Great designs: decorate a chocolate bar in Blenheim Palace The workshop will cover the history of cocoa and chocolate, before giving children the opportunity to decorate their own chocolate bar. Families can then take part in the traditional Easter egg hunt (April 15-18), enjoy walks in the Punch and Judy showroom and performances, and learn circus tricks at the Big Top. Chocolate workshop 15 £ (reservation required), blenheimpalace.com
Chocolate Tasting Evening, Edinburgh
Tasting test: find out what makes superior chocolate in Edinburgh Chocolate Connoisseur Evening, held at Coco Chocolatier, one of Scotland’s most innovative chocolate shops, offers a fascinating – and delicious – picture of the chocolate making process. It starts with the opportunity to try cocoa and butter nose and guests learn the five sensory tests of what a top chocolate bar does before ending with a combination of spirits and chocolate. Chocolate Connoisseur Evening costs £ 25, cocochocolatier.com. Coco Chocolatier is located in Queensberry Village, a short drive from central Edinburgh. Stay in nearby Dakota, where elegant doubles cost from £ 69 per room only, dakotahotels.co.uk
Chocolate Easter Workshops, Trehafod, South Wales
Walk: Younger children can decorate Easter treats in a workshop in Trehafod, Wales Combine a visit to the Rhondda Mining Museum with a children’s chocolate workshop at Chocolate House, which also has a café and shop in the area. It is ideal for younger children (3+), who can be extremely messy while decorating an Easter-themed lollipop, brownie and cookie, and teens will enjoy the Chocolate Tasting Session, which ends with a chocolate-themed quiz. You need to book workshops in advance, the tasting session can be arranged for at least six people. Easter workshops 10 £, chocolate-house.co.uk. Heritage Park Hotel is a stone’s throw from the museum, with doubles from 70 70 per room only, heritageparkhotel.co.uk
The Chocolate Box Hotel, Bournemouth
Seaside treat: book a Chocadence pack in Bournemouth Start your day at the seaside with a chocolate pancake breakfast at this themed B&B, a short walk from Bournemouth Beach. Rooms are decorated with a palette of cocoa and creams and feature a selection of handmade chocolates for diving on arrival. Gather a group of friends to book a Chocadence pack at the tasting bar, with brownies, cookies and pancakes, along with strawberries and marshmallows to dive into fountains of milk and white chocolate. Double from 62 £ B&B, Chocadence packages from 26 £, thechocolateboxhotel.co.uk
York Chocolate Story
Take a dip: Learn all about the 3,000-year-old history of York chocolate Explore 3,000 years of cocoa-themed history in a city that hosts some of the UK’s most famous chocolate brands, including Terry’s and Rowntree’s. Guided experience includes a Story Zone, with lots of choco-facts and stories about York’s founding chocolate families, and a Factory Zone, which explores the process of turning beans into bars. Visit it between April 14th and 18th to experience the city’s Chocolate Festival (yorkfoodfestival.com), with hands-on demonstrations, workshops and plenty of opportunities to try and buy. 15.95 £ / 13.50 £ yorkchocolatestory.com. Stay at the Guy Fawkes Inn, a charming pub with rooms in the shadow of Minster (double 170 170 per room only, guyfawkesinnyork.com
Chocolate Metropolis, Leeds
City Lights: Experience a Bean to Bar in Leeds A delicious couple from Hotel Chocolat, the “metropolis” combines a School of Chocolate, a cafe and a Hotel Chocolat shop, selling all their chocolate goodies. The school offers a Bean to Bar Experience – a 90 minute workshop that includes the entire chocolate making process – with children’s chocolate workshops also available. Bean to Bar 65 £, Children’s Chocolate Workshops 20 £, hotelchocolat.com. Stay in Malmaison, within walking distance, with elegant bedrooms and a lively cocktail bar and bistro, from 89 89 per room only, malmaison.com
Chocolate Masterclass, Matlock, Derbyshire
Nuts about chocolate: the Matlock lesson covers all aspects of production. Photo: Johner Images / Getty Images For something bigger, this one-day course at Coghlans Cookery School in Stancliffe Hall is a complete introduction to the art of cooking chocolate, taught by Simon Lilley. Ideal for those who want to understand the techniques involved, the day covers everything from baking and molding chocolate to decorative cakes and transportation. The course includes lunch and recipe sheets and the next Masterclass is scheduled for June 17th. Masterclass Chocolate is 150 £, cookingexpert.co.uk. Then visit the welcoming Hodgkinson’s Hotel in Matlock Bath, where double rooms start at 105 £ B&B, hodgkinsons-hotel.co.uk.
