Plenty to see and do at Swindon’s venues this Easter

Things will get chilly at Museum & Art Swindon (MAS) with a screening of hit animated movie Ice Age at the Civic Offices on Thursday, 2 April at 10.30am (£8 per adult, £5 for U16s). Hosted in collaboration with Create Studios, the second ever Cinema @ Civic events takes movie goers all the way back to the year 2002 when the film was released, but for a proper prehistoric adventure, the Fossil Hunters exhibition lets visitors come face-to-face with the creatures featured on screen before closing on 11 April.

On Saturday, 28 March, the lovely team at Abe’s Brick Corner will be bringing thousands of Lego pieces and sets to the museum to host three (11am, 12.30pm and 1.45pm) Lego Workshops to inspire creativity. Each session costs £5 per child.

MAS will also be hosting a number of creative workshop and craft activity sessions. On Tuesday, 31 March, visitors can learn to draw cartoons and comics with children’s illustrator Alex Crump in a Comic Creations workshop (£5 per child) at 1pm and 2.15pm. Free creative drop-in sessions are also taking place between 10.30am and 4.30pm on Wednesday, 1, Saturday, 4, Tuesday, 7 and Wednesday, 8, inspired by the Human Experience exhibition.

At the STEAM Museum, next to Swindon Designer Outlet, visitors can step back into Victorian home life with Spring Cleaning at STEAM on Wednesday 8 April. Attendees can discover the clever and surprising ways railway workers kept their homes spotless, get hands‑on with real household objects, try on period clothing for the perfect selfie, scrub laundry using authentic tools and learn the art of rag‑rugging.

Lydiard Park welcomes the return of its Easter Trail on Sunday, 5 April. A fun-filled Easter trail around the lake will take place at the much-loved country park following the story of the Easter Bunny as participants search for clues, noticing features of this historic landscape as they go. Solve the puzzle, spell out the secret word, and an Easter prize could be rewarded (£5 per child). Those wanting to take part should visit the Coach House Activity Centre between 11am and 2.15pm.

Alongside the trail, children are also invited to take part in the Lydiard Park Easter Bonnet Parade. Children can make a whimsical, cute or traditional Easter bonnets at home and head to the Walled Garden at 12.30pm to show off their creations. Entry to the Easter Bonnet Parade costs £2 per child.

A mouthwatering Easter Sunday Lunch at Lydiard Park Hotel is also available for those looking for something other than chocolate on Easter Sunday. Advance booking is recommended - call 01793 464644 or email LydiardHotelReception@swindon.gov.uk’

Frances Yeo, Swindon Museums Manager, said: “We know parents and guardians are always looking for something to entertain the children throughout the Easter break so why not spend it at our amazing museums?

“There’s plenty to enjoy for everyone, from the history of Swindon and its railway past at STEAM, to seeing prehistoric creatures from to life at MAS.

“This is also the last chance to see the Fossil Hunters exhibit at MAS, it’s a fantastic exhibition and I’d encourage everyone to see it before it disappears.”

Ian Surtees, Business Development Manager at Lydiard, said: “Lydiard Park has some great events taking place this Easter for the whole family.

“Whether it’s keeping the kids entertained with an Easter trail or treating the family to a meal at the fabulous Palm Bar and Restaurant, there’s something for everyone this Easter.”