kidzdays
Illustration of Anderton Boat Lift

A Victorian iron giant that hoists entire canal boats fifty feet between the river Weaver and the Trent & Mersey canal - and you can ride it. The glass-sided trip boat goes up in the caisson, which is exactly as pleasing as it sounds.

Book the boat trip; watching from the bank is half the experience. The visitor centre, play area and riverside walks fill the rest of the visit, and Marbury Country Park is next door.

Know before you go

  • The boat trip through the lift is the whole point - book it, do not just look at it.

Looking for more days out in Northwich?

What visitors say

★★★★★ 4.5 across 3,464 Google reviews.

Read all 3,464 reviews on Google - filter by star rating there

Also in Northwich

Lion Salt Works - kidzdays illustration

Lion Salt Works

Northwich~20 min
4.5(737)

The last open-pan salt works in Britain, kept exactly as the salt men left it, with interactive galleries that explain why Cheshire is full of holes. Genuinely interesting, and next to Marbury for a run afterwards.

Museum ticketsIndoorsAges 6-11
Marbury Country Park - kidzdays illustration

Marbury Country Park

Northwich~20 min
4.7(2,819)

An arboretum running down to Budworth Mere with flat paths, a community orchard and swimming swans. Quietly lovely, and minutes from the Anderton Boat Lift for a combined afternoon.

Free, paid parkingAges 4-11
Blakemere Village - kidzdays illustration

Blakemere Village

Northwich~25 min
4.3(4,095)

A shopping village in the Delamere woods with free entry, free parking and a genuinely good free adventure playground, plus a long menu of pay-as-you-go extras from crazy golf to falconry.

Free entry - activities costAges 2-10
Arley Hall & Gardens - kidzdays illustration

Arley Hall & Gardens

Northwich~20 min
4.6(2,883)

Proper grand gardens 20 minutes from Warrington, with a woodland Grove to explore, sculptures to find and an adventure play zone with a zip wire and den building. Adults £13, kids £6.50, and booking online is cheaper.

Family ticket £36 plus £4 parkingAges 4-11
Weaver Hall Museum and Workhouse - kidzdays illustration

Weaver Hall Museum and Workhouse

Northwich~20 min
4.4(223)

Northwich's old Union Workhouse on London Road, now the museum of West Cheshire's history and the salt that built the town. Under-16s free, adults £4.30, fully accessible, and the car park is large and free.

Adults £4.30, under 16s freeIndoorsAges 6-14
Brio Northwich - kidzdays illustration

Brio Northwich

Northwich~20 min
4.3(908)

The small pool runs at 30 degrees, which decides whether a three year old lasts forty minutes or eight. Two pools, a water slide and a jacuzzi, inside the Memorial Court in the middle of town.

Adult £7.20 with an Active Card, junior £4.30IndoorsAges 0-14

What’s on near you, every Friday

One email a week: what is on this weekend within a sensible drive, and the places worth booking before they go.