Kristen’s guidebook
Younger guest activities
Blaze Farm
Great for younger guests - ice cream, farm and gorgeous views
Great activities for younger guests including jumping in hay bails, playground, pedal karts. Lovely farm shop for Mum & Dad
7 locals recommend
Wheelock Farm
Great activities for younger guests including jumping in hay bails, playground, pedal karts. Lovely farm shop for Mum & Dad
A great playground and a farm children can visit (you need to book the farm). There is a charge to drive into the estate (£8 per car). But if you want to avoid this just park on the local streets in Knutsford and walk in to the estate - its about a 20 min walk (maybe slightly longer for younger family members) from the gate to the mansion/playgrounds.
Also lots to do for more grown-up guests (gardens, festivals, mansion tour etc)
105 locals recommend
Tatton Park
A great playground and a farm children can visit (you need to book the farm). There is a charge to drive into the estate (£8 per car). But if you want to avoid this just park on the local streets in Knutsford and walk in to the estate - its about a 20 min walk (maybe slightly longer for younger family members) from the gate to the mansion/playgrounds.
Also lots to do for more grown-up guests (gardens, festivals, mansion tour etc)
Our children always loved a ride on this miniature railway. Stop off in Poynton for some food at their cafes/restaurants or you will also find a Waitrose store in Poynton if you wanted some specialty foods to bring back to the cottage to make
Brookside Garden Centre
London Road NorthOur children always loved a ride on this miniature railway. Stop off in Poynton for some food at their cafes/restaurants or you will also find a Waitrose store in Poynton if you wanted some specialty foods to bring back to the cottage to make
Observatory, science museum, park and cafe that children and grown-ups will love!
66 locals recommend
Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre
Bomish LaneObservatory, science museum, park and cafe that children and grown-ups will love!
Visit the concorde and other aircraft. Sit in a cockpit - great for visitors of all ages.
Runway Visitor Park
Sunbank LaneVisit the concorde and other aircraft. Sit in a cockpit - great for visitors of all ages.
Gardens & Antiques
Leek
A lovely town full of antique/vintage shops.
Gorgeous architectural gardens of all different genres (Japanese, wild meadows, formal English etc). Some nice surprises throughout the gardens for younger guests (lawn games found through little pathways and tunnels etc)
42 locals recommend
Biddulph Grange Garden
Grange RoadGorgeous architectural gardens of all different genres (Japanese, wild meadows, formal English etc). Some nice surprises throughout the gardens for younger guests (lawn games found through little pathways and tunnels etc)
Gorgeous manor house and gardens as well as sprawling grounds to hike/bike and fly kites. Excellent adventure playground for older children and of course parts for younger children too. Cafe, gift shop and ice cream all on site.
115 locals recommend
National Trust - Lyme
Gorgeous manor house and gardens as well as sprawling grounds to hike/bike and fly kites. Excellent adventure playground for older children and of course parts for younger children too. Cafe, gift shop and ice cream all on site.
An excellent day out - museum, gorgeous gardens, gift shops and cafes. Catering for littler people as well as mum and dad
Quarry Bank Mill's, Apprentice House
An excellent day out - museum, gorgeous gardens, gift shops and cafes. Catering for littler people as well as mum and dad
Once a month market in nearby Macclesfield town is so worth a visit for good artisan food and vintage finds.
13 locals recommend
Treacle Market
Market PlaceOnce a month market in nearby Macclesfield town is so worth a visit for good artisan food and vintage finds.
Food scene
Excellent food - directly opposite Quarry Bank Mill. Restaurant is run by prison in-mates who are training for jobs on release. Its a charity and both great food and a good experience
The Clink Restaurant
Styal RoadExcellent food - directly opposite Quarry Bank Mill. Restaurant is run by prison in-mates who are training for jobs on release. Its a charity and both great food and a good experience
For Canadian pancakes, the best buttermilk chicken burger, brunch and lunch we LOVE the Green cafe
10 locals recommend
The Holly Bush Bollington
15A High StFor Canadian pancakes, the best buttermilk chicken burger, brunch and lunch we LOVE the Green cafe
Great Bistro food - try the parmesan courgettes! Our children love the sausage pasta.
14 locals recommend
The Lime Tree Restaurant and Wine Bar
18-20 High StGreat Bistro food - try the parmesan courgettes! Our children love the sausage pasta.
Always great takes/twists on a wide range of well known plates served Tapas style in sharing plates. Gorgeous food!
8 locals recommend
TAPA Small Plates & Wine Bar (Restaurant)
22 High StAlways great takes/twists on a wide range of well known plates served Tapas style in sharing plates. Gorgeous food!
