Manley Mere in Cheshire

Rory Calland
Manley Mere, The Lakeside Venue

Manley Mere in Frodsham is a man-made lake between the Mersey and the Dee. With an emphasis on safety it is tailor-made for people to get to grips with all kinds of water-sports, including open-water swimming. But this isn’t just a place you can turn up and swim. To get in the water here you’ve got to be a member of NOWCA, which sounds more disappointingly exclusive than it is. NOWCA is actually the National Open Water Coaching Association, and they offer safety courses you should know about if you’re a wild swimmer. Here, you wear a special wristband in the water which lets the officials more easily manage who and where you are in the water.

This place is kitted out for whatever you want to do, it’s ideal for cutting your teeth before venturing out to wilder, more secluded locations. There are specific open water courses where you can choose your distance and even monitor your time with the wristband. And frankly, the pièce de résistance, Cheshire Aqua Park is too fun to resist. It’s a real giggle for groups and parties, with huge inflatable obstacle courses, slides and games you won’t be short of things to do here.

Sailing, Kayaking, Fishing and basically anything you can add the suffix surfing to can be done here, and there are a bunch of courses and groups to join up to if you think you can get down regularly. If you’re there with the family and some members would rather get muddy than wet there’s an adventure trail around the outside where they can get stuck in. Pack a change of clothes if you want to pop in to the restaurant to refuel after all the activity.

Manley LaneFrodshamWA6 0PE View map
Telephone: 01928740243 Visit Now

Opening Hours

  • Monday10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Tuesday10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Wednesday10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Thursday10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Friday10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Saturday10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Sunday10:00am - 5:00pm

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

What's on near Manley Mere in Cheshire

Two people sitting playing a video game.
Until
ExhibitionsCity Centre
Art Plays Games at FACT

Art Plays Games is a new show at FACT, celebrating games created by digital artists and independent video game developers.

free entry
DaDaFest International 40 at Bluecoat
Until
ExhibitionsCity Centre
DaDaFest International 40

Celebrating 40 years of groundbreaking disability and Deaf arts, DaDaFest returns for 2025 with a bold and unapologetic programme.

free entry
Eleanor Rees
LiteratureLiverpool
Eleanor Rees at Open Eye Gallery Liverpool

Launching her shiny new volume of selected poems in Liverpool, where much of it was dreamed up, Eleanor Rees will be reading live and also chatting about the production.

free entry

Where to go near Manley Mere in Cheshire

Delemere Forest
Cheshire
Delamere Forest

Cheshire’s Delamere Forest is a place to let off steam, escape the crowds and find peace in the heart of the forest.

The Sandstone Trail
Sandstone Trail

The Sandstone Trail is a 55-kilometre long-distance walkers’ path, following sandstone ridges running north–south from Frodsham in central Cheshire to Whitchurch just over the Shropshire border.

family 3
Museum
Blue Planet Aquarium

Blue Planet Aquarium is home to animals from all around the world, one of the UK’s largest collections of sharks and a 71-metre underwater tunnel to see them from!

Stone Villa hotel, Chester
Chester
Hotel
Stone Villa

Stone Villa, built around 1850, is located in an attractive suburb just 0.8 miles from the centre of the city and its famous walls.

Sticky Walnut, Hoole, Chester
Chester
Restaurant
Sticky Walnut

The Sticky Walnut is an award-winning ‘local’ bistro in the heart of Hoole, serving humble dishes using the best possible ingredients.

Chester
Wales Coast Path from Chester to Flint

The section of the North Wales Coast Path from Chester to Flint, starts off from Chester Station and the first section being unofficial isn’t way-marked. However, it offers pleasant urban walking and a stretch along the towpath of the Shropshire Union Canal, along Catherine Street to an area known as The Cop.

Bar stock image
Cheshire
Bar or Pub
The Cornerhouse

Live music, comedy, quiz nights and special events – all to be enjoyed alongside sharing platters and, of course, an extensive range of drinks.

Mill Hotel & Spa, Chester
Chester
Hotel
Mill Hotel & Spa

Situated on an historic Roman site, the Mill Hotel & Spa was opened by its present owners in 1987. The original Griffiths Cornmill building dates from 1830 and great care has been taken to sympathetically incorporate many of the original architectural features during the conversion into a hotel.

Chester
Hotel
Hotel Indigo Chester

Hotel Indigo Chester is an elegant and welcoming hotel in the heart of this beautiful city, with the equally excellent Wood Chester as in-house restaurant.

Grey n Pink Records Chester
Chester
Shop
Grey n Pink Records

Grey n Pink Records has the largest selection of new, second hand and collectible vinyl records in Cheshire. Established for over 30 years in the Chester record shop, they specialise in collectible vinyl LPs, 7″ and 12″ singles.

Culture Guides

the artist
Music in the North

The outsiders, the oddities and the outrageous – we’re keeping it weird with a hot new batch of underground gigs about to hit Manchester, Leeds, and Liverpool.

A woman with black curly hair sings on stage in front of a red curtain
Cinema in the North

David Lynch, International Women's Day and Manchester Film Festival are amongst our cinematic highlights this March.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

DaDaFest’s 40th anniversary line-up, contemporary reimaginings and outlandish fringe, check out our top theatre picks for spring onwards.

A large sphere floats in a dark room with an ornate wall pattern, flanked by two arched windows and a checkered floor.
Exhibitions in the North

From precarious ceramics to photography festivals, spring is here and brings with it a breath of fresh air in visual art and exhibitions.

Poet Imtiaz Dharker. Photo by Ayesha Dharker
Literature Events in the North

It's like the Woolies pick'n'mix counter this month in live literature land – so much choice, we're not sure where to start digging in.

Classical Music in the North

Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.