Dinosaur Trail at Bents
A prehistoric trail winding through a garden centre, with interactive bits along the way. Under-2s free, and there's a café and indoor shelter if the weather turns.
TeamSport Go Karting Warrington
Warrington, Cheshire
This is the biggest purpose built indoor karting track in the country, tucked into a trading estate off Slutchers Lane behind Bank Quay station. A kilometre of circuit, 22 corners, a Monaco style tunnel that every child mentions afterwards. Junior karts are electric and limited to 25mph, which sounds slow until you are sitting two inches off the floor.
The rules are firm and worth reading before you book. Eight and over, inside leg of 25 inches or more, and under five foot four for the junior karts. Race suit, gloves and helmet come with the session. The balaclava does not, and they will sell you one for £3.99 at the desk. Arrive 40 minutes early, because the safety briefing is not optional and they will not hold the grid for you.
Pricing is the frustrating bit. TeamSport publish nothing and simply say the cost depends on the day, the time and the size of your group, so you have to click through the booking journey to find out what an hour will cost. They do advertise a ten per cent online discount code. Parking is free, the cafe does burgers and pizza, and the spectator area means one adult can sit down while the other pretends not to be timing the laps.
Know before you go
- Arrive 40 minutes before your drive time. TeamSport say so themselves, and briefing plus kitting out genuinely takes that long, so do not roll up at five to.
- Measure the inside leg at home. It has to be 25 inches, and a small eight year old sometimes misses it, which is a horrible conversation to have at the desk.
- Balaclavas are compulsory and cost £3.99 at the desk. A clean snood off the coat rack does the job and saves four quid a child.
Worth knowing: Junior karting is 8 and over, with an inside leg of at least 25 inches and a height under 5 foot 4.
Looking for more adventure & rides near Warrington?
Also in Warrington
Walton Hall & Gardens
The reliable default: gardens, a children's zoo, a big playground and plenty of room to run. Pay for parking, nothing else.
Jungle Parc
High ropes and treetop courses in the grounds at Walton Hall. Reviewers rate the value, but frame it as one for the bigger, braver kids.
Free Summer in Warrington
Inflatables in Old Market Square every day, plus a rotating Wednesday programme across the parks and a Thursday session in Time Square. No tickets, no booking, just turn up.
Gulliver's World
A theme park deliberately built for ages 2 to 13 rather than teenagers, so both of them can ride most of it. The classic full-day option on your doorstep.
Apple Jacks Adventure Farm
Farm animals, outdoor play and indoor barns, so a wet forecast doesn't cancel the day. Well matched to the 3-8 age range.