Do trains run on Easter bank holiday weekend?
Yes, they do! Trains will run over the Easter bank holiday weekend in the UK, although many train companies will be operating an amended timetable (usually similar to a Saturday service) and there may be some disruption in places due to engineering works.
This year, the Easter holiday period takes place between Friday 3rd and Monday 6th April 2026. Whether you're planning a trip away and looking to buy tickets or want to check whether trains will be running from certain areas, you've come to the right place. Our guide to Easter 2026 train travel is here to help!
Read on for more information on engineering work and disruptions taking place over the Easter period, tips on finding cheap train tickets and the best Easter events of 2026!
Why not travel by coach on Easter Bank Holiday?
If you need to travel on Easter Bank Holiday weekend, you can hop on a National Express coach.
What's more, you can buy your National Express coach tickets with Trainline! We now sell bus and coach tickets to most major destinations in the UK, both through our app and our easy-to-use online booking system.
Pop your trip details into our Journey Planner and see whether you can travel by coach this bank holiday weekend.
Major engineering works taking place over the Easter bank holiday weekend
Engineering work will be taking place on several routes over the Easter weekend between 3rd and 6th April 2026. For more details on individual engineering works updates, visit our train engineering works page.
Milton Keynes Central to London Euston
Lines between Milton Keynes Central and London Euston will be closed from Friday 3rd April to Wednesday 8th April (inclusive) for major improvement works.
- Trains from Scotland, the North West, and the West Midlands will terminate at Milton Keynes Central.
- Replacement bus services will run from Milton Keynes Central to Bedford and Potters Bar.
- From there, you can catch onward trains to alternative central London stations.
Preston to Glasgow Central / Edinburgh
Improvement works will be significantly disrupting train services from Saturday 4th April until Monday 6th April inclusive.
Travelling between these stations may require using replacement buses for part or all of your journey.
Queenstown Road (Battersea) to London Waterloo
No trains will run to / from Queenstown Road (Battersea).
A reduced train service will run between Clapham Junction and London Waterloo.
You can use your ticket at no extra cost on London Buses / London Underground to / from Queenstown Road (Battersea).
Cambridge and Ely / Bury St Edmunds
Engineering working taking place closing multiple lines, affecting:
- CrossCountry between Stansted Airport / Cambridge and Birmingham New Street
- Great Northern between London Kings Cross and Ely / Kings Lynn
- Greater Anglia between London Liverpool Street / Bishops Stortford and Cambridge North, between Stansted Airport and Norwich and between Cambridge and Ipswich
Winchester and Southampton Central
Engineering works closing multiple lines:
- All CrossCountry services to / from Southampton Central / Bournemouth
- All Great Western Railway services to / from Portsmouth Harbour
- South Western Railway between London Waterloo and Southampton Central / Bournemouth / Poole / Weymouth, between Salisbury and Romsey / Salisbury, and between Southampton Central and Portsmouth & Southsea
Popular UK train journeys for Easter bank holiday weekend 2026
If you want to explore the UK this Easter, but you’re not sure where to go, we’re here to help! Here are some of the most popular routes for the Easter bank holiday:
10 of the best events to attend on Easter bank holiday weekend and how to get there by train
This year, the Easter holiday period takes place between Friday 3rd and Monday 6th April 2026. Across the country, people will attend events to make the most of their long weekend. From food festivals to river carnivals, there’s no shortage of things to do. With so many different events to choose from, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 events to attend on the Easter bank holiday weekend – and of course, how to get there by train!
1. Easter at London Zoo
- When? 28th March – 12th April 2026
- Where? London Zoo, Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY.
Located in Regent's Park, London Zoo is renowned for its large collection of animals from around the world. This year, the Easter bunny has dropped Easter eggs all over London Zoo and needs your help finding them all! Follow the Easter egg hunt and find out more about the wildlife at London Zoo. As well as the egg hunt, visitors can enjoy special Easter crafts and games!
- How to get there: Hop on the train to London and use the public transport to get to Regent's Park - you'll find the zoo on the north side of the park.
2. National Trust Easter Egg Hunts
- When? 14th March 2026 onwards
- Where? Various locations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
There are Easter egg trails across many National Trust sites in March and April. Explore historic locations while taking part in activities like dress-up sessions, egg-citing games and puppet shows. Complete the trail and you’ll be rewarded with a prize! You'll find participating National Trust locations across the UK, so you can choose which one you want to explore this Easter.
- How to get there: Check to see if you can take the train to a nearby location for an environmentally friendly way to travel this Easter.
3. Easter at the Eden Project
- When? Easter 2026 - Dates TBC
- Where? Eden Project, Bodelva, Cornwall, PL24 2SG
The Eden Project has lots to see and do this Easter bank holiday weekend. There are loads of family-friendly activities, whether you want to take on the Hoopla challenge, try your hand at skittles in the Milk Bottle Skittle Alley or get involved in a scavenger hunt obstacle course. What’s more, with around 30 acres of space to explore, including the project’s famous Biomes and its dog-friendly gardens, the hardest part is deciding what to see first!
- How to get there: First, take the train to St Austell. You can then catch a bus from the station to the Eden Project. Plus, avoiding the car means you’ll be eligible for a free guidebook when you arrive.
4. Easter Eggstravaganza at Blenheim Palace
- When? 3rd – 6th April 2026
- Where? Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1UL
Whether you’re looking for a traditional Easter egg hunt or something a little different, Blenheim Palace may be the answer. Running across the Easter bank holiday weekend, its Easter Eggstravaganza boasts circus skills sessions, variety show performances and chocolate making workshops with Hotel Chocolat. And if that wasn’t enough, Blenheim Palace has just opened its new adventure play area, the Lost Palace, so there’s plenty to keep the kids entertained. Plus, there’s always the palace itself to explore.
