Top 12 things to do and attractions in Sale

Absolutely love thus place all year round but especially in summer where it's always good to have a paddle. There's supervised swimming 🏊‍♂️, canoeing, jet skiing 🎿 to name but a few. I just like to have a walk and reconnect with nature. Great place to walk your dog 🐕.

Lovely place to walk around at anytime of the day. But i do enjoy an evening walk 👌 The restaurant stays open quite late and offers take out option on their hot drinks, possibly others never tried. The restaurant staff are helpful and friendly too. There are a few different walks available, lots of great photo opportunities and also a wildlife hut half way if you need to take 5. Benches around the walk too. Plenty of parking and easy to get to. Never tried the water activities but from what I have seen they appear to be good, folk sound happy enough when partaking. Great for dog walks too

Lovely park for a walk or a picnic on a sunny day. Quite big and plenty of space to sit around the lake. **PLEASE NOTE: No renting available this summer - which was quite disappointing since we had read online that you were able to hire pedal boats, canoes, kayaks etc.

A beautiful place to visit especially on a sunny day. Lots of activities available and a lovely place for dog walking and a day out. Has everything needed for a great family activity day to a quiet lone walk with the dog. A lot is wheelchair accessible.

Beautiful park with lots of activities, plenty of parking. Great to spend time with family and friends.

Great place to visit..ive not been here for quite a while..brings back some many childhood memories..

Such a beautiful walk. Very well looked after trail. Which even breaks off onto the river Mersey if you're wanting different scenaryy

A really beautiful and unique garden that kind of feels like being in a video game map. It's clear there's been a lot of effort put into making and maintaining it.

The Walken Gardens is not only a charming garden for the Wisteria goers but it is also a picnic place for family gatherings on holidays. The particular design of the garden is a mysterious maze giving you a challenge on the lawns walking through to find your way out. When entering the Gardens, people are firstly greeted by the "Dovecote" standing solemly before your sight. Walking along the lawns of the maze, you can find an arch built for the wiseria plants climbing on it , red maples to attract your eye-sight, types of butterflies and bees dancing among the flower blossoms. People are hardly to find a garden like Walken Gardens because there are spacious squares designed inside the maze for families to bring their children for a picnic here. It is a pity that most of the wisteria blossms had fallen when I have visited. There are still some strings of them hanging down overhead from the brim of the arch. Wisteria goers can have a good view in the early May of each year.

Wisteria is blooming! Finally caught it this year:) This garden is always well looked after

Small but perfectly formed park! Best bit IMO is the Japanese garden which looks beautiful in all seasons with its stone river and cute seating area. Also has a wisteria tunnel, which is amazing to walk through when in bloom, a mini hill great for little ones to tumble down and a mini maze. No swings or slides though, just lots of connected little gardens.

A pretty little gardens, great in all seasons, especially autumn when all the leaves change colour. In spring the flowers are beautiful and vibrant. Good place for a short walk with the dog, although dogs are kept on leads which is good for nervous dogs or puppies.

Lovely park, amazing Japanese garden with plenty of paths to explore and relax.

Little hidden gem. I was here almost every day when walking the dog during covid and I believe it helped me. Even took some of our wedding pics here.

Lovely little park. Highlight is the 30p sit on train. Kids playground. Just needs the bushes trimming on the path round the bowling green. Coffee barge well placed!

I recently visited Walton Park for a day of family and friends fun, and it turned out to be a delightful experience. The park offered a wide range of amenities that catered to various interests. One of the highlights of the park was its well-maintained playground. It was thoughtfully divided into sections, ensuring that children of all ages could have a great time. The play area for toddlers was perfect for the little ones to explore and play safely, while the separate play area for older kids provided an engaging space for them to run, climb, and have fun. Sports enthusiasts had their share of excitement too. The tennis and basketball courts were in excellent condition, and what I particularly liked was the flexibility to use the same court for 5-a-side football. We even tried our hand at cricket, although it might not have been the intended use for the space. The only downside was that the toilets were closed during our visit, which was a bit inconvenient, hopefully this might have been a temporary issue. For those looking for a quieter experience, the peaceful walk by the canal adjacent to the park was a serene escape from the playground's energy. Additionally, the small train ride available on Sundays added an extra layer of excitement for the kids. One minor suggestion would be to add more slides to the kids' play area. After a while, my children did start to get a bit bored, and a few additional play elements could have kept them entertained for longer. All in all, our visit to Walton Park was a pleasant one. It's a well-rounded destination for families, sports enthusiasts, and those seeking a tranquil walk by the water. With a few minor improvements, it could become an even more attractive spot for a day of outdoor enjoyment.

