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We have an 18 month old girl and live in east Cheshire. We are always trying to think of more places to try out at weekend but searching the web always returns the same old usual suspects like Gullivers World and The Blue Planet.

This page is my effort to collate as many great places in the region to take kids as possible. Part to do list and part places we know and love!

Please contribute your suggestions by making a comment at the bottom of the page. Make sure you say what's great about them and where they are.

Walton Park, Gardens & Zoo - Warrington

This superb park has a lot to offer. The formal gardens and grounds and large pond are well kept and offer an opportunity to play games and explore. There is a crazy gold, pitch and put and bowling green. The play ground is particularly good and invariably has an ice cream van. The highlight for many is the small free zoo which has a collection of animals like peacocks, deer, red squirrels, a donkey, pot bellied pigs, exotic birds, turkeys, geese and more. There is a small cafe and a cycle museum too. Keep an eye open for squirrels in the grounds. A wonderful day out an not hard on the wallet, parking is a little costly.

Walton Park Web Site

Buxton Pavillion Gardens

A large park with brilliant play areas sectioned off to suit different age groups. A narrow guage railway snakes round the park but check for opperating times to avoid tears!

Tatton Park - Knutsford

Great walks, deer spotting, Victorian fair grounds, excellent gardens to explore including a maze, open farm and a reasonable child friendly cafe with baby change. How can you fail to have a good time?

Tittesworth Visitors Centre

Recommended by friends as a great place with a brilliant playground and lakeside walks. Will update once we've been

Teggs Nose Country Park - Macclesfield

High above Macclesfield with a cheap car park an superb views across Cheshire this magnificent parkland is well kept and highly accesible. Suitable for all terrain buggies, tested with our mountain buggy. From the summit you can see Jodderel Bank, Manchester Airport and even Liverpool Cathedral. Views far too rewarding for the miniscule effort needed.

Jodrell Bank -

world famous radio telescope on your doorstep, you would be silly not to go and find out what it is all about!

Jodrell Bank Website

Monkey World, Trentham Gardens - Stoke on Trent

TBC

Maize Maze - Warrington

Manchester Airport Flight Park

A chance to get close to aircraft on the runway is always exciting for children. For a little you can also go aboard some old aircraft including Concorde.

Manchester Museum of Science and Industry

Eureka, Halifax - The National Childrens Museum. Again this is on our to do list. At £7.25 for kids and adults each I think you want to wait until you children are old enough to appreciate it. Why not leave a comment if you have been?

Chester Zoo - Chester

chesterzoo.org

JJ's sensory play centre, Macclesfield

a small but excellent soft play centre especially designed to stimulate all of a childs senses. Featuring illuminated ball pits, heated water beds, ultra violet and optical fibre lighting this immaginative centre is an alternative to the manic activity play centres more often found. Particularly good for baby and toddlers. Booking required since they only accept small numbers per session. Highly recommended.

Fun for All, Macclesfield

This large indoor play centre offers sections for babies, toddlers and older children making it an ideal place for kids of all ages to let off steam. There is a private room for parties. If you can get here mid week it is much more quiet.

Brookside Miniature Railway and Garden Centre - Poynton

Hugely popular garden centre with the main attraction being the superb narrow guage railway running round the perimeter. The convincing station and level crossing all add to the excitement, this is a superb place for kids and parents too. The garden centre is not so great but not the main crowd pleaser. Train tickets can be bought in volume and are cheap, this is the best value as your child will certainly want more than one ride.

Rudyard Lake, Leek

This is on my to do list. Offering lakeside walks and a narrow guage steam railway this sounds a great day out. Train rides are just £3.50 for adults so a cheap steam experience!

Chesire Falconry Centre - Northwich

Get close to Owls, Hawks, Eagles and Falcons and experience an open flight display at one of the UK's leading falconry centres.

Chesirefalconry.com

Beeston Castle - Tarporley
Dating back to 1225 this castle ruin sits ontop of a rock promintary affording views over 8 counties. Kids will enjoy exploring the grounds and surrounding forests.

Cholmondeley Castle and Gardens - nr Chester

So the kids might find the gardens not so great but the farm with shetland ponies, Pygmy goats, llamas, sheep might be fun for them.

Cholmondeleycastle.com

Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre

A perfect oppurtunity to meet up to 30 shire horses. Also home to otters, polecats, deer, red squirrels.

Cotebrookshirehorses.co.uk

Great Budworth Ice Cream Farm

Tea rooms with special childrens menu and of course dozens of home made ice cream flavours. Web site wildly out of date so call for details of special events.

Icecreamfarm.co.uk

Chestnut Centre Conservation

Otter 

http://www.chestnutcentre.co.uk/

Cheshire County Show

23rd - 24th June 2009

Highlight in the county calendar and firm favourite with kids of all ages. Packed with attractions like horse jumping, livestock competitions, brass bands, food and drink stalls, machinery displays and more.

Http://www.cheshirecountyshow.org