
Lion Salt Works
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.
Northwich, Cheshire

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.
Looking for more days out in Northwich?
★★★★★ 4.5 across 3,464 Google reviews.
Read all 3,464 reviews on Google - filter by star rating there
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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