto starring Bobby Davro at Tyne Theatre & Opera House - find out more here
• 21 - 22 April - Beauty and the Beast Panto at Whitley Bay Playhouse - find out more here 
• 22 April - Elmer The Patchwork Elephant at Custom's House - find out more here
• 23 - 24 April - Room on the Broom at Theatre Royal - find out more here
• 25 April - Puss in Boots by Northern Ballet at Gala Theatre - find out more here
• 27 April - The Hullaballoo in Wonderland - find out more here

Phew that's quite a list! Don't forget to join our North East Days Out Facebook group and share any days out you've enjoyed.