Why Easter in Sussex Beats the Airport Dash

26th February 2026

There’s a familiar rhythm to the Easter holidays.

The half-packed suitcase on the bed. The early alarm set for a flight. The quiet question of whether the airport dash is really worth it.

Or… you could turn left instead of right. Head south from London. And within a couple of hours find yourself in the Sussex countryside, where spring is beginning to stretch into view.

One the Goodwood Estate, Easter unfolds differently. Amongst the parkland and woodland the estate sits within, the landscape begins to shift, blossom appearing along the edges of pathways, the ground firming up after a long, wet winter, the light lingering that little bit longer each evening.

For families considering a UK Easter break, it’s a reminder that you don’t need to travel far to feel far away.

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A Family Easter Break in the Countryside

Choosing an Easter holiday at The Goodwood Hotel in West Sussex isn’t about compromise. It’s about ease.

It means packing wellies instead of worrying about luggage allowances. Bringing the dog. Inviting grandparents. Arriving in time for lunch rather than queuing for security. It means less travel, more time together and space for children to properly switch off from screens and step back into the outdoors.

During the Easter school holidays this year, a stay at The Goodwood Hotel means families can settle into that slower rhythm almost immediately. Days are shaped by fresh air and shared experience rather than logistics. And everything, from places to eat within easy reach to wide open walking routes, sits right on the doorstep as the estate sits on the doorway to the South Downs, as well as enjoying 11,000 acres of beautiful West Sussex countryside.

 

Discovering Easter on Horseback

This year, Easter at Goodwood introduces a new way for children to experience the Estate: the Estate Hack, inspired by Goodwood’s sporting passions of horseracing and the famous Racecourse.

Designed for children aged four and above, this guided horseback experience allows young riders to explore hidden corners of the countryside while learning the basics of horsemanship. It’s gentle, confidence-building and quietly magical, seeing the landscape from the saddle for the first time.

For many children, it will be their first experience on horseback. For parents watching from the sidelines, it’s a moment you know they’ll remember.

Alongside the Estate Hack, children of different age groups can take part in an Introduction to Horses session (ages 4–10), where they’ll learn how to groom, handle and care for ponies in a relaxed and supportive environment. The Horse Groom & Ride experience (ages 11-16) builds on this beautifully, giving young equestrians the chance to prepare their horse before heading out for a guided ride, understanding not just how to ride, but how to care for the animal beneath them.

 

Easter Activities Inspired by Goodwood’s Sporting Heritage

Goodwood has always been shaped by sport and the Easter holiday programme reflects that heritage in ways that feel both exciting and grounded.

Older children can take part in Junior Clay Shooting sessions, developing focus and coordination in a safe countryside setting. Teenagers can step into Young Learner Driver experiences, gaining confidence behind the wheel before they’re old enough for a licence, or test their reactions in professional racing simulators inspired by the iconic history of the Goodwood Motor Circuit and some of the fastest motor racing in the world today.

For families wanting to share the adventure, vintage off-road Land Rover experiences venture into parts of the Estate rarely seen by visitors. It’s the kind of wholesome thrill that works across generations, equally exciting for grandparents and grandchildren alike.

 

The Joy of Simply Being Here

Yet Easter at Goodwood isn’t just about scheduled activities.

It’s cycling laps of the historic circuit in the cool spring air. It’s estate walks where conversation meanders as easily as the footpaths. It’s stopping at the Goodwood Aerodrome Café to watch planes and helicopters take off or pausing at the Goodwood Motor Circuit Café to take in the excitement as the cars hurtle around the track.

And just a short distance from The Goodwood Hotel, the Goodwood Art Foundation offers another layer to a family Easter break. Here, contemporary art sits within the landscape and children can take part in creative trails and workshops that encourage them to look more closely at the world around them.

It’s not about rushing from one activity to the next. It’s about giving children space to try something new, to feel the ground beneath their boots, to look up.

 

A UK Easter Holiday That Feels Restorative

As the day winds down, families return to welcoming rooms at The Goodwood Hotel, where dinner is taken care of and tomorrow doesn’t need planning spreadsheets.

For those looking for more independence, Goodwood’s luxury self-catering cottages offer privacy and flexibility, while still keeping the 11,000-acre playground within easy reach, ideal for multi-generational Easter holidays in Sussex.

There is something reassuring about a family Easter break that leaves you feeling rested rather than exhausted.

No airport dash.
No luggage carousel.
Just spring air, open countryside and time spent together.

And sometimes, that’s exactly the kind of holiday you need.

 

Easter Weekend Stays are available from £250 a night, with mid-week Easter holiday stays from £160 per night based on two sharing. You can save 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. 

  • latest news

  • school holidays

  • kids activities

  • The Goodwood Hotel

  • Goodwood Art Foundation

  • things to do