Summer Family Days Out - Rochdale and surrounding areas

Catherine Aspinall, a local mum of two lively children and an equally energetic pug, shares her top family day out ideas. With a love for exploring and the outdoors, Catherine and her family are always out and about, having fun adventures in Rochdale & the North West. Follow on Facebook & Instagram @wherewegoingmummy

The school summer holidays are fast approaching… which probably means the weather will become very unpredictable. We are surrounded by lovely green spaces for when the sun makes an appearance, but thankfully there are also some great local indoor options to entertain the kids when it rains.

SPRINGFIELD PARK

• Bolton Road, Rochdale

• Car parking within the park at OL11 4RE

Whilst Springfield Park may be one of the smaller parks in the borough, it does have a good playground, a duck pond and boasts what could be termed a hidden gem - a miniature railway! Throughout the summer trains will be running every Sunday between 1pm and 4pm, with rides being only £1!

HEALEY DELL

• Car parking available on Station Road at OL12 8RY or by the delicious Healey Dell Tea Rooms (OL12 6BG)

Healey Dell is an excellent place to explore with children. Mine particularly like to ride their bikes along the old railway line and across the impressive viaduct, often pretending to be trains, and sometimes even brave the Plop Pump Track (close to the entrance at Massey Croft). There’s also lots of adventuring to do on foot, discovering new paths, crossing bridges over the River Spodden, peering into lodges filled with ducks and fish and admiring impressive waterfalls (but beware of the steps and steep drops!). We also discovered that there’s a little playground, with an assault course which can apparently double as a Gladiator’s Eliminator!

STUBBYLEE AND MOORLAND PARKS

• Stubbylee Lane, Bacup

• Car park at OL13 0DE (or nearby road parking also available)

Across the road from the lovely Tommy Tumble Town (see opposite) you will find Stubbylee and Moorlands Parks, which provide the perfect way to extend your day out. The parks feature a playground, complete with a slide, swings and one of those nauseating spinning seesaw things. For the older, more adventurous kids you will also find a pump track. Hidden amongst the trees, next to a babbling stream, there is also a wonderful Fairy Dell, which I suspect Tinkerbell actually does really live in.

TOWN HALL & COLOURSCAPE

• The Esplanade, Rochdale

• Town centre car parks such as Rochdale Riverside (OL16 1BE)

Rochdale Town Hall may wow adults with its Victorian architecture and beautiful stained-glass windows, but it also has lots to appeal to children, including blocks to build a miniature Town Hall and clothes to dress up as the mayor. My children also enjoy the audio stations, puzzles and brass rubbing, and always laugh at the special "hidden toilet".

Over the summer there are even more things for children to enjoy at Rochdale Town Hall, such as magical tours, drumming workshops and a theatre production. Keep your eyes peeled for a family fun day planned for August. More information can be found at rochdaletownhall.co.uk

The space outside of Rochdale Town Hall will also play host to Colourscape this summer, where families can immerse themselves in a world of colour, light and music. As odd as it may sound, you basically wander through a huge inflatable rainbow, finding pockets of diverse colour, feeling different temperatures and discovering various musicians - a feast for all the senses - and honestly quite captivating! Tickets for 12 & 13th July are now on sale at: yourtrustrochdale.co.uk/whats-on/events/colourscape-2025 - and you should snap some up quickly before they sell out!

FIREGROUND

• Maclure Road, Rochdale

• Fireground can be found across the road from Rochdale train station and metrolink stop, or there is a free car park at OL11 1DU

Fireground makes for a fabulous trip out on a rainy day, with a host of different fire engines to admire (and some to climb into), dressing up opportunities and an interactive fire fighter game. For the older children there are also exhibitions about the Great Fire of London and The Blitz, including a mock London street. Fireground is open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10am-4pm. Pre-booking is not required, entrance fees currently £8 adults / £6 children aged 4+). Summer Family Fun Day on Sunday 3rd August.

TOMMY TUMBLE TOWN

• Unit 6, Pippin Bank, Bacup

• Parking available outside at OL13 0BU

Tommy Tumble Town offers a new place for children to enjoy role play, whether that be pretending to be a vet, a beautician or a fire fighter. There is even an optician’s shop, where it was established that I definitely need glasses! Tommy Tumble Town has been created in memory of a special little boy, Tommy, who adored pretend play. Sessions can be booked at tommy-tumble.co.uk.