Catalyst

Catalyst sits on the edge of Widnes, a vast glass structure that looks more like a spaceship than a museum. It's the former ICI chemical works converted into a science and industry centre, and it's genuinely absorbing whether you're ten or sixty.

Inside, you'll find interactive exhibits about chemistry, salt extraction, and the industrial heritage that built this corner of Cheshire. The centrepiece is a proper working laboratory where you can watch actual experiments - nothing dumbed down, nothing pretend. Kids gravitate toward the hands-on zones, but there's enough technical depth here for anyone with a genuine curiosity about how things are made.

Allow two to three hours minimum. It's free entry, which seems generous for what's on offer, though donations are suggested. The best time to visit is mid-week in term time when school groups have cleared out and you get the place to yourself.

If you're based at one of the nearby parks - The Ridgeway is particularly strong at 5.0 rating - Catalyst makes a decent indoor option on a grey day. It's only a short drive from Frodsham, and sits well alongside walking routes around the Cheshire plains. The building itself is worth seeing even if chemistry leaves you cold. It's not going to rival a proper day out at Delamere Forest or the coast, but as a stand-alone visit it punches above its weight. Worthwhile if you've got the time.