10 great activities for the kids summer holidays in Cheshire

I know what it's like planning for the summer holidays so I thought I'd put together 10 things we love to do in the summer holidays.

1.Cheshire Ice Cream Farm at Tattenhall
Free to get in with paid extra attractions including a small playbarn, electric go karts, crazy golf, free mega climbing frame and of course ICE CREAM - whilst is just delectable!!!!!

2. Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre nr Tarporley
Plenty of space for children to enjoy, gorgeous clean café overlooking their tranquil lake, with tasty family food, selection of animals to view and ofcourse the GIANT Shire Horses. Did you know that their 2 stallions (males) are WORLD famous as outstanding examples of this very rare breed and have winning progeny ALL over the world.

3. Applejacks nr Warrington
This is like an outdoor play area on steroids!!! Great for ALL ages! Long zip wires, huge hay bales to climb, sunken bouncy castle, pedal carts, maize maize, café with plenty of under cover seating, tractor ride and nerf gun shoot out (my favourite!!!!)

4. Wet n Wild at Winsford Lifestyle Centre Swimming Pool
Only on one day a week but keeps kids entertained for ages! They must be able to swim 2 lengths of the pool to participate. Basically it's a bouncy castle type assault course in the water - great for using up energy on an 'indoors' day!!!

5. Delamere Forest
Great for walking, bikes, running - just great to get the kids outdoors. You can hire bikes there and there are 2 cafes, one in the forest (Linmere Visitor Centre) and one just at the entrance to Linmere (Station House Café). They've just introduced a Gruffalo walk - I think (?) you follow it!!!

6. Soccerlocco at Bromborough on the Wirral
Footie mad or not this was a GREAT place to wear out 3 lively boys (!) It's a massive industrial unit converted for kids with footie pitches on one side and footie themed activities on the other. The pitches have inflatable men to 'defend' the goal (or just run into and jump on!) and the activities are things like kick the ball up and through and hole etc - Small but adequate café WELL worth a visit

7. Candle Factory, Burwardsley nr Tattenhall just outside Chester
Kids can make lovely candles and/or there are various activities to do upstairs eg paint a model, make a keyring etc - great for primary aged kids. There's a café too and walks to be had in the nearby woods. (The ice cream farm is nearby  too)

8. Manley Mere Adventure Centre
As well as offering canoeing/kayaking and windsurf lessons, they also have a 'trail' walk with various 'obstacles' along - the aim of the trail really is to get as muddy as you possibly can - so go with VERY old clothes that can be thrown away! There are outside showers at the end! Usually my kids strip off at the car (completely) and change and the dirty clothes go in a thick black bag!! Obstacles include logs over streams, tunnels, huge swings, slides, wobbly bridges, cargo nets etc - prob suitable from around age 5.

9. Go-ape at Delamere Forest
They've recently added a junior go ape which I think (?) is from age 7.
Walk along the high ropes, 'jump' off into mid air, monstrous zip wires  - takes around 2 1/2 hours to complete the 10 years and over one. Pricey but great fun (I think!)

10. Cheshire Pony Parties
I couldn't possibly put a list together without including Cheshire Pony Parties! With various activities for ages 2-14 including our well loved themed pony open afternoons. A more gentle afternoon of pony fun including grooming and pampering a pony with ribbons and stickers, a short ride, some craft and a lovely orchard walk to find the owls nest! OR for 6-12 year olds can come for a whole day and learn about looking after ponies.

3 pony activities your 6-12 year old can enjoy

I don't just cater for infant children -

Here's a list of 3 things to do here for your 6-12 year old

Would your child enjoy a full day of pony fun? Pony days are from 10-4, cost from £32.50 and include a short ride, grooming, pony games and quizzes as well as a bit of pony theory and practical all based around looking after a pony.

Max 6 children per  group/pony  ensure plenty of interaction (questions!) with the group leader.

Perfect for pony mad kids and  kids who love ponies who don't go to riding school.

Absolutely NO riding experience necessary so great for even the least confident child!

This is an unaccompanied day so parents need not stay!!!


Our themed pony afternoons are really popular with the 2-10 age group - An hour and a half including pony pampering, short ride, themed art/craft and a lovely orchard walk to finish if time permits! ONLY £12.75 per child (no charge for adults).

Max 10 children per pony. Max 16 children per afternoon.


Want to bring between 1 and 3 children here for a private activity? No problem! Our pony experiences are an hour as standard but these can be stretched for older children.
Includes half an hour of pony pampering followed by a short ride each - usually around the orchard to see the owls nest!
For children too tall to ride - usually 11-14s (or on request for younger children) they can have a go at 'driving' a pony (minus the carriage ) - this is something most kids don't get to do and is quite a challenge!
Prices from £25 per child (based on 3 children on a 'manic monday')

So there's plenty for your junior/pre-teen to do here during the summer holidays!!!!