North West England attractions

Nestled just north of the English border in Scotland, the Gretna Green Famous Blacksmiths Shop is known for hosting the marriages of couples who had fled England’s restrictive marriage laws during the 1700s and 1800s. The quaint shop remains a wedding venue and draws visitors with its marriage rooms, museum, shop, and restaurant.

One of Chester’s top family-friendly attractions, Sick to Death is dedicated to the history of medicine, in all its gross, gory, and shocking detail. Full of interactive exhibits and themed areas that focus on topics ranging from plagues and pandemics to autopsies and apothecaries, the museum is housed within the Grade II listed St. Michael’s Church in the medieval Chester Rows.

Note: Spaceport has now closed for business and Eureka Science and Discovery has taken over the premises. \ Escape the city and journey into space on a visit to Liverpool’s Spaceport science center. Explore the universe via interactive displays, take a ride on Explorer 1, and marvel at the mysteries of the cosmos in the planetarium on a family-friendly day out.

Billed as a “modern traditional market,” this culinary hub has become one of the city’s most popular destinations for food lovers and shoppers since opening in 2022. Home to several dozen vendors—including stalls selling hot prepared foods, ingredients, homewares, and other goods—it makes a convenient stop right in the heart of town.

Perched on the banks of the River Dee, just outside of Chester city center, Sandy Lane Aqua Park features a playground alongside a variety of fun water features, including jet sprays, sprinklers, geysers, and tipping buckets. This family-friendly destination boasts views of the lush Chester countryside and a grassy picnic area.

While there’s not a great deal left of it to see, Minerva’s Shrine in Edgar’s Park remains an important piece of Chester’s Roman history. The remains of the rock-carved shrine to the pagan Roman goddess date back to the second century, when Chester was occupied by the Romans and known to its people as the city of Deva.

Follow the stories of Cheshire’s soldiers from Roman times to the current day at the Cheshire Military Museum. The exhibits offer a walk through time, showcasing the different conflicts around the world that have involved the Cheshire regiment. Must-see displays include a medal collection and a replica World War I trench with a periscope for a peek at “no man’s land.”

The AO Arena is a bustling entertainment hub, hosting more than 130 shows and attracting more than 1.2 million visitors annually. Renowned for its lineup of concerts, sports events, and family-friendly shows, the arena has welcomed legendary acts, including U2, Madonna, and Lady Gaga. Its rich 25-plus-year history makes the arena a cornerstone of Manchester's cultural scene.