We visited a zoo which is less than an hour’s drive from Liverpool

There is nothing better than finding a fun and free day out that is suitable for everyone. The summer holidays are in full swing, so many families will be looking for affordable ways to entertain their children during their six-week holiday.

With temperatures set to reach 20C across the UK today, people will also be looking for ways to enjoy the sun. I visited Walton Hall and Gardens in Warrington last weekend and I think I’ve found a perfect park to soak up the sun. Even better, it has a free petting zoo, a huge children’s playground and a nice courtyard cafe.

The drive was about 50 minutes from Liverpool city center and cost us £4.50 to park all day. I went on a Sunday afternoon so it was pretty busy. But luckily there is a full car park so there was no need to worry about the awkward turn around.

One of the many things to see at Walton Hall and Gardens is the Children’s Zoo. A big bonus is that entry is completely free.

The zoo isn’t home to the exotic animals you’d expect to see at Chester Zoo or Knowsley Safari Park, but it does have a variety of animals, including donkeys, pot-bellied pigs and alpacas. Although that didn’t stop one father from trying to convince his children that there were crocodiles in the pond.

It is home to several peacocks that roam freely around the zoo. Being the badass that I am, I was mildly terrified every time one of these free-roaming peacocks tried to scale a fence or crossed our path. But all this fear was soon put to rest when we were lucky enough to see a male peacock showing off his amazing feathers.

If you want to make your trip to Walton Hall and Gardens extra special, then you can join their rangers as they walk the zoo’s three alpacas – Jim, Topaz and Mally. Unfortunately, it had already sold out on the morning of our visit, so I’d recommend checking the website in advance. The next dates available are Saturday, August 3rd and Sunday, August 4th.

There is a huge playground for children, which is free. Other outdoor activities include Jungle Parc high ropes, adventure golf, bowling and a train that will take you through the grounds.

I really enjoyed chatting in the Stables yard. The yard has several converted stables which now house independent businesses. Located in the courtyard of The Stables is the Heritage Café, offering a selection of sandwiches, coffees and more.

Walton Hall and Gardens is open from 8am to 8pm during the summer months. Activities can be booked in advance via the Walton Hall and Gardens website here.