What's open this Easter?

11 April 2012

Britain, in the eyes of the rest of the world, is a catastrophe - a Dante's Inferno filled with burning pyres, closed footpaths and disinfectant mats. Watching the scenes of devastation shown on CNN and other foreign channels, it is hardly surprising that visitors from abroad have decided not to come here for an Easter break.

Their fears, however, mean the tourist industry is haemorrhaging money. The foot-and-mouth crisis is not yet two months old, but already smaller businesses are facing closure as the lack of income begins to bite.

Tourism offices from London to Devon and Cumbria are reporting increasingly depressing statistics. Hotel bookings in the capital are down as much as 20 per cent on last year and even worse figures are reported in the countryside. Around 90 per cent of the country's footpaths and tracks are expected to remain closed over Easter, although most of the 2,000-mile canal network is open for navigation. The Government is expected to make an announcement about the opening of canal towpaths today.

In an attempt to help tourism, the Government has launched its own website - www.openbritain.gov.uk - to sell the message that the countryside is "open for business". The website was advertised on whole pages of national newspapers, in a campaign which cost an estimated six-figure sum. But it is difficult to search "county by county", and would-be visitors could find themselves plunged into a confusion of Which is why the Evening Standard/ This Is London presents its own guide to some of the best attractions in London and the South-East which remain open for pleasure this Easter weekend.

Many other attractions will also be open, but the Evening Standard advises that readers should ring before visiting any of the sites mentioned before travelling as some last-minute closures may be unavoidable.

Additional reporting by Maria Stammati and Peter Gruner

At the seaside

A spokesman for the resort of Margate said: "Our tourist information centres have received a number of inquiries and our phones haven't stopped ringing.

"Everyone has been delighted to hear that Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate are open for business as usual and that our attractions are up and running for Easter."

Moira Jackson, of Southend-on-Sea council, says the town's tourism industry is gearing up for a busy holiday season.

"We are quite busy in the town already, despite the not-so-good weather, and we hope that it is going to get even busier at the weekend. Everything is open, including the pier and the amusement park at the front, so there is lots for people to do here."

Down the coast, Brighton's shopkeepers and hoteliers are also expecting a busy Easter weekend.

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove council said: "We have long stretches of the front you can walk along and, as other parts of the country are closed off to walkers, we are expecting to be busy."

At the garden centre

Paul Folland, of Clifton Nurseries, which has branches in Maida Vale and Buckinghamshire, says his takings are down by a third.

"Our Maida Vale store is usually very popular with the tourists, particularly the Americans and the Japanese, but it seems as if they are staying away. And while our customers in Buckinghamshire tend to be more local, they too are staying away."

Sarah Squire is a director of the Squire's Garden Centre chain which has nine branches in and around west London. She says the weather is more of a problem than foot-and-mouth.

"It seems as if it won't stop raining. We are really hoping we won't have a wet Easter Bank Holiday."

At the Chelsea Gardener in central London, they were more optimistic. A spokeswoman said: "As far as we can tell we haven't been affected by the foot-and-mouth crisis, and we are hoping for a busy Easter weekend as usual."

All the centres above are open on Good Friday, Saturday, and Bank Holiday Monday.

