WHAT’S ON IN APRIL
Seasonal events
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Wild Rutland safaris
8, 18, 20 April 2026
Wild Rutland has a packed April programme of spring-focused nature walks and activities.
- Dawn Chorus Walks
- Bluebell Safaris
- Kids Wild Safaris (ages 8+)
- Veteran Tree Safari, meet ancient giants
- Wild Sketching
Burley Woods, Rutland -
Woodland Arms reopens
TBC April 2026
A relaxed woodland pub and events space in rural Leicestershire where good food, drinks, fires and music come together outdoors.
Woodland Arms, Markfield
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Countryside Lincs
19 April 2026
Celebrating its 10th year, Countryside Lincs takes over the Lincolnshire Showground with a lively mix of farming, food, and countryside experiences. Expect live entertainment, demonstrations, cookery, and plenty to get stuck into indoors and out.
Lincolnshire Showground
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Stilton Cheese Classic Car Run
26 April 2026
An annual classic car run from Uppingham to the Bell Inn at Stilton, Cambridgeshire passing through scenic villages and rural lanes.
Uppingham
Supper clubs and cookery classes
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Songkran Thai Night at Hoggy's Grill
16 February 2026
Celebrate Thai New Year with a spring celebration full of colour and spice. Traditional Thai food and drinks infused with lemongrass, tamarind and warming curry spices, all cooked over the grill and served with a welcome drink.
Hoggy’s Grill, Rutland Nursery Manton
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Keythorpe Hall Dining Club
18 April 2026
An intimate evening of seasonal cooking, with a five course menu by in house chef Bent Varming. The dishes are shaped by what is growing in the walled garden and what can be sourced from nearby farms, letting the produce lead the way.
Keythorpe Hall, Tugby
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The Olive Branch Pasta Masterclass
30 April 2026
A hands-on pasta-making masterclass at the renowned restaurant. Master ravioli, tortellini, cannelloni and linguine with saffron, tomato and squid ink pasta dough made from scratch. A practical morning focused on technique and the simple satisfaction of making good food, followed by a lunch in the pub.
The Olive Branch, Clipsham
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Hoggy's Grill Classes
Various dates
Workshops at Hoggy’s Grill range from the best-selling Ultimate Burger class to meat masterclasses, introductions to grilling, seafood, and gourmet cooking. Led by Hoggy himself, each session is hands-on, lively, and focused on building real confidence in the kitchen.
Hoggy’s Grill, Rutland Nursery
Easter days out
Easter arrives with lambs in the fields, the first real warmth in the sun, and gardens waking after winter. Across the Notswolds, country houses, farms and gardens open their gates with a full programme of family days out and seasonal activities. Expect traditional egg hunts through historic grounds, lamb feeding on working farms, trails designed for younger and older explorers, and plenty of space to roam as the first green returns to the landscape.
Whether you are filling a morning or planning a full day out over the spring holidays, here’s our guide to some of the best places to go and what not to miss across our corner of the country.
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Witham Hall Easter Egg Hunt
21 March 2026
Follow the bunny trail through the historic grounds of Witham Hall this Easter. Hunt for clues, meet the Easter Bunny, enjoy crafts, games and a bouncy castle. A pop-up café will be serving coffee and cake, with proceeds supporting the Willoughby Foundation, the charitable arm of Willoughby Academy - a specialist academy in Bourne for pupils with a diverse range of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Witham Hall Preparatory School, Lincolnshire
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Windmill Farm Park
21 & 22, 28 March-6 April 2026
Packed with hands on fun and open every day. Families can roam the farmland to meet adorable new arrivals, join in seasonal farming activities like guinea pig fishing & egg collecting, then burn off energy in the indoor playbarn. Outside, there’s water play, ride on tractors, and plenty of space to explore and build dens in Brian’s Wood.
Windmill Farm Park, Leicestershire
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Belton House
21 March-19 April 2026
Easter at Belton brings a Big Bug Ball to the gardens, with a family trail celebrating the insects that live across the estate. Ten activity stations invite children to hop, buzz and fly their way around the grounds while discovering more about the tiny wildlife that calls Belton home.
The trail includes a workbook, bunny ears and a chocolate egg at the finish. With indoor and outdoor play areas, wide parkland to roam and plenty of space to explore, it is an easy day out with lots to keep children busy and time to enjoy the estate together.
Belton House, Grantham
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Sacrewell
28 March-6 April 2026
Outdoor play combined with hands on heritage. Families can explore the animal village, large outdoor play areas and indoor playbarn, discover the working watermill and historic buildings, and spend quieter moments in the sensory garden.
Sacrewell, Peterborough
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Boughton House
28 March-9 April 2026
A chance to explore the gardens and parkland as spring begins to arrive. Families can follow an Easter trail with a workbook, take part in interactive games and enjoy a day out that includes a children’s lunchbox, plus time to visit the gift shop and tearoom.
From 3–6 April, the programme also includes archery, axe throwing and the chance to meet and feed the season’s new lambs.
Boughton House, Northamptonshire
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Burghley House
28 March-10 April 2026
Inspired by the estate’s spymaster past, young explorers can collect a Spymaster’s Guide at Hide & Secrets Adventure Play and set off to explore the grounds during the school holidays, with the South Gardens open throughout the Easter break.
On 5 April, the Sculpture Garden hosts a special Easter Sunday egg trail where children follow clues to claim a chocolate egg from Burghley’s Easter Bunny, while grown ups can tackle trickier questions for the chance to win afternoon tea in The Orangery.
