There are plenty of hidden gems in this Cheshire town that are great for all ages - take a trip into the past with these historical outings around Warrington borough.
RAF Burtonwood Heritage Centre
Have a relative or friend who lived through the Second World War? The former RAF and US Air Force base at Burtonwood played a full part in that conflict and the post-war period. Relive the Blitz with the recreated air raid shelter, sit at the controls of an aircraft used in the Berlin Airlift, or learn about women who fell in love with American servicemen and became GI brides. Marvel at the sight of the P47 Thunderbolt fighter planes and the Flying Fortress and Superfortress bombers used in raids over Germany and Japan. If wartime nostalgia is your thing, where better to go than the former site of Europe’s largest airbase.
Its based on the site of Gulliver’s World in Old Hall, near Westbrook, WA5 9YZ.
Museum of Policing in Cheshire
Everyone from former police officers to loveable rogues will enjoy a step back in time to the 1900s at this museum.
You’ll find yourself face to face with an early 20th century bobby on the beat and get the chance to see what a spell in the cells would be like in Victorian times.
Uniforms, medals and a range of old police vehicles are also on display. You do need to book to visit this museum, as it’s based inside Arpley Street Police Station, in Warrington town centre. It is accessible to wheelchairs. To arrange a visit, call 01606 365803, or visit the Museum Of Policing in Cheshire’s official website.
Warrington Museum and Art Gallery
A fixture in the town centre for more than a century and a half, Warrington Museum and Art Gallery includes the town’s main library.
Did your relative work in the wire industry? There are exhibitions about the people who made it and why it was so important
Want to know more about your family history or the area you live in? Check out the Census returns, electoral registers, old maps, photographs, parish registers and local newspapers. If your relative struggles to walk, the centre has level access on most floors and hearing assistance technology
Find it on Museum Street, Warrington.
Walton Hall and Gardens
A popular attraction to people in Warrington for several generations, the former home of Lord and Lady Daresbury needs little introduction.
Take in the splendour of Walton Hall, an Elizabethan style building with fabulous views over the whole estate. It’s used by many couples as a backdrop for their wedding. Marvel at the Cycling Museum’s fascinating array of bikes big and small including boneshakers and penny farthings. Or enjoy a saunter around the extensive gardens with their magnificent ponds and take in a visit to the zoo.
There are accessible toilets but wheelchair users will need to use some effort in the grounds. Find the hall at Higher Walton, WA4 6SN
Grappenhall Heys Walled Garden
Take a trip back in time to the glorious landscapes that were once created by a wealthy landowner but are now open to the public.
Created by wealthy Warrington banker Thomas Parr in 1830, the house has long since been demolished. But the gardens have been restored thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund and the hard work of the Friends of Grappenhall Heys Walled Garden.