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Model Villages & Miniature Railways in Liverpool

Neither of these is on your doorstep, but both make a decent day of it once you're there. High Legh Miniature Railway, a longer trip out to Knutsford, has a half-kilometre track to ride round, a play area for afterwards, and a deal where a pound gets you back on for a second lap. Out at Northwich, Blakemere Village is free to get into and has its own mini railway alongside Segway rides through the forest, falconry and archery, plus a playground for anyone too small for the rest of it. If your children are little, Blakemere's playground and the gentler pace of a free site probably wins over a day of paid extras. Older kids might prefer High Legh, where the train ride itself is the main event and the extra pound for another go rarely gets turned down. Both allow dogs and both have free parking, which helps soften the drive from Liverpool.

✓ 3 places✦ 2 free to visit