Let’s start locally. Eat the Hill Billy Ice Cream and afternoon teas, walk the nature trails, check out the lambing and sheep-shearing at Blaze Farm in Wildboarclough. Or book the MaccPacas Experience at Macclesfield Alpacas, home to 100 alpacas, that includes a farm tour, short walk and a tea party.
Into theme parks? Alton Towers is the daddy of them all, with 500 acres of attractions including X-Sector, Forbidden Valley, Dark Forest, Gloomy Wood, Katanga Canyon and CBeebies Land. Shoot for strikes and spares at Superbowl Macclesfield. Or visit Manchester’s largest virtual-reality arcade at DNA VR.
Head to Sea Life Manchester to discover what lies beneath, find out where fish come from in the Sea Ranger exhibit, meet sharks and sea turtles, and enjoy VR and snorkelling experiences. Devote a day to Legoland and surround yourself with millions of Lego bricks, save the princess on Kingdom Quest, and watch the 4D Lego Cinema.
Go Ape at Buxton, one of the highest in the UK, and brave the Tarzan swings and zipline experience. Chug the half-mile circuit through the garden centre on the Brookside Miniature Railway. Invade the playgrounds at Buxton Pavilion Gardens. Or explore vast limestone caverns and see crystal stalactites at Poole’s Cavern.
Discover a world-leading deep-space radio observatory at Jodrell Bank with its interactive exhibitions, planetarium shows, events, and more. Follow the journey of silk making, from cocoon to loom, at The Silk Museum, with stunning displays, and hear the story of how Ancient Egyptian collections came to Macclesfield.
Strap up your boots for big walks around scenic Macclesfield Forest, Tegg’s Nose Country Park and Shutlingsloe Hill. Watch out for trout in the River Dane. Head into Macclesfield to visit the planetarium or get more rural to wander the house and grounds at Capesthorne Hall or Adlington Hall, with its statue of Napoleon.
Take a walk along the river and pop in to Wincle Brewery to hear the story, try some samples, and get some ice cream for the kids and Prosecco for anyone not into beer. Or visit the Forest Distillery, the UK’s highest altitude distillery at the famous Cat and Fiddle above Macclesfield Forest.
Still sober? Try Substation for a state-of-the-art climbing and yoga centre, including hot yoga. Or bring your irons for golf clubs at Macclesfield and Tytherington. Catch live action at MADS Little Theatre. Throw your worries away at Viking Axe Throwing or take a trip back in time and race the clock at Escape Quest.
