Help for kids in the Bolton area.

[GettingStuffed]

The first weekend in April we're going up to Bolton to see family, but my daughter will be coming with her 5 year old. We've been up there few times but not with a child. If the weather is fine were thinking of Southport on the Saturday but we need ideas for the Friday and the Saturday if it's raining. Also need to know if any family friendly pubs apart from 'Spoons. No need for activities as he sits nicely and is happy to chat.

Hollywood bowl and Vue cinema at Middlebrook retail Park.
Red lion at Four Lane Ends has Wacky Warehouse.
Light cinema in town centre retail Park.
Trafford Centre has cinema plus Dino mini golf and free parking.
Couple of Toby Carverys plus Pine tree farm which is a new pub next to Aldi just off m61

If the weather is fine consider Smithills open farm it's great for kids of that age unless you really want to go to Southport

Were you thinking of Southport for the beach, or for amusement activities? A properbeach alternative is Formby, with a red squirrel sanctuary ( check website for this though ) lots of dunes to rival Southport and a glorious expanse of beach.
Fabulous to walk with a dog if you have/borrow one 🐾🐕

Southport is a good idea
www.donthibernate.co.uk/day-or-evening-trip-to-southport/
The Swan for Fish and Chips or Volare for an excellent Italian but best booked, they have a deli and Restaurant near each other.
Southport is good but I feel Liverpool may have more to suit you
www.donthibernate.co.uk/liverpool/

Thanks for the help, he lives in a beach resort and loves to run about on the beach, we're not interested in things like bowling or the cinema . We've been to Smithills manor and garden ice cream at the farm, one of the best ever.

Can't think of any indoor stuff that would allow him to run about other than the wacky warehouse type places.
If he's into lego there is legoland at Trafford Centre plus the Sealife centre

Bolton museum/gallery is excellent and has a nice section for children too. In the basement there is a very small aquarium too. It’s all free and is inside the library attached to the town hall. There’s no cafe but it’s next to the Octagon theatre which has a lovely cafe.

We were considering the museum so good to know about that.

If you were going to a beach I would go St annes with little ones it has a lovely prom, little pier with arcade has a little train and few activities
Look at little lancashire village it's in Burnley but a lovely role play centre which books up weeks in advance
Definately Smithils
Moss bank park
I think there is a trampoline park jump extreme
Pine tree farm is a carvery that I think has a little kids area and cake away ( massive peices of cake to take home)

Clifton Country Park but it's outside.
Theres Curlee Wurlees soft play.
The museum and aquarium.
There's a swimming pool in town centre called Bolton one.
The library in town centre often have storytime and children's events in school holidays and it's the same building as the museum.
There is a trampoline park if you like them called Jump Extreem that has a play centre in it as well.

Pine tree farm is a good call for a family friendly pub and not too far a drive from milk maid's ice cream shop which has amazing ice cream.

If you can travel to Bury there's the East Lancs Railway, Transport Museum and a better swimming pool than Bolton. Also superior market, cinema, bowling alley and retro games arcade.

The museum in bolton is in a beautiful building but only an hour or two worth entertainment tops. Children's library is good. Used to be an aquarium there but last time we went a lot of the tanks were empty. Town itself is pretty grim tbh.
Quite a few indoor play areas, best one was in Westhoughton Play and Party Funhouse but not been in years. Nice clean one in Nice walks round Rivington under the tree cover then a cake and brew in the barn. Italian Gardens are newly renovated and lovely to explore. Bring your wellies and waterproofs and you'll be fine . Likewise Tockholes and Entwistle. Niceish parks at moses gate and queens park, the latter is 10 minute walk from town and decent parking.
Science museum in manchester is good bet on a wet day. Also the art gallery which was quite child friendly. Easy to get off at deansgate on the train. Legoland is a good call too at the TC.
Wilton arms is a nice pub on the way to Belmont. Some nice coffee shops like the one in Heaton -think it's called heaton coffee shop ! does great food, also Lotties on the way to Belmont, Bakers in Egerton, nice pubs in Edgworth/Chapeltown but not been since before covid, walkers' pubs so quite casual....Pack horse in Affetside too.