Northwest England / North Wales

Apple Jacks Farm

A fantastic day out with a very unusual bouncy Pirate's Pillow.  Includes the Amazing Fence Maze - Pedal Kart Racing- The Bale Rolling Games - Pig Racing - Straw Bale Mountain - Farm Animals - Food & Shopping. A good day out 9/10.

Cannon Hall Farm near Barnsley

Cannon Hall Farm is near Barnsley in Yorkshire.  There is an excellent brand new children's adventure play area for climbing, sliding and spinning.  There are lots and lots of animals to feed and stroke, the farm shop is more like a mini market with nice pies and cakes (even Manchester Tart and made by a Yorkshireman!).  The hall (which has free entry) has an interesting display of pottery. 

We went in a partially rainy day and it was still busy and enough places to shelter whilst it was too wet.  A good day out 8/10.

Farmer Ted's

Not far from Formby this farm has everything: rain or shine.  With lots of animals, daily shows (ferret racing etc...), peddle carts for young and old on a race track, play area, indoor barn, trackor rides, quad bike tracker ride for older one's and a fantastic cafe and farm shop.  Try the chilli seeds. A good day out 9/10 as it is equally good in the rain.

Tatton Park (National Trust)

Tatton Park has lots to offer.  The Tractor Ride to the farm starts the excitment before seeing all of the animals, an art room to try your hand at painting and a chance to feed a wooden cow.  The House is very ornate but not accessible for a wheelchair buggy or wheelchair.  The gardens offer a range of international gardens, a maze and a nice rolling lawn for rolling down.  The cafe offers homemade food that is the best you can get, a range of produce is grown locally.  The children's play area is great for children of all ages.  The permanent Carousel offers some colour and excitment. During the summer there are usually some events being held. YOu can hire bikes for a tour of the park. 10/10 as it offers a range of facilities throughout the year and for everyone.

Wepre Park - North Wales

The Greenfield Valley is now a fascinating, peaceful country park containing reservoirs, woodlands, industrial archaeological sites and ancient monuments. Two hundred years ago, there were many factories in the valley producing copper goods for the colonies, but the history of the valley began in the 7th Century. There is much to see, including the ruins of a medieval abbey and remains of industrial mills. The park is open all year, but the visitor centre and its adjoining farm museum are only open in the summer months.  The park is a tranquil place to relax.  The children's play area is great to climb, a new sensory garden has hanging chains to clatter, tubes to bang and a musical drain pipe.  The old farm houses have been moved from all over wales and provide an interesting perspective of how things used to be.  A peaceful day out can be followed by a visit to the beach (Talacre) to finish off the day. 8/10 as it is a great relaxing place

Talacre Beach - North Wales

As you travel up the coast through Flint you could be forgiven to thinking there is no beach worth visiting here.  However, Talacre pops out of the blue and has sand dunes, clean sand, some beach shops, chippy and arcades.  Not too manic but enough to give you a dosage of the English Seaside feeling.  8/10

Lyme Park (National Trust)

Reddish Vale Farm

Portland Basin Muesum

Parrswood Cinema

Parrswood Bowling

Marple Park

Manor Park Glossop

Thornlea Park Heaton Moor

Bruntwood Park Cheadle

Chester Zoo

Knowsley Safari Park

West Kirby Beach

Llandudno West Beach

Grizedale Forest - Cumbria

Trafford Centre Manchester

Rossendale Dry Ski Slope 

Chill Factor Indoor Skiing Manchester

Debdale Watersports Manchester

West Kirby Watersports

Sale Water Watersports

Chorlton Water Park

Manchester Science Muesum

Manchester Art Gallery

Lowry Theatre

Manchester Wheel

Castleton Village

Buxton Park

Chatsworth House

Greenwood Forest Park - North Wales

Kielder Forest

Kielder Water & Forest Park is an area of stunning beauty and serenity, home to Northern Europe's largest man-made lake, England's largest forest and officially the country's most tranquil spot, according to the Campaign to Protect Rural England. The sun-dappled glades and gently lapping waters burst with things to do for families and lovers of the great outdoors.

Take a stroll through dense forest, literally take your horse to water or hire a bike and explore the mile upon mile of purpose built trails. Kielder is a true walking, cycling and horse riding haven. Take to the waters on the Kielder Water Cruise or try sailing and water sports on the miles of open water. The forest is home to ever-expanding mountain biking trails, including 13 outstanding technical loops packed full of berms, drop-offs and challenging singletrack.

At Leaplish Waterside Park, waterskiing, sailing, wind-surfing and kite-surfing enthusiasts take to the water year-round, whilst fantastic fishing can be found on the lake or in Kielder's River North Tyne. Alternatively, check out Tower Knowe Visitor Centre and discover Kielder's history, from glaciation to gory Border conflicts with Scottish Reivers.

