Free Days Out in Cheshire
Not all days out have to cost money. Pack a picnic and head for a walk, meet friends at the park or visit one of Cheshire and the surrounding areas amazing museums. Here is a list of places you can visit which are either FREE or just have a small cost such as parking.
⭐Museums
Congleton Museum
Discover a fascinating display of life, culture, and industry dating from the pre-historic period to the present day. The family friendly exhibits contain; six coin hoards, a medieval log boat, bronze age weapons, and so much more.
Address: Market Square, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 1ET
Nantwich Museum
At Nantwich Museum we tell the stories of the town and its people. Find out what a salt ship is and explore our dedicated Cheese and Dairy Room. You can find out about clock making, shoe and clothing production, as well as the impact that the Great Fire of Nantwich of 1583 and the Battle of Nantwich (1644) had on the town.
Address: Pillory Street, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 5BQ
Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
Explore 250 years of innovations and ideas that started life in Manchester. Find out how the city's heritage is interwoven with the cotton industry in the Textiles Gallery. Get hands on and see science brought to life in Experiment, an interactive gallery designed for the whole family to enjoy together.
Manchester Museum
Following the reopening of Manchester Museum in February 2023, a modern extension and beautiful galleries (as well as old favourites) provide opportunities for curiosity and wonder. There is a new Exhibition Hall, Belonging Gallery, Lee Kai Hung Chinese Culture Gallery and South Asia Gallery, a British Museum partnership.
The University of Manchester, Oxford Road Manchester, Greater Manchester M13 9PL
Bolton Museum & Aquarium
Ranging from Egyptian mummies to local history and wildlife, Bolton's collection has something for everyone.
An extensive fish collection containing a wide range of fresh water fish from all over the world. you can find out about feeding, breeding and fish care at the aquarium
Le Mans Crescent Bolton, Greater Manchester BL1 1SE
Manchester Art Gallery
The gallery is for and of the people of Manchester. Through our collections, displays and public programmes, we work with Manchester residents to celebrate creative practice as an integral part of everyday life. This is an art school for everybody, and for life – a free and accessible institution for the city and its people.
Mosley Street Manchester, Greater Manchester M2 3JL
People's History Museum
Through an eclectic and colourful mix of historic and contemporary collections, the museum celebrates the radical stories of people coming together to champion ideas worth fighting for.
Offering an engaging programme of exhibitions and events, the museum is Family Friendly throughout – inspiring the next generation to be active citizens.
Left Bank, Spinningfields Manchester, Greater Manchester M3 3ER
Staircase House Stockport
This exciting attraction invites you to travel through the history of Staircase House from 1460 to WWII. With the help of a state-of-the-art audio guide, the fascinating history of the house will unfold on a fun, accessible and informative journey.
You are invited to smell, touch and listen and to relive its history by pulling back the bedclothes on the four-poster bed, peeling rush lights, and trying your hand at 17th century quill pen writing.
30-31 Market Place Stockport, Greater Manchester SK1 1ES
Salford Museum and Art Gallery
First opened in 1850 this beautiful building now incorporates The Collections Gallery, The Victorian Gallery, temporary exhibition spaces and the Local History Library, as well as the Museum shop and Café. Visitors can visit the spectacular Lark Hill Place, the finest recreated Victorian Street of its kind, with authentic period shops and rooms, a must for adults and children alike.
Peel Park, The Crescent Salford, Greater Manchester M5 4WU
Silk Museum
The Silk Museum is located over two historic sites. The collections of textiles, pattern books designs and industrial machinery are displayed in the Museum building which was the original School of Art. Next door is Paradise Mill, designated by Historic England and home to the largest collection of silk Jacquard handlooms in Europe. This Mill was one of the last silk mills to operate in the town, and remains as it was on the last day of operations in the 1980s. All your senses will be alert, as you realise what it might have been like to work in this industry.
6 Park Lane Macclesfield, SK11 6TJ
Grosvenor Museum Chester
The Grosvenor Museum houses collections exploring the history of Chester, its art and silver heritage, and its natural history. Find out about life during the Roman military occupation and visit the Period House, with rooms from the 17th century to the 1920s. With Events and Exhibits through out the year.
27 Grosvenor Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2DD
Weaver Hall Museum Northwich
Set within the old Northwich Union Workhouse building, the museum explores the impact local manufacturing has had on people living in Northwich and the surrounding areas. The stories of poverty and prosperity are told through films, reconstructions, models and vivid displays of intriguing artefacts, which relate to local industry, market towns, transport, archaeology, and the building’s history as the Northwich Union Workhouse.
