The days out in Cheshire are honestly endless and there is something for everyone at every time of the year. I live in South Manchester so Cheshire days out make up most of our family days out around Manchester and I’ve been wanting to write this guide for ages to share the best ones with you.
From petting farms, ancient castles, the world-famous Chester Zoo, and one very large telescope, there’s enough here to fill every school holiday and weekend whether that’s just for a few hours, or for a whole day. Some of these are completely free, a lot of the options are out in the beautiful Cheshire countryside, and some are perfect for the inevitable rainy British afternoon.
Whether you live in and around Cheshire or are visiting the area, here’s a full list of the best places to visit in Cheshire!
šnear Tattenhall
No joke, The Ice Cream Farm in Cheshire is literally every child’s dream! It’s an award winning activity, run by the family behind the award-winning Cheshire Farm Ice Cream.
There’s a mix of indoor and outdoor play areas for different ages. You can go again and again and do a different activity each time or spend the full day there. Inside is a soft play and a sand and water play called Honeycomb Canyon so if you are looking for a rainy day activity in Cheshire, this also works. Outside you can mine for gemstones, play mini golf at Strawberry Falls, ride go-karts and play in plenty of the play areas, as well as enjoying their incredible ice cream! This is a fun day out for the parents too!
2. BeWILDerwood Cheshire
š near Whitchurch in Bickley Moss,
BeWILDerwood is a very special place. It’s a treehouse and storytelling adventure park set in the woods, with wooden maze style play areas, rope bridges, zip wires, storytelling shows, and a puzzling park trail all included in the ticket price.
We went here a few years ago, and again recently with my 2 year old and it is such a great Cheshire day out for the family. Especially if you want to be in nature but keep the kids busy at the same time and it’s easy to fill a full day there!
3. The Crocky Trail
š in Waverton just outside Chester
The Crocky Trail a proper outdoor adventure day in Cheshire and a really unique place like no other! With over a kilometre of trail across 120 acres, with around 30 obstacles including rope swings, underground tunnels, mazes, and treehouses, plus steeper slides for the braver members of the family this is a kidsā and adultsā outdoor play paradise! Under-5s go free, parking is free, and there’s food on site.
4. Chester Zoo
šjust outside Chester City
I can’t write a list of family places to visit in Cheshire and not include the world famous Chester Zoo home to thousands of animals across carefully designed habitats. We love visiting here with the kids although we only ever manage about half of the zoo so don’t expect to see it all with little ones!
Chester Zoo also works well as one of the things to do on a rainy day in Cheshire, since many of its habitats and walkthrough exhibits are indoors so you can escape the rain a fair bit.. although not fully!
5. Gulliver’s World
š Warrington
Gulliver’s world Warrington is a theme park aimed specifically at children aged 2ā13, with 30 rides across 10 themed areas. We did a day out from Manchester here for my birthday day out and I loved it as much as the kids! It is pretty old now but I loved that many rides were really suitable for my toddler and the queues were not that long, even on a Saturday in May!
My biggest tip for visiting is to check their website for deals and look for their afternoon session which offers a discounted ticket for access from 14:00-17:00.. and bring your own food, the food we got there was pretty bad!
š³ Budget Friendly days out in Cheshire
Not everything has to cost money so here are a few free things to do in Cheshire with kids and low-cost days out too.
6. Walton Hall and Gardens
š Higher Walton, near Warrington
If you want a proper day out without paying for tickets, Walton Hall and Gardens is one of the best free days out in Cheshire. The house sits in 32 acres of Green Flag parkland, and the only thing you really have to pay for is the car park.
The big draw for kids is the free children’s zoo. It’s small enough for little legs but packed with animals, including donkeys, goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits, peacocks and alpacas. You can even book an alpaca walk with one of the rangers. Right next door is a big playground surrounded by lawns, so it’s easy to set up a picnic and let the kids run between the two.
If you want to add a bit more to the day, there’s crazy golf, pitch and putt and a little land train that loops around the grounds for a small extra cost. There’s also a cafe in the old stable courtyard. My tip is to head to the zoo first, because it opens later and closes earlier than the rest of the park.
