Norton Priory
The most excavated monastic site in Europe, with a medieval undercroft, a giant statue of St Christopher and a walled garden that does apple days and bug hunts. Close, cheap and quietly excellent.
Halton Miniature Railway
Runcorn, Cheshire
Seven and a quarter inches. That is the gauge, the circuit is not far off a mile, and the ride lasts around ten minutes through a corner of Runcorn Town Park. For a three year old obsessed with trains this is close to the ideal outing, and it costs nothing.
It has been running since 1979, all of it built and operated by members of the Halton Miniature Railway Society. Volunteers, in other words, which is where the timetable goes loose.
The aim is 1pm to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays from April to October, with Thursday afternoons added in August. Every listing on their own site carries the same caveat: it depends on volunteers being available. They tell you to check their Facebook page or ring the ski centre on 01928 701965 after half twelve on the day. Do that.
Build the rest of the visit around Town Park. There is a free children's play area, picnic tables, and the ski centre by the main station does refreshments and runs family tubing from Easter to October, so a shut railway does not write off the afternoon. Children have to be supervised on the train. Donations are not compulsory, but they are how the thing keeps running.
Know before you go
- Ring 01928 701965 after 12.30pm on the day. The number is the ski centre next door, because that is who knows whether anybody turned up to drive.
- It runs 1pm to 4pm and no earlier, so a morning trip is a wasted trip. Play area first, train second.
- Free does not mean free. Take coins for the donation tin, because a mile of track and 1979 vintage locomotives do not maintain themselves.
Worth knowing: Children must be supervised by an adult on the train.
Seasonal: Weekend afternoons April to October. Check before travelling.
Looking for more adventure & rides near Runcorn?
Also in Runcorn
Runcorn Ski Centre
The dry ski slope in the corner of Runcorn's Town Park, running group and private ski lessons, snowboard lessons and family tubing. Leggings will get you turned away at the door. Long trousers, long socks.
Wigg Island Community Park
Fifty seven acres of nature reserve wedged between the Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal at Astmoor. Flat paths, water on both sides, a lot of birds. Nothing to climb on.