
Walby Farm Park
Cumbria's big family farm park: animal handling, giant jumping pillows, pedal go-karts and an indoor play barn big enough to lose a wet afternoon in. The far-north option when you are up that way.

Aztec is a large multi-level frame of slides, climbing sections, platforms and bridges, with a separate baby area for under 3s, and anyone under 148cm can play. There is no upper age as such, so a tall nine-year-old is the natural limit.
General play is walk-in only, with a peak and off-peak price: £5.50 or £7 for 2 to 4s and £6 or £9 for 5s and over, under 2s free. The cafe does hot dogs, loaded nachos, children's pizza and pasta pots, with jacket potatoes at weekends. Parking is free, with other car parks nearby if it fills.
Halloween is its big night: a party on Friday 30 October 2026 from 5 to 7pm with play, food, a goodie bag, silent disco, treasure hunt and costume competition, plus a quieter SEN session the evening before with no loud music or flashing lights.
What it costs: Off-peak: under 2s free, 2 to 4 year olds £5.50, 5 and over £6. Peak: 2 to 4s £7, 5 and over £9. Parties from £11 a child (Lets Play), £16 for a private Laser Wars party and £17 for Build a Bear. Halloween party on 30 October 2026 is £13.95 a ticket.
Worth knowing: No age limit, but only children under 148cm play; separate baby area for under 3s.
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Cumbria's big family farm park: animal handling, giant jumping pillows, pedal go-karts and an indoor play barn big enough to lose a wet afternoon in. The far-north option when you are up that way.

A working border fortress for 900 years, not a fairytale castle: a squat red keep full of prisoners' carvings, ramparts to walk and a military museum inside the walls. English Heritage, so members go free and everyone else should book online for the discount.

Carlisle's museum, plain Tullie since the rebrand, mid-transformation and all the better for it: under-18s go free, the adult ticket is £8.50, and £16 buys an annual pass. New galleries opened in 2025, though some of the old favourites are shut for the next phase.

Carlisle's big riverside park, right under the castle walls: a large play area for all ages, a free splash park in the warmer months, skate park and acres of grass where the Eden and Caldew meet. The obvious free half of a Carlisle day.

A genuine Avro Vulcan and a line of Cold War aircraft parked on the apron at Carlisle Airport, with volunteers who open them up and let children climb inside. The Vulcan shuts for the November Sunday openings; the Canberra, Sea Prince and Trident stay open.

Carlisle's south side park, with free parking on two sides, play zones, a brand new concrete skatepark, a games court and a seasonal cafe. A miniature railway runs Sunday afternoons from Easter to October.
One email a week: what is on this weekend within a sensible drive, and the places worth booking before they go.