- How to get there: Take the train to Oxford Parkway and then the 7 bus to Blenheim Palace.
5. Bing's Nature Explorers at WWT London Wetland Centre
- When? 23rd March – 2nd June 2026
- Where? Queen Elizabeth's Walk, Barnes, London, SW13 9WT
Get closer to nature in the nation’s capital this Easter at the WWT London Wetland Centre, located in southwest London. Follow the Bing's Nature Explorers trail and learn about the different species that call the wetland home. There are also a number of other fun sessions on offer, including interactive storytelling sessions and mini shows including characters Bing and Flop! An educational day out for all the family.
- How to get there: Hop on a train to Barnes and then it’s a 15-minute walk to WWT London Wetland Centre.
6. The Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt at Hampton Court Palace
- When? 21st March – 12th April 2026
- Where? Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU
If a historical Easter egg hunt sounds like a good way to spend the Easter weekend, then look no further than Hampton Court Palace. Set in the palace’s 60-acre gardens, you’ll find out about the incredible history of the people who lived here as you search for the elusive gold bunnies. Find them all for a chocolate surprise! The Easter trail is included in admission, so why not make a day of it and explore the palace too?
- How to get there: Take the train - Hampton Court train station is located a five-minute walk from the palace.
7. Easter at Chessington World of Adventures
- When? 28th March – 13th April 2026
- Where? Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Leatherhead Road, Chessington, Surrey, KT9 2NE.
Located on the outskirts of London, Chessington World of Adventures offers a variety of attractions for the whole family. This year, you have the chance to meet Bonnie the Easter Bunny and explore an Easter activity trail.
That's not all, Spring 2026 marks the opening of the World of PAW Patrol!
- How to get there: Hop on the train to Chessington South. From the station, you're just a ten-minute walk from the resort.
8. Fort Douglas Easter Festival at Dalkeith Country Park
- When? 3rd - 6th April 2026
- Where? Fort Douglas Adventure Playground, Dalkeith Country Park, Dalkeith, EH22 1ST
The popular Fort Douglas Adventure Playground at Dalkeith Country Park just southeast of Edinburgh plays host to a festival featuring a Zorbing run, Easter Maze, face painting, a Candy Floss Cabin, an Easter Scavenger Hunt and a chance to meet the Easter Bunny! Parents can kick back with a bite from street food vendors while the kids (up to 12 years) take on the adventure playground.
- How to get there: Get the train to Eskbank train station and then it’s a 25-minute walk. Alternatively, take the 46 bus from the Tesco by the station to Dalkieth High Street and walk for 5 to 10 minutes
9. The Big Museum Easter Trail at National Museum Cardiff
- When? 28th March - 11th April 2026
- Where? National Museum Cardiff, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NP
For family entertainment over the Easter bank holiday weekend, why not hop on over to the National Museum Cardiff for the Big Museum Easter Trail? Try your hand at being a detective as you follow the clues, complete the challenges and get creative. There’s even a treat when you get to the end!
- How to get there: Hop on a train to Cardiff Queen Street, then it's a short stroll to the National Museum Cardiff.
10. The Great Dragon Egg Hunt at Hever Castle
- When? 28th March - 19th April 2026
- Where? Hever Castle, Hever Rd, Hever, Edenbridge TN8 7NG
- How to get there: Jump on a train to Hever, from there it's about a 20 minute walk to the Castle.
How to get cheap train tickets this Easter
If you are travelling by train this Easter, we want to help you to save! Here are a few of our favourite tips for finding cheap train tickets.
Book in advance
Train tickets in the UK go on sale 12 weeks in advance, and usually at their cheapest price. Book early if you can to save those pennies.
Use a Railcard
You can save 1/3 of eligible train journeys across the UK with a Railcard – all for just £35 a year! From Railcards for certain ages to groups or people travelling in certain areas, see which one you’re eligible for.
Find out more about digital Railcards.
Book split tickets
Our clever app feature SplitSave can split your journeys into sections, making it much cheaper than buying a single ticket when travelling on a long journey.
Travel Off-Peak
Tickets for Off-Peak travel times tend to be cheaper than Peak time tickets (Monday to Friday morning and early evenings).
Easter travel inspiration
Want to make the most of the long weekend but not sure where to go? Our UK travel inspiration hub is here to help.
Here are just a few ideas of where the train can take you this Easter:
- 5 of the best city breaks to take this Easter
- How to have a cheap day out in London with kids
- The best family staycations in the UK
- 9 of the best attractions to visit as a family
- The best UK beaches you can reach by train
- Our top 5 Easter city breaks in Europe
- 10 of the BEST day trips from London by train
Explore Europe by train
Why not travel by train in Europe this Easter? Enjoy warmer temperatures on a city break to some of Europe's most popular destinations. Here are some of the top routes by train:
UK airport transfers by train
If you're planning on jetting off on holiday this Easter, why not get to the airport by train? Many of the UK's biggest airports are served by convenient train links, allowing you to save money on parking or taxis. Here are our guides to getting to some of the most important airports in the UK by train:
Find out more about train travel in the UK
Want to find out more about where trains can take you in the UK? You're in luck. With an extensive rail network, it's easy to reach cities, beaches, National Parks and events by train this summer. Read our travel guides to find out more.
Already planning ahead to spring? Check out our May bank holiday weekend guide.
*Average savings on advance fares booked at least one week before day of travel vs Anytime fares purchased on day of travel. Subject to availability. Excludes coach.