EASTER HOLIDAYS AT COMPTON VERNEY

Compton Verney is hosting a selection of workshops and events for visitors of all ages this Easter.

The popular Kineton RAF STEM are back with their super sphero robots (Wednesday 1 & Wednesday 8 April), younger children can celebrate spring at the family forest school with Get Mucky Get Making sessions (Thursday the 2nd & Thursday the 9th), and older children can enjoy an intensive four-day Animation Camp (Tuesday the 7th to Friday the 10th).

Compton Verney’s creative learning team are on hand for Artist Play Days (Friday the 3rd & Friday the 10th), while brick and block fans can get creative with the Spring Into Lego and Big Blue Blocks sessions (both until Sunday the 12th).

The venue’s Sketching Studio will be open, too, providing creative visitors with the chance to cover the walls, floor and tables with drawings and doodles.

Compton Verney, Warwickshire, until Sunday 12 April

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EASTER HOLIDAY FUN

Easter at the Black Country Living Museum (BCLM) sees characters going about the task of spring cleaning - and sharing some old-fashioned tips and techniques along the way. 

Visitors can meet the rag & bone man, explore blooming gardens and charming shop displays, and enjoy a number of hands-on activities, from breadmaking to taking on the challenge of traditional laundry with a dolly tub and washboard.

The chance to try out at the Easter choir practice, play traditional street games, follow a family discovery trail, and learn the global story of chocolate further add to BCLM’s Easter holiday line-up of attractions. 

Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, until Sunday 12 April

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COUNTRYTASTIC

Family-friendly countryside and farming event CountryTastic returns this Easter. 
This year’s theme, Hold Your Horses, celebrates all things equestrian and features the brand-new Hobby Horse Arena. 

Young visitors can learn how to care for horses, enjoy pony rides, and take part in interactive activities.  
Alongside the horse & pony theme, the show offers a selection of hands-on farming and rural-life experiences. 

Three entertainment rings deliver non-stop action throughout the day with displays, demonstrations, including a lively mock livestock auction in the Livestock Ring.

Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Thursday 2 April

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EASTER MOTOR SHOW

This popular two-day event has been running for more than a quarter of a century and regularly attracts over 1,000 display cars and motorcycles, among them a wide selection of club vehicles. 

Other Motor Show attractions include a large autojumble, all-day commentary and judging, live music, and numerous food & drink options... 

All car and motorcycle owners and visitors will have full access to the entire Weston Park site across the two days. 

Weston Park, Shropshire, Sunday 5 & Monday 6 April

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SPRING STEAM GALA

Severn Valley Railway’s popular four-day festival of steam will feature both guest and home-fleet locomotives operating a busy timetable between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth. 

Guests can ride behind every locomotive, visit The Engine House at Highley, and sample real ales in pubs along the line.

Guest locomotives for this year’s event include BR 71000 ‘Duke of Gloucester’, Port of Par ‘Judy’ (pictured) and LMS Pug 11243. 

Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, nr Kidderminster, Thursday 16 - Sunday 19 April

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THE NATIONAL MOTORHOME, CAMPERVAN & CAMPING EXHIBITION

If you’re looking to buy your first motorhome or campervan, upgrade your current vehicle, or explore the latest camping gear and accessories, The National Motorhome, Campervan & Camping Exhibition has everything you need under one roof. 

Spread across four indoor halls, the show features 40-plus dealers, 350-plus vehicles and 170-plus exhibitors. There’s also a packed schedule of demonstrations and live sessions to enjoy. Meanwhile, the Out & About Live Advice Centre offers free expert talks covering a wide range of topics, from buying advice, touring guidance and off-grid living, to accessories, industry trends and wellness on the road.

Get 25% off tickets by clicking here and using code WhatsOn at the checkout.

NAEC Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, Friday 17 - Sunday 19 April

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TUNNEL TOURS

Delve into the rich history of the Stuart crystal factory - which once stood on the site of Stourbridge Glass Museum - by taking advantage of this unique opportunity to explore the tunnels that lie beneath.
Led by knowledgeable tour guides, visitors can journey back in time to discover the secrets and stories of the historic location, along the way gaining a deeper appreciation of the people, processes and products that made the area famous.

