The four-day Easter Bank Holiday weekend is here and we can smell the chocolate and the toasty hot cross buns (but that could be because we’ve already eaten most of them).

For everyone lucky enough to get the time off work, it’s come a bit early for lots of things to be back on again – we’ve got to wait another week or so for outdoor eating and drinking, and for the shops to reopen. But there’s still plenty to get out – or stay in – and do to make the most of what’s looking like a decent weather long weekend.

Whatever you’re planning, here are some ideas for how to have the perfect Easter Bank Holiday weekend …

Walk off all those Easter eggs – or make room for more

We’ve all become expert walkers over the past year, but when the sun’s shining it’s still nice to get out and have a wander and it’s the cheapest, easiest way to exercise. Easing of restrictions on March 29 means we can now go a bit further so there’s a chance to go exploring more and try out some of the region’s most beautiful walks that weren’t allowed under the rules before. 

Go on the River of Light Trail

After strong winds closed it last weekend, the River of Light Trail is back on but only until Easter Monday night so make sure you don’t miss it. The 11 illuminated artworks are set along a 2k walking route and Visit Liverpool have created a map so it’s really simple to see them all or just pick out a few you like the look of. The rule of six or two households applies but they’re pretty spread out and you can always put on a mask if you’re worried about crowds. It’s less busy later on too and they’re lit up until 10.30pm.

Head to the beach

Don’t all rush at once to Formby, even though it’s lovely, because it really can get rammed on Bank Holiday weekends and there are lots of other brilliant beaches on our doorstep. No point getting stuck for ages in a traffic jam and then not being able to find a place to park – pack a picnic and some games for the kids and head for the sands around Southport and Wirral or go and visit the Iron Men at Crosby instead.

Get to the garden centre

OK, this is some people’s idea of heaven and others, not so much – but if you’re a fan of your garden, and we’ve all got a bit more fond of them over the last year, then this is the perfect time to show it some love. Get stocked up on plants now and get them dug in then you’ll soon see a colourful return on your efforts. If you’re around south Liverpool, Aigburth Hall Nurseries is open all weekend, 10.30am-4.30pm, and in Prescot, Whitakers is open 9am-5.30pm except Easter Sunday. Sefton Meadows Garden Centre in Maghull is open 9.30am-5.30pm every day except Easter Sunday.

Order in some food & drink and get out in the garden with your 6

Bone and Block BBQ pack

We can finally have up to six people from two households round for a few drinks and something to eat in the garden again, which sounds like the best way to spend the weekend. Fire up the barbecue, or maybe keep supporting our local indies ahead of full reopening and have something delivered.

LIDS has been doing an amazing job getting deliveries out all the way through lockdown, and Easter’s no different. Take your pick of beers from Love Lane, The Handyman or Black Lodge Brewery or sangria in the sunshine from Balearic House Drinks Company. There’s too many to mention them all, but how about cupcakes and treats from Laura’s Little Bakery, Mrs Danvers giant golden white chocolate smash heart filled with Easter sweets or an Idle Hands cocktail hamper with Murphy’s Gin and handmade Toxteth Chocolate?

Find lots of delivery ideas in our Delivery Directory here.

And there’s always more Easter choccy treats …

Fancy giving supermarket eggs a miss and getting something a bit different, and local, for an Easter treat? Liverpool artisan bakery and chocolatier Coco Baroque is doing Easter eggs filled with muscovado caramel & Lotus Biscoff and The Midnight Delivery’s got unbelievable Crème Egg brownie towers. Dumb Dough Liverpool has some pretty special Easter cookies or if you want to go really posh, The Art School has a range of beautiful Easter eggs and artisan chocolate in its Emporium, made in-house by its team.  In Wirral, don’t forget The Chocolate Cellar which has loads of Easter treats including Unicorn eggs!

Enter the Ladies Day Virtual Style Award

This year Aintree Racecourse has extended the Virtual Style Award so you have a full week to enter, starting on Friday 2 April. We will be on the judging panel and crowning the winners on Friday 9th April after midday when entries close. Get your best frock out and iron that three-piece suit as we celebrate one of the city’s favourite days at home with A Grand Day In!

Get more info here.

Bake your own Easter Cookies

Last week we teamed up with Claire House for the virtual Butterfly Bake. Laura’s Little bakery let us is to her baking secrets and taught us to create the perfect Easter Cookies. Watch the video above  and get baking!

Check out the Biennial

The Biennial is back in Liverpool which means unusual artworks popping up around town where you might not expect them. If you loved the River of Light and you want to do something else arty this weekend, check out the Biennial outdoor sculptures, sonic and digital works.

Find out more here.

Take the kids on an Easter egg hunt at Liverpool ONE

The Easter Bunny has been to @Liverpool_ONE ?? pic.twitter.com/TEXFZwW4Ga

— The Guide Liverpool (@TheGuideLpool) March 25, 2021

If you’re not doing your own Easter egg hunt at home, or even if you are, Liverpool ONE has a great one to take the kids to. Help Egg find his friends Flopsy, Lenny, Flora, Darcey, Chuck, Buzz and Colin on the giant Easter eggs in Paradise Place, share a pic of your favourite and you could win one of 6 goody bags from Cass Art.

Take it easy with an (Easter-y) film on telly

No need to cram stuff in every minute of the long weekend, sometimes you just want to take it easy and watch telly. Obviously ep3 of Line of Duty is on Sunday, that goes without saying, but if you’re looking for something more Easter-themed, try the cute live action/animated bunny tale Hop on Netflix (Russell Brand voices EB) or, for a classic, Easter Parade with Judy Garland is on BBC2 on Easter Sunday. (Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman isn’t remotely Easter-y but it’s on C4 on Saturday night and it’s brilliant).

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