Whitby Park, Ellesmere Port

The big Victorian park in the middle of Ellesmere Port, and the town's default green space for a reason. Two children's play areas, a skatepark, tennis courts, a basketball court, crown green bowling, formal gardens and a fish pond, all wrapped around Whitby Hall. Enough variety that a mixed-age group all find something without anyone negotiating.

Park for free in the car park at the front off Stanney Lane and work outwards. The hall itself is now home to Theatre Porto, the only specialist arts venue for children in Cheshire and Merseyside, which is a strange and brilliant thing for a free municipal park to have in the middle of it. Community events run regularly through the year.

What it costs: Everything in the park is free. Parking is free too, with Blue Badge bays at the front off Stanney Lane.

Know before you go

Check what's on at Theatre Porto in Whitby Hall before you come - it is a specialist children's theatre and a booked show turns a park run into a day.
The National Waterways Museum is ten minutes away, so the park makes a free second half to a museum morning.

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