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 Tuesday there will be a special superhero-themed event hosted at Merseybay.

The full event itinerary is as follows:

• Tuesday 4 August - Spider Hero and Spider Ghoul visit, plus a free craft session to create a superhero-themed keyring
• Tuesday 11 August - Superhero Girl and Bat Hero swoop in for meet and greets, while youngsters design their own superhero kite.
• Tuesday 18 August - Green Giant and Rock Man arrive for photo opportunities, while young recruits enjoy a free stationery hunt around the shopping centre
• Tuesday 25 August - The Superhero Academy Party takes to the streets, featuring a host of superhero appearances, interactive entertainment and plenty of surprises.

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.

Saturday Snackdown - Stockport Market

Stockport Market is getting ready for a fun-packed summer, having just launched a new series of free family events taking place over the next few months.

Dubbed 'Saturday Snack Down', the events will be running once per month until October 2026.

They will feature food traders, live performances, and activities, and they'll all be completely free and un-ticketed.

The theme of the event will be changing month by month, too, meaning with every visit you'll be in for something new.

The next event, Superhero Saturday, takes place on Saturday 15 August 2026 from 12:00pm to 5:00pm, transforming Stockport Market into a hub of spectacular heroes and characters.

A spokesperson for Stockport Market said: "Saturday Snack Down is all about creating fun, memorable days out for local families and bringing even more life and activity into the market.

"It's exactly the kind of event we love bringing to Stockport Market - something fun, welcoming and memorable for children and families to enjoy together.

"We want people to spend time in the town centre, make new memories, and experience everything that makes our market such a special place to visit."

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.

Krazy Races

Stockport Krazy Races is set to return to the town this August, with organisers confirming a spectacular Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast as part of 2026's event.

The hugely popular and free soapbox derby races back into Stockport town centre on Sunday 9 August, with 30 teams currently confirmed to take part.

And while homemade soapboxes hurtle down from St Peter's Square to Mersey Square, in the skies an aircraft from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will soar past - while the exact model is yet to be confirmed, it could be a Spitfire, a Dakota, or a Hurricane.

And that's not all - a classic car show will also be taking place at the event, with the Italian Auto Moto Club due to bring a collection of their stunning motors to Stockport's Market Place.

This event is being staged by Krazy Races - who host similar events across the country - in collaboration with Totally 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 in 2024 following an extensive redesign.

And, best of all, there are a number of activities taking place at the museum throughout August.

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.

Marvel from Marple exhibition

A new exhibition at Stockroom is celebrating the life and work of Stockport-born artist Alan Boyson (1930 - 9 August 2018).

Alan, who was born in Marple, is perhaps most famous for sculpting Merseyway's geometric exterior screens.

His other works include The Tree of Knowledge in Salford, Three Ships in Hull, decorative works at The Church of the Epiphany and St John, and much more.

He was also a teacher at Wolverhampton College of Art and an Associate of the Royal College of Art.

The exhibition, dubbed 'The Marvel from Marple', invites residents to rediscover the work of a local artist whose bold designs are visible across Britain.

It will feature hands-on activities as well as extensive research and detail about Alan's life, and aims to off the chance "to celebrate a homegrown creative talent and see one of Stockport's most familiar landmarks in a whole new way".

Also on display will be some of Boyson's works loaned from private collections, plus ceramics, printed tiles, photographs, and more.

More events taking place in Stockroom can be found at: https://www.stockrm.org/.

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Still stuck for ideas? Check out Stockport Council's roundup of 50 suggestions here.

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