Stourbridge Glass Museum, Saturday 18 April

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TITANIC EXHIBITION BIRMINGHAM

The renowned Titanic Exhibition docks at Birmingham’s NEC this month.

Visitors can step back in time and follow Titanic’s extraordinary journey, from its construction at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast, through its ill-fated maiden voyage, to its rediscovery on the ocean floor and its legacy more than a century later. 

The exhibition showcases a collection of authentic Titanic artefacts, including personal items recovered from the sea in the aftermath of the disaster and objects discovered on the seabed decades later. Through compelling storytelling and real belongings, visitors encounter first, second and third-class passengers, as well as the crew members whose lives and work shaped the ship’s story.

Titanic Exhibition Birmingham NEC, Birmingham, Sunday 19 April - Tuesday 26 May

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GIFFORDS CIRCUS: WATERFIELD

Giffords Circus first visited Sudeley Castle in 2014 with Greek tragedy The Thunders and has returned to the venue every year since. 

This spring sees the troupe performing Waterfield, a show inspired by the English countryside and the creatures that inhabit it. Presented in Giffords Circus’ 600-seat big-top tent, the production features handmade costumes, hand-painted sets, catchy songs, and performances by acrobats, magicians, aerial artists, entertainers and clowns (including local favourite Tweedy!).

Sudeley Castle, Cheltenham, Thursday 23 April - Tuesday 5 May

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CLASSIC ANTIQUE FAIRS

Classic Antique Fairs returns to the NEC with its prestigious Antique & Arts Fair at the end of the month.

A wide range of specialist dealers will be in attendance, covering fields including art, glass, furniture, silver, porcelain, pottery, jewellery, sculpture, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and 20th-century art.

The show features works of art from China, Japan, Europe, Scandinavia and the UK, with all budgets catered for.

Returning dealers include Hickmet Fine Arts, Mark Rowles Fine Art, Plaza Jewellery, Garret & Hurst and Shapiro & Co.

NEC, Birmingham, Friday 24 - Sunday 26 April

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SPRING INTO ST GEORGE'S 

Telford’s St George’s Day event makes a welcome return this month, complete with a wide range of attractions and hands‑on activities to enjoy, including birds of prey flying demonstrations, archery and axe throwing, and wood carving demos. 

Creative activities are available for children across the site, with younger visitors also having the opportunity to meet some friendly donkeys. 

Arena entertainment comes in the form of some high‑energy jousting displays from the ever-impressive Knights of Nottingham.

Telford Town Park, Shropshire, Saturday 25 April

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EARTH DAY WEEKEND

Thinktank is celebrating Earth Day with a weekend of hands-on activities, creative workshops and inspiring demonstrations. This year’s theme, Planet vs Plastic, invites visitors of all ages ‘to explore our relationship with the environment and imagine a cleaner, more resilient future’. 

Featuring eco-crafting, science experiments, music and expert talks, the action-packed weekend has been designed ‘to spark curiosity, creativity, and climate-conscious thinking’. 

Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum, Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 April

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LIVING HISTORY FESTIVAL

Avoncroft Museum’s Living History Festival returns for a fifth year late this month.

The 300-plus reenactors taking part will be showcasing over a thousand years of history, from the Bronze Age to the Cold War.

Both military and domestic history will be on show, including Roman gladiators battling it out in the arena, Ancient Britons, Vikings, Napoleonic troops and soldiers from the First and Second World Wars.

Depictions of agricultural life, including cooking, traditional crafts and pastimes, also feature. 
Meanwhile, New Guesten Hall will host the Stream Of Sound choir and historical dance group Gloriana... Bromsgrove Society of Model Engineers will be running their miniature trains throughout the weekend.

Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove, Sat 25 & Sun 26 April

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CHELTENHAM JAZZ FESTIVAL

Cheltenham Jazz Festival celebrates all genres of jazz and features international icons, up-and-coming artists and unique festival performances. This year’s line-up includes Jack Savoretti, Jessie J, Nigel Kennedy, Joss Stone and Van Morrison.

As usual, the event is hosting a free live music stage in the Festival Village, with pop-up live music performances taking place at venues across the town.

Various venues across Cheltenham, Wednesday 29 April - Monday 4 May