Places to visit in the North West of England
North West
Arley Hall & Gardens
Arley, Northwich
Tel: 01565 777353
www.arleyhallandgardens.com
Early Victorian building set in 12 acres of magnificent gardens, with a 15th century tithe barn. Plant nursery, gift shop and restaurant. A plantsman's paradise!
Astley Hall Museum & Art Gallery
Astley Park, Chorley
Tel: 01257 515555
www.astleyhall.co.uk
Astley Hall dates from 1580 with subsequent additions. Unique collections of furniture including a fine Elizabethan bed and the famous Shovel Board Table.
The Beatles Story
Albert Dock, Liverpool
Tel: 0151 709 1963
www.beatlesstory.com
Liverpool's award-winning visitor attraction with a replica of the original Cavern Club. Available for private parties.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Ocean Boulevard, Blackpool
Tel: 0870 4445566
www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.co.uk
Europe's greatest show and amusement park. Blackpool Pleasure Beach offers over 145 rides and attractions, plus spectacular shows.
Blackpool Tower & Circus
The Promenade, Blackpool
Tel: 01253 292029
www.theblackpooltower.co.uk
Inside Blackpool Tower you will find the UK's best circus, world famous Tower Ballroom, children's entertainment plus Jungle Jim's Playground, Tower Top Ride and Undersea World.
Boat Museum
South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port
Tel: 0151 355 5017
www.boatmuseum.org.uk
Home to the UK's largest collection of inland waterway craft. Working forge, Power Hall, Pump House, 7 exhibitions of industrial heritage. Gift shop and cafeteria.
Botany Bay Villages & Puddletown Pirates
Canal Mill, Chorley
Tel: 01257 261220
www.botanybay.co.uk
A shopping, leisure and heritage experience including Puddletown Pirates, the North West's largest indoor adventure play centre.
Bridgemere Garden World
Bridgemere, Nantwich
Tel: 01270 520381
www.bridgemere.co.uk
Bridgemere Garden World, 25 fascinating acres of plants, gardens, greenhouses and shop. Coffee shop, restaurant and over 20 different display gardens in the Garden Kingdom.
Camelot Theme Park
Charnock Richard, Chorley
Tel: 01257 453044
www.camelotthemepark.co.uk
The Magical Kingdom of Camelot voted Lancashire's Family Attraction of the Year 2002 is a world of thrilling rides, fantastic entertainment and family fun.
Catalyst: Science Discovery Centre
Mersey Road, Widnes
Tel: 0151 420 1121
www.catalyst.org.uk
Catalyst is the award-winning family day out where science and technology fuse with fun.
Chester Zoo
Upton-by-Chester, Chester
Tel: 01244 380280
www.chesterzoo.org.uk
Chester Zoo is one of Europe's leading conservation zoos, with over 7,000 animals in spacious and natural enclosures. Now featuring the 'Tsavo' African Black Rhino Experience.
Croxteth Hall & Country Park
Croxteth Hall Lane, Liverpool
Tel: 0151 228 5311
www.croxteth.co.uk
An Edwardian stately home set in 500 acres of countryside (woodlands and pasture), featuring a Victorian walled garden and animal collection.
Dunham Massey Hall, Park & Garden (National Trust)
Altrincham
Tel: 0161 941 1025
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
An 18th century mansion in a 250-acre wooded deer park with furniture, paintings and silver. A 25-acre informal garden with mature trees and waterside plantings.
East Lancashire Railway
Bolton Street, Bury
Tel: 0161 764 7790
www.east-lancs-rly.co.uk
Eight miles of preserved railway, operated principally by steam. Traction Transport Museum close by.
Jodrell Bank Science Centre, Planetarium & Arboretum
Lower Withington, Macclesfield
Tel: 01477 571339
www.jb.man.ac.uk/scicen
Exhibition and interactive exhibits on astronomy, space, energy and the environment. Planetarium, 3D theatre and the world-famous Lovell telescope, plus a 35-acre arboretum.
