Delamere Forest Lodges - Fun Days Out

Chester Zoo is a conservation charity and one of the UK's largest zoos, covering 130 acres with over 30,000 animals from more than 500 species. You can explore over 10 indoor habitats, including the UK's largest tropical biodome, and walk through the lemur area to get close to the troop. The Monsoon Forest habitat and award-winning gardens add plenty more to see.

There are five adventure playgrounds for children, and you can take the Islands Lazy River boat ride. Keepers and Zoo Rangers give daily talks about the animals they care for. The zoo is a short distance from Chester city centre and the M56, and it has been rated the UK's number one zoo by Tripadvisor.

Tip: Book online in advance to save on gate prices, and parking in the zoo car park is free.

Gulliver's World is a theme park in Warrington, loosely based on the world of Lilliput from Gulliver's Travels. It is split into themed areas including Western World, Safari Kingdom, Land of Oz, Smuggler's Wharf and Lost World. Rides such as The Antelope, Desperado Drop and Apache Falls sit alongside play areas, both indoors and outdoors, designed for children between 2 and 13.

Beyond the main park, Blast Arena is an indoor NERF attraction for children aged 6 and over, with blasters, goggles and target vests provided. The site was once part of the RAF Burtonwood air base, and the RAF Burtonwood Heritage Centre on the park has RAF memorabilia and displays on its history. It suits families with younger children, who can build a day around the rides, play areas and themed zones.

Tip: The website says booking tickets early can save money, so check online before you go.

Knowsley Safari is a safari park in Prescot, Merseyside, set in the parkland of Knowsley Hall. The main event is the 5-mile Safari Drive, where you travel in your own vehicle past animals such as African lions, southern white rhinos, Bactrian camels, European bison and olive baboons. There is a bypass around the baboons if you would rather keep them away from your car.

Afterwards you can park for free and explore the Foot Safari, home to Nubian giraffes, Andean bears, meerkats, capybaras and California sea lions. The Amur Tiger Trail has forest areas, streams and ponds. Animal talks and displays are included with a standard ticket. There are also fairground rides and amusements, a small railway, and a restaurant and gift shop. The park is a member of BIAZA and EAZA.

Tip: Book online in advance, as tickets are cheaper that way and online booking is essential.

Liverpool Cathedral is the largest cathedral and religious building in Britain, and one of the longest in the world. Designed by Giles Gilbert Scott and built between 1904 and 1978, it is a Grade I listed building. Inside, the vast space is made for wandering, with large-scale art installations and family activities alongside daily worship services.

For a different view, the Tower Experience takes you to the rooftop of the highest cathedral in the UK, with 360-degree views across Liverpool's skyline. There is also a bistro serving brunch, burgers and traditional scouse, with vegetarian and vegan options, plus a shop whose income helps keep entry free.

It suits families, history and architecture fans, and anyone wanting a free, indoor stop in the city. Most of the building is on a single level, and manual wheelchairs can be borrowed.

Tip: There is an on-site car park off Upper Duke Street, and you don't need to book, but check opening hours first as parts can close for events.

Anderton Boat Lift is a Victorian engineering landmark that lifts boats 50 feet between the River Weaver and the Trent and Mersey Canal. Known as the "Cathedral of the Canals", it is a scheduled monument and one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways. The lift itself is currently closed to the public while repairs are carried out, so you can't ride or tour it at the moment, but the visitor centre, exhibition and grounds remain open.

There's still plenty to do. The Edwin Clark trip boat runs river cruises from the foot of the lift along the Weaver towards Northwich, though trips are seasonal and the schedule changes through the year. The grounds have a children's play area, a maze made from the lift's original counterweights and a neighbouring nature park, good for picnics and spotting wildlife. Families, history fans and walkers will enjoy it.

Tip: Check the Canal & River Trust website for current boat trip times before you go. Online booking is available at present.

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King is England's largest Catholic cathedral and the seat of the Archbishop of Liverpool. Locally nicknamed "Paddy's Wigwam" or "The Mersey Funnel", it was designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd and built between 1962 and 1967. The Grade I listed building is circular and tent-like, with a lantern tower of stained glass and a crown of pinnacles on top.

Inside, the altar sits at the centre with seating all around it, and there are 13 chapels around the edge. Beneath it lies the crypt, all that was completed of Sir Edwin Lutyens' much grander unbuilt design. It's a good stop for architecture fans, history lovers and anyone after a calm break from the city. Services, music and events take place through the year, and the Cathedral Guild of Guides helps welcome visitors.

Tip: Check the cathedral's website for service times before you go, as parts of the building may be in use for worship.

Peckforton Castle is a Grade I listed Victorian country house built in the style of a medieval castle, designed by Anthony Salvin. It has a gatehouse, a portcullis, a dry moat and large towers, and it stands in woodland in the Peckforton Hills. It now works as a hotel and events venue, and has appeared in films and television productions.

For a day out, the Land Rover Experience lets you try models such as the Defender and Range Rover off road in the castle grounds. The 1851 Restaurant is award-winning and open to both residents and non-residents. The castle also runs a year-round programme of ticketed events. The Sandstone Trail footpath runs along the base of the slopes below the castle, and the ruins of Beeston Castle stand on a separate hill about a mile to the north.

Tip: Check what is on before you go: the castle runs ticketed events and the Land Rover Experience, so contact them to book ahead. All vehicles use the on-site car park.

The museum sits on the former Netherpool inland port, designed by Thomas Telford, where the Shropshire Union Canal meets the Manchester Ship Canal. It tells the story of Britain's inland waterways through a collection of historic canal boats, painted canal ware, traditional clothing and tools.

The restored locks, docks and warehouses are all part of the site. The Island Warehouse has exhibitions on boat-building and the social history of canals, while the Pump House holds steam-driven pumping engines and the Power Hall has a variety of other engines. There is also a blacksmith's forge and a set of stables. Porter's Row is a terrace of dock workers' cottages, furnished to show different periods from the 1840s to the 1950s. The former toll house hosts temporary and touring exhibitions. It suits anyone who likes industrial and canal history.