Good quality and straight forward Italian made by local Italian family. The children love the pizza here.
7 locals recommend
Briscola Restaurant and Wine Bar
88 Palmerston StGood quality and straight forward Italian made by local Italian family. The children love the pizza here.
Fantastic cafe within 10min stroll. Some alternatives (e.g. vegan curry pasty) and elevated classics (e.g. ham and cheese sandwhich with chutneys). Cakes and coffee are stunning. Service is very warm and welcoming
The Mulberry Leaf
116-118 Wellington RoadFantastic cafe within 10min stroll. Some alternatives (e.g. vegan curry pasty) and elevated classics (e.g. ham and cheese sandwhich with chutneys). Cakes and coffee are stunning. Service is very warm and welcoming
Indian street food cafe - breakfast and lunch in the car park of the Bollington Recreation ground. Picnic in the REC while the kids play or while watching a cricket match.
The Indian Goat
Indian street food cafe - breakfast and lunch in the car park of the Bollington Recreation ground. Picnic in the REC while the kids play or while watching a cricket match.
Granelli's
74 Newton StFab ice cream and a nice setting for younger and older guests alike
Excellent food and atmosphere in an old cinema. This is a marketplace of foods (ranging from pizza, steak, fish and chips, flatbreads, desserts, coffees, artisan wine and beer and more!) so that everyone can pick their own favourite.
15 locals recommend
The Picturedrome
102-104 ChestergateExcellent food and atmosphere in an old cinema. This is a marketplace of foods (ranging from pizza, steak, fish and chips, flatbreads, desserts, coffees, artisan wine and beer and more!) so that everyone can pick their own favourite.
Excellent coffee in the former brickworks - great pitstop for longer walks or if you need to fuel your legs on a road bike tour, following in the tracks of team GB training routes up the brickworks
Kickback Coffee
Bakestonedale RoadExcellent coffee in the former brickworks - great pitstop for longer walks or if you need to fuel your legs on a road bike tour, following in the tracks of team GB training routes up the brickworks
Outdoor adventures
The "wizard walk" takes in views over the Cheshire planes with a great cafe at the end of the walk and Macclesfield's famous Granelli's ice cream van in the National Trust car park. You can also tour the mines via: https://www.derbyscc.org.uk/alderley/
37 locals recommend
Alderley Edge
The "wizard walk" takes in views over the Cheshire planes with a great cafe at the end of the walk and Macclesfield's famous Granelli's ice cream van in the National Trust car park. You can also tour the mines via: https://www.derbyscc.org.uk/alderley/
Loads of adventurous things to do in the Peaks with variations for all - ranging from accessible trails and sites to the more adventurous rock climbing etc
Walks:
https://www.visitcheshire.com/things-to-do/macclesfield-forest-p184841
http://www.teggsnose.co.uk/
abseiling:
https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/planning-your-visit/access-for-all/access-peak/abseiling-at-millers-dale
caves:
https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/planning-your-visit/access-for-all/access-peak/castleton
39 locals recommend
Peak District National Park Authority
Baslow RoadLoads of adventurous things to do in the Peaks with variations for all - ranging from accessible trails and sites to the more adventurous rock climbing etc
Walks:
https://www.visitcheshire.com/things-to-do/macclesfield-forest-p184841
http://www.teggsnose.co.uk/
abseiling:
https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/planning-your-visit/access-for-all/access-peak/abseiling-at-millers-dale
caves:
https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/planning-your-visit/access-for-all/access-peak/castleton
Cycle paths abound here (both road and mountain biking and ranging from challenging - the GB cycle team train here - to family friendly on the Middlewood way)
https://www.komoot.com/guide/693827/cycling-around-bollington
13 locals recommend
Bollington
Cycle paths abound here (both road and mountain biking and ranging from challenging - the GB cycle team train here - to family friendly on the Middlewood way)
https://www.komoot.com/guide/693827/cycling-around-bollington
outdoor heated swimming pool with views of the Peak District. Even the drive there is stunning!
74 locals recommend
Hathersage Swimming Pool
Oddfellows Roadoutdoor heated swimming pool with views of the Peak District. Even the drive there is stunning!
You can walk along the canalside for miles with gorgeous views and cafes/pubs along the way or you can hire canal boats and bikes ....I know how I would like to take in the canals.
6 locals recommend
Bollington Boats and Bikes
You can walk along the canalside for miles with gorgeous views and cafes/pubs along the way or you can hire canal boats and bikes ....I know how I would like to take in the canals.