Dunham Massey Altrincham WA14 4J (0161) 941 1025 9 and a half miles Southwest of central Manchester. Free Admission to the park. Georgian House set in 101 hectare wooded deer park. Library, stables, moat, working mill, orange grove, garden, shrubs, rare, late-flowering azaleas.

Greater Manchester Police Museum Bewton Street, M1 1ES (0161) 856 3287 Tue 10:30-3:30 Other weekdays by appointment. Free Admission. The museum is set in a Victorian police station and features 150 years of police history and a collection of police uniforms from around the world.

Heaton Park (0161) 773 1085 Four miles North of central Manchester. Accessible via Metrolink. Free Admission. 600 acre park with boating lake, pets corner, golf course, working tram. Neo-classical Heaton Hall is the venue for music events. Concerts and events held in the park during the summer.

Hollingworth Lake Country Park Rakewood Road, Littleborough, Rochdale (01706) 373421 13 miles Northwest of central Manchester. Free Admission. Lake with watersports facilities. Two and a quarter mile walk around the lake. See waterfowl, view of Pennines and M62 motorway.

Jodrell Bank Science Center and Arboretum Macclesfield, Cheshire (01477) 571339 16 miles South of Manchester Displays on astronomy and the universe with activities for children.