The Ice Cream Farm

With more than 50 flavours of Cheshire Farm ice cream, The Ice Cream Farm is officially the biggest ice cream parlour in the world. It’s the brand of choice for genteel establishments like theatres but on-site you can branch-out flavour-wise and choose from Confidential Guides’ favourites like biscoffi, apple and sour cherry or rhubarb and custard.

Although ice cream is the name of the game and the name of the place, it’s not the top priority here. The Ice Cream Farm is a powerhouse of kid’s play, all themed around their favourite messy, melty treat with the real thing on hand to round off the day.

Entry is cheap and gets you parking and as much time as you want on the outdoor play area. It’s best for younger kids but it’s done very well with a giant ice cream tree at its centre – like something out of an Enid Blyton book.

Other activities are pay per play but there’s a good choice including a gemstone-panning station, mini diggers, ride-on tractors, indoor soft play, a mini Land Rover driving track, a bouncy pillow (a cross between a trampoline and a bouncy castle for the uninitiated), crazy golf, diddy quad bike racing and what’s billed as Europe’s largest sand and water play area.

There’s also a tween hangout for over 7s with table tennis, arcades, pool, air hockey and a jukebox.

If you’re just coming for the ice cream, there’s a drive-thru option too. Just watch that chocolate ripple cookie dough on your interiors.