Autumn fun in the Winter Garden at Dunham Massey, Cheshire | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris

Family-friendly places in Cheshire and Greater Manchester

Plan your family day out in Cheshire and Greater Manchester. We've got play areas, wildlife to spot, plenty of things to do when it rains and loads of activities for kids (and the young at heart).

Get close to nature, step into the past or run tired legs out in a play area – there's something for the whole family to enjoy whatever the season.

Quarry Bank, Wilmslow

Plan your family day out to Quarry Bank and discover all the family-friendly things to do no matter the weather. From exploring the mill, to enjoying one of our seasonal trails around the property.

A family walking towards the Garden at Quarry Bank

Dunham Massey, Altrincham

Entertain the whole family this season at Dunham Massey. Discover unique stories in the house, go on an adventure in the garden and stop for a bite to eat in the Stamford Café.

Two children wearing orange clothes jumping in puddles, having fun on a wet day.

Lyme, Stockport

From running, skipping and jumping around Crow Wood play area and dressing up in period costume inside the house, to spotting red deer in the park, there’s something for everyone at Lyme.

A family playing with autumn leaves in the garden at Lyme, Cheshire

Hare Hill, Macclesfield

Discover the secret gardens at Hare Hill, where little legs can roam safely; the perfect spot for a family day out.

Little girl looking through binoculars in the Walled Garden at Hare Hill

Little Moreton Hall, Congleton

Whether you’re enjoying one of our self-led trails or the wibbly-wobbly floors, there's plenty of free activities to keep the whole family entertained at Little Moreton Hall.

There’s plenty of ways to spend time together with the family at Tatton Park. Play in nature and see what wildlife you can see, visit the farm, or open the pages to a new adventure in the pre-loved bookshop. Click here for more fun ideas to try with your little explorers.

A girl and a member of staff with a chick

Liverpool and Lancashire

Head over to Liverpool and Lancashire to find family adventures at Speke Hall, Rufford Old Hall and Gawthorpe Hall.

Children playing in autumn leaves in the park at Rufford Old Hall

Get close to nature and experience the joys of autumn this October half term. From nature trails to Halloween events, there’s plenty for you to try.

See all family activities and events

All things autumn at Lyme

Grab a trail pack to explore what makes autumn so special at Lyme. Look out for all the colours and weird and wonderful creatures that autumn has to offer, and enjoy autumn games and indoor creative activities.

Visitors exploring the garden on a family trail, with a lake and the house in the background in Autumn at Lyme, Cheshire

Spot deer at Dunham Massey

Discover the changing colours of the season at Dunham Massey. Spot rutting deer, follow self-guided walks through the parkland or join Spooks’ Autumn Art Adventure to celebrate art in the natural world.

A child balances on across a fallen branch in a wooded area of parkland during autumn at Dunham Massey in Cheshire

Halloween at Quarry Bank

There’s a chill in the air at Quarry Bank this Halloween. We invite you to join us, if you're brave enough! Our frighteningly fun dusk to darkness light trail will return, are you in for a treat, or a trick? The darker it gets, the spookier it gets…

Cloaked headless figure sat on a black horse, with a mill chimney and smoke in the background

Brilliant bats at Speke Hall

Bats are very important creatures. In fact, they’re brilliant and we’re lucky that some of them call Speke Hall their home. During October half term, follow a self-led trail through the Clough Woodland. Learn which bat is so small it can fit inside a matchbox, how bats shout and guess some of our bats favourite smells!

Monsters and Legends at Rufford Old Hall

Wander through the garden and woodland at Rufford to see scarecrows created by the local community. This year’s theme is “Monsters & Legends”, so expect to find iconic creatures and legendary heroes!

Family exploring the woodland at Rufford Old Hall, Lancashire

Escape into autumn at Little Moreton Hall

Visit Little Moreton Hall this half term and 'Escape into autumn'. Discover autumn colours and what wildlife gets up to over the season with a free spotter trail.

A family enjoying the gardens at Little Moreton Hall, Cheshire

Skellies and Wellies at Tatton Park

Step into 50 acres of autumnal magic where 10 hilarious and haunting skeleton displays are waiting to surprise and delight. Each skeleton scene is packed with personality and a punny joke to tickle your funny bone. Can you find them all?

Two visitors walking with their push chairs through the Japanese Gardens in autumn at Tatton Park, Cheshire, with leaves on the floor all around them.

We’ve handpicked some of the best family-friendly walks in the North West. Whether you’re pushing a buggy, need a shorter route for littler legs, or want to spot birds, bugs, deer and other wildlife along the way, there’s a walk for everyone.

Dunham Massey’s mini park loop

Looking for a walk to embrace the outdoors, whatever the season or weather? Looping around a small section of the park, this walk will give you a flavour of all this nature haven has to offer. The route is circular so starts and ends at the same place.

The Wizard's Wander at Alderley Edge

Discover the ‘Legend of the Wizard’ on this short, easy-access circular walk in the heart of Alderley Edge. Look out for the Druids’ Stone Circle, cave entrances and signs of old mine shafts.

Climbing a tree in woodland at Alderley Edge and Cheshire Countryside, Cheshire.

Step free cage and deer sanctuary view walk at Lyme

This walk to the East Lodge and back will reward you with memorable views of The Cage, deer sanctuary and surrounding area. This step free route is perfect for people wanting a flat, gentle walk or travelling with a prams.