Great park to take the little ones as there are two play areas (one for toddlers and one for older kids). Free basketball and tennis courts. The park even connects onto the canal for lovely walks.

Brilliant little park! Love the miniature railway.

Beautiful compact park with a large field, well maintained gardens, basketball court, playground and a little train track! Plus it backs on to the canal. Small but you could easily spend a whole day here.

It's a nice little place with a miniature train for kids that runs on certain days.ot has a canal boat cafe aswell. We took are youngest grandchild there, had to stop a cockapoo puppy from mouthing the child because the owners weren't watching it properly, they were more concerned with chatting. But apart from idiots who weren't watching their dog properly it's a nice place to visit.

Great park to bring children to. Nice pathways for pushing either pushchairs or wheelchairs . Nice play area with swings for the kids. Good place for a picnic

Absolutely amazing experience, the staff the drinks and the vibes I could spend all day here so therapeutic. Cant wait to come back to this lovey place 🤍 Variety of things to choose from a good range of prices. Paints are easy to access and numbered to see the colours from the piece of paper given. Table service. Wish I could spend more time I feel the time flew by, especially when you pick the bigger things to paint 🎨

We had a lovely time, the staff are all so nice and attentive. We didn’t have food but we had a hot drink which came super fast. So many pots and things to choose from, and great paint selection too. I will definitely be back again some time.

Came here for an evening session and had the best time. The staff were friendly and informative. We were shocked by the huge range of pottery to pick from and also the colours. It was BYOB but they had a cheap soft drink menu and small evening food menu including nachos. Only downside is that we all struggled to find the café but none of us are from Sale tbf!

Loved every min of our time there, so relaxing and able to spend time with my older children. Food was amazing and also the drinks, we enjoyed that much we try to attend as much as we can .

We had a lovely time painting pots for my colleagues baby shower. The staff were very attentive and answered lots of questions we had about how things worked, how to paint the pots and then paying and collecting items. The atmosphere was lovely, and drinks very nice, we did not have food. A great morning :)

Such a cute setting inside, was nice and cosy which was perfect considering the cold weather. Large variety of pottery to select and staff were lovely and very helpful and informative. Coffee and drinks were delicious and so were the nachos!! Would definitely recommend paying a visit!

I love love love this place!! I've been 3 times and I don't have young children!! Don't assume it's just for kids, I've been with my adult children and have enjoyed it immensely. You just get lost in your own creative world, it's so much fun. The food is really great quality too, I had a tuna baguette with wedges on my first visit and was really impressed with it.

We were at the fair. We watched the Trident tae Kwan do team's demo. The park is lovely.

Absolutely fantastic! Our first time here. Park is absolutely huge. With an open area for dog walking to two separate parks, which is for smaller kids, one for older. Lovely little walks plus skate park. With a beautiful and peaceful nature.

Nice park popular for dog walks and runners. Well maintained and supported by a local group.

Love this park. Great for dogwalking and picnics with grandchildren. Best of all is the ice cream van that visits. The most delicious and creamy soft serve ever. Not overpriced and a lovely woman working in the van. Worth going to the park just to have it.

Beautiful, well kept park, two playgrounds, bowling greens and an adult exercise area which is well kitted out. Dog walkers respect the park. Amazing new chainsaw sculptures and panels of stunning photographs, drawn by children of the local school, added since our last visit.

Great location to find parking places. You can park in side roads or outside by the main entrance and it's free. This park contains 2 big fields, 2 children playground areas, some materiel for gym and workout and 1 skating playground. The toilet here is closed, so bear in mind this in case you need a wee 😁 Great park for short walks and dog walks.