Chocolate Ecstasy Tour, London
Get away: browse Mayfair and the best Soho chocolates on foot Discover some of London’s most impressive chocolates on this three-hour walking tour of Mayfair and Soho, combining information on the chocolate making process with visits and tastings at many shops. The tour begins with a hot chocolate and a brief introduction, before you start with your guide to discover both the history of the area and its most chocolate delicacies. At least four stores are included, all with tastings, along with the opportunity to buy at discounted prices. You can book excursions only privately, for groups of 2-8 years, with half and full day excursions available. From 240 £ for up to five people (48 £ for each additional person), chocolateecstasytours.com
Children’s Chocolate Factory, Hawkshead, Lake District
Chocolate Lakes: Visit the Factory in Cumbria An ideal activity for wet weather during a break in Lakeland, Factory offers 45-minute workshops for children, allowing parents to enjoy a quiet coffee (or hot chocolate) in the café – although adults can join if they wish. Children have the opportunity to make chocolate animals, a personalized bar and marshmallows. Workshops 17 £, chocolatefactoryhawkshead.co.uk. Stay at Lakes Lodges, a two-bedroom retreat from 75 875 a week, lakeslodges.com
Cadbury World, Birmingham
Get in: Dive into all the chocolate stuff at Cadbury World. Photo: Steve Vidler / Alamy The ultimate chocolate-themed day, Cadbury World includes many different zones, which you can explore in a guided tour. Experiences include a dip in the Aztec jungle to discover the history of cocoa, a 4D movie with motion seats that immerse spectators in bowls of liquid chocolate and hit them along a Crunchie train, practical workshops to create your own chocolates and the Bournville Experience, exploring Cadbury’s long history. Tickets from 95 19.95 / 75 14.75 (free for under 4s), cadburyworld.co.uk. Belfry Hotel offers an overnight Cadbury World package, including family room accommodation, breakfast and tickets from 9 189, thebelfry.com.
title: “The 10 Sweetest Days Out For Chocolate Lovers For Easter And Beyond United Kingdom Holidays " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-11” author: “Donald Crain”
Great designs: decorate a chocolate bar in Blenheim Palace The workshop will cover the history of cocoa and chocolate, before giving children the opportunity to decorate their own chocolate bar. Families can then take part in the traditional Easter egg hunt (April 15-18), enjoy walks in the Punch and Judy showroom and performances, and learn circus tricks at the Big Top. Chocolate workshop 15 £ (reservation required), blenheimpalace.com
Chocolate Tasting Evening, Edinburgh
Tasting test: find out what makes superior chocolate in Edinburgh Chocolate Connoisseur Evening, held at Coco Chocolatier, one of Scotland’s most innovative chocolate shops, offers a fascinating – and delicious – picture of the chocolate making process. It starts with the opportunity to try cocoa and butter nose and guests learn the five sensory tests of what a top chocolate bar does before ending with a combination of spirits and chocolate. Chocolate Connoisseur Evening costs £ 25, cocochocolatier.com. Coco Chocolatier is located in Queensberry Village, a short drive from central Edinburgh. Stay in nearby Dakota, where elegant doubles cost from £ 69 per room only, dakotahotels.co.uk
Chocolate Easter Workshops, Trehafod, South Wales
Walk: Younger children can decorate Easter treats in a workshop in Trehafod, Wales Combine a visit to the Rhondda Mining Museum with a children’s chocolate workshop at Chocolate House, which also has a café and shop in the area. It is ideal for younger children (3+), who can be extremely messy while decorating an Easter-themed lollipop, brownie and cookie, and teens will enjoy the Chocolate Tasting Session, which ends with a chocolate-themed quiz. You need to book workshops in advance, the tasting session can be arranged for at least six people. Easter workshops 10 £, chocolate-house.co.uk. Heritage Park Hotel is a stone’s throw from the museum, with doubles from 70 70 per room only, heritageparkhotel.co.uk
The Chocolate Box Hotel, Bournemouth
Seaside treat: book a Chocadence pack in Bournemouth Start your day at the seaside with a chocolate pancake breakfast at this themed B&B, a short walk from Bournemouth Beach. Rooms are decorated with a palette of cocoa and creams and feature a selection of handmade chocolates for diving on arrival. Gather a group of friends to book a Chocadence pack at the tasting bar, with brownies, cookies and pancakes, along with strawberries and marshmallows to dive into fountains of milk and white chocolate. Double from 62 £ B&B, Chocadence packages from 26 £, thechocolateboxhotel.co.uk