7. Tegg’s Nose Country Park
š just outside Macclesfield
For views that make the kids stop and say “wow”, Tegg’s Nose is hard to beat. It sits on the edge of the Peak District at 380 metres high, and on a clear day you can see right across the Cheshire Plain to Liverpool and the Welsh hills.
The hill was quarried for hundreds of years, and you’ll walk past old quarry machinery and rocky outcrops on the way up. That gives older kids plenty to climb and explore. The Tegg’s Nose Trail is a circular walk of around 2.5 miles. It’s a manageable family walk, but it has kissing gates, steps and uneven paths, so leave the pram at home and bring a carrier for little ones.
At the main car park there’s a visitor centre with toilets, picnic tables and a dog friendly tea room for a hot chocolate at the end. Parking is pay and display, and it gets busy on sunny weekends, so arrive early. And if you’re here in winter after a snowfall, the slopes are a favourite local sledging spot!
6. Into The Wild Bushcraft
š in Ashley near Hale and Altrincham
Into the Wild is one of my favourite places because of its location and ethos. It’s a woodland play area just outside Hale built for younger children (roughly 0ā11), with diggers, pedal go-karts, zip lines, a mud kitchen, and play equipment, as well as a cafe and pizza hut available on weekends.
You need to book a session to go to the play area but the purposely keep prices down and want you to come here in nature instead of paying silly prices for soft play! You do need to walk from where you park your car to the woods so bring a pram for little legs but that’s part of the adventure!
7. Delamere Forest
šDelamere Forest near Frodsham/Northwich
Another one of our favourite Cheshire family days out is Delamere Forest, the largest area of woodland in Cheshire. Entry is free, though parking has a charge. The forest has marked walking and cycling routes and there are themed trails to keep kids busy for free.
There’s an adventure play ground by the cafe and it’s a lovely place to visit all year round!
8. Partridge Lakes Cafe
š near Warrington
Partridge Lakes Cafe is no ordinary lake cafe! Sat right on the lake, their site offers seasonal events throughout the year, including an Easter Trail and Halloween activities that will impress the kids as they go all out with decorations, plus unicorn pedalos in summer, chances to feed the fish and walk around the lake.
What makes it a great place for parents to visit is their cafe offering all-day breakfasts including Acai bowls. sandwiches, and stone-baked pizzas, Barista Coffee, and award-winning ice cream. It’s free to enter and free to park!
9. Victoria Park
šWidnes
If you’re looking for one of the best parks in Cheshire to visit, Victoria Park is the pick of the bunch for a free, no-fuss family morning. Entry and parking are both free, and the park has a lake, a splash area for summer, a children’s play area, a butterfly house, and a cafĆ©. Plenty to keep families busy without spending money.
10. Runway Visitor Park
šManchester Airport
One of the low cost days out in Manchester, and in Cheshire is the Runway Visitor Park. It is free to enter however there is a charge for parking on your way out (Ā£5 for two hours, Ā£10 for up to four). Kids get to watch planes take off and land from raised viewing platforms, there’s a themed play area, an on-site cafĆ©, a flight simulator (for an extra cost), and Concorde G-BOAC housed in its own hangar.
This is one of my recommended things to do near Manchester Airport and even if you don’t think seeing planes is fun, you may be surprised by how cool you find it once you are there!
11. The British Ironworks CentreĀ
šin Oswestry Shropshire just over the border
Technically this is a day out in Shropshire but it’s just over the border and we had a great day here the other weekend I have to include it! The British Ironwork Centre is a sculpture trail covering 70 acres with sculptures made from recycled and reclaimed metal from our favourite film characters to important messages like the Manchester Bee that is made from retrieved fire arms.
The reason it’s in this list is because of the low entry costs per person and their great value family ticket in comparison to other days out. Head into the fields following the kids trail activities, play in their play area, get some lunch at their cafe and hire a golf cart for an extra cost if you wish. This is a really full and great day out for the family near Cheshire without a huge price tag!
