Ewe Two Lodge - 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.

Flint Castle (Castell y Fflint) was the first of the castles built during Edward I's campaign to conquer Wales, and it sits on the western shore of the River Dee estuary. Its ruins are looked after by Cadw, and access is free via a path. Most of the site, including the keep, is open to the public.

The keep is the star. It stands apart from the rest of the castle, with walls 7 metres thick at the base, and the layout is unique in the British Isles. Inside, a vaulted passage runs all the way around the ground floor. A spiral staircase in the north east tower leads up to a platform with views over the Dee Estuary.

The castle has a long history, including sieges by Welsh forces, a spell holding Richard II in 1399, and a three-month siege in the Civil War before it was slighted. It suits anyone who likes castle history.

Tip: Head for the spiral staircase in the north east tower to reach the viewing platform over the estuary.

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.

The Grosvenor Museum is a Grade II listed Victorian building in Chester, built in red brick with sandstone dressings and Dutch gables carved with peacocks. Inside, its galleries cover the area's archaeology and natural history, with items from the Roman period, paintings and musical instruments.

Head for the collection of Roman tombstones, which gives a real feel for Chester's past. Art lovers can look for the works of Louise Rayner, and music fans can spot the museum's six recorders made by Peter Bressan. There is also a room arranged as a Victorian parlour, and a programme of temporary exhibitions changes what's on show. The museum's education service helps children learn about the history of the city, so it suits curious younger visitors as well as adults who enjoy history.

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.

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.