Delamere, Cheshire
A huge inflatable assault course on the lake at Delamere Lake Holiday Park: tyre runs, ninja jumps, slides and a 3.8 metre jump tower called Mount Rainier. Sessions are 50 minutes, which sounds short and is plenty - most children come off with jelly arms and an appetite. It runs from early April to late October.
The rules are the thing to check before you promise anyone anything. Riders must be 6 or over, at least 1.1m tall and able to swim 25 metres, and under 8s need an accompanying adult in the water, one per three children. The Aqua Chimp, a floating ropes course with swings and zip lines, is for age 8 up and 1.2m. About £25 a head, kit included.
There is a cafe and a picnic area on the bank for whoever stays dry, and the same site does wakeboarding, paddleboarding and Ringo rides when the aqua park stops being enough.
Worth knowing: Age 6+, minimum height 1.1m, must be able to swim 25 metres.
Seasonal: Apr-Oct. Check before travelling.
Looking for more water & swimming near Delamere?
Cheshire's biggest forest, set up properly for families: the Gruffalo sculptures still stand along the trail, 2026's new Room on the Broom activity trail runs from the visitor centre, and the whole loop is pram-friendly. Go Ape overhead for older kids.
Zip wires and treetop crossings through the tallest pines in Delamere Forest. The junior course takes them from six; the big course is a genuine test of nerve.