The June To-Do List: 9 Things to Do This Month Across the North West

June might have its work cut out to beat May weatherwise, but lucky for us living in the North there are some brilliant things happening across the region to bring the summer vibes.

Whether you're looking for an easy maternity leave outing, a solo reset, or somewhere to spend a sunny afternoon with the family, here are 10 things worth adding to your June list.

1. Head to We Invented The Weekend (6th–7th June)

If there’s one event worth adding to your diary this month, it’s this.

Taking over MediaCity and Salford Quays, We Invented The Weekend returns with more than 200 free activities, workshops, performances, food pop-ups and experiences celebrating how we spend our free time. It's one of the few festivals that feels designed around dipping in and out rather than committing to a full day. Perfect for maternity leave energy levels.

2. Go strawberry picking

June marks the start of strawberry season, and there are few nicer ways to spend a slow morning than wandering through a field collecting strawberries, then eating most of them before you even make it home. Kenyon Hall Farm is always a good shout.

3. Visit the beach before the school holidays arrive

June is the sweet spot before summer crowds arrive.

Whether it's Formby Beach, West Kirby Beach or a day in Lytham St Annes, enjoy a calm day out without the six-week holiday chaos.

4. Spend a Sunday evening at Cheshire Oaks

There’s something about using your adult free will to go out on a Sunday evening that feels slightly not-allowed (especially with a baby), but Cheshire Oaks has just extended its opening hours until 7pm, and it feels like the perfect excuse. 

Go late in the afternoon when it’s quieter and wander at your own pace. Grab a coffee, sit outside and people-watch, or drift through a few shops with no real plan, bringing the baby along for the ride while you do something just for you.

5. Feast at Grub on the Docks

GRUB on the Docks is back in MediaCity for the summer, and it is perfect for foodies who might not be ready to face a restaurant. Set right on the waterfront, it brings together a rotating line-up of street food traders, outdoor seating and time by the water. 

With everything from Korean corn dogs and East Asian rice bowls to Japanese–