The Easter break is a busy time of year for families and understandably so. With the kids off school and the weather starting to get warmer, the Easter break is a great time for the whole family to venture out and do something different and exciting.

Hiring a 7-seater people carrier from Hertz costs around £166.66 (at the time of writing), but the cost of a return train journey for two adults and two children costs a lot more.

The Harry Potter Tour

The Harry Potter Tour is great for Harry Potter fans young and old. Harry Potter: Behind the Scenes Studio Tour at the Warner Bros studio in Leavesden near Watford is surely the ultimate Easter treat. Having been home to the production all eight of the Harry Potter films it is definetly an iconic place to visit. Highlights include Dumbledore’s office, the Gryffindor common room and Hogwart’s Great Hall film sets.

Prices: Admission = £19.68 for adults (12+), £14.88 for children (4-11 years), children under 4 get in free.

Chocolate and flowers, Kew Gardens

Kew Garden’s ‘Mayan Chocolate Adventure’ is a great way of enticing young children to inspect the flower beds, as it is designed with families in mind. Join the Easter Egg Hunt with Buzzie Bee and other friendly characters from the Gardens’ indoor play area.

Admission: = £13.90 for adults, free for children under 17.

Alton Towers

The Alton Towers adventure park is great fun for adults and children of all ages. This year, you will find to new additions to the impressive list of rides, in the shape of the Ice Age ‘the 4-D Experience and the Nemesis Sub-Terra. For small children there is the Cloud Cuckoo Fun Area and the opportunity to meet pirates at Mutiny Bay.

Admission = £31.50 for adults, £25.20 for children (4-11yrs)

National Space Centre, Leicester

This venue affords visitors the opportunity to marvel at Britain’s largest planetarium. It also includes six interactive galleries and the Rocket Tour, where families can experience the thrill of taking off into space.

Admission = £13 for adults, £11 for children.

New Forest

Easter is arguably the best time of year to visit the beautiful New Forest. You get to witness newborn wild foals taking their first uncertain steps, as well the vast woodland newly carpeted in luscious bluebells.

Cost of three nights’ B&B at Easter is priced from £120pp