Find great ideas for days out with kids in Cheshire and Greater Manchester, and the best family friendly events happening summer 2025. The Cheshire summer holiday activities guide is packed full with big family days out or smaller, local ideas.

From Stockport to Wilmslow and Macclesfield to Chester, we’ve got it all.  If you’re working and need childcare, then check out the summer holiday camps in Cheshire guide

SPOTLIGHT – COCKFIELDS FARM PARK BIG SUMMER BLOW OUT

Schools out for summer & it’s time for the Big Summer Blowout at Cockfields Farm Park! This year’s event is bigger and better than ever, with the farm park fully transformed to bring you those ultimate summer vibes!

Cheshire Summer Activities & Events for Kids 2025

Outdoor Summer Adventures in Cheshire

The Crocky Trail will be open every day over over the summer holidays until 2nd September. Packed with challenges and adventures, it’s a great fun family day out.  The special discount code has been set up through Danglebids and might look a little strange but it’s all totally verified.

CLICK HERE* TO GET 10% OFF THE CROCKY TRAIL

*this is an affiliate link which means I earn a small comission if you book through this link and you get 10% off

Alderford Lake is the perfect destination for summer family fun- from the incredible 135 person aquapark, to paddleboard hire or a unique twist on Escape Rooms!

North West Sunflower Fields

Could sunflowers be the happiest flowers?  Find all the best sunflower fields to visit in Cheshire and beyond in my handy guide.

Sunset Parties – Live Concerts at Cockfields Farm (Ashton Under Lyne)

Last year, Cockfield’s Farm Park Totally Taylor Sunset Party was a huge sell out hit.  Back for 2025 the ultimate summer evenings will have four amazing live shows this year.

• July 26th – Taylor Swift Tribute
• August 2nd – Katy Perry Tribute
• August 9th – Ariana Grande Tribute
• August 16th – Sabrina Carpenter Tribute

Do Something Summer! free kids activities (Macclesfield) every Wednesday 23rd July – 27th August FREE

Macclesfield Town Council is brining back Do Something Summer for the third year in a row.  A free activity will be taking place every Wednesday during the Summer Holidays from 11am-3pm in Macclesfield Market Place, alongside free to ride buses also funded by the Town Council.

• Summer of Play at Dunham Massey (Altrincham) 20th June – 7th September
• SmileyWorld® Art Trail (Stockport) 4th July – 13th September
• Creature Cases Safari Mission at Knowsley Safari (Prescot) 19th July – 3rd August August
• Trafford Centre summer fair (Manchester) 19th July – 31st August
• Broad Oaks Heart Trail (Didsbury) 19th July – 3rd September
• We’re Going on a Bear Hunt at Tatton Park (Knutsford) 19th July – 7th September
• Kenyon Hall Farm Maize Maze (Warrington) mid July – end August
• Come Play Taskmaster at Beeston Castle (Beeston) 19th July – 31st August
• Dubbed Out Festival (near Knutsford) 24th – 27th July
• Together Again Festival at Bolesworth Castle (Tattenhall, nr Chester) 25th – 27th July
• Alice in Wonderland walkabout live theatre at Grosvenor Park (Chester) 25th July to 30th August
• Race for Life Pretty Muddy Kids at Tatton Park (Knutsford) 26th July
• Dunham Massey Farm Ice Cream Sunflower Field Trail (Altrincham) from end July / start August
• After Glow at Chester Zoo (Chester) 1st – 17th August
• Farm Fest 2025 at Reddish Vale Farm 1st – 11th August (near Stockport)
• Viking Life at Tatton Park (Knutsford) 1st August
• Camp Knowsley at Knowsley Safari (Prescot) 4th – 31st August
• Storyhouse In The Park at Grosvenor Park (Chester) 5th – 26th August

National Play Day at Hulme Park (Manchester) 6th August FREE

Join Z Arts at Hulme Park for National Play Day. It’s a day of adventure, creativity, and endless fun for kids and families! Get stuck into messy play, spark your imagination with creative play, get moving with sporty play, and take on the role with dress-up play.

