Chester Zoo
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.
Grosvenor Park & Miniature Railway
- Cost
- Park free; train rides charged
- Ages
- 4 to 8
- Where
- Chester, Cheshire
- Weather
- Mostly outdoors
- Booking
- Just turn up
Chester's Victorian park above the river: a miniature railway looping the lawns, a strong playground and open-air theatre in summer.
Train ride, playground, then down the steps to the Groves for a river cruise or an ice cream: Chester's family afternoon in its natural order. There is no parking at the park itself, and some of the paths at the south end are steep going with a pushchair.
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What visitors say
★★★★★ 4.7 across 2,694 Google reviews.
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The Ice Cream Farm
A small entry fee, then £4.50 a go for most attractions: sand and water play, mini golf, bouncy pillows, a racing track and soft play, all funded by what the farm calls the world's biggest ice cream shop. Cheap to get in, easy to spend in.
The Crocky Trail
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Grosvenor Museum
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Flip Out Chester
A big warehouse of trampolines, drop slides, laser tag and e-karts on the business park before Chester. Loud, sweaty and reliably popular, and the off-peak slots are the value play.
What’s on near you, every Friday
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