As Easter approaches, many London families find themselves weighing up flight times, airport queues and passport checks. But just 90 minutes from the capital, a very different kind of holiday awaits, one that swaps departure lounges for open fields and boarding calls for birdsong.
Set within 11,000 acres of West Sussex countryside, the Goodwood Estate offers families the chance to properly switch off this Easter without ever stepping on a plane. No 4am alarms. No baggage carousels. Just space, fresh air and time together.
At the heart of the Easter programme at The Goodwood Hotel is a renewed focus on getting children outdoors after a long, wet winter. Leading the line-up is the newly launched Estate Hack, a guided horseback experience suitable for children aged four and above. Young riders can explore hidden corners of the Estate while learning basic riding skills, discovering the landscape from a whole new perspective. This sits alongside other horseriding experiences throughout the Easter school holidays, which include an Introduction to Horses for ages 4-10 and Horse & Groom experience for ages 11-16.
For older children, the Estate’s sporting heritage and celebrates countryside outdoor pursuits, which include Junior Clay Shooting sessions while Young Driver experiences and professional racing simulators offer teenagers the thrill of getting behind the wheel.
Beyond the organised sessions, Easter at Goodwood is about the simple pleasures that often get lost in the rush of modern family life. Cycling together around the historic Goodwood Motor Circuit. Long estate walks under wide Sussex skies. Stopping at the Goodwood Aerodrome Café to watch planes and helicopters take off. Or sitting at the Motor Circuit Café as cars race around the track.
For families who enjoy an adventure, Goodwood offers the chance to hop in the back in a vintage Land Rover for an off road experience that is sure to plaster smiles onto the faces of even the hardest to please.
For those seeking a little culture and inspiration, the Goodwood Art Foundation offers a complementary creative experience for families this Easter. Close to the hotel, the Foundation’s 70-acre art landscape combines outdoor exploration with contemporary art in a way that sparks curiosity and play. Children and adults can take part in self-guided Art in Nature packs, discovering artworks hidden throughout the grounds and enjoying mark-making inspired by shapes and textures in the landscape. As a hotel guest adults receive complementary access to the foundation. Under 18s go free.
Choosing a UK holiday doesn’t mean compromising on experience. Instead, it offers something increasingly rare: ease. The ability to pack the car, bring the dog and be immersed in countryside calm before lunchtime. For grandparents joining the trip, for teens seeking independence and for younger children discovering nature first-hand, Goodwood offers a one-stop countryside retreat where everything is within reach.
After months spent indoors, Easter at Goodwood is a chance to rediscover the joy of being outside, together.
For families looking for a break that are more family time than screen time, you can turn a day out into a full Easter escape with a stay at The Goodwood Hotel, where cosy rooms, seasonal dining and complimentary access to the Health Club make it easy to unwind after a day outdoors. With space for grandparents and even four-legged family members, it’s a relaxed, all-in-one countryside base.
For those seeking a little more independence, Goodwood’s collection of beautifully appointed self-catering cottages across the Estate offers the freedom of home comforts with all the benefits of the 11,000-acre playground on the doorstep. Ideal for multi-generational gatherings, longer Easter breaks or simply spreading out, the cottages provide privacy, flexibility and access to everything Goodwood has to offer.
Easter Weekend Stays are available from £250 a night, with mid-week stays from £160 per night based on two sharing, saving 20% on room rates for four nights plus. Kids’ activities can be booked separately throughout the Easter weekend. Price includes breakfast at Farmer, Butcher, Chef.
Goodwood Self Catering Cottages are available from £385 per night (two-night minimum stay). Price does not include breakfast at Farmer, Butcher, Chef.
Booking:
Visit www.goodwood.com/kids-activities or www.goodwood.com/visit-eat-stay/self-catering/
or email reservations@goodwood.com to find out more.