A view of a stag with large antlers in the deer sanctuary with a large fortress like folly in the background at Lyme, Cheshire

A walk through the Southern Woods at Quarry Bank

Watch the river Bollin twist and turn as it makes its way to the huge industrial mill. See whether you can spot herons and other wildlife in the Mill Pond. This walk is partially accessible for pushchairs up to Heron’s Pool Bridge.

The River Bollin in Southern Woods at Quarry Bank Mill, Cheshire

There’s nothing quite like playing outdoors. Swooshing down slides, clambering over logs and letting your imagination run wild. It’s no wonder that play areas are an essential part of many family days out. Here are some top places to play in Cheshire and Greater Manchester. 

Crow Wood playscape at Lyme

Let off some steam and have fun with your family in the Crow Wood play area. It’s the perfect place to run, skip and slide. Get closer to nature on a walk through Crow Wood and see what wildlife you can spot in the mill pond.

A child playing in the Crow Wood play area at Lyme Park, Cheshire

The log pile at Dunham Massey

Is it a ship? Is it a castle? Will you get eaten by sharks if you fall off a beam? The log pile in the north park is a play area at one with nature. Perfect for little ones with active imaginations, these carefully placed logs and branches create a casual play environment for children (and adults) of all ages.

Grandparents and a grandchild play together in the Log Stack play area in Dyffryn Gardens during the winter

Playground at Quarry Bank

You can find the playground just beyond the Mill Yard. It's small but perfectly formed, giving little ones the chance to jump, balance and climb obstacles. And with picnic benches are close by, it's perfect for parents to take a break with a warm coffee.

Woodland play at Alderley Edge

Test your balance on giant logs and pretend the mud is water or strike your best tree pose on a tree stump in the natural play area at Alderley Edge. Look around to see birds flit from branch to branch amongst ancient trees and the woodland floor.

Children playing in woodland at Alderley Edge and Cheshire Countryside, Cheshire.

Natural play area at Hare Hill

In spring, summer and autumn little ones can escape to the hidden natural play area at Hare Hill and discover the magic amongst the nature that lives there. Make a secret den and create some look out points to spot wildlife. Cook up a storm in the mini-mud kitchen – you’ll find all the ingredients you need on the woodland floor beneath.

Den building area at Cragside, Northumberland

When it’s raining (and we get a lot of that in the north west) you have two options: find some indoor fun or grab your waterproofs and get stuck in! Luckily we have loads of suggestions for both…

Explore inside the mill at Quarry Bank

Shelter from the rain inside the mill and feel the floors shake beneath your feet as the historic machinery whirrs and clatters into action. See one of the most powerful water wheels in the country spinning as the river flows beneath it.

Four visitors looking at the water wheel at Quarry Bank, Cheshire

Top ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ activities to do when it’s raining

We've compiled a selection of items from the ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ list that are perfect for rainy days, so grab your waterproofs and get involved.

Boy jumping in a puddle. The boy is wearing a woolly hat and wellies

Step back in time at Lyme

Sometimes even the best laid plans can be ruined by a sudden downpour. Never fear, from dressing up in regency dress to playing billiards, there’s plenty of indoor activities for you to try inside the house at Lyme.

A close up of a girl in a recency style sun hat.

Enter the unique house at Little Moreton Hall

Wander over wibbly-wobbly floors and up spiral staircases inside this topsy-turvy house. You’ll even find a Tudor toilet! No wet weather visit is complete without treating yourself to a delicious snack in Mrs Dale's tea-room.

Family looking through the windows of the Long Gallery at Little Moreton Hall, Cheshire.

Discover a world of endless adventures with our pick of some of the best things for teenagers to do in Cheshire and Manchester. Round up your friends and family and get exploring.

Find activities for teenagers

Become a budding photographer

Full of far-reaching views, vast wildlife and picturesque buildings, the places we care for are a young photographer’s dream. Walk across moors and woods at Lyme to get seasonal snaps of surrounding counties and Manchester’s skyline, photograph the fallow deer at Dunham Massey, or get creative with the quirky angles of Little Moreton Hall’s black-and-white Tudor house. Click here for top photography tips.

A woman in a velvet green dress smiles and poses for a photo in front of a swathe of snowdrops in the woodland at Stowe.

Step into the small screen

Discover the places that provide the backdrop for some of your favourite TV shows. Jane Austin fans can step inside Pemberley, Mr Darcy’s home, in the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice (1995) at Lyme. You might recognise some of Tatton Park from Peaky Blinders (2013–2022) and Sherwood (2024), while The Mill (2013–14) is based on the lives of millworkers at Quarry Bank during the industrial revolution.

Close-up of filming equipment and monitor at Quarry Bank in Cheshire

Arrive by bike

Bring your bike and take a trip through sheltered woodland or through the deer park at Lyme – there’s even a short but challenging mountain bike trail here too. And did you know that if you arrive on a bike to Lyme, Quarry Bank or Dunham Massey you can get 10% discount in the café? All three sites are close to national cycling routes and places to lock up bikes when you arrive.

Children cycling on the Explorer Trail in Comer Woods at Dudmaston, Midlands

Tuck into a sweet treat

Rounding off the day with a sweet treat and hot drink are a key part of any visit. From breakfast baps and toasties, to doughnuts and brownies, and lots of vegan options too, we’ve got something for everyone. Or grab a coffee to takeaway before your walk – we’ll even give you 25p off your drink if you bring your own reusable cup.