25 things to do in Warrington's ultimate bucket list

There’s a wealth of delicious eateries, perfect parks and wonderful walks to enjoy as well as live events in the cultural quarter or summer festivals and family activities to keep all ages entertained.

We’ve put together a bucket list of 25 things to do in Warrington – how many have you done?

Which will you try next?

The list is not exhaustive and more attractions, venues and entertainment can be added.

Email heidi.summerfield@newsquest.co.uk if you can think of somewhere that should be on the list.

Cocktails at The Terrace (The Terrace)

Cocktails on The Terrace

Why not have a cocktail or two at The Terrace on Palmyra Square?

It’s the perfect place to relax in the sunshine – when the roof is rolled away - with a pina colada served in a frozen pineapple or wind down for the evening with a gin and tonic or glass of wine.

Snoutwood bacon and egg rolls (Snoutwood)

Bacon or sausage roll from Snoutwood

Snoutwood Trotters on Laburnum Lane in Penketh is home to Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs.

Rebecca Scott and Liam Tickle, who both grew up in Warrington, opened their free-range pork shop seven years ago selling bacon, sausages, burgers and other pork products and they also specialise in event catering with hog roasts and pulled pork.

The sausage rolls come packaged and ready to go in the oven – you just need to brush with a beaten egg to help the pastry brown – and the bacon makes for an excellent breakfast treat when it's teamed with the farm’s fresh eggs.

One of two new rides at Gulliver's World (Image Gulliver's World)

Two new rides at Gulliver’s World

There are two exciting new rides at Gulliver's World, which are part of a new car-themed area helping the theme park celebrate 45 years in business.

The new area includes two new rides the rollercoaster Grand Prix Racer and Overdrive, as well as a host of play attractions and ride-ons.

The Grand Prix Racer roller-coaster takes those race drivers brave enough on a fast and furious journey filled with terrific twists and turns while Overdrive, one of Gulliver's World's most daring rides, is a 360-degree thrill that temporarily turns riders' worlds upside down.

The Albion was named Community Pub of the Year for North Cheshire (Image The Albion)

A pint at the award-winning Albion

Fancy a pint in the best pub in Cheshire?

The Albion, on Battersby Lane, was named Community Pub of the Year in September 2022 by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

The honour was awarded to popular pub by CAMRA's North Cheshire branch.

Happy customers say it’s a great community pun for locals and anyone who wants to experience the atmosphere of a truly local pub.

Gravity Warrington reopened earlier this year in Time Square (Image Newsquest)

Bounce around at Gravity

Feel the rush of oxygen as you experience the force of gravity at this town centre venue, which reopened in February after closing its doors last summer.

Let loose as you jump, bounce and hop through the air on the extreme trampolines.

Suitable to all ages from 18 months and up.

Take in all the flavours at Warrington Market (Image Warrington Borough Council)

Have a spot of lunch on the market

There are more than 50 independent traders on the market selling a wide range of fresh food, gifts, goods and services.

The purpose built, state-of-the-art two-storey building on Time Square sells everything from meat and fish to cheese and pies as well as fruit and veg, cakes and sweets, and a whole host of gifts and goods.

Cookhouse at Warrington Market is home to 11 worldwide food outlets offering a wide variety of hot and cold dishes and two independent bars, with an inside dining area and outdoor terrace.

The Halliwell Jones stadium (Image Newsquest)

Watch the Wire at the Halliwell Jones

Now is the perfect time to watch the town’s primrose and blue rugby league team as they’re riding high on seven consecutive victories to start the season.

The stadium has a capacity of 15,000 and had record crowds at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

Daresbury Dairy has a whole host of flavours to tempt the tastebuds (Daresbury Dairy)

Enjoy an ice cream from Daresbury Dairy

Everyone’s favourite frozen treat is made using milk from the cows on Penkridge Lake Farm on Newton Lane in Daresbury.

Over the past 12 years, the ice cream has won several awards s, most recently in 2020, a bronze medal for their salted caramel ice cream, which was part of the National Ice Cream Alliance Ice Cream Awards.

Their raspberry ripple ice cream and strawberry ice cream are made using a homemade fruit puree.

Delicious!

The wishing bridge at Lymm Dam (Sean Ansel Nolan)

Walk around Lymm Dam

This popular place for a walk has several circular routes available with some that are less steep and pushchair or wheelchair friendly.

To the north of the dam, on the other side of the A56, is The Dingle – a woodland walkway following the dam downstream.

There's something for everyone at To Pie For (Image To Pie For)

Sample a pie from To Pie For

You’ll be spoilt for choice at this award-winning pie shop with traditional seasoned pork, pork with chorizo and pork with black pudding and pear on the menu.

There’s also pork, apricot and pistachio, pork, bacon and stilton and pork with caramelised red onion and cheese as well as chicken, bacon and cranberry and Welsh dragon.

Which will you choose?

Walton Hall and Gardens

Have a day out at Walton Hall and Gardens

There’s plenty for the whole family to see and do at Walton Gardens so why not pack a picnic and make a day of it?

There’s the children’s petting zoo, woodland walks and orchards and a fully accessible playground for all ages.

The adventure golf and pitch and putt are a good way to spend an hour or two and the open air theatre and music events are set to return this summer.

Pick up a tasty dessert at White Lace Bakery (White Lace Bakery)

Eat dessert at White Lace Bakery

Officially serving the best desserts in Warrington, White Lace Bakery has two shops serving homemade cakes and sweet treats, with a third planned for later this year.

The family-run artisan bakery has counters filled with cakes, brownies and cookies as well as milkshakes and ice creams.

Guaranteed to satisfy even the sweetest tooth.

