Cheshire's free children's outdoor pool and play area opens for summer
Church Walk Paddling Pool in Northwich has opened for summer bookings, offering families a free outdoor day out with advance online booking required. Families across Cheshire can n
By Cheshire Live
Church Walk Paddling Pool in Northwich has opened for summer bookings, offering families a free outdoor day out with advance online booking required.
Families across Cheshire can now book a free summer day out after Church Walk Paddling Pool in Northwich opened for the season.
The popular outdoor children’s paddling pool is managed by Northwich Town Council and is one of the area’s best-known free family attractions during the warmer months.
The pool is open from late May until early September, with two daily sessions available: 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm. Visitors must book online in advance, as walk-ins are not allowed.
Everyone attending needs to be included on the booking, including adults who are not planning to go into the water. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during the session.
The pool is free to book, although visitors from outside Northwich are asked to consider making a donation to help support the facility. Northwich Town Council says the attraction is funded through the town council precept paid by local residents.
For families trying to keep children entertained without spending heavily, the reopening is welcome news. Days out can quickly become expensive during school holidays and warm weekends, especially once travel, food and entry prices are added together.
Church Walk Paddling Pool offers a simple alternative: a free, outdoor activity where young children can cool off, play and enjoy time outside.
The facility is designed for young children and is a shallow paddling pool rather than a swimming pool. Pool rules state that it is not for swimming or diving, and children inside the pool enclosure must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times.
The site also has practical facilities for families, including male and female toilets that double as changing rooms, an onsite shop selling food and drink, seating around the pool and grass areas suitable for picnics.
A family play area is located next to the pool, giving children another place to burn off energy before or after their booked session.
Advance booking is used because the pool is a popular attraction and regularly draws families from beyond Northwich. Managing numbers helps keep sessions safer and more enjoyable for visitors.
Visit Northwich says the pool had more than 24,000 tickets booked across 202 sessions last year, showing just how popular the facility has become with families.
Bookings are weather dependent, and sessions may be cancelled if conditions are poor. Families are advised to check their booking emails and rebook if a session cannot go ahead.
There are also rules designed to keep the area safe and clean. Dogs are not allowed in the pool or enclosure, glass bottles and china are banned, alcohol and smoking are not permitted, and visitors are asked not to run around the pool area because surfaces may be slippery.
For parents, grandparents and childminders, the appeal is obvious. A free outdoor pool and nearby play area can turn a warm day into a proper family outing without the cost of a commercial attraction.
The reopening also comes at a time when many households are looking more carefully at affordable things to do. Free local facilities like Church Walk Paddling Pool give children the chance to be active and social while helping families manage summer costs.
Outdoor play is also important for children’s wellbeing. Paddling, climbing, running and playing with others all give young children a break from screens and indoor routines.
For Northwich, the pool is more than just a seasonal attraction. It is part of the town’s family offer and helps bring people into the area during the summer months.
Even when the pool itself is free, families visiting the town may also support nearby shops, cafés and local businesses before or after their session. That makes the attraction valuable not only for parents but also for the wider town centre.
Church Walk Paddling Pool has become one of those simple local facilities that families remember from summer to summer. It may not be a large attraction, but for young children on a warm day, it offers exactly what is needed: water play, fresh air and space to enjoy being outside.
Families planning a visit should book online before travelling and check the latest session availability through Visit Northwich.