1 / 6Cheshire packs an impressive amount into one county for families: a world-class zoo, a shark-filled aquarium, a giant radio telescope and forests made for scrambling. Whether you want rainy-day cover or wide-open space to run wild, here are eight confirmed family days out across Cheshire, with what to expect and why kids love them.
🎟️See things to do in Cheshire on GetYourGuide →Chester Zoo
The UK's largest zoo, Chester Zoo is home to over 21,000 animals across 128 acres of themed habitats and gardens, including the Islands and Madagascar zones. There are endless animals to spot, from elephants and big cats to penguins and monkeys, plus keeper talks throughout the day and the Islands boat trip. It's the kind of place where walking and discovering keeps kids happily busy for a full day. Find it in Upton-by-Chester, just north of Chester.
Blue Planet Aquarium
Just off Junction 10 of the M53 in Ellesmere Port, Blue Planet Aquarium has nine themed zones, more than 100 living displays and one of the longest underwater viewing tunnels in the world, with sharks gliding overhead. The moving-walkway shark tunnel, colourful reef fish, rays and daily talks and feeds are a big hit with children. It's a compact two-to-three hour indoor day, making it ideal when the weather turns.
Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre
Near Macclesfield at Lower Withington, Jodrell Bank is a space-science visitor centre built around the iconic Lovell radio telescope, with interactive galaxy gardens, exhibitions and a planetarium-style experience. Hands-on space and science exhibits make astronomy genuinely fun, there's the giant working telescope to gawp at, and outdoor gardens to run around, balancing learning with play.
Tatton Park
This 1,000-acre National Trust estate at Knutsford has a Georgian mansion, 50 acres of gardens with a maze and Japanese garden, a working rare-breeds farm and a deer park. Rare-breed farm animals, an adventure playground, a maze to get lost in and deer roaming the parkland make it a classic all-ages day out, with plenty of space to picnic and cycle.
Gulliver's World Resort
In Warrington, Gulliver's World is a children's theme park designed for families with kids aged roughly 2 to 13, with 30+ rides across six themed areas plus shows and indoor play. There are gentle rides for little ones and a few thrill coasters for bigger kids, free entry for under-90cm, short queues and lots of undercover attractions, all purpose-built for young families.
The Ice Cream Farm
At Tattenhall, The Ice Cream Farm is an award-winning free-entry family farm attraction and home to the world's largest ice cream shop, with paid indoor and outdoor play zones. It's free to get in, with pay-per-play attractions like sand and water play, adventure golf and a honeycomb climb, plus (of course) huge ice creams. Great for younger children.
Delamere Forest (with Go Ape)
Cheshire's largest forest, run by Forestry England near Northwich, Delamere has miles of walking and cycling trails, a lake, a play area and an on-site Go Ape high-ropes course. The free forest offers family walking trails, Gruffalo orienteering, bike tracks and viewpoints, while paid treetop rope courses and a family Segway experience add adventure for older, braver kids.
The Crocky Trail
Near Chester at Waverton, The Crocky Trail is a 120-acre outdoor adventure and obstacle trail with around 30 obstacles including rope swings, tunnels, mazes, treehouses and slides. It's a muddy, hands-on outdoor play paradise where kids (and adults) clamber, swing and slide over a kilometre-long trail. Best enjoyed in dry weather with a spare set of clothes.
Tips for a family day out
- Pick for the weather: Blue Planet Aquarium and Jodrell Bank work brilliantly on rainy days, while The Crocky Trail and Delamere Forest are best when it's dry.
- Book ahead where you can: Chester Zoo in particular gets busy in school holidays, so buying tickets in advance saves queueing and can save money.
- Bring spare clothes: Muddy outdoor trails, water play at The Ice Cream Farm and forest adventures all reward a change of clothes and wellies.
- Pack a picnic: Tatton Park and Delamere Forest have plenty of green space, and picnicking keeps costs down on a full day out.
- Check heights and ages: Gulliver's World is aimed at 2 to 13s, so it suits younger families better than teens.
FAQs
What is the best day out with kids in Cheshire?
Chester Zoo is the standout for most families, offering a full day among 21,000 animals. For a rainy day, Blue Planet Aquarium is the top indoor choice.
Which Cheshire attractions are free to enter?
The Ice Cream Farm and Delamere Forest are free to get in, with pay-per-play or paid activities on top. Tatton Park's parkland is open to explore, with charges for the mansion, gardens and farm.
What can we do in Cheshire on a rainy day?
Blue Planet Aquarium in Ellesmere Port and Jodrell Bank near Macclesfield are largely indoors, while Gulliver's World has plenty of undercover attractions.
🎟️ Top things to do in Cheshire
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