11 Things to Explore in Cheshire Midweek

There is always something to do with the family in Cheshire, even midweek! Below we have pulled together a list of fantastic attractions to enjoy together, and we have even added in a family-friendly accommodation option to ease the stress of planning.

BeWILDerwood

Does the idea of exploring quirky treehouses, gliding through the air on giant swings and zip wires, and enjoying creative crafts and storytelling sound appealing? If so, a midweek visit to the mystical land of BeWILDerwood Cheshire may be the perfect day out. Once you pay the entry fee (which includes parking) ranging from free (under 92cm) to £19.50 (over 105cm), you are open to enjoy all of the woodland adventure equipment and experience BeWILDerwood yourself – just try not to get lost in the Mish Mash Maze!

As well as the woodland adventure amenities themselves, BeWILDerwood also boasts a range of facilities to support your visit, including the Munch Bar and Cosy Cabin for dining, and the Bizarre Bazaar gift shop. The site is accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs, and if you need any further assistance during your visit, the Twiggle Team are always on hand to help.

At the time of writing, midweek visits are available until mid-September, and tickets are flying fast so be sure to secure them in advance of your trip!

Blakemere Village

If you are looking for somewhere to try your hand at painting pottery, experiencing birds of prey before your eyes, playing crazy golf, and making marvellous craft creations, all alongside a spot of quality retail therapy and more, a family visit to the eclectic Blakemere Village, Northwich, is the place to go! Did we mention it has free parking and is open daily 10am-5pm too?

After enjoying the countless activities and independent retailers, be sure to take advantage of the onsite food and beverage establishments, including the Blakemere Village Social and The Village Restaurant & Coffee Bar. Further facilitating your visit is the accessibility of the site for wheelchair and pushchair users, and floodlit car parks.

Boulder Hut

Located in Ellesmere Port, just off the M53 motorway, this premium bouldering gym has problems (routes) suited to every ability, from complete beginners to seasoned professionals. The Boulder Play is suitable for those aged between 0 and 4, and provides a safe, colourful foundation for little ones to take their first steps into climbing, and, with alphabet and number holds, to develop their spelling and counting skills too. Likewise is the Boulder Zoo, catering to those between 2 and 10, providing challenging (but fair) problems with extra thick matting.

Finally, the Main Walls are open to those aged 11 and above (or 7 and above subject to passing the Mountain Goats induction). These are the largest walls and provide opportunities to practice slab (tilting away from you), overhangs, arete climbing, competition walls, and more!

Midweek, the gym is open between 10am and 10pm, and sessions range between 90 and 120 minutes per slot. Climbers are welcome to bring their own climbing shoes or can rent these at the Boulder Hut for a fee. When not on the wall, why not consider a bite to eat from their vegetarian menu, or a drink from the onsite café?

Go Ape Delamere

Nestled inside Cheshire’s largest woodland, Delamere Forest, the adventurous activities offered at Go Ape Delamere are certain to please, combining stunning scenery with magnificent thrills.

Designed with the younger family in mind, the Treetop Adventure is a great starting point, but with obstacles including the Stepping Stones and the Button Bridge, alongside the Criss Cross, it is by no means easy! For those over 1.2m tall, the Treetop Adventure Plus becomes available, offering increased challenges at scarier heights! The final adventure is the Treetop Challenge, which, featuring an Infernal Traverse and 212-metres of zip wire, is only suitable for the bravest of thrill-seekers.

Prefer sticking to the ground? Or looking to continue your Go Ape adventure further? The all-terrain Forest Segway fits the bill. Taking you across a rare quaking bog, home to extremely rare wildlife, and potentially allowing you to skirt Blakemere Moss, it is not only a breath-taking experience, but picturesque too.

At the time of writing, there are no variations on pricing between weekdays and weekends, and so you can expect to pay upwards of £20 per person per experience. All-day parking at Delamere Forest costs £8 per vehicle, and each car park has toilets.

 

Gulliver’s World Resort Warrington

Orientated around providing quality fun and magic to children aged between 2 and 13, with over 30 rides in 6 themed areas, a SplashZone, Roller Zone and Blast Arena, it is unsurprising that Gulliver’s World Resort Warrington is considered to be one of the best family days out in the UK!

The resort also boasts The Gullivers Hotel, allowing families to extend the fun that little bit longer! As well as this, there are plentiful themed dens and lodges, all promising exciting, comfortable stays for those involved. Theme park entrance is included in selected hotel packages.

Until August, the resort is seldom open on weekdays, so be sure to check their website here before you visit to avoid disappointment. Plus, by booking online in advance, you save money.

Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre

Boasting science, heritage and culture, Jodrell Bank promises an exciting and insightful day out for all. Perhaps the site is most famous for housing the Lovell Telescope which, for over 50 years, has become a major icon of the Cheshire landscape, and an international landmark in the astronomy field.

However, Jodrell Bank offers so much more than just this amazing telescope. Currently, visitors can explore the Astronomy Photography of the Year exhibition and the Telescope Pathway, and discover permanent outdoor exhibits such as the whispering dishes. Perfect for the younger guests are the children’s playground, the craft activities in Jodrell Bank’s special Mission Log, and the Alien Scavenger Hunt. Additionally, this UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts The Planet Café and a pop-up Gift Shop, both perfect for creating additional memories.

