If you’re looking to keep younger minds occupied over the Easter break, the answer this year might be closer to the shops than the park.
The Brunel Shopping Centre is laying on a series of free activities aimed squarely at families, with a mix of light-hearted fun and something a bit more hands-on.
At the centre of it all is an Easter egg trail running through the shopping centre. Children can follow clues hidden in shop windows, collecting letters along the way to form a seasonal word. It’s simple, but it does the job—keeping them moving, looking and, ideally, entertained.
Trail maps can be picked up from Something Different on the ground floor, with a small reward waiting at the end for those who complete it.
There’s more than just the hunt, though. Swindon Story Shed will once again be running its holiday sessions, offering drop-in art activities with a spring theme. Expect a mix of crafts inspired by plants and animals, with a noticeable lean towards recycled materials—messy enough to be fun, but with a purpose behind it.
Sessions will run from 10am to 4pm across two blocks: 31 March to 2 April, and again from 7 to 9 April. There’s no need to book—just turn up and join in.
Adding to the mix is face painting from Dani’s Doodles, running from 11am to 4pm. It’s free, though donations are being encouraged for Prospect Hospice—a reminder that even the lighter moments can carry a bit of local support with them.
The Brunel’s organisers say the aim is to give families a reason to spend time together without the pressure of ticket prices or advance planning. In practice, it’s about offering something that breaks up the usual shopping trip.
It won’t replace a day out, but it doesn’t need to. For an hour or two, somewhere warm, central and with a bit going on, it’s likely to prove a useful option.
