Nine Summer day out ideas in and around Stockport
The summer holidays are here, and chances are you're looking for things to fill your days with!
Here are some suggestions for the itinerary - whether you're enjoying some time to yourself, or if you're looking for some family days out for the memory bank.
Merseybay beach fun
No need to go to the beach when Stockport Merseyway centre has brought it here!
Merseybay is a massiev outdoor sandpit replete with deck chairs, seaside snacks, toys and games, and much more.
It's a great way to enjoy the seaside atmosphere without having to leave this little corner of the Pennines.
The beach will be free and open for all to enjoy - especially children who can have fun playing in the pit and parents who can relax by the 'beach'-side.
Better yet, every Friday there will be a special event hosted at Merseybay. Expect Mermaids, Urban Hula, and more.
Kicking off the itinerary of events on Friday 1 August is the Ohana Summer Launch Party, where families can enjoy live music, games and family-friendly activities.
Pear Mill
Once discovered, this hidden gem is always a favourite on the day out menu. This historic building is packed with independent businesses offering a huge range of activity options.
The Vintage Emporium is one of the jewels in the Pear Mill crown, with a bewildering array of antiques and vintage clothes stretching for almost an entire floor of the mill. There is also a cafe, perfect for a break between browsing.
Although there isn't much in the way of 'activities' for kids at the Emporium, imaginative youngsters will find much to enjoy in winding through the warren of shelves and admiring the objects for sale. What's more, there are other businesses based out of Pear Mill offering rock climbing, a soft play centre, and more.
Smileyworld Art Trail
You may have noticed some new smiley face sculptures in the town centre. There's actually 15 of them scattered across Stockport, from Portwood Tesco through to Market Place.
Going out to see them all is actually a perfect excuse to have a look around the town centre while the young ones hone their map-finding and adventuring skills.
Perfect for all ages, the trail is designed as a 'self-guided experience'.
This 'quirky, exciting and fun' collection showcases the 'full spectrum' of human emotion, from anxiety to pride, joy to surprise, and everything in between.
See if you can spot them all!
Find a map of all the sculpture locations here.
Reddish Vale Farm and park
Reddish Vale Farm is one of Stockport's most popular visitor attractions on Trustpilot. The place is proof that nobody is ever too old to coo over cute animals.
The farm offers the opportunity for visitors of all ages to say hello to friendly fauna, plus there is also a soft play area, a riding school, and food and drink.
Further still, it sits in the beautiful surrounds of Reddish Vale Park, where there are plenty of walking trails crisscrossing this green corner of Stockport.
Avro Heritage Museum
This is one of those museums where you could easily spend a good few days...
Avro Heritage Museum features a fleet of historical and replica aircraft, flight simulators, VR experiences, and a regular programme of events.
Also on offer are cockpit tours of certain aircraft, and a cafe with panoramic views over the airfield.
A great place to spark or indulge an interest in history, engineering, and, of course, aircraft.
Nature walks
Summer provides as good an excuse as any to take to the footpaths, and indeed to some of the beautiful natural areas around Stockport.
There are always free group-led walks taking place in Stockport - you can find some of them on the Stockport Council website.
If you're looking for your own route, the Peak Forest Canal, the River Mersey, or Werneth Low are just some ideas to try.
Bramall Hall
This one goes without saying! This beautiful historic hall offers a lot; the charming hall itself is wonderfully preserved, with grand rooms, secret hidey holes, rare medieval wall paintings, and more.
There is also plenty of interest for kids, with regular activities and events. Further still, there is a cafe, a gift shop, and a lovely wooded park.
The hall is having repairs on its roof at the moment, but it remains open. Indeed, for those interested in conservation, it's a chance to appreciate some hitherto unseen aspects of the building.
Stockport Hat Museum
Another much-loved tourist attraction, this is the UK's only dedicated hatting museum. It re-opened last year following an extensive redesign.
And, best of all, there are free activities taking place at the museum until 30 August.
This includes creative art activities, such as colouring-in placemats and a summer art club in the activity room where all materials are provided.
There's also the 'Arc in the Park' activity map for outdoor fun in nearby Viaduct Park – for drawing, photography, or writing inspired by nature.
As for the museum itself, you can, funnily enough, expect to find hats. But there's more to it than that! Interactive exhibits, factory tours, and more.
Some of the landmark hats include the Duke of Wellington's bicorne, a fez made in Stockport which found its way to South Africa (and back!), some statement hats from Manchester drag artists, and many more.
Find more information here.
Visit Stockroom
Stockroom - Stockport's new library and events space - opened on Saturday 24 May.
It's based on the Merseyway high street, in what was once vacant retail units (formerly Topshop and Mothercare).
It's a lovely space to browse books, have a brew, and even catch a range of performances - find the full events programme here.
And there's an awful lot going on over summer, with a packed programme of events.
This includes a children's storytime which takes place every Wednesday morning at 11am in the children's library, which can be joined for free with no need to book.
More events taking place in Stockroom can be found at: https://www.stockrm.org/.
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