Burghley House, Stamford
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Clumber Park
28 March-12 April 2026
Follow Crack the Case: The Great Easter Whodunit a self-guided mystery trail designed for adults and older children, with clues hidden across the parkland.
Beyond the trails, there’s plenty to fill a day outdoors, from den building, wildlife spotting and the Woodland Play Park to hands-on sessions at the Discovery Centre, where seasonal activities, pondlife encounters, the much-loved 50 Things room and a calm sensory space offer quieter moments..
Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire
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Lyveden
28 March-21 April 2026
This spring, Lyveden will be buzzing. Set out on the Easter trail and step into the world of pollinators, with a gentle, family-friendly adventure woven through one of Northamptonshire’s most unusual historic landscapes.
Young explorers are invited to join the colony and discover some of nature’s most important inhabitants through simple activities and games.
Lyveden, Oundle Northamptonshire
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Belvoir Castle
30 March-19 April 2026
Children can follow the Bertie Bear Castle Trail and enjoy an Easter adventure around the playground and grounds, with clues to discover along the way. The animal park offers the chance to meet the resident animals, while the retail village provides space to browse independent shops before lunch and a slower wander through the gardens.
Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire
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Hoggy's Grill Kids Eat Free Ultimate Burger Class
1, 7, 15, 25 April 2026
Kids eat free at this hands-on burger class at Hoggy’s Grill. Young chefs can build their own dream burgers, choose their toppings and get stuck into the cooking, while adults enjoy a relaxed meal. For every paying adult, up to two children under 16 can join the class and eat for free.
Hoggy’s Grill, Rutland Nursery Manton
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Bowthorpe Park Farm Lambing Season
3-19 April 2026
At Bowthorpe Park Farm, Easter means lambing season on a real working farm. Visitors can meet the newest arrivals, cuddle baby lambs and even take part in bottle-feeding sessions, offering a rare chance to get close to the animals during their earliest days. A simple, joyful way to experience spring in the countryside, surrounded by fields, fresh air and the rhythms of the farm.
Bowthorpe Park Farm, Lincolnshire
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Rockingham Castle
5-6 April 2026
Easter returns to Rockingham Castle with a family garden trail through the grounds. Follow the clues to find Billy the Bunny’s farmyard friends and claim a chocolate reward. This year the search continues inside the Castle too, with hidden eggs in rooms throughout the house. Solve the clues and see if you can find them all.
Rockingham Castle, Northamptonshire
Workshops and talks
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Art Social, Curous Magpie
2 April 2026
A regular creative event hosted by @art.social.uk, held on the first Thursday of each month. Drop in to draw, paint, and experiment with materials. Supplies provided and a relaxed, bring-your-own-tipple atmosphere.
Curious Magpie, Mountsorrel
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Easter Table Arrangements Masterclass
4 April 2026
A gentle spring gathering on a working flower farm. Spend a few hours picking blooms, learning from floral designer Charlotte Myddleton, and create a foam free table arrangement. Your design is made and taken home in a Naomi Grace Ceramics x The Leicestershire Flower Farm bowl.
The Leicestershire Flower Farm
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Introduction to Garden Design with Guy Petherall
13 April 2026
What truly makes a garden work? From scale and harmony to focal points, flow and movement, and the relationship between garden, house and wider landscape, this talk unpacks the thinking behind beautifully designed spaces and offers thoughtful inspiration for shaping your own.
Doddington Hall
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Author's in Conversation: Craig Reval Horwood
14 April 2026
An evening in conversation with Notswolds local and Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood, discussing his latest book Revelations Songs Boys Don't Sing. This theatrical memoir takes readers behind the scenes of a life lived centre stage, with candid stories about music, identity, and the moments that shaped his career.
Rutland Nursery
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Introduction to Modern Calligraphy
18 April 2026
A series of relaxed, sociable workshops bringing people together to make, chat, and enjoy something good to eat. These easygoing sessions are designed to spark creativity without pressure, pairing hands on crafting with the chance to make new connections, all alongside the warm and generous hosting at Milly’s Bistro.
Milly’s Bistro, Stamford
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Herbal Medicine for Women
30 April 2026
Nicola Fenton (@fentonsherbology) explores herbal medicine to support women through menstruation, motherhood, and menopause. This free event is part of Thrive and Bloom, a regular non-commercial community project at Rutland Nursery.
Rutland Nursery
Sporting challenges and events
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Rutland Spring Half Marathon
12 April 2026
A half marathon for runners and walkers, following a scenic route around Rutland Water and the Hambleton Peninsula.
Rutland Water
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CiCLE Classic
26 April 2026
The CiCLE Classic is a one day elite men’s, women’s and junior road race run between Oakham and Melton Mowbray, designed in the style of the Spring Classics of Northern Europe and held as part of the UCI Europe Tour.
Oakham
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Battle of the Brampton Valley Way
12 April 2026
An out-and-back ultra along the Brampton Valley Way, with runners setting off from either Northampton or Market Harborough. Choose your side, cover 28 miles on a traffic-free route, and race it out as the two ends go head-to-head, with timing, split times, and a friendly battle to see which side comes out on top.
Market Harborough, Northampton
FIND YOUR NOTSWOLDS
Whether you’re chasing adventure, uncovering hidden stories, getting creative, tasting your way through the region, or simply slowing down, the Notswolds has something for you. Explore the calendar, pick your moment, and make it your own.
Share your Notswolds experiences on social. Tag @notswolds and use #notswoldsmoments to be part of the story.
RECOMMEND YOUR NOTSWOLDS
Do have a favourite events in the Notswolds that you think we should know about? Get in touch at hq@notswolds.com.