Great ideas for a family fun weekend in and around Cheshire  when you stay at The Park Royal, Warrington, Cheshire (in association with Visit Cheshire)

Day 1

Explore the city

There are many ways to explore Chester and its rich heritage, hop aboard an open top bus  our with City Sightseeing or Heritage Tours; step back in time with Roman Tours as

a Roman Soldier takes you on an exciting city adventure or get a map from Chester’s

Visitor Information Centre and explore at your leisure.

Head down to the River Dee

Enjoy a delicious Ice Cream, take a river trip with ChesterBoat or if you’re feeling

adventurous and energetic hire a rowing boat or pedalo and power yourself down the

river. Walk over Queen’s Park Bridge and take a stroll (or run) through the Meadows.

Watch the Town Crier proclamation

Chester is the only place in Britain to have retained the historic tradition of regular midday proclamations from a fixed point. It’s free, fun and totally unforgettable. Proclamations take place Tue to Sat 12noon (10.30am on race days) May to August.

Explore Grosvenor Park

Grosvenor Park was given to the city by Richard Grosvenor, 2^nd Marquess of Westminster and is regarded as one of the finest examples of Victorian Parks in the UK. The Park has avenues to explore and benches and grass to sit on and relax or enjoy fun games. It is also home to Grosvenor Park Miniature Railway, built in 1996 to commemorate the centenary of the Duke of Westminster's railway at nearby Eaton Hall, open some weekends and during school holidays Grosvenor Park Miniature Railway is loved by people of all ages (there is a charge for riding the train).

Walk the Walls 

Take a gentle 2.2 mile stroll around the most complete walls in Britain. Affording views

of the towers and Eastgate Clock, the Amphitheatre and racecourse, a perfect way to

see the city. Stop off at the famous Amphitheatre, pose for a picture by the Eastgate Clock and take in the stunning views over the oldest racecourse in the country.

Explore the Rows and enjoy some retail therapy

Famous the world over, Chester’s Medieval two-tired galleries are home to some of the city’s most fascinating shops, including the oldest shop-front in England which can be found on Lower Bridge Street.

Day 2

Visit Chester Zoo

Home to thousands of rare and exotic species from all over the world, ranging from a magnificent herd of elephants, two types of rhino 'crashes', lions and tigers, a mixture of monkeys both large and small including chimps, and the exciting Realm of the Red Ape exhibit where gibbons and orang-utans live and play side by side in the largest (and possibly the noisiest!) enclosure of its kind in Europe. Although an outdoor attraction there’s plenty to do indoors; take a butterfly journey through the biggest zoo-based butterfly house in the UK where more than 30 species of butterfly and moths fly around you; or brave Fruit Bat Forest where bats fly around as you walk through the forest at twilight – an experience not to be missed! The zoo’s on the outskirts of the city and there is a regular bus service which runs from the bus station by the Town Hall, alternatively it is a short taxi ride.

Other Suggestions

Beeston Castle

Standing majestically on a sheer rocky crag, Beeston Castle offers perhaps the most stunning views of any castle in England. Discover 4,000 years of history, and explore over 40 acres of woodland walks. Perfect for a family day out!

Blue Planet Aquarium

Home to over 100 different exhibits and thousands of animals from around the world, Blue Planet Aquarium is an exciting attraction for all ages. See Europe’s largest collection of sharks, watch the dive team feed the fish and face your fears in the deadly Venom! attraction featuring spiders, snakes and jellyfish.

National Waterways Museum

Discover how waterways helped drive the UK’s astonishing industrial revolution. Take a boat trip, visit the museum blacksmith and explore traditional narrowboats through the ages, complete with cottage gardens.

Tatton Park

One of the UK’s most impressive historic estates with 2,000 acres of deerpark, a stunning neo-classical mansion, 1930’s rare breed farm, Tudor old hall, 250 year old gardens, adventure playground , speciality shops and a restaurant there’s plenty for everyone to enjoy.

For more ideas and up to date events go to visitchester.com