Cheshire oozes heritage, whether you’re in the town or the countryside. But it also has plenty of attractions that will keep the kids amused. More often than than not, these attractions will educate as well entertain; you can surreptitiously teach the kids about zoology, chemistry and astro-physics, as well as industrial and political history, and they’ll just think they’re having fun!

1 Laser Quest
There’s nothing educational about this – just 100 percent fun. Laser Quest is, as every child knows, like diving into a PlayStation game. It’s paintballing for techno-addicts – ‘the ultimate sci-fi action adventure’ as Laser Quest describes itself.
Each game lasts 20 minutes, and involves players stalking each other through futuristic battle zones. Equipped with body packs and lasers, you creep along catwalks and through mazes, surrounded by flashing lights, loud music and swirling fog. Each time you zap an opponent with your laser gun, you score points.
There are many game formats to choose from, and you’ll be fully briefed and equipped before starting. Wear dark, casual clothes and flat shoes with a reasonable grip.
And if this sounds like your idea of hell, drop the kids off and wait in the snooker centre upstairs. It’s part of Laser Quest and offers nine full-size tables, pool, darts, a licensed bar and food.

2 Chester Zoo
Put aside a whole day for Chester Zoo: it’s so big that even if you travel around it by the overhead monorail, you’ll do well to see everything. The zoo’s residents are extremely well looked after, and without the international zoo-breeding programme in which Chester Zoo participates, many species would by now be extinct. And forget the traditional picture of caged animals – there are no bars here, just spacious enclosures. The highlights of your visit are likely to be the big beasts: elephants, rhinos, giraffes and lions. But there’s so much more to see, with over 5000 animals, and 500 species on show. Why not ask about adopting an animal or becoming a member? Both are excellent ways of supporting the zoo’s work.

3 Blue Planet Aquarium
Set out in a series of themed areas such as ‘The Amazon’ and ‘Lake Malawi’, there’s no shortage of things to see at the Blue Planet – and if you’re feeling brave, you can even dive with the sharks.
See the predatory pike, which strikes its prey at 60mph. Also on display is the arapaima, the world’s largest freshwater fish, which grows to 14 feet and leaps out of the water to snatch monkeys from the trees. It can break a man’s ribs with a flick of the tail, although you should be safe here.
The highlight of any visit is the 70m viewing tunnel. Walk through it and marvel at the enormous sharks gliding above you. And don’t think that the acrylic tunnel exaggerates their size – it actually makes them seem one-third smaller.

4 The Boat Museum
As an introduction to Britain’s inland waterways, The Boat Museum is unparalleled. But do keep a firm grip on younger kids – there’s lots of deep water around.
Ellesmere Port was once the west coast‘s biggest centre for the transfer of goods between sea-going and canal boats. Cornish china-clay would come through here bound for Stoke-on-Trent, and the resulting pottery would be transported back out from here to the rest of the world.
There is plenty to see and do: find out how locks work; visit replicas of dock-workers’ cottages; and uncover the history of the Manchester Ship Canal, which separates the museum from the Mersey. You can even take a short trip on a canal boat.

5 Catalyst science discovery centre
Appropriately housed in a converted soap factory in Widnes and surrounded by the Cheshire chemical industry, the Catalyst Science Discovery Centre might not sound too enticing. But you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Start by taking the external glass lift up to the observation floor. There are terrific views of the Mersey estuary, and the towers and spires of the surrounding chemical works. Observe them directly, or pan and zoom-in with the CCTV cameras.
On the floors below are three principal displays: Scientrific, Birth of an Industry, and Chemicals for Life, all relentlessly interactive. Kids can push buttons and pull levers to their hearts content, and learn about chemistry at the same time.

6 Jodrell Bank
The Lovell radio telescope at Jodrell Bank is the third largest in the world, and eavesdrops on the almost unimaginable immensity of the universe. You’ll see the dish long before you get to it – it is enormous. The dish itself is, of course, the territory of the boffins from Manchester University. But there are all sorts of displays that are open to the public, together with a 3-D cinema in which you can take a trip to Mars. Outside you can wander through the extensive arboretum – the perfect spot for a picnic.
A word of caution: Jodrell Bank is being redeveloped, so check which parts will actually be open before you visit. The old planetarium and visitor centre have been demolished, but a new observational pathway around the telescope, with a variety of external displays, has just opened.

7 Hack Green Nuclear Bunker
Our last visit is perhaps the oddest. Built in the 1950s, this huge underground bunker would, in the event of nuclear war, have become one of the country’s centres of regional government.
You can explore the communications centre and telephone exchange, the life support facilities, and the decontamination centre. Two cinemas show previously top-secret films, and you can even view the original films intended for broadcast in the event of nuclear attack. If this seems a bit heavy, there’s a Soviet Spy Mouse Trail for the kids, and a Bunker Bistro where you can pick up your survival rations.