Jodrell Bank offers free admission for those under 4, with older guests’ tickets ranging from £6.50 to £8.50 each. Group family discounts are available. Please remember that Jodrell Bank is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so plan your midweek break accordingly.

Dunham Massey

This National Trust property features a garden for all seasons, an ancient deer park, and a Georgian manor house layered with fascinating stories and history. The Stamford Café and Parlour provide food and hot and cold drinks to visitors, and the Stables Restaurant offers hearty homemade meals. Dunham Massey’s National Trust shop is also one of the largest in the north, so be sure to stock up on its local produce!

On a midweek visit, there is no need to book in advance. The car park is open from 9am until 5.15pm, with the site’s other amenities open at varying times in between. Individual ticket prices range from £4 for children, to £8 for adults, although family and group savings are available, making this a highly affordable day out for all! You can even bring dogs!

Accessible parking and facilities are available, and PMVs and wheelchairs can be hired by calling 0161 941 1025.  Additionally, onsite toilets with baby-changing facilities are present.

Tatton Park

One of the UK’s most complete historic estates, Tatton Park boasts a neo-classical mansion, 50 acres of landscaped gardens, 1000 acres of deer park, a rare breed farm, and a medieval old hall. So, what was once the property of the Egerton family is now an outstanding day out for all. Did we mention the countless events happening each year too?

Children are welcome in all areas of the estate, although the adventure play area, woodland play trail, and den building zones are tailored specifically towards them. To refuel, be sure to visit the former Head Gardener’s Cottage which is now a stunning tearoom, and either eat there, or move to the Victorian Walled gardens to enjoy your treats.

The car park, which has an £8 cost (for National Trust members too), is open from 10am until 7pm, and the onsite facilities are open at varying times in-between. All areas of the estate are individually priced, being £6 per child, £8 per adult, or £21 per family.

For accessibility, adapted toilets are present onsite, and there are limited mobility car parking spaces available (charged at £4 per vehicle). The estate’s grounds themselves are partly accessible, featuring loose gravel paths, slopes and some steps, although accessible route maps are available.

National Waterways Museum Ellesmere Port

Situated at the spot where the Shropshire Union Canal meets the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey, what was once a noisy transhipment dock, is today an area where the whole family can learn about our waterways’ history in a relaxed, tranquil environment.

The National Waterways Museum features countless exhibits, such as the Island Warehouse hall, the Porters Row Cottages and Garden, and visitors can even step inside stables, watch blacksmiths at work in the forge, and marvel at the engines in the power hall and pump house. Coming soon is the outdoor play area, and under 5’s indoor play area, allowing the youngest visitors to burn off some extra steam.

If you fancy a break, the Waterside Café and Gift Shop offers a scenic location to relax with a cup of coffee and indulge in some souvenir shopping. While in the area, be sure to go wildlife spotting and keep a keen eye out for rare duck breeds!

At the time of writing, the National Waterways Museum Ellesmere Port will re-open between Thursdays and Sundays, 10am-4pm, as of 20^th May 2021. Tickets will range from free for those aged 5 and under, to £9.75 for those aged 16+. Families will receive a discounted rate of £25. All tickets will be for unlimited return visits during the year, meaning more adventures at no direct cost!

Lion Salt Works

What was once a historic open-pan salt making site, is today one of Cheshire’s most beloved museums. On your visit, you will discover how the salt works operated, and how they impacted the lives of Cheshire’s people, economy, and landscape. Its youngest guests can also enjoy the outdoor play area and relax in the butterfly garden!

Midweek, Lion Salt Works is open Tuesday through Thursday, between 10.30am and 1.30pm, and 2pm and 5pm. Admission fees range from £4.20 for children, to £6.60 for adults, with family and concession family tickets also available. The museum is fully accessible and features designated parking bays, accessible toilets, lifts to higher floors and a hearing induction loop. Guide dogs are also permitted inside, with all dogs allowed outside.

As well as the fantastic museum, there are plentiful walks around the Lion Salt Works. Choose from touring the Trent and Mersey Canal, revealing a landscape in which the ghosts of the salt works shadow, exploring the Northwich Woodlands and observing the pleasant surroundings and reed-lined streams, or wandering through the black and white timbered high street of Northwich.

So now you have read all about Cheshire’s fantastic midweek attractions, the only thing missing is somewhere to stay…

Forest Holidays Delamere

Brand new for 2021, Forest Holidays Delamere offers its guests luxurious (but family-friendly) log cabins and lodges which are all nestled under a shaded oasis of broadleaf and evergreen trees spanning 972 hectares of wild forest.

Whether you select a White Willow Premium Cabin or a Silver Birch Cabin, you are sure to have a memorable break for all of the right reasons. Looking for something a little more adventurous, but still with the necessary home comforts? Book a night (or two) in the Golden Oak Treehouse and enjoy a night’s sleep up high in the trees. Those requiring mobility support can reserve a Wheelchair-Adapted Silver Birch Cabin, meaning the whole family is catered for.

In terms of dining, you can either cook in your cabins’ fully equipped kitchens, or venture to the Forest Retreat or Forest Hub where you will find a tempting range of hot and cold food and drink all-day-long!

Hopefully we have inspired you to take a midweek break in our magnificent county of Cheshire. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and be sure to tag us in your Cheshire photos on social media using #Cheshire!