12. Church Walk Paddling Pool
š Northwich
If you’re reading this in summer, this is one of the paddling pools and splash pads for kids in Cheshire which is free to use. It runs from late May to early September, with morning and afternoon sessions daily. You do have to pre-book a slots and there’s an optional voluntary contribution towards its upkeep)
It’s right next to a family park with play equipment, plus grass areas for a picnic so grab some friends and have a summer day out here with the young ones.
š Farm and animal days out
There are so many petting farms in Cheshire and farm activity centres for all ages that the parents will enjoy as much as the kids. Here are my top picks!
13. Kenyon Hall Farm
š near Croft in Warrington
Kenyon Hall Farm is a working farm set across 500 acres with a farm shop, cafƩ, and pick-your-own fields (strawberries, raspberries, sweetcorn, and more, depending on the season). It also runs seasonal events, an Easter egg hunt, a maize maze, a sunflower trail, and a pumpkin patch in autumn (weather dependent) which are all really well organised and very good for photo opportunities.
My biggest tip is to sign up to their newsletter where they share tickets that are now on sale so you don’t miss their popular activities like the pumpkin trail and strawberry picking! Head here for fruit picking in Cheshire!
14. The Lambing Shed
š just outside Knutsford
The Lambing Shed is a working farm shop and cafĆ© (which won the UK’s best farm cafe of the year!) set on 400 acres. They offer seasonal activities. For example in Summer, they set the shed up to be a huge sand pit ‘beach’ for the kids. They are transforming that same space into an ice-rink for Christmas along with lots of Autumn and Spring fun too! Note, as far as I am aware, there are no animals to pet here, it’s not one of the petting farms in Cheshire.
They have a really nice farm shop, restaurant and play area next to the restaurant so the kids can play and you can come home with some farm shop goods! Be sure to check out their seasonal activities and how to make a family day out in Cheshire by paying them a visit.
15. Apple Jacks Adventure Farm
š near Warrington
Just off the M56 is an adventure playground aimed mainly at 5ā12 year olds with 15+ activities like zip wires, quad karts, mini diggers, a fence maze, roller skating, a bouncy pillow, and a tractor and trailer ride and often a foam party. One thing to note is that this isn’t a petting farm and there are no animals.
It’s open during school holidays and weekends only from spring to autumn, with good priced tickets and enough to do for a full day out!
16. Cheshire Alpacas
šnear Northwich
If you want to give your kids the experience of seeing Alpacas up close as well as leading them around, Cheshire is the place for this! Cheshire Alpaca’s run daily alpaca walking experiences where you get to lead an alpaca around the farm and get to know the herd. Little ones need to have an adult with them and other adults and kids can watch.
This is a good option for a birthday party, or a slightly different weekend outing. And for more Alpaca walking in Cheshire there’s also White Peak Alpaca and Woodlands Alpaca Farm in Cheshire you can visit.
17. Tatton Park Farm
šnear Knutsford
Tatton Park is also home to a working rare-breeds farm, one of only 17 farm parks in the UK to hold Rare Breeds Accreditation. Kids can get up close to Clydesdale horses, Red Poll cattle, and Middle White pigs, alongside rare poultry breeds such as Brecon Buff geese and British Araucana chickens.
It’s a really lovely place to visit whilst also visiting Tatton Park and helps create a more full day out at Tatton Park because you can also go to the adventure playground at Tatton Park and into its gardens and picnic areas.
š² Adventure and outdoor days out
For an adventurous day out in Cheshire for the family, or just some time in nature, check out these ideas! And don’t forget BeWILDerwood & The Crocky Trail that I already mentioned above, they fit well in this category too!
18. Alderford Lake
š just over the border in Shropshire
Alderford Lake is in Shropshire but it’s just over the border and a great option for things to do in south Cheshire. It offers lots of fun with year round swimming and the main attraction is the aqua park! An inflatable obstacle course with a 3.8m tower and lots of challenges. Plus paddleboarding, kayaking, wild swimming and events all year too.
