Winsford, Cheshire
Polar Palace is an industrial estate soft play done with some ambition. The play frame is three tiers high and the centre reckons it is one of the biggest in Cheshire, with a three-lane astra slide, a football and basketball court, go-karts and a trampoline. Under 2s and under 5s have their own areas, there is a sensory room, and it takes children right up to 12.
A 4 to 12 year old is £9.95 on a term-time weekday and £10.95 at weekends and in the holidays; 1 to 3s are £6.95 or £9.95, babies £1 and adults £2. The clever bit is that every ticket carries a voucher to come back free within five days, which on a wet week halves the cost. On quiet days you can stay as long as you like; on busy ones they may impose two hours.
Check the hours before you go. In term time it shuts at 2pm Monday to Wednesday, and in the school holidays it is 10am to 4pm on weekdays. Opening can change at short notice, and the centre posts updates on its Facebook page.
What it costs: Off-peak (term-time weekdays): ages 4 to 12 £9.95, ages 1 to 3 £6.95, under 1 £1, adults £2. Peak (weekends, school and bank holidays): ages 4 to 12 £10.95, ages 1 to 3 £9.95, under 1 £1, adults £2. Registered childminders £5.50 per child over one. Every entry price includes a voucher to return free within five days.
A two hour Halloween party at the Winsford soft play on the day itself, £9.95 a child. Useful on a wet Halloween afternoon before the trick or treating starts.
Worth knowing: Ages 0 to 12.
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Six miles of flat, straight former railway line from Winsford out to Cuddington, shared by walkers, cyclists and riders. The surfaced accessible stretch starts at Whitegate Station, which has toilets and a cafe.
Winsford's trampoline park, on the same industrial estate as Polar Palace. Advance booking only and no refunds, but the term-time toddler session lets one parent in free.
One email a week: what is on this weekend within a sensible drive, and the places worth booking before they go.