Apple Jacks Farm

Looking for a cheaper alternative to the zoo, we headed for Apple Jacks Farm. But cheap it isn't, and at first my heart sank when we went through the entrance as it is clearly designed for large crowds. Once in, however, it was pleasantly quiet. Although doubtful we would find enough to keep five-year-old Lucas amused, there was no need to worry.   Apple Jacks has plenty on offer, not least of which are a giant hay mountain and archery range, both of which were big hits. Another favourite was the sandpit diggers but these were definitely over- shadowed by the Pillow, an inflated yellow ...

Blackpool Sandcastle

An indoor waterpark with something for everyone. As soon as you leave the changing rooms you feel like you are on holiday, with the temperature at a tropical 84 degrees! You pay to enter whether you go on the slides or not so you may as well join in. You can even hire swimsuits and a towel for £4 so there are no excuses.   There are 18 slides in all. Definitely worth a try is the world's longest indoor roller coaster waterslide at 250 metres called the Masterblaster - if you are brave enough and over eight years old! For younger kids there is everything from a wave pool to a pirat...

Blackpool Tower

The day before we went, we heard dreadful reports about Blackpool Tower, but as we'd pre-booked we decided to go anyway - thank goodness! It turned out to be a lovely sunny day and there was not a queue in sight. Result! The entrance leads straight into the aquarium, which although small is more than enough to satisfy the kids.   Towards the back, along with fruit machines, is a cloakroom for storing a pushchair. This level also has baby-changing, as does Level 5. We thought it best to head to the Tower Top first - a lift takes you most of the way - where you'll find the 'Walk of Faith'...

Diggerland

When you're faced with five children ranging in age from two to nine, it can be tricky finding somewhere with something for everyone, but Diggerland is a strong contender. The entrance fee is fairly steep at £15 per person. Children under three do go free but unfortunately there's no family ticket available. However, you can book online and save £2 a person, or take advantage of the two for one voucher enclosed in this book!   From the minute you arrive, Diggerland is pretty impressive - there are JCBs lined up on either side just waiting for someone to have a go. They are a...

Gulliver's World

Gulliver's is an amusement park designed for families with children between the ages of two and 13. It is made up of themed areas within which you will find a ride to suit your child's age. Our under fives were well catered for.   Gulliver's has improved its facilities over the past year and has a new indoor play section for smaller children. In here you'll find a mini-supervised pirate ship ride as well as an area with shop, garage and post box for the children to get into some role-play. Add the cafˇ into the mix and you can enjoy a pretty relaxing time. Back outside, we particularly ...

Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope

In truth there's not much at Jodrell Bank for toddlers but it's such an extraordinary place, you should go anyway. It's only 10 minutes from Alderley Edge so after a walk in the woods why not pop in for a cup of tea and a quick scoot around the visitor centre (the gift shop is pretty good for children) before heading outside to marvel at the sheer spectacle that is Jodrell Bank.   Your children will be agog each time the massive dish of the telescope makes one of its rotations. There is a children's playground suited to older children next to the car park and a 35-acre arboretum with va...

Red House Farm

Red House Farm has got a bit of everything - a farm shop serving up fresh produce and regional specialities; an award-winning tea room dishing out doorstopper sandwiches and tempting cakes and an outdoor area with sandpit and motorised mini vehicles.   The tea room has a good children's menu with things like a picnic platter or scrambled eggs. The staff are helpful and will happily heat up baby bottles. The little play area is in view of the tea room, which makes lunchtime relatively relaxing. Just remember to bring some change as the motorised mini-diggers and tractors need £1 co...

Southport Funfair Pleasureland

Pleasureland is somewhere I used to go as a child so it was great to head back and see how it had changed (early risers do note that the park doesn't open until around midday). There are three car parks surrounding the funfair (prices range from £2-£5 depending on the time of year) so that is nice and easy. Entrance is free, then once inside you buy tokens for the rides which for the little ones cost between £1 and £2 each.   There is quite an old-fashioned feel about the place, which I like. There are a good few rides for toddlers, from the Toyset Carousel (lots...

SplashZone

Housed at the entrance to Gulliver's World, from the outside SplashZone looks like nothing more than a grey industrial unit with a colourful tube slide snaking through it. But once inside it's a totally different story, best described as soft play meets water park, with loud disco music thrown in for good measure.   The idea of the centre is that adults sit dry at tables or on sofas at the side and watch the children play on the equipment or on soft matting in a fenced wet zone. As there is no standing water, there is no requirement to swim. Our older children who are a little more inde...

Stapeley Water Gardens and Palms Tropical Oasis

Stapeley Water Gardens is essentially a large garden centre adjoined by The Palms Tropical Oasis - an aquatic and reptile centre. This is a huge glasshouse containing exotic plant life, trees, a rather good selection of lizards, snakes, spiders and meerkats as well as the Italian Gardens, complete with water features and a Japanese Koi Carp pool.   Will had a good time running around but he did shy away from the opportunity to stroke a snake proffered by a friendly keeper. You do have to pay to get into Palms and it's not cheap, however there is a strong conservation ethos at the centre...

Thomas Land

A trip to Thomas Land at Drayton Manor Theme Park had to be worked out with almost military precision. We'd been warned by other parents who'd gone on a Bank Holiday weekend that the queues had been horrific, so we definitely wanted to go on a term time weekday.   A good tip is that reduced price adult-toddler tickets are available mid-week during Staffordshire term times (these may differ from Manchester). There is lots of park- ing as you'd expect and we were able to park pretty close to the entrance. Once in, we headed straight to Thomas Land, an attraction within Drayton Manor immed...

Trentham Gardens and Adventure Play - Barfuss Park (Barefoot Walk)

We were recommended Trentham Gardens and the Barefoot Walk by a friend who loved it. We arrived to be greeted by a row of shops and a large restaurant, not overly impressed so far! After locating the entrance, right in the centre of the actually very nice independent shopping village, we headed into the gardens, which are absolutely beautiful.   Here there is an adventure zone with three different play areas, two large sandpits full of toys, diggers and wheelbarrows and the JCB track - a tarmac pathway with at least 10 pedal diggers in various sizes. The play areas are aimed at differen...