Do check their website for updates as during some times of the year, they have to close the water for swimming because of the algae bloom
19. Delamere Forest Go Ape & Bike Hire
šDelamere Forest near Frodsham/Northwich
I already mentioned Delamere Forest as one of the low cost family days out in Cheshire however it deserves another mention because you can have an adventurous day here too! There’s bike hire at Delamere Forest, or you can bring your own with plenty of fun trails to take. And there’s Go-Ape which is a lot of fun and a good challenge for the family, or just the kids!
š History, science and National Trust days out
For an educational day out or a a nice relaxed walk in one of the National Trust sites, here are more family things to do in Cheshire!
20. Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre
š near Macclesfield
Jodrell Bank is a a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to the Lovell Telescope and at 89 metres high and 76 metres in diameter it’s the UK’s largest radio telescope. The First Light Pavilion, an award-winning architectural dome, houses an exhibition on the site’s history from its post-war origins through the Space Race to today, and there’s a planetarium with immersive shows which we really enjoyed on our visit so don’t miss out on booking this. Plus interactive exhibits, a playground, arboretum, and picnic areas outside.
Overall, this is a great day out in Cheshire with kids with an educational focus but without being boring!
21. Beeston Castle
šnear Tattenhall
If you are looking for castles to visit in Cheshire, Beeston Castle is the one to go to! The history of the castle stretches back into prehistoric times. It’s run by English Heritage and sits on a hilltop with some of the best views in the county, surrounded by woodland park.
There’s plenty to do on a visit here including going to the fortress, following the woodland paths, visiting the reconstructed Bronze Age roundhouse and there’s a cafe for refreshments making it a fun day out in Cheshire for kids!
22. NT Alderley Edge
šAlderley Edge
Alderley Edge is one of our favourite family walks because it takes you right through the woods and gives an epic view of Manchester and Cheshire below once you get to ‘the edge!’
It’s a National Trust site with a car park, bathrooms and cafe. My biggest tip is that if you are not a NT member, you can find free car parking in the lay-by-s down the road.
If you aren’t a National Trust member already, I do suggest getting a family membership because once you’ve been 3-4 times in a year, all other visits after that are basically free!
23. Dunham Massey
šAltrincham
Dunham Massey is a great National Trust site on the edge of Altrincham and one of my recommended things to do in Altrincham. There’s lots of parking and it’s known for its deer park which is fun for the kids to spot! Gardens and Georgian House as well as serving Cheshire Ice Cream.
Like all of the National Trust sites, they offer lots of different activities throughout the seasons and the school holidays!
24. Quarry Bank Mill
šnear Wilmslow
I love visiting Quarry Bank with the family because it offers so much. Parking is free in their car park and from here you can walk a lot of the grounds, and all of the woods, down to the river for free! The boys end up in this river all year round when we go.
However, if you pay for entry you can access the old Mill House and childrens house where the children who worked there lived (warning, it’s quite sad!), plus their lovely gardens. They also run many seasonal activities for the kids, have 2 cafes and Cheshire ice cream on sale!
If you aren’t a National Trust member already, I do suggest getting a family membership because once you’ve been 3-4 times in a year, all other visits after that are basically free!
š„ Extra places to visit in Cheshire for families
Not all outings need to fill a day, sometimes you just need to get out of the house for a bit! The below ideas for places to visit in Cheshire with kids help you do just that!
25. Seven Sisters Ice Cream Farm
š near Knutsford
Head here for an ice cream or dessert with ice cream made from milk from the farm’s own Holstein Friesian cows and stay for their play area and seasonal activities like their a maize maze in summer and pumpkin patch in the autumn. Note they are open Wednesday to Sunday only.
26. Davies Dairy
šAshley
Davies Dairy is a super cool concept and fun one for the kids. It’s a family-run dairy farm with a self-service milk vending machine, offering fresh pasteurised whole milk and milkshakes straight from the farm’s own herd. Milkshake flavours include chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, and rotating seasonal options. It’s a quick, low-key stop rather than a full day out, but a nice add-on if you’re already in the area to get a treat and see their cows.