Wherever you wander, there's surprising contemporary art installations to enjoy along the way and abundant wildlife, including red squirrel, deer and many rare bird species. Picnic spots and places to eat are scattered throughout the park, including the Boat Inn at Leaplish, Tower Knowe's Water's Edge Restaurant or the Duke's Pantry at Kielder Castle, a former hunting lodge of the Duke of Northumberland with impressive forest drive and adventure playground.

Kielder also provides a dramatic setting for events and activities year-round and for the business visitor, Kielder Water Conference Centre provides ideal facilities for unrivalled conference, training and team-building. 9/10
 

Digger Land

Diggerland is a unique adventure park where children and adults can drive real diggers and so much more. 10/10

Harry Potter Castle

To many people, their first sight of this glorious medieval castle can seem foreboding, and certainly its history lacks nothing in drama and intrigue. Some of you may recognise us as a film location, for everything from Harry Potter to Elizabeth to Becket to Blackadder.

Yet I am proud that today Alnwick Castle is very much a living castle, at the heart of thriving estates and businesses; and is still our family home, as it has been for nearly seven hundred years.

There is so much to see and do - history, art, landscape, fun for the children, dining, shopping, exploring - and I hope these pages give you a taste of our 'Windsor of the North'. Do enjoy this virtual visit and we hope you can soon join us in person. Food fantastic. 8/10

Windermere Boat Tours

Welcome to Windermere Lake Cruises - the most popular attraction in Cumbria. Windermere is England's largest lake, in the heart of the Lake District. We offer cruises from 45 minutes to 3 hours - or you can even spend all day on and around the lake with our fantastic 'Freedom of the Lake' ticket. 8/10

Beamish

Welcome to Beamish, The North of England

Open Air Museum, where the past comes to life. Beamish is unique. We're no ordinary museum but a living, working experience of life as it was in the Great North in the early 1800s and 1900s.

Beamish, Britain's favourite open air museum, set in over 300 acres of beautiful countryside, vividly recreates life in the North of England in the early 1800s and 1900s. Winner of both the British Museum of the Year and European Museum of the Year Awards, it demonstrates the recent history of the region in a "living" way and provides entertainment and education for visitors of all ages and interests.

People from the past welcome visitors and interpret how the people of the North of England lived and worked.

Step on board our trams and we'll transport you into the past. Click on the links to the left to visit the different parts of the site. 10/10
 

Life Centre Newcastle (great for a rainy day)

Life is an exciting place where science comes alive in a fun and funky environment! We want to inspire curiosity and encourage you to uncover new things about Life.

Whatever your age, if you're curious about the world around you, there's something for you and your family at Life.

From sniffing the smog in Mexico City to coming nose to nose with your ninety year old face, our Human Life exhibition will have you entranced. Take part in a live science show with our awesome explainers, enter The Dome for a visual journey unlike anything else in the region, and enjoy the thrills and spills of our crazy motion ride 9/10

Hartlepool Maritime Experience

Hartlepool's Maritime Experience, a superb re-creation of an 18th century seaport is a fantastic place to visit for families, groups and schools - in fact everybody. It brings to life the time of Nelson, Napoleon and the Battle of Trafalgar.

Travel back in our mari-time machine to experience how it was aboard a real British naval frigate, two centuries ago. Explore the historic quayside, featuring 'Pressganged', 'Fighting Ships', realistic period shops and houses and much more.

Talk to our guides - all in authentic period dress, marvel at Britain's oldest warship afloat HMS Trincomalee, find out about all our events and discover the fascinating maritime Museum of Hartlepool.

All your visitor information is here, so have a fabulous, fun day out at the North East of England's Premier Maritime Attraction. 9/10

Liverpool Underwater Street

The historic City of Liverpool, with its Waterfront built around the most famous docklands in the world, is steeped in maritime tradition.

You have to see it all, and the only way is to ride TheYellowDuckmarine! The fun begins the second you board your DUCK - an authentic World War II landing vehicle - at the Albert Dock, where else?

Your hour-long trip begins on the road, taking in the historic Waterfront, touring the famous sights of the City, then making a dramatic “SPLASHDOWN” in the Salthouse Dock. It’s the start of an amazing dockland adventure, ending at the Albert Dock. It’s a trip you’ll never forget!

ABC Group

As a group of parents of young children with special needs we became very much aware that within the Stockport area there is no group that supports all family members. Most groups are run during the day therefore restricting access for the working partner and siblings.   The ABC Family Group runs on a Saturday with all family members invited.  It is an opportunity to meet other families and share experiences in a supportive and fun environment.

The aim of the ABC Family Group is to provide a setting for all the family within a play environment. All children/teenages and parents/carers should feel relaxed with plenty of toys, games and activitiesto keep everyone busy. It is an opportunity for families to make friends with families in a similar position and share experiences