Days out with the kids in Chester

Chester means the zoo, and the zoo deserves it - one of Europe's best, though bring a pushchair even for a five-year-old because the site is vast. But the city underneath is a good family day in its own right: the Grosvenor Museum does the Roman story for free, Grosvenor Park runs a miniature railway above the river, and a boat trip from the Groves is the cheap add-on children actually remember.

Out in the lanes, the Ice Cream Farm is free to enter with a giant sand and water quarry, and the Crocky Trail sends them home filthy, soaked and delighted - pack a full change of clothes, this is not optional. Beeston Castle proves ruins work perfectly well for this age group. When it rains, Flip Out and the museum carry the day. A day out in Chester with kids only goes wrong when you try to do the zoo and the city in one visit.

Places in Chester

Grosvenor Museum

Chester~30 min

★★★★☆4.4(1,159)

Chester's Roman story done properly: real tombstones from the fortress walls, a hands-on natural history gallery, and a walk-through period house at the back. Free, central, and the right size.

Free entryIndoorsAges 5-11

Grosvenor Park & Miniature Railway

Chester~30 min

★★★★★4.7(2,694)

Chester's Victorian park above the river, with a miniature railway looping the lawns, a good playground and open-air theatre in summer. Pair with a boat trip from the Groves below.

Park free; train rides chargedAges 4-8

The Ice Cream Farm

Chester~35 min

★★★★☆4.4(9,956)

Free to get in, with a giant sand and water quarry, play areas and the ice cream counter that funds it all. Some indoor attractions charge per go; the outdoor bulk of it costs nothing but the cones.

Free entry - you pay for the ice creamIndoorsAges 4-8

Beeston Castle

Chester~30 min

★★★★★4.5(2,999)

A ruined castle on a crag with views from the Pennines to the Welsh mountains, a reconstructed Bronze Age roundhouse and woodland paths below the walls. Castles do not need roofs to work for this age group.

English Heritage - members freeAges 4-11

ChesterBoat City Cruises

Chester~35 min

Half an hour on the Dee from The Groves, past Grosvenor Park and along the Meadows, for £4.50 a child and free under 5s. Exactly as long as a small child finds a boat interesting.

Family of five £26 onlineFeb to mid-DecAges 2-11

Deva Roman Experience

Chester~35 min

Chester's Jorvik-style walkthrough of its Roman fortress: costumed legionaries, reconstructed streets and deliberately bad smells, tucked off Bridge Street. Weekends in term time, through the week in school holidays.

Adults £8, kids £5IndoorsAges 5-12

Flip Out Chester

Chester~30 min

A big warehouse of trampolines, drop slides, laser tag and e-karts on the business park before Chester. Loud, sweaty and reliably popular - the off-peak slots are the value play.

Book online - cheaper off peakIndoorsAges 4-14

Chester Zoo

Chester~45 min

★★★★★4.6(48,294)

Excellent, but it is a lot of walking. Reviews rate 5 to 10 as the ideal age and still recommend a pushchair at four. Climbing frames, water play and sand pits break up the distance.

Day ticketAges 4-11

The Crocky Trail

Chester~30 min

★★★★★4.6(3,568)

A mile of muddy obstacles, wobbly bridges and enormous slides through a Cheshire valley. Children come off it filthy, soaked and asking to go round again. This is the point; dress accordingly.

Day ticketAges 5-11

What’s on in Chester

18 dated events coming up, 1 of them this weekend.

Also worth the drive

Not in Chester, but close enough for a day out.

Dinosaur Trail at Bents

Warrington~15 min

A prehistoric trail winding through a garden centre, with interactive bits along the way. Under-2s free, and there's a café and indoor shelter if the weather turns.

From £6.95Ends 6 SepAges 4-8

Walton Hall & Gardens

Warrington~10 min

★★★★★4.7(6,537)

The reliable default: gardens, a children's zoo, a big playground and plenty of room to run. Pay for parking, nothing else.

Free entryAges 4-11

Jungle Parc

Warrington~10 min

★★★★★4.5(10)

High ropes and treetop courses in the grounds at Walton Hall. Reviewers rate the value, but frame it as one for the bigger, braver kids.

Low entry feeAges 6-11

Free Summer in Warrington

Warrington~10 min

Inflatables in Old Market Square every day, plus a rotating Wednesday programme across the parks and a Thursday session in Time Square. No tickets, no booking, just turn up.

FreeEnds 31 AugAges 4-11

Gulliver's World

Warrington~15 min

★★★★☆4.0(9,643)

A theme park deliberately built for ages 2 to 13 rather than teenagers, so both of them can ride most of it. The classic full-day option on your doorstep.

Full day ticketAges 4-9

Apple Jacks Adventure Farm

Warrington~15 min

★★★★☆4.0(593)

Farm animals, outdoor play and indoor barns, so a wet forecast doesn't cancel the day. Well matched to the 3-8 age range.

Day ticketIndoorsAges 4-9

Giggles Play Mill

Warrington~10 min

★★★★☆4.2(164)

Two-tier soft play frame, low climbing wall, pirate ship, crawl tubes and a bouncy slide, plus Messy Monday and sensory sessions during the week.

Session priceIndoorsAges 4-8

Jellybeans Play Centre

Warrington~15 min

★★★★☆4.1(641)

Bigger than the average soft play: multi-level frame, a spooky room, an astro slide, a climbing wall, two mini bowling lanes and a slot racing track. The bowling is what makes it work when you have a toddler and a seven-year-old to keep happy at once.

Session priceIndoorsAges 4-9