• Junior Longbow at Tatton Park (Knutsford) 7th August
• DevaFest 2025 at Cholmondeley Castle (Malpas) 7th – 10th August
• Emergency Services Day at the Trafford Centre (Manchester) 7th August
• Bank Holiday Special at Pavilion Gardens (Buxton) 23rd – 25th August
• Bluey & Bingo at Reddish Vale Farm  (near Stockport) 23rd – 24th August
• Malpas PYO sunflower patch (Whitchurch) August/September dates tbc
• Sunflowers at Kenyon Hall (Croft, near Warrington) August dates tbc

Cheshire & Manchester Indoor Summer Activities & Events

Summer of Fun at Castaway Play (Congleton) 24th – 31st August

Save 20% on all bookings from now until the 31st of August with the code  SAVE20 at checkout for a summer of fun at Castaway Play. There are fabulous play areas, mascot ‘Meet and Greets’, foam parties and bubble shows.

Adventures in Wonderland at Z-Arts (Manchester) select dates all summer

The latest Family Friendly immersive play experience  at Z-arts in Manchester.

Fall down the rabbit hole and have your very own magical adventure with Adventures in Wonderland.  An enchanting play experience which invites children and families to explore Wonderland, using imagination to create their own fantastical adventure.   Follow the White Rabbit into scenes from the beloved book –  splash into the pool of tears, make friends with the Cheshire Cat, have tea as the Mad Hatter, play croquet with flamingos, get lost in a card maze, and wake up back on the riverbank, just in time for tea.  Check out my Adventures in Wonderland at Z-arts review.

Find all the best play centres from soft play to trampolining and indoor climbing

• Teddy Trek activity trail at Congleton Museum (Congleton)

Summer of Stories at Z Arts (Greater Manchester) select dates from 29th July – 23rd August FREE

Join Z Arts for free family-friendly fun, including storytelling and drop in Arts and Crafts! Each week we will be inspired by and celebrate the work of a different author.  The event is free with arts and crafts as a drop in but places for storytelling to be reserved in advance.

Haphazard at Z Arts (Hulme, Manchester) 2nd August FREE

Playful, quirky, engaging, and sometimes plain daft: Haphazard is for kids and their adults, adults and their adults — anyone looking for a different day out.

• Tatton Tales: Cinderella at Tatton Park (Knustford) 14th August
• Free Circus Workshop at Blakemere Village (Northwich) 24th August FREE
• Free Giant Bubble Display at Blakemere Village (Northwich) 25th August FREE

Family Theatre, Live Music and Puppets

• Alice in Wonderland walkabout live theatre at Grosvenor Park (Chester) 25th July to 30th August
• In The Night Garden Live at The Lowry (Manchester) 26th – 27th July
• Six at The Lowry (Manchester) 29th July – 3rd August
• Horrible Histories at Lyceum Theatre (Crewe) 1st August
• The Koala Who Could at The Storyhouse (Chester) 1st – 3rd August
• A Squash & a Squeeze at The Lowry (Manchester) 5th – 24th August
• Animals Takeover at Grosvenor Park (Chester) 7th August
• The Addams Family at The Lowry (Manchester) 12th – 16h August
• James Richard Circus at Blakemere Village (Northwich) 20th – 25th August
• Dinosaur World Live at Buxton Opera House (Buxton) 21st – 23rd August
• Outdoor Cinema Film Festival at Tatton Park (Knutsford) 23rd – 25th August
• Pop Princesses at Buxton Opera House (Buxton) 29th August
• Animals Takeover at Garret Theatre (Altrincham) 29h August

Summer Days Out With Kids in Cheshire & Greater Manchester

There are absolutely loads of great places to visit around Cheshire and Greater Manchester that have all been reviewed by a local Mum.  Check them out here.

If the sun’s out then it’s time to hit the beach.  There are some really fantastic beaches to explore with kids in the North West.

Best beaches within a two hour drive from Manchester

Fancy chilling out in a family friendly pub with great outdoor space? Check out my guide to the best outdoor dining pubs in Cheshire & Greater Manchester.

Who doesn’t love a fresh juicy strawberry?  Find all the best PYO farms in Cheshire.

There’s nothing better than getting outdoors with the kids for some fresh air and a good run around.  It builds up an appetite too and they sleep much better at night!  Here’s some great ideas for a family walk in Cheshire.