Fall down the rabbit hole
Children will be enraptured with the Lewis Carroll classic Alice in Wonderland at the magical Grosvenor Open Air Theatre in Chester. The Cheshire Cat returns to his home county from 15 July-20 August. Bring a picnic, snuggle up under the stars and fall down the rabbit hole with Alice and friends. http://www.grosvenorparkopenairtheatre.co.uk/
Go back in time
A new augmented reality app transports visitors back in time at Chester Amphitheatre – the largest amphitheatre in Britain – allowing you to experience a 3D reconstruction of the grizzly and brutal working amphitheatre. It’s an amazing glimpse of Roman life in Chester – great for older children and teenagers who will love finding out the stories behind the gladiators that were forced to kill, the prisoners at their mercy and the bloody sport that the spectators revelled in. The ‘England’s Historic Cities’ app is available to download for free on the app store. More info at http://www.heritagecities.com/stories/chester Entry to the amphitheatre is free.
Share stories
This amazing theatre, cinema and library space in the heart of the city, carved out of the former art-deco Odeon cinema, has just opened after ten years in the making and will breathe new life into the North’s cultural scene. Storyhouse has an incredible area for children (or big kids) – Storyden – which features a storytelling room with theatre lighting and bleacher seats, wet, messy and craft play areas, dressing up boxes, and plenty of nooks and crannies to make, tell and share stories. Definitely worth a visit this summer www.storyhouse.com
Catch a moonlight flick
Moonlight Flicks, Chester’s very own open air cinema, returns to the Roman Gardens from 4 July – 26 August, with 40 screenings of 9 different films including Star Wars:Rogue One, Moana, Grease and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Wireless headphones are provided, you can bring your own blanket and chair or hire a deckchair, and even order Pizza Express pizza direct to your seat! Films will be screened from dusk each day, but times will vary due to the summer sunshine, see www.storyhouse.com for full screening times.
Swim with sharks
Kids and adults come face to face with sharks at the diving with sharks experience at the Blue Planet Aquarium, Ellesmere Port which houses Europe’s largest collection of sharks. Diving experiences take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. There’s lots more to see including an Aquatheatre, crocodiles, otters, a walk-through shark tunnel and much more. https://www.blueplanetaquarium.com/
Lift off!
The Anderton Boat Lift in Northwich is the world’s first ever successful boat lift and an engineering masterpiece. Kids will love seeing the boat lift in action lifting narrowboats and barges 50 feet in the air from the River Weaver to the Trent & Mersey Canal – who wouldn’t want to experience the thrill of being lifted 50 feet in the air by a giant spider?! https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/museums-and-attractions/anderton-boat-lift
Masters of the Universe
Kids can explore their place in the universe at the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre – a great day out for all the family. Learn about the Solar system using interactive games, listen to the sound of the Big Bang, find out more about how the giant Lovell Telescope works and check out a science show or Meet an Expert in the Star Pavilion. Join the mailing list to get the full programme of events this summer http://www.jodrellbank.net
Down on the Farm
The summer holidays wouldn’t be complete without a trip to a farm and at Home Farm at Tatton Park this summer there are milking demonstrations, storytelling, baby chicks, pigs, horses, donkeys and sheep racing! There’s a play barn if the weather doesn’t play ball. Closed Mondays. http://www.tattonpark.org.uk/what_to_see_and_do/farm/farm.aspx
Behind the Scenes at the Museum
West Cheshire Museums have a fab programme of events this summer including free movie screenings at the Grosvenor Museum, rocket making at Weaver Hall Museum and paper costume making and string art at Newstead Gallery. Check out http://events.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk for the full list.
