Salford, Greater Manchester
The RHS turned a lost Victorian estate into one of Europe's biggest new gardens, and it is far more fun for children than the name suggests: an eleven-acre walled garden, lake paths, long lawns built for running, and family trails through the season.
RHS members go free; everyone else should book online. The cafe queue at lunch is the only reliably unpleasant part - picnic instead.
For families the garden hides its best feature in plain sight: eleven acres of walled garden where children are actively welcomed rather than shushed, plus the lake loop, the treehouse-dotted Chinese streamside and enough open lawn for the picnic to become the afternoon. Under-fives go free, which sets the family maths kindly.
The clever booking move is the calendar: weekday tickets run cheaper than weekends, booking online beats the £18.40 walk-up on any day, and RHS members bring guests on selected days. The cafe queue at noon remains the only genuinely bad idea on site; eat at 11.30 or 1.30 and it is a different place.
What it costs: Online: adults from £13.60 to £17.20 depending on day, £18.40 on the door. Children 5 to 16 £6, under-5s free, RHS members free. Open 10am to 6pm daily.
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