10 Best Things to Do in Warrington

Walton Hall and Gardens is found on hectares of pristine parkland with an onsite children’s zoo and family activities. You'll find the property across from Church Park on Higher Walton. The picturesque grounds feature flower beds and a pond, and you can enjoy a walk through woodlands or the orchard.

The site offers much to do to entertain children, including a children’s zoo, playground and adventure golf. The formal gardens were designed by Lady Daresbury between 1900 and 1930 and feature her favourites, with chrysanthemums, rhododendrons and roses being highlights of the garden.

Grappenhall Heys Walled Garden features Victorian glasshouses and a secret garden that have been restored to emulate their original 1830s glory. The garden can be found on the left of Witherwin Avenue, just after you exit the roundabout from Lumb Brook Road.

The walled kitchen garden produces fruit and vegetables that you can purchase, and the pleasure garden has stunning exotic flowers you can enjoy while you peacefully stroll around. If you get hungry, you can enjoy paninis, homemade cakes and ice cream at the Fountain Room Cafe.

Dunham Massey Hall and Gardens showcases a lovely garden on the grounds of an 18th-century house with many fascinating historical features. The property is located just west of School Lane on Woodhouse Lane. The shaded areas and acidic soil conditions are perfect for growing a variety of unusual plants, including Giant Chinese Lilies and rare late-flowering azaleas.

The Winter Garden has over 1,600 winter shrubs, trees and evergreens. History enthusiasts will be fascinated with features like the Orangery, Pump House, Victorian Bark House and the remains of an Elizabethan Mount.

Warrington Museum and Art Gallery has much of its original 1850s character and architecture and features exhibits and artefacts from around the world. You can find the museum and gallery situated next to Warrington Library on Bold Street. Recent art shows have included art by Banksy, Tracey Emin and Sam Taylor-Wood, and you can do family-friendly craft activities on the weekends.

The permanent museum galleries include natural-world exhibits, including Warrington’s own dinosaur and local history galleries with displays on the town’s top industries and a ‘Time Tunnel’ that features hands-on children’s activities.

Wild Wings Birds of Prey Centre is a rescue, rehabilitation and education centre with over 90 birds housed in beautiful environments. You can find the centre on New Hall Lane in the Taylor Business Park.

The focus here is on the birds' welfare and rehabilitation, and staff are happy to answer any questions and show you around. You can see owls, hawks, falcons and eagles. Children can enjoy a play area, and you might also be able to catch a flying display.

Gulliver's World theme park offers exciting rides, attractions and shows in a family destination for ages 2 through 13. To get to the park from the M62, exit at Junctions 8 or 9 and follow the brown signs.

The amusement park offers so much to do, from the rides in Western World to the play area and climbing walls at Smugglers Wharf. Little ones might enjoy the dinosaur fossil dig, and the bigger kids will love the Blast Arena with the Nerf target range and laser tag.

Lymm Dam is the central point of a variety of footpaths, and the surrounding area is rich in wildlife and a variety of trees and wildflowers. The dam is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation and can be found off of Crouchley Lane just south of the A56. Be sure to watch for wildlife, as birds and bats are often seen around the dam.

You can enjoy a walk along a portion of the Trans Pennine Trail, which provides over 200 miles of hiking between Southport and Hornsea.

Apple Jacks Adventure Farm offers tons of farm fun for kids, including zip wires, bouncy castles, quad karts, and tons more. You can find the farm situated on Stretton Road southwest of Pepper Street. You can try to find your way through the Maize Maze with your family, and children will love climbing the haystack mountains and can even try hay bale archery.

For a little friendly competition, kids can fire at opponents in Jack’s Ball Blast, play a game of crazy golf or race down the dual zip wire.

Bridge Street is a main thoroughfare and a centre for shopping and dining that spans across the River Mersey, connecting Warrington Town Centre to Warrington Bridge. You'll find Bridge Street situated in southeast Warrington, spanning north from the River Mersey to Horsemarket Street. Along the lower end of the street are several shopping options, including the Warrington Market, as well as restaurants ranging from local fare to fast food to steakhouses.

As you gain elevation and approach the upper end near Horsemarket Street, you'll enter a conservation area that highlights the beautifully adorned buildings of Edwardian and Victorian times.

Victoria Park features the ASICS Stadium, a play area, a skate park and outdoor sports fields, including football and rugby fields and bowling greens. You can find the park off of Knutsford Road just west of Park Avenue. You can take a walk along the River Mersey and let the kids play at the large playgrounds or skate park.

The stadium offers live music and other shows, including their Neighbourhood Weekender event featuring music from artists like George Ezra, Primal Scream, Lewis Capaldi, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, and more.