Knowsley Safari Park
Prescot
Tel: 0151 430 9009
www.knowsley.com
A 5-mile safari through 500 acres of rolling countryside and the world's wildest animals roaming free – that's the wonderful world of freedom you'll find at the park.
Lady Lever Art Gallery
Port Sunlight Village, Wirral
Tel: 0151 478 4136
www.ladyleverartgallery.org.uk
The 1st Lord Leverhulme's magnificent collection of British paintings dated 1750-1900, British furniture, Wedgewood pottery and oriental porcelain.
Lancaster Castle
Castle Parade, Lancaster
Tel: 01524 64998
www.lancastercastle.com
Shire Hall has a collection of coats of arms, a crown court, a grand jury room, a 'drop room' and dungeons. Also external tour of castle.
Lyme Park (National Trust)
Disley, Stockport
Tel: 01663 762023
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Lyme Park is a National Trust country estate set in 1,377 acres of moorland, woodland and park. This magnificent house has 17 acres of historic gardens.
Macclesfield Silk Museum
Roe Street, Macclesfield
Tel: 01625 613210
www.silk-macclesfield.org
A silk museum is situated in the Heritage Centre, a Grade II Listed former Sunday school.
Merseyside Maritime Museum
Albert Dock, Liverpool
Tel: 0151 478 4499
www.merseysidemaritimemuseum.org.uk
Liverpool's seafaring heritage brought to life in the historic Albert Dock.
The Museum of Science & Industry in Manchester
Castlefield, Manchester
Tel: 0161 832 2244
www.msim.org.uk
Based in the world's oldest passenger railway station, this museum has galleries that amaze, amuse and entertain, full of working exhibits including industrial machines and historic planes.
The National Football Museum
Deepdale Stadium, Preston
Tel: 01772 908442
www.nationalfootballmuseum.com
The National Football Museum exists to explain how and why football has become the people's game.
Norton Priory Museum & Gardens
Manor Park, Runcorn
Tel: 01928 569895
www.nortonpriory.org
Medieval priory remains, purpose-built museum, St Christopher's statue, sculpture trail and award-winning walled garden, all set in 38 acres of beautiful gardens.
Pleasureland Theme Park
Marine Drive, Southport
Tel: 0870 220 0204
www.pleasureland.uk.com
Over 100 rides and attractions, including the TRAUMAtizer and the Lucozade Space Shot.
Rufford Old Hall (National Trust)
Rufford, Ormskirk
Tel: 01704 821254
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
One of the finest 16th century buildings in Lancashire, with a magnificent hall, particularly noted for its immense moveable screen.
Sandcastle Tropical Waterworld
South Promenade, Blackpool
Tel: 01253 343602
www.sandcastle-waterworld.co.uk/homepage.html
Wave pool, fun pools, giant water flumes, sauna, white-knuckle water slides, kiddies safe harbour, play area, catering, bar, shops and amusements.
Tate Liverpool
Albert Dock, Liverpool
Tel: 0151 702 7400
www.tate.org.uk
/liverpool
The Tate Liverpool in historic Albert Dock has 4 floors of art and houses the National Collection of Modern Art.
Tatton Park (National Trust)
Knutsford
Tel: 01625 534400
www.tattonpark.org.uk
Historic mansion with a 50-acre garden, traditional working farm, Tudor manor-house and a 1,000-acre deer park and children's adventure playground.
Wigan Pier
Trencherfield Mill, Wigan
Tel: 01942 323666
www.wiganmbc.gov.uk
Wigan Pier combines interaction with displays and reconstructions and the Wigan Pier Theatre Company. Facilities include shops and a café.
Wildfowl & Wetland Trust Martin Mere
Burscough, Ormskirk
Tel: 01704 895181
www.wwt.org.uk
Martin Mere Wildfowl and Wetland Centre is home to over 1,600 ducks, geese and swans.