What to do on Good Friday and Easter Weekend in Hampshire

It’s only once a year that two bank holidays fall over the same weekend, making Easter weekend a wonderful spring chance to get out and about and enjoy the longer and fairer days.

Easter weekend 2024 begins with Good Friday on 29 March and ends with Easter Monday on 1 April 2024. Need some spring-spiration on how to enjoy that lovely long four-day weekend in Hampshire? We’re all bunny ears!
 

Book a break

The four-day weekend is the perfect opportunity to book a short break and Hampshire is a great destination to choose to get away for a few days.

Explore the cities of Winchester, Southampton, and Portsmouth, or escape to the country in the New Forest or South Downs National Parks.

Hampshire has a great range of places to stay for visitors from top-notch hotels to welcoming self-catering homes from home.

Find out more about short breaks in Hampshire

Raise a glass and fill your plate  

Two bank holidays sandwiching the weekend means egg-stra opportunities to enjoy food and drink in Hampshire.

If the weather is fair, wine or dine al fresco in a Hampshire pub garden, or pack a hamper and roll out your blanket at one of Hampshire’s best places for a picnic.

Head out for a city brunch in Southampton, Portsmouth, or Winchester, or an Easter Sunday lunch in a country pub.

Or breathe in the botanicals and create some springtime cocktails at the Bombay Sapphire Distillery.

Have a sweet time

It wouldn’t be Easter weekend without some sweet treats, and there are of course some cracking Easter egg hunts happening across the county over the Easter weekend including a Canoe Easter Egg Hunt with New Forest Activities, and Easter trails at Mottisfont, Hinton Ampner, and The Vyne. For chocolatiers in the making, the Spinnaker Tower has Easter Chocolate Workshops over the Easter weekend.

Chocoholics of all ages will love a visit to Winchester’s Chococo chocolate café, the Mokaya Cocoa chocolate boutique in Stockbridge, or the Beaulieu Chocolate Studio in the New Forest.

Find out more about Hampshire Easter egg hunts and trails

See a late sunset when the clocks spring forward

On 31 March the clocks spring forward meaning that sunset on Easter Sunday will be after 7.30pm. Make the most of the first long evening of the year with a sunset drink in a beach bar like the Beach Club in Southsea, or from the top of the Spinnaker Tower at the Sky Bar, or hike to the top of Butser Hill or for golden views across the rolling countryside.

Top places to see the sunset in Hampshire

Ride into the longer evenings

Those longer days mean a little more daylight to get out and about, and Easter weekend is a fantastic time of year to cycle in the county.

Whizz along the coast on two wheels on Hayling Island’s Billy Cycle Trail or venture into the New Forest National Park to follow some of the 100 miles of waymarked off-road cycling routes whilst spotting animals along the way.

For more challenging terrain, head to the 100-mile South Downs Way, one of the most popular destinations for both road and off-road cyclists in Southern England.

Find out more about cycling in Hampshire

Put a spring in your step

Step out for a walk over the Easter weekend in Hampshire, and you’re sure to be surrounded by signs of spring from joyful flowers to newborn animals and cheerful birdsong.   

Breathe in the fresh air along the county’s coastline by walking a section of the Solent Way, meander along the riverside with a walk beside the River Test or Beaulieu River, or walk to the top of St Catherine’s Hill for views over Winchester and the surrounding countryside.  

Find out more about walking in Hampshire

Visit glorious gardens

The gorgeous gardens of Hampshire spring to life this time of year and Easter weekend is a glorious time to visit.

See a vision of primaveral yellow at the Daffodil Meadow and the River of Gold at Exbury Gardens or visit a National Trust garden to see the spring colours at The Vyne, Mottisfont, Hinton Ampner, or Uppark.

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens becomes its blossoming best as Magnolias, Japanese flowering cherries, Azaleas, and Rhododendrons spring to life and there’s a chance to visit the home of Downton Abbey at the Spring Public Opening of Highclere Castle.

Find out more about gardens in Hampshire

Dive into the long weekend

Make a splash over the Easter weekend and try out one of the county’s wild swimming spots, from beach dips to lake swims.

Or, if you prefer your plunges a little warmer, refresh and pamper yourself on a spring spa day or at places to stay with a pool in Hampshire.

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Easter egg hunts and trails in Hampshire

Fancy an Easter break?  Take a look at our huge range of accommodation. Hampshire has something for all budgets including hotels, bed and breakfasts, self-catering properties, and cosy traditional holiday cottages. 

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