York Chocolate Story
Take a dip: Learn all about the 3,000-year-old history of York chocolate Explore 3,000 years of cocoa-themed history in a city that hosts some of the UK’s most famous chocolate brands, including Terry’s and Rowntree’s. Guided experience includes a Story Zone, with lots of choco-facts and stories about York’s founding chocolate families, and a Factory Zone, which explores the process of turning beans into bars. Visit it between April 14th and 18th to experience the city’s Chocolate Festival (yorkfoodfestival.com), with hands-on demonstrations, workshops and plenty of opportunities to try and buy. 15.95 £ / 13.50 £ yorkchocolatestory.com. Stay at the Guy Fawkes Inn, a charming pub with rooms in the shadow of Minster (double 170 170 per room only, guyfawkesinnyork.com
Chocolate Metropolis, Leeds
City Lights: Experience a Bean to Bar in Leeds A delicious couple from Hotel Chocolat, the “metropolis” combines a School of Chocolate, a cafe and a Hotel Chocolat shop, selling all their chocolate goodies. The school offers a Bean to Bar Experience – a 90 minute workshop that includes the entire chocolate making process – with children’s chocolate workshops also available. Bean to Bar 65 £, Children’s Chocolate Workshops 20 £, hotelchocolat.com. Stay in Malmaison, within walking distance, with elegant bedrooms and a lively cocktail bar and bistro, from 89 89 per room only, malmaison.com
Chocolate Masterclass, Matlock, Derbyshire
Nuts about chocolate: the Matlock lesson covers all aspects of production. Photo: Johner Images / Getty Images For something bigger, this one-day course at Coghlans Cookery School in Stancliffe Hall is a complete introduction to the art of cooking chocolate, taught by Simon Lilley. Ideal for those who want to understand the techniques involved, the day covers everything from baking and molding chocolate to decorative cakes and transportation. The course includes lunch and recipe sheets and the next Masterclass is scheduled for June 17th. Masterclass Chocolate is 150 £, cookingexpert.co.uk. Then visit the welcoming Hodgkinson’s Hotel in Matlock Bath, where double rooms start at 105 £ B&B, hodgkinsons-hotel.co.uk.
Chocolate Ecstasy Tour, London
Get away: browse Mayfair and the best Soho chocolates on foot Discover some of London’s most impressive chocolates on this three-hour walking tour of Mayfair and Soho, combining information on the chocolate making process with visits and tastings at many shops. The tour begins with a hot chocolate and a brief introduction, before you start with your guide to discover both the history of the area and its most chocolate delicacies. At least four stores are included, all with tastings, along with the opportunity to buy at discounted prices. You can book excursions only privately, for groups of 2-8 years, with half and full day excursions available. From 240 £ for up to five people (48 £ for each additional person), chocolateecstasytours.com
Children’s Chocolate Factory, Hawkshead, Lake District
Chocolate Lakes: Visit the Factory in Cumbria An ideal activity for wet weather during a break in Lakeland, Factory offers 45-minute workshops for children, allowing parents to enjoy a quiet coffee (or hot chocolate) in the café – although adults can join if they wish. Children have the opportunity to make chocolate animals, a personalized bar and marshmallows. Workshops 17 £, chocolatefactoryhawkshead.co.uk. Stay at Lakes Lodges, a two-bedroom retreat from 75 875 a week, lakeslodges.com
Cadbury World, Birmingham
Get in: Dive into all the chocolate stuff at Cadbury World. Photo: Steve Vidler / Alamy The ultimate chocolate-themed day, Cadbury World includes many different zones, which you can explore in a guided tour. Experiences include a dip in the Aztec jungle to discover the history of cocoa, a 4D movie with motion seats that immerse spectators in bowls of liquid chocolate and hit them along a Crunchie train, practical workshops to create your own chocolates and the Bournville Experience, exploring Cadbury’s long history. Tickets from 95 19.95 / 75 14.75 (free for under 4s), cadburyworld.co.uk. Belfry Hotel offers an overnight Cadbury World package, including family room accommodation, breakfast and tickets from 9 189, thebelfry.com.