The Golden Gates in front of Warrington Town Hall (Sean Ansel Nolan)

Have your picture taken outside the Golden Gates

The perfect place for a selfie!

The iconic golden gates were made for the International Exhibition of 1862 intended for Queen Victoria’s Sandringham home in Norfolk.

However, Queen Victoria never got to see the ironwork because her courtiers realised that a statue of Oliver Cromwell, who had signed King Charles I’s death warrant, was visible through the gates and they thought it might upset the monarch.

The pair of iron gates were bought by Frederick Monks, one of the town’s earliest councillors, and brought to Warrington to stand in front of the town hall.

The Trans Pennine Trail (Image Tanya Wightman)

Take a stroll along the Trans Pennine Trail

Pick up the famous route in Penketh and meander along Sankey Valley Canal before crossing over the river Mersey and making your way along the Manchester Ship Canal towards Stockton Heath and then Lymm.

Neighbourhood Weekender

Buy a ticket for one of Warrington’s festivals

Fancy listening to some live music in the open air?

Warrington’s festivals have something for all musical tastes with Neighbourhood Weekender set to entertain the crowds in May and Creamfields scheduled for the end of August.

Strawberries will soon be ripe for picking at Kenyon Hall Farm

Go fruit picking at Kenyon Hall Farm

From strawberries and raspberries to onions, peas and corn on the cob, there are 14 different varieties of fruit and veg for visitors to pick throughout the summer at Kenyon Hall Farm in Croft.

Owners expect this year’s picking season to start in early June when the first batch of strawberries will be ripe for picking!

Warrington Park Run

Do a Park Run at Victoria Park

A free, fun, and friendly weekly 5k community event and it’s up to you whether you walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate!

Every Saturday at 9am, Victoria Park on Knutsford Road hosts the weekly park run which is free to enter but you need to register before you run.

The course is a mixture of tarmac paths, trail paths and grass so it might be a bit muddy if the weather has been bad.

The Parr Hall

Take in a show or gig at The Parr Hall

Famous names from the world of entertainment take to the stage at The Parr Hall every year with audiences enjoying singing stars, comedians and theatre productions.

This year, funny men Jimmy Carr, Frankie Boyle and Tom Allen will be in Warrington as will Status Quo’s Francis Rossi, Boyzlife’s Brian McFadden and Keith Duffy, and Lulu.

Manchester Legends, Milkshake Live and Ben Fogle will also be visiting the town centre.

Partridge Pumpkin Patch (Partridge Lakes)

Pumpkin picking at Partridge Lakes Farm

Pumpkin picking season at Partridge Pumpkin Patch on Glaziers Lane in Culcheth promises to be bigger than ever this year.

Why not leave avoid the mess at home and create your Halloween pumpkin in the dedicated carving tent or enjoyed a pumpkin spiced latte in the lakeside café?

It’s definitely one for the diary!

Thorn Marine

Hire a boat at Thorn Marine

Fancy a boat trip along the Bridgewater Canal?

Thorn Marine in Stockton Heath is your one stop place for all your boating needs with dayboat hire and short break boat hire.

Why not spend a day cruising or take the next step and spend a couple of nights on the water?

Race for Life at Victoria Park

Complete a Pretty Muddy or Race for Life at Victoria Park

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life comes to Warrington on Sunday, June 11 with something to suit all ages and abilities.

There’s a 3km race, a 5kn race and 10km race as well as Pretty Muddy Kids and Pretty Muddy 5km.

It’s a great way to raise much-needed funds for charity.

Grappenhall Heys Walled Garden (Image Tom McMillen)

Go for a picnic at Grappenhall Heys Walled Garden

Pack up a picnic lunch and head to Grappenhall Heys Walled Garden if the sun is shining.

It’s open six days a week – closed on Mondays – and has two main areas – the fully working kitchen garden and the ornamental pleasure garden.

There are eight fully refurbished Victorian glasshouses, several outbuildings and three ponds as well as a cage in the centre.

The seal at Warrington Museum

See the seal at Warrington Museum

On June 17, 1908 a seal lost its way, swimming up the Mersey in high tide into Paddington Lock.

It was eight feet long and five feet around the chest weighing 104 stone.

Once the seal had been spotted in distress, the gates were closed and the seal had to be shot as the water level was too low for the seal to swim back.

The seal was so heavy it took several men to haul it onto the bank and it was bought by the museum for £7 before being taken away to be mounted.

In 1908, the seal went on permanent display at the museum and attracted 14,000 extra visitors that year.

Myra Fye and Irene Rutter at Lewis Carroll Centre at All Saints Church, Daresbury

Visit the Lewis Carroll Centre at All Saints Church, Daresbury

The part Lottery-funded £850,000 centre, which opened in 2012, welcomes around 10,000 visitors a year.

The permanent exhibits at the centre – including some at knee height for young visitors – reveal Carroll's connections to Daresbury and Warrington as well as his later life and writing Alice in Wonderland, aged 30.

He wrote more than 200 books, many of which were about mathematics and logic.

Carroll also wrote tens of thousands of letters – all in purple ink – including some in Latin, Greek, hieroglyphics, mirror writing and word spirals.

He particularly enjoyed crafting 'rebus' letters which use a combination of illustrations and words and visitors to the centre are invited to solve one for themselves.

Grappenhall Christmas Trees

Buy a Christmas tree from Grappenhall Christmas Trees

THERE’S nothing quite like the smell of a real tree at Christmas.

Putting lights and decorations on a fir tree in your living room is guaranteed to stir the festive spirit.

But how about choosing your winter greenery while it’s still growing in a field?

When Grappenhall Christmas Trees opens for the season - usually in November - it sells real trees freshly cut from the forest or still growing in the ground.

A great way to start the festivities.