Easter DIY Guide

London

BFI London IMAX Cinema 020 7902 1234

HMS Belfast 020 7940 6300

London Aquarium 020 7967 8000

London Dungeon 020 7403 7221

London Planetarium 0870 400 3000

London Zoo 020 7722 3333

London Transport Museum 020 7379 6344

Madame Tussaud's 0870 400 3000

National Maritime Museum 020 8858 4422

Natural History Museum 020 7942 5000

Royal Observatory, Greenwich 020 8858 4422

Science Museum 0870 870 4868

Shakespeare's Globe exhibition and tour 020 7902 1500

Tower Bridge Experience 020 7403 3761

Tower of London 020 7709 0765

Victoria & Albert Museum 020 7942 2000

Chiswick House and garden buildings 0870 333 1181

East Sheen Common 0870 458 4000

Ham House 020 8940 1950

Jewel Tower, Westminster 020 7222 2219

Kenwood, The Iveagh Bequest 0870 333 1181

London Wall 0870 333 1181

Wellington Arch 0870 333 1181

Winchester Palace, Southwark 0870 333 1181

London Zoo: "We're still open"
Childrens' Easter egg fun

County by county

Bedfordshire

Bromham Mill - historic mill 01234 824330

Priory Church, Dunstable - 12th century church 01582 477422

Stockwood Craft Museum - gardening history 01582 738714

The Swiss Garden , Old Warden - gardens 01767 627666

Toddler World, Dunstable - activities for small children 01582 604307

Berkshire

Legoland , Windsor - activities and rides 0870 504 0404

Basildon Park , Reading - 18th century house 0118 984 3040

Courage Shire Horse Centre , Maidenhead - horses and shop 01628 824848

Eton College - historic school 01753 671177

Saville Garden, Englefield Green - woodland garden 01753 860222

Stanley Spencer Gallery , Cookham - artworks 01628 520890

Wellington Country Park , Reading - parkland and farm 0118 932 6444

Windsor Castle - 01753 869898

Buckinghamshire

Roald Dahl Museum & Buckinghamshire County Museum 01296 331441

Cliveden - Profumo scandal mansion 01628 605069

Buckinghamshire Railway Centre - steam railway 01296 655720

Claydon House - stately manor house 01296 730349

Hellfire Caves, West Wycombe - 01628 850808

Home of Rest for Horses, Speen - animal sanctuary 01494 488464

Waddesdon Manor and grounds - stately home 01296 653211

Essex

Essex Secret Bunker - old nuclear war post 01206 392271

Audley End House & Park - open parkland 01799 522399

Bourne Mill - picturesque mill 01206 572422

Colchester Zoo 01206 331292

Colne Valley Railway , Castle Hedingham 01787 461174

East Anglian Railway Museum, Wakes Colne 01206 242524

Mistley Towers - Robert Adam design 01206 393884

Mole Hall Wildlife Park , Saffron Walden 01799 540400

Paycocke's House , Coggeshall - restored house 01376 561305

Tilbury Fort - old military fort 01375 858489

Hertfordshire

Paradise Wildlife Park , Broxbourne 01992 468001

Activity World, Hatfield - adventure playground 01707 270789

Berkhamsted Castle - 900-year-old ruins 01442 871737

De Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre , London Coney 01727 822051

Fairlands Valley Park, Stevenage - watersports etc 01438 353241

Knebworth House - mansion 01438 812661

St Albans Abbey - ancient abbey 01727 860780

St Albans Museum - 01727 819340

St Albans Roman Wall 01727 751810

Kent

Leeds Castle - 01622 765400

Chartwell - Churchill home 01732 866368

Chatham historic dockyard 01634 823800

Dover Castle 01304 211067

Maison Dieu , Ospringe - 13th century manor 01795 534542

Quebec House - home of General Wolfe 01892 890651

Reculver Towers & Roman Fort 01622 662012

Richborough Roman Fort 01304 612013

Rochester Castle 01634 402276

St Augustine's Abbey , Canterbury - old monastic sites 01227 767345

Scotney Castle Garden 01892 891081

Sissinghurst Castle Garden 01580 710700

Smallhythe Place - farmhouse 01580 762334

Upnor Castle 01634 718742

Walmer Castle 01304 364228

Surrey

Polesden Lacey parkland and woodland closed - Regency Villa 01372 452048

Box Hill 01306 742809

Clandon Park - gardens 01483 222482

Claremont Landscape Gardens 01372 467806

Farnham Castle Keep 01252 713393

Frensham Common 01428 683207

Hampton Court Palace 020 8781 9500

Hatchlands Park - gardens 01483 222482

Leith Hill - 01306 742809

Oakhurst Cottage 01428 684090

Ranmore (Steers Field) & Abinger Roughs - common land 01306 742809

Reigate Hill and Gatton Park 01306 742809

Runnymede - Magna Carta signing site 01306 742809

Winkworth Arboretum 01483 208477

Sussex

Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway 01323 520229

Arundel Castle 01903 882173

Bayham Abbey 01892 890381

Bluebell Railway 01825 722370

Bodiam Castle 01580 830436

Boxgrove Priory 01243 774045

Clergy House , Alfriston 01892 890651

Lamb House - former home of Henry James 01892 890651

Nymans - 600-acre estate 01444 405250

Petworth House - with art collection 01798 342207

Pevensey Castle 01323 762604

Pulborough RSPB reserve 01798 875851

Sheffield Park Garden 01825 790231

Smugglers' Adventure , Hastings - interactive fun 01424 422964

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What's open this Easter?

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