Inspire me Mumsnetters - where can we go with the kids tomorrow in the NW?

[Gobbledigook]

Willing to travel if it's somewhere really good!

Will have children aged 6, 5, 4, 2.5

Something not too expensive so it could just be somewhere that's great to walk or run about.

Heeeeelp!

oh and the barefoot walk at Trentham is also brilliant - the boys loved it. We've been there twice and did the monkey bit (plus boat and train trips) on one day and the barefoot walk + Italian Gardens on the other day - definitely going back soon.

Yes Blue Planet's good - again, bit pricey but good for a one off. We went 2 years ago and want to go back this summer now ds2 is older. The best bit is the show they do - they get divers to go and swim with the dolphins and there's an auditorium with a huge glass panel so you can see them feeding them under the water. Ds1 was gobsmacked!!

Hague Hall is also nice, it's quite near Wigan. There a nice walks, a playground, a model village and two train rides!

sorry I think it's spelt Haigh..

ooh - not heard of that - shall get googling - anywhere with train rides is a winner with ds's...

very good, small, cheap, ideal for little ones -cafe naff tho' it is next door to this and this

Agree dottydot! Trains rule for my boys!

Blue Planet is a bit of a rip off imo. Only about a 1-2 hr trip and it's quite expensive. It's good, but it's too short.

Oh yes, Smithills is great. Ds1 went there last summer on his school trip and I went along.

it is Haigh Hall, pronounced Hay

good playground, good to take the bikes, crfat activities for small charge, train, naff cafe and even worse toilets. lovely walks tho'

GG - Smithills is about a 10 min walk from us

flipping heck, just looked at Haigh Hall and it looks perfect! dp works on Sundays so I'm always looking for day trips for me and ds's - shall add it to the list - thanks!

Can't remember toilets - didn't really use cafe as we brought a picnic.
deffo good walks. We went on the bigger train, then someone pointed us in the direction of another, smaller one - not everyone knew about it. Run by enthusiasts I think.

Trentham looks amazing. Is it accessible by public transport does anybody know please?

what about liverpool, some fab stuff going on in the galleries for kids and all free.

just about janeite - you can get buses there from Stoke train station.

Brilliant! Thankyou.

Really AQ?! We don't live so far from each other then!

Trentham and Haigh Hall are on my list! May go to one next week.

Red squirrels at Formby and a side visit to Waitrose? (And the Anthony Gormley statues at Crosby...)

(DH and I did that last week )

knowlsey safari park as mentioned before.
stockley farm - if it is open. tractor ride from the car park up to the farm sittin on a bale of hay.
wythenshawe park and farm
Nortwich - anderton boat ride.
heaton park
Tatton park
gullivers world at warrington.
sheffield skiing only an hour away
xscape at leeds only an hour away.
manchester science and history museum interative for children.
eureka at halifax just under an hour from mcr interative for children.

lake district -less than an hour - steam train ride and boat ride and a small aquarium.

Yep - off to Tarn Hows for a walk next week.

Gobbledigook - we're going to Chester Zoo tomorrow. Shall I wear a sausage roll in my lapel as a sign?

Ha ha!! Well I'll have 3 small boys with me and will be with a 20-odd week pregnant woman. Plus my dh is 6'3. We might not be hard to spot!!