Get excited about these 11 things happening in Halton this year

We often miss some of the best places and attractions that are right under our nose – and one of the gems in Liverpool City Region has got to be Halton.

It’s only a sprint down the M62 – less than 20 minutes away from Liverpool – and it’s stacked with amazing things to see and do as well as being home to some of the best events in the North West (if not the country and beyond!).

Halton’s heaped with history:

Did you know there were people living there from the Stone Age and during the Roman era (and it’s mentioned in the Domesday Book)?

That it’s the site of a castle besieged by Parliamentarians during the English Civil War?

Or even that it was once a thriving textile town with mills built along the River Lune?

It’s a fascinating and fun place, and whether you want to explore its arts and culture at local galleries and museums, wander the beautiful green spaces along the Mersey River and in its parks, delve into its rich history … or dance the days away at one of its best-loved and known music festivals, Halton has got plenty going on in 2025.

Creamfields

One to get us away to a great start! The world’s premier electronic dance music festival is back at Daresbury on Bank Holiday Weekend, August 21-24. And 2025 is set to be their most ambitious festival to date with a new groundbreaking outdoor mega stage, HALO, which is set to offer a jaw dropping immersive experience with a 45-metre diameter, cyclical outdoor arena with pioneering 360 and overhead video, lighting and sound; the Electric Forest, a stunning new stage set amid immersive woodland-inspired décor, bringing nature to life; and a brand-new Sports, Wellness and Entertainment Village, ‘Downtown’ – oh, and some of the biggest names in electronic music across the globe.

Find out more here.

Field 28

Take a trip to Growing@field28 in Daresbury which grows the best quality specialist leaf, microgreens, edible flowers, heritage vegetables and English cut flowers which are delivered to restaurants across the UK – and you can buy in their farm shop. They follow traditional no-dig market gardening practices ensuring greater biodiversity of the soil and upholding their commitment to put more into the ground than they take away. They also sell loads of gorgeous pantry and dairy foods, coffee from their espresso bar, and freshy- prepared deli items which are available to enjoy while you shop or take away.

Find out more here.

Catalyst Science Discovery Centre

Catalyst’s a great science-based family attraction with an educational focus so kids can learn while they’re having fun. There are interactive exhibits, museum archives, historical galleries, family shows and hands-on workshops; and a glass walled, roof-top gallery – which you get to via an external glass lift – gives you panoramic views of the area with hands-on exhibits and a photographic collection so you can learn about its heritage.

Find out more here.

Parks and green spaces

There are loads of parks and green spaces to choose from this year and every year including Runcorn Hill Park, Victoria Park, and Hale Park. Trips to Runcorn Hill Park and Victoria Park aren’t complete without a stop at Esposito’s Deli to sample their amazing ice creams (the Mint Chocolate Nut Ripple is a must), Italian coffee and homemade bakes and sandwiches, and The Glasshouse at Victoria Park has activities on throughout the year.

Find out more here.

Mars at The Museum – Norton Priory Museum and Gardens

On the edge of Runcorn, it was once home to a medieval church and is the most excavated monastic site in Europe. You can see the 12th century undercroft with its beautiful vaulted ceiling and priory ruins showing the layout of its medieval past, discover fascinating facts and objects in the museum, and wander around the woodland and walled gardens. The museum holds loads of events throughout the year too:

From now until Sunday, March 9, it’s home to Luke Jerram’s Mars installation; in February it’s holding garden workshops inspired by CBBC programme The Clangers as well as Intergalactic Bath Bomb Workshops with Lush Cosmetics; there’s a Bee Festival in May and an outdoor performance of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in June, as well as more outdoor and music events!

Find out more here.

The Childe of Hale

We love a legend – and standing in the heart of Hale village is a unique tribute to a local one—the Childe of Hale statue. This impressive monument commemorates the tallest man in history, ‘gentle giant’ John Middleton who towered at 9ft 3in, and wrestled for King James 1. Hale itself is a lovely picture-postcard village with thatched roof cottages and home of The Childe of Hale gastropub, and after food and a drink there you can go for a scenic walk along the River Mersey to the Hale lighthouse which overlooks the beaches and saltmarsh of the river.

Find out more here.

Halton Castle

Standing above the town of Runcorn you can get to the site of its remains through the popular Castle pub – itself worth a visit. The shell keep castle is rare (with only 71 recorded throughout the country) and it’s one of only two Norman churches in Cheshire.

Find out more here.

Halton Miniature Railway

This is such a cute steam locomotive that runs for almost a mile on a 7 1/4″ gauge track through a small part of Town Park. It’s a 10-minute journey that kids – including some of us big ones! – will absolutely love. It opened in 1979, and the railway is run entirely by volunteer members of the Halton Miniature Railway Society.

Find out more here.

Lewis Carroll Centre and All Saints Church

Fans of Lewis Carroll will love this, dedicated to the famous local author. You can take a self-guided walk around ‘The Birthplace’ of Lewis Carroll, wander through the Woodland Trust’s Lewis Carroll Centenary Wood, and explore his story in an all-year-round exhibition alongside All Saints Church in Daresbury where his father was a vicar.  The church is beautifully kept with praised examples of Jacobean carving – and look out for the Alice in Wonderland stained glass memorial window.

Find out more here.

Daresbury Dairy

While you’re out and about exploring around Daresbury you cannot leave without sampling a scoop of ice cream from Daresbury Dairy. They make it fresh on the farm with milk from the family’s Fresian cows (the shop also sells tea and coffee if you’re after a brew) along with scrumptious dairy free sorbets. Flavours include honeycomb, strawberry, raspberry ripple, banana, biscoff, salted caramel, rum & raisin, caramelised fig & mascarpone, and stem ginger so going there’s a no-brainer – the only problem is which flavour to choose!

Find out more here.

Eating Out in Halton

It’s not just about ice cream – although Halton does seem to be home to some of the best producers of the creamy stuff – there are so many great and gorgeous places to eat and raise a glass or two. Brew Lane next to Halton Stadium is the perfect place for coffee and cake, and Em’s Cookhouse in Widnes is the place to go for great Thai food. Scholars Training Restaurant at Riverside College allows you to try gourmet food and silver service, without the expensive price tag. The Greyhound at Halton is a fab village pub offering home-cooked food – and a big beer garden for when the sun shines; if you’re after pasta, what about Melenio in Runcorn? And if you fancy a spot by the canal, try The Lockdown Pub & Kitchen which has teamed up with Turn Up The Base Pizza for its menu of pizzas and Italian Beef sandwiches served up with sport, and live music at weekends.

Find out more here.