There is an active programme of special exhibitions and events.
162 London Road, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 8AB
The Salt Works Northwich
When exploring the site and its restored buildings, you will discover how the salt works operated and the impact of salt on mid-Cheshire’s people, economy and landscape.
The Lion Salt Works is one of the last open-pan sites in the world, an intriguing warren of stove, boiler and pan houses renovated to reveal how salt was extracted from the underground brine lakes and transformed into a coveted commodity.
Ollershaw Lane, Marston, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 6ES
Warrington Art Gallery & Museum
World Museum in Liverpool
Maritime Museum in Liverpool
Stockport Museum
Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery
⭐Theatres
Storyhouse Live
Join us for free crafty activities for children of all ages every Saturday and Sunday from 12pm-4pm.
There will be a different theme each week and all materials will be provided. Collect your materials from The Den in the children’s library and take them anywhere in the building to make your creation
The Lowry
The Lowry Galleries showcase changing exhibitions by one of Britain's best loved artists, LS Lowry, as well as paintings, sculpture and photography from around the world. There's always something new and refreshing to see in the galleries. Gallery entry is free.
Pier Eight, The Quays Salford, Greater Manchester M50 3AZ
⭐Places of Interest
Runway Visitor Park
The Runway Visitor Park is next to the busy runways of Manchester Airport with raised viewing areas so you can stand literally just a few metres from the planes as they take-off and land. It also has a play area and cafe
Chester Cathedral
It is free to visit most of the year apart from in the summer and Christmas.
⭐Farm Shops
Kenyon Hall Farm
Lovely farm shop, cafe and play area.
Glebe Farm at Astbury
Feed the animals for £1, small play area, cafe, shops to look in.
⭐Walks
Tittesworth Water
Tittesworth reservoir has a really good playground as well as nice walk and café.
Anderton Nature Park
Walk around the woodland and along the canal. You can visit Anderton Boat lift museum, which has a play ground and cafe.
Delamere Forest Adventure Trail
New Gruffalo’s Party Trail. Just pay for parking. Main car park is £10 for the day but there are others a bit further walk away which are free or cheaper.
Chester City Walls
Take a walk around the historic walls of Chester. With great views of the city, lots of places to come down off the walls for s spot of lunch, shop or a playground.
⭐Parks
Large playground, gardens to explore, free small zoo to look around and cafe. Other things there you can pay for but plenty to do just for free.
Haigh Woodland Park
Massive playground, cafes, With Loads of activities if you want to pay a little bit. Including Adventure golf, High Ropes & Crazy Golf.
Heaton Park & Hall Manchester
The park includes the grounds of a Grade I listed, neoclassical 18th century country house, Heaton Hall. A massive playground and cafe. Lots of extra events and activities put on throughout the year and especially over summer holidays.
Marbury Park
Great for walks and for taking bikes and scooters. A lovely playground with toilets and coffee van.
Grosvenor Park Chester
Beautiful gardens by the river. Large play ground and mini train ride. Cafes nearby and toilets.
Queens Park Crewe
Children’s play area, including wheelchair friendly roundabout. Pedal boats on the lake during summer, putting golf, toilets and cafe.
Address: Victoria Avenue, Crewe, Cheshire, CW2 7SE
Congleton park
The park is a five-minute walk from the Town Centre and offers a children's play area, paths through the ancient town woods, river walks, ornamental gardens, bowling green, bandstand, toilets and pavilion café.
National Trust
If you have a national trust membership or managed to pick a family pass up in the Daily Mirror then these are fab free days out. They all have extra activities on during school holidays.
RHS Gardens
If you have a RHS membership there is our most local main garden at Bridgewater in Manchester. Plus all their partner gardens in Cheshire which you can visit for free at certain times of the year.
⭐Garden Centers
Bents Garden & Home
Since 1937 our family owned and run garden centre has evolved into a unique lifestyle destination where customers can discover the products, advice and inspiration to make outdoor and indoor living more beautiful. A massive shop for home accessories, gifts, plants and a lovely cafe.
Brookside Garden Centre
Large garden centre with shop and cafe. There is a miniature railway which is great for children and they have season events on too.
Address: Brookside Garden Centre, London Road North, Poynton, Stockport SK12 1BY
Comentários