Lovely park, nice to walk leisurely around or just sit on a bench and enjoy nature. Places for kids to play are varied and well kept. People without kids can still enjoy peace and quiet away from the play area.

Lovely performance arts centre. Waterside Arts Centre is a canalside arts complex, hosting touring theatre, music, comedy and art, with family activities. We went to see the fabulous Martin Simpson play a solo English folk music set. Small cafe area for drinks and refreshments was welcomed.

Have been many times and enjoyed the comedy plays and music. Rock on the chilli pipers . AC/DC lookie likeie. Brilliant. Also recently funny stuff by the Brilliant Sue Ryding ( lip service) oh how they are missed . But boy they brought so many happy nights to us and friends.

Lovely venue, well stocked bar, proper coffee and cake! Lovely little shop and also exhibitions to visit. Parking nearby was easy too as free in the evenings.

A lovely space for performers. We’ve just watched a superb one man play called Happy Hour with Jonathan Brown - I am so pleased to see Waterside offering space for this supremely talented individual with his writing and performance. More of this please!! 10/10!! This is exactly what the world wants - Local buildings showcasing world class talent with wonderfully affordable tickets!

You can get a voucher to put towards your parking if you've parked in the NCP multi-storey - this isn't something I was made aware of! The centre itself is lovely, bright, airy, and clean. The seats in the theatre aren't the comfiest ever, but could be worse and legroom was okay. Had a great evening with Hester Grainger, and would happily go back for another event.

Great venue for gigs. Reminds me of a mini Manchester academy. Will definitely watch more bands here. Beer prices 4.70

Visited to see the Postman Pat exhibition, absolutely brilliant, it's only a small collection but it is amazing to see it. Reminiscing on my childhood of watching the TV show as a child. The exhibition is free to visit, there is a recommended donation of £1, which I happily put in the donation box.

Amazing library and is worth a visit especially since their is no admission fee (please feel free to make a donation). Although the library looks quite old, it only opened on January 1, 1900. It took ten years to build and was founded by Enriqueta Rylands in memory of her husband, John Rylands. The staff here are extremely knowledgeable, it's worth waiting for the talk they give about the building's history. They're are some very impressive works in their collection. A copy of the Gutenberg Bible, a copy of Shakespeare's famous First Folio from 1623, and many more impressive items. It is a true functioning library and you can view books in their collections. We were very impressed with the library and will come back on our next visit to Manchester.

Went to this library with my friend previously, very astonished to see the lovely architecture and design of the place. Also there is a mini bay with a modern building right beside it, yet they were blended together very well. The differences and blending of both buildings are just fascinating. Again, our visit is just magically enhanced by the rare but welcomed sunshine. Took such great photos because of it as it shows how beautiful the stained glass windows are ♥️✨

100% worth a visit, for exploring or studying, I'd recommend getting in there early though before the crowds assend upon the library. It's like stepping into a library from Hogwarts, or more accurately put, I can see where the inspiration for a set from Harry Potter came from. Free entry, but you may need to wait in line for 10-15minutes, but don't let that put you off visiting as you will not be disappointed.

One of Manchester’s best attractions to visit. Very highly maintained building with a blend of old and new architecture. The reading rooms are beautiful and so is the library upstairs. The building is well laid out. They also offer a free talk giving you insight into the history of this place. Toilet facilities on site. Free entry. Staff are friendly too.

Absolutely stunning place, John Rylands Library is a must visit in Manchester! Part of the University of Manchester, this Gothic style library is open to the public for free. The architecture is breathtaking like stepping into a 19th century castle. Vaulted ceilings, intricate stone carvings, and dramatic lighting give it a magical, almost Hogwarts like atmosphere. The collection is equally impressive. Even if you’re not a book lover, the building alone is worth the visit. Peaceful, historic, and visually spectacular. Just remember, it’s a working library, so be respectful and keep your voice down. Perfect for fans of history, architecture, or anyone looking for a quiet escape in the heart of Manchester.

Today i visited the John Rylands Library in Manchester, England. It is a neo-Gothic building that was founded by Enriqueta Rylands in memory of her husband, John Rylands, and opened in 1900. The building is considered one of the finest examples of neo-Gothic architecture in Europe The library is part of the University of Manchester and houses a large collection of rare books, manuscripts, and archives. The money in which the library comes from has a bit of a dark past. The Rylands' wealth was significantly linked to the transatlantic slave trade, as much of the cotton used in their mills was cultivated by enslaved people in the Americas.

Free entry and waiting time differs at what time of the day and what days you go. Friendly and approachable staff. Beautiful architecture. Exhibition is in the level 1 and reading room in level 2. Reading room has religion, history and geography books and Level 3 has research rooms to study the books which require appointment. People also come here for photoshoots such as for their graduation photos. Definitely worth a visit if you are coming to Manchester.

Lovely place for a walk if the weather is good, and you can get on to the Mersey and join the Transpennine Trail if you want to extend your stroll. There's a good children's playground and it's pretty flat to go around the lake (suitable for buggies or a robust mobility scooter). There's a car park with toilets (they are not great though) and there's often an ice cream van there too.

Lovely park nice and quite not alot of people around so you can enjoy this tranquil space the lake is really big with ducks and swans to feed. Nice little park for the kids to play in and it's also nice and clean too. Lots of paths and clear signage so you know where you are walking to we spent a total of 2 hour here it was lovely 😍 👌

We went on an Autumn day and spent a couple of hours here walking around and then playing in the park. There is carparking on site and cafe. For the toilets take your own soap and toilet paper, there wasn't any . We always bring some with us.

Actually a lovely place for a stroll, fish or sit with nature for a while. Small park half way round. Plenty of parking Lovely cafe near the front, so can stroll with a nice warm drink on these winter days. Dog friendly.

A Hidden Gem in Manchester! I recently visited Chorlton Water Park, and I have to say, it was a delightful surprise! Nestled away from the hustle and bustle of the city, this place offers a perfect escape into nature. The lake is serene, surrounded by lush greenery and filled with wildlife. It’s a fantastic spot for a leisurely walk, and the trails are well-maintained and accessible. I loved seeing families, dog walkers, and joggers all enjoying the fresh air. There are plenty of spots to sit and take in the view, and the playground was a hit with the kids. If you’re into bird watching, bring your binoculars—there’s so much to see! Parking was straightforward, and it’s great that it’s free. My only tip would be to bring some snacks and drinks, as facilities are a bit limited, but that’s a small price to pay for such a natural oasis. Whether you’re looking to relax, get some exercise, or simply enjoy the outdoors, Chorlton Water Park is well worth a visit. I’ll definitely be back!"

Lovely lake to take the dog on a walk around, gets busy on a weekend after around 11am with lots of people have a jog or walking the dogs as well. There’s a little playpark for kids not far inside the entrance, along with the Tibetan cafe for food and coffee. There’s a car pack with toilets, 4* for the review is because the toilets aren’t particularly nice, but overall a lovely place to have a walk!

A beautiful park with lots of easy walks around a gorgeous lake ,there is a large car park and nice clean toilets. A great little cafe and an ice cream van in the summer. A great place to visit all year round.

I have been coming here with my own kayak. Only today I was approached by someone on a boat telling me I cannot bring my own kayak, unless I pay at the reception (for Insurence purposes). Interestingly, I have been to reception several times in the past and the same as today, it has been and is closed. Very disappointing. Lakes and rivers should be ok to enter on your own kayak without having to pay - for non existent services!?

Visited today and informed they no longer allow for solo kayak hire or self launches. Staff are still friendly but shame to see a once amazing facility drop so far from grace and a great waste of a beautiful lake especially on sunny days.

Just Completed the Powerboat level two course and i can highly recommend trafford water sports centre! Chris our instructor was friendly, knowledgeable and very good at teaching and explaining the course. There was a good balance of theory and practical that it made it a really enjoyable experience! I would happily recommend this course to everyone! You won't be disappointed! A++

Did the power boat level 2 course, Chris was an extremely good instructor and very helpful. Very good value for money course and definitely had a lot of fun. Would highly recommend this location.

My daughter (age 7) had the most fantastic week at holiday club at Trafford watersports centre. She absolutely loved all the activities and the staff were wonderful. I think it is really excellent value for money and I'm already planning on booking again for next summer.

Decent food from the cafe with outdoor seating over looking the lake.

We had a brilliant team away day with PEAK at Trafford Watersports Centre. Thank you for all the help we received advising and organising the day, and running the activities. Everyone really enjoyed themselves. Special thanks to Lydia!

With it being half term, the usual soft play area we were to go to was fully booked so opted for this one with it being quite close. I wish we had found out about it sooner! Our 6yr old loved it. Big indoor play area for older kids as well as a little one for the under 4s, friendly staff and food was above expectations (bistro quality salt and pepper fries ordered). The place was clean, even while we were there, the staff swept around the tables. As an addition, we’d asked about the meat being halal and they confirmed it was. Great time all around, we’ll definitely be back.

Had both of my daughters birthdays here. Want to say thanks to Tom and all the staff at let loose, went above and beyond to make sure the birthdays were special for them. Much appreciated guys!! Would definitely recommend. And we've been returning regularly. P.s the biscoff ice coffee is lush! ☺️

We had the best time at my little one’s birthday today (Saturday 13th). All the kids from the age of 1 to 10 all had the best time, there is something for every age. The food is a must every time we visit, great menu with loads to choose from and always tastes lovely. A special mention for Zainab who always goes above and beyond every time we come. Thank you so much again to all the staff for making my little one’s birthday so special. Xx

Great place. Went with my 18 month old, it was about £9 for both of us. Great area for toddlers with climbing circuit, slides and ball pit. Big bit for older kids which looks great. They did bubble time and dancing at 11. Staff really nice and it was really clean. Will definitely come again!

At some point, you have to stop people from coming when it's so busy but they didn't. Tables cramped together, nowhere to sit, teenagers playing ball fight in the baby and toddler play section. Didn't feel safe to have my baby playing in there at all. Ended up leaving after 10 mins. Had to queue to leave and there was no in or out system. Surely you have a duty to safeguard the children inside the building? Hazardous, chaotic, waste of money. Won't be returning.

Great fun for the children, a lovely sensory room too. Plus an outdoor play area as an added bonus. Friendly helpful staff! The food from the cafe was very enjoyable, though the chicken nuggets my daughter had were 'very' greasy. Disabled toilets aswell as baby changing facilities too. My daughter who is 8 year old has autism, she enjoyed her visit here😊 please consider changing facilities for older children who are still in pads, this would be so much appreciated by myself and many more I'm sure. A positive experience and would go again. Thanks..

Visited with our 2yo and left after 45 minutes, a disappointing first visit. A Saturday afternoon meaning the frames were busy which is completely understandable. However, the 0-3 area which is signposted for children of this age range only, says children must be supervised, was overrun with much older children. Leaving the gate open, bringing food in and just generally creating an unsafe environment. If it’s policy that the area isn’t supervised by staff to stop this happening then I don’t see how young children can be kept safe. Great for older kids in other areas of the centre so likely wouldn’t revisit until our child is of that age.

I usually refrain from leaving negative reviews, but I feel compelled to share what I witnessed during my visit on Wednesday morning. One of the male staff members—approximately 40–50 years old, bald, about 168cm tall, and of Caucasian appearance—displayed extremely poor customer service. What deeply concerned me was his apparent disrespect toward customers who did not speak English fluently. I saw him treat a non-English-speaking guest in a dismissive and demeaning manner, showing no effort to understand or assist them. His attitude was not only unhelpful but bordered on discriminatory. As someone who values fairness and professionalism, I find this behavior unacceptable, especially in a hospitality-driven environment like a casino. I hope management takes this feedback seriously and provides proper training to ensure all guests are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their background or language ability.

Like a drop in centre for waifs and strays.

Good machines