Manchester Airport 33 min
The Crocky Trail (18 min)
Mile-long adventure trail for kids, with slides, rope swings, climbs and a chain bridge, plus cafe. Anderton Boat Lift Visitor Centre (17 min)
Boat trips through a working hydraulic lift raising vessels from the River Weaver to the canal. Delamere Forest (10 min)
Sizable forest with multi-use recreational trails, summer concerts & a visitor center with a cafe. Norton Priory Museum & Gardens (26 min)
Museum tracing 900 years of history and boasting an 18th-century walled garden, all set in woodland. Beeston Castle (18 min)
A ruined English Heritage castle atop a crag, with woodland wildlife trails and spectacular views. Chester Cathedral (26 min)
Medieval cathedral, built in 1092, with tours of the 216-step tower plus a refectory cafe and shop. Chester City Walls (24 min)
Roman & Medieval city walks with a raised 2-mile-long walkway & grade I listed gates & towers. Tatton Park (26 min)
Historic estate with Tudor hall, neo-classical mansion, lavish gardens, a deer park and playground. Arley Hall & Gardens (28 min)
Stately, 19th-century country home open for events, plus a formal garden, cafe, gift shop & nursery. Eastgate Clock (26 min)
Turret clock built in Victorian times above a Georgian arch, listed as a historic landmark. Blue Planet Aquarium (22 min)
Sealife centre with underwater aquatunnel, rays, tropical fish, otters, plus diving with sharks. Marbury Country Park (19 min)
Ancient woodland, streams and a large open space, including a play area and orienteering course. Blakemere Village (4 min)
Quaint cluster of indie boutiques, plus a restaurant, falconry center, archery & Segway rides. Chester Zoo (23 min)
Zoo featuring rare and endangered species in lush, ornate gardens, with a water bus and a monorail. Walton Hall and Gardens (24 min)
Lavish Elizabethan-style hall with ornamental gardens, including picnic areas, a kids' zoo and cafe. | 