27. Head Over Heels Soft Play
šWilmslow /Cheadle
I can’t write a list of things to do in Cheshire with kids without including this multi-award-winning indoor soft play which is seriously epic! They have a big area for older kids (maximum height 1.55m) and a smaller area for 0-3 years old and everything about it is imaginative and so well designed and fun! Prices are higher than other soft plays I’ve experienced but the quality is high too!
28. Planet Ice Ice Skating
šAltrincham
For a rainy day activity in Cheshire, and to learn something new for all the family, head to Altrincham for some Ice Skating rink at Planet Ice. This is one of the unique things to do in Cheshire and is perfect for complete beginners with aids to help those who need it on the ice, and also great for those with experience thanks to its large size.
You can also combine this with some time in Altrincham Town Centre where there’s lots of shops, cafes and restaurants.
A note on planning: several of these places run seasonal or day-specific opening hours, so it’s worth checking ahead before you set off, especially outside school holidays.
FAQ for days out in Cheshire
What are the best family days out in Cheshire?
The most popular family days out in Cheshire are Chester Zoo, The Ice Cream Farm, BeWILDerwood, Gulliver’s World and The Crocky Trail. For something cheaper, Delamere Forest, Victoria Park in Widnes and Partridge Lakes Cafe are all free to enter, and Jodrell Bank is brilliant if your kids love space.
What is there to do in Cheshire for free with kids?
There are lots of free things to do in Cheshire with kids. Delamere Forest is free to explore (you just pay for parking) and has themed trails for little ones. Victoria Park in Widnes, Partridge Lakes Cafe and Church Walk Paddling Pool in Northwich are all free, and you can walk the woods at Quarry Bank without paying for entry.
Where can I take my kids on a rainy day in Cheshire?
For a rainy day in Cheshire, try Head Over Heels soft play in Wilmslow, ice skating at Planet Ice in Altrincham, or the indoor sand and water play at The Ice Cream Farm. Chester Zoo and Jodrell Bank also work well, because many of their habitats and exhibits are indoors.
What is the best day out in Cheshire for toddlers?
The Ice Cream Farm, Into The Wild in Ashley and Gulliver’s World are three of the best days out in Cheshire for toddlers. Gulliver’s World is designed for children aged 2 to 13, and lots of the rides were perfect for my toddler. Into The Wild is a woodland play area built especially for younger children.
How long do you need at Chester Zoo?
Plan for a full day at Chester Zoo. It’s huge, and with little ones we usually only manage about half of it, so pick the animals your kids most want to see and head there first.
Are there any theme parks in Cheshire?
Gulliver’s World in Warrington is Cheshire’s theme park, and it’s aimed at children aged 2 to 13. Look out for their afternoon session tickets, which are cheaper, and take a packed lunch with you. For bigger rollercoasters, Alton Towers is just over the border in Staffordshire.
Where can you go pumpkin picking in Cheshire?
Kenyon Hall Farm near Warrington and Seven Sisters Ice Cream Farm near Knutsford both run pumpkin patches in autumn. Kenyon Hall’s tickets go quickly, so sign up to their newsletter to hear when they’re released, and check the weather before you set off.
Where can kids see animals in Cheshire?
Chester Zoo is the big one, but for something smaller try Tatton Park Farm near Knutsford, where kids can meet rare breed pigs, cattle and Clydesdale horses. You can also walk alpacas at Cheshire Alpacas near Northwich or go deer spotting at Dunham Massey.
Is Delamere Forest free?
Yes, Delamere Forest is free to enter, but there is a charge for parking. There are marked walking and cycling routes, themed trails for kids and an adventure playground by the cafe, plus Go Ape and bike hire if you want to make a bigger day of it.
What is Cheshire best known for?
Cheshire is best known for Chester’s Roman history and city walls, grand estates like Tatton Park, the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank and Chester Zoo. For families, it’s also known for its farms, with ice cream farms, pick your own fields and petting farms all over the county.
I hope this has helped you plan your family day out in Cheshire!