Easter Egg Hunt at Ham House

Ham House is a stunning backdrop for Easter fun and games on the banks of the Thames, but with chocolate on the brain it'll be scrumptious rather than sumptuous that your tots will be interested in. Still, while the kids scamper about hunting down eggs in the maze-like wilderness, the Cherry Garden with its famous lavender parterres is a lovely feature of these charming formal gardens for parents to enjoy. This is a top family day out - it feels like you're a million miles out of the big city and you'll be able to while away hours, even after the chocolate has been found, wandering through the trees, playing hide 'n' seek and generally enjoying the gardens, especially if it's a clear spring day. If the weather doesn't hold up you can always venture inside the house - you may need to bribe the little ones with even more chocolate for this but the fine, elegant interiors of this 17th-century Stuart mansion are worth it. Rumour has it that this is one of the most haunted houses in Britain - so guard your eggs closely before they're spirited away.