Days out for families around Chester

Categories
  • Family guides
Length
3 min read
Author
Alice Ostapjuk

Wondering what to do in Chester on your next family staycation? Whether you’ve got a tribe of animal lovers or a bunch of bold explorers, there’s plenty to keep the kids (and adults!) entertained around this stunning historical city.

Base yourselves at our Chester City aparthotel and check out some of our favourite family activities in Chester and beyond.

Chester Zoo

Where: Upton-by-Chester, Chester CH2 1LH

Suitable for: all ages

Zip to Chester Zoo, the most popular attraction outside of the capital, in just ten minutes by car from Roomzzz Chester. Spend a day adventuring through the islands of South East Asia, a deep, dark Fruit Bat forest, an underwater world and many more habitats. There are 21,000 animals to get to know so prepare for a full day out! See critically endangered animals like the Eastern Black Rhino and the zoo’s latest edition – a rare Scottish Wildcat kitten. And the best bit is, you can save money on your ticket when you stay at Roomzzz Chester and book your tickets through us! 

And there’s a crazy amount of things to do aside from animal spotting. Take a lazy river boat ride, have your face’s painted to look like your favourite species and let the kids go wild in the zoo’s many play areas. Scramble and climb through the huge Madagascar play area or dare to try the new treetop challenge.

Go Ape! Delamere Forest

Where: Delamere Forest, Cheshire

Suitable for: all ages

If you’re after an action-packed day out then get down to Go Ape! in Delamere Forest. 760 meters of adrenaline fuelled fun awaits you in the woodland. Zip, swing, scramble and edge (it’s not for the faint hearted!) your way through the tree tops as a family. Our words of advice: Don’t. Look. Down!

The full course is for ten and aboves but there’s a junior tree top adventure designed with little legs in mind too. The highest you’ll ever be from the ground on this course is 7.3 meters but you’ll still have all the fun of zip wires, suspended stepping stones and rope bridges. Keen to stay closer to the ground but still looking for a slice of the action? Why not zoom around the woodland on a forest Segway instead?

Anderton Boat Lift

Where: Anderton, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 6FW

Suitable for: Under 12s

Looking for a day out with a difference? Why not try the ‘Cathedral of the Canals’, Anderton Boat Lift? This mighty machine, built in 1875, bridges the 50 foot drop between the Trent & Mersey Canal and the River Weaver. It’s one of just two working historic boat lifts in the country today. Hop on a boat to experience this impressive lift and take a trip along the River Weaver while you’re aboard.

Dive into the Visitor Centre for hands-on, restoration themed fun (the boat lift was restored in 2002) and a bit of history about the lift. Go on a woodland walk and spot sculptures as you go or play at controlling the water ways in the play area. On certain dates through the year dare devils can take a behind the scenes tour and stand up on top of the 60 foot tall lift. All aboard!

Blue Planet Aquarium

Where: Cheshire Oaks, Cheshire, CH65 9LF

Suitable for: all ages

Head below shoreline without getting wet (phew!) at the Blue Planet Aquarium and immerse the family in an underwater world. Jump on a moving walkway to travel through a 70 meter long aqua tunnel, while huge Sand Tiger Sharks and tropical fish swim all around you. The aquarium is home to one of the biggest collections of sharks in Europe.

Let yourself be transported to the Amazon River in the Flooded Forest where you’ll see piranhas and a black pacu if you look carefully. Check out the teeny tiny rainforest frogs in the frog zone, explore the coral cave and see creatures from the British coastlines up close in the giant rock pools. A must for Blue Planet enthusiasts!

Beeston Castle

Where: Beeston, Cheshire, CW6 9TX

Suitable for: all ages

Be King or Queen for the day at Beeston Castle – a beautiful medieval ruin on top of a towering crag. Have a game of hide and seek amongst the ruins, get a load of the amazing views (if the weather’s good you can see from the Pennines to the Welsh Mountains) and stare into a legendary spiralling well.

Built in the 1220s, by the 6th Earl of Chester, the castle has an intriguing history spanning 4,000 years. You can find out about sieges, surrenders and Civil War in an exhibition. Once you’ve adventured around the castle and swotted up on the history, follow paths through the surrounding woodland and keep your eyes peeled for wildlife. If you’re lucky you might spot a peregrine falcon or come across a cave of bats.

The Crocky Trail

Where: Waverton, Chester, CH3 7PH

Suitable for: Over 5s

Raucous, good old fashioned fun is guaranteed at The Crocky Trail. This mile long, outdoor adventure is packed full of challenges to keep the whole family on their toes. Before you even set out on the trail you’ll be whizzing down giant slides, bobbling about on seesaws and riding dizzying roundabouts.

Getting trapped, wobbling across river bridges and crawling through dark, muddy tunnels are all part of fun when you finally manage to tear the kids away from the rides and hit the trail. Little dare devils will love the spooky dungeon and barrel runs. Spare clothes are a must and picnics are encouraged, with plenty of places to stop and munch around the park.

The Ice Cream Farm

Where: Tattenhall, Chester, CH3 9NE

Suitable for: under 12s

What could be sweeter than a day out at Chester’s Ice Cream Farm? And if you’re not already licking your lips then you will be soon because they sell over 50 award-winning flavours in their ice cream parlour. Tempted by jelly bear flavour? We are! Once you’ve satisfied your sweet tooth, there’s so much more to get stuck in to.

Pet farm animals at Fudge Farm, play a round of crazy golf at Strawberry Falls (beware of the giant strawberry fountains) and behold a magical snowing tree with balls of ice cream instead of leaves. Honeycomb Canyon is the UK’s biggest indoor sand and water play where imaginations can run wild and there’s Slivercone where the kids can zoom around on mini quad bikes. There’s nowhere else quite like it!

Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre

Where: Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 9DL

Suitable for: all ages

Any aspiring astronauts in the family now that we’ve all got Tim Peake fever? Jodrell Bank is the home of the Lovell Telescope – one of the most powerful radio telescopes in the world. Get up close to this gigantic structure, with its 76 meter diameter bowl, and see it in action. In the planet, space and star pavilions get hands-on uncovering the wonders of the universe.

You’ll find out things like what a black hole really is and get a chance to wind up a big clockwork scale model of the solar system. There are science shows throughout the school holidays and 35 acres of gardens to explore, including a space themed playground.

Don’t forget to share your family break with us on Instagram, by tagging #Roomzzz, for a chance to win free night’s stay at any of our aparthotels across the country. Check availability at Roomzzz Chester City, here.

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