Bank Holiday May Activities In Cheshire

Whatever your interests are, you’re bound to find something you enjoy doing in Cheshire. Full of unique attractions and plenty of history, here are some exciting bank holiday May activities in Cheshire.

Lyme

Lyme is a large estate consisting of a grand house surrounded by gardens, moorland and deer park. Inside the house, a warm welcome awaits. The Drawing Room is the best preserved room dating back to 1580. With medieval stained glass and dark oak panels, the room emanates luxury from all corners. You can also explore the Library, the Long Gallery, the Knight’s Bedroom and the Stag Parlour. The house has a large collection of antiquities like clocks, Mortlake tapestries and a beautiful golden harp. The 17 acre garden leads on to the wider estate covering woodland and moors, where you can catch views across Manchester and the Cheshire Plain.

Anderton Boat Lift

The Anderton Boat Lift is a marvelous piece of Victorian engineering nicknamed the Cathedral of the Canals. Built in 1875, it was designed to lift boats and barges 50 feet from the River Weaver Navigation to the Trent & Mersey Canal. It was in use for over 100 years before closing due to corrosion. After being restored, visitors can now take a 30 minute boat ride up and down the lift to see how it works. For those of you who aren’t scared of heights, try walking the lift and out along the aqueduct and admire the views from the control room and machine deck. Head to the exhibition in the visitor centre to learn more about the machinery. There’s an outdoor play area for little ones, complete with a model Anderton’s bridge, control house and mooring area.

The Grosvenor Museum

Located in the historical city of Chester, the Grosvenor Museum tells the story of the city from prehistory to the 20th century. The different collections cover Roman archaeology, art, natural history, social history and silverware. Some of the highlights of the museum include a skeleton discovered in a Roman Mansio, a Saxon hoard of ingots and hacksilver, and trace fossils of a chirotherium, an ancestor of the dinosaurs. The different galleries have interactive models, screens, dressing up and activities to keep you entertained. There is also a range of special exhibitions and events, so if you’re looking for May bank holiday events in Cheshire, be sure to check out the museum’s event calendar.

Cholmondeley Castle Gardens

This country house has been in the Cholmondley family since Norman times. Visits are only offered to the garden, and there are 70 acres of it to explore. Filled with magnificent displays of colour, the gardens are especially beautiful in spring when everything is in bloom. See the Temple and Folly Water Gardens, the Rose Garden, the Glade and the Arboretum. Don’t miss the woodland on Tower Hill which is filled with shrubs, trees and wildflowers. The Deer Park Mere and nature trail is great for a relaxing, mindful walk and has views of Cholmondeley Castle. The Lavinia Walk is dedicated to Lady Lavinia Cholmondeley who came to live in the house in 1947. The double herbaceous border is 100m long and is a stunning tribute to her work in the gardens.

The Ice Cream Farm

The Ice Cream Farm is the ultimate attraction that all ages will love. Set in the heart of the Cheshire countryside, the Ice Cream Farm has different activities like ‘strawberry falls’ adventure golf, ‘rocky road’ mini land rover experience, and ‘honeycomb canyon’, Europe’s largest sand and water play. There’s also a soft play area for toddlers, and The Loft for older kids. The 851sqm ice cream parlour has been granted the Guinness World Records awards of ‘The World’s Largest Ice Cream Shop’, with over 50 flavours to choose from! You’ll also find the Impulse Emporium, a fantasy world of fascinating shop fronts, charming books and a magical selection of sweets.

Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre

The Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre is a must visit for budding scientists. The Jodrell Bank Observatory hosts a number of radio telescopes, and was established in 1945 by Bernard Lovell, a radio astronomer at the University of Manchester. The Discovery Centre is a place where visitors can find out about the work being carried out at the observatory in an exciting and engaging way. Explore Planet Pavilion, Space Pavilion and Star Pavilion where you can find answers to your most burning questions about the universe. See short films, animations and vintage footage, or get stuck into a range of hands-on activities. Head outside and marvel at the iconic Lovell Telescope, one of the biggest and most powerful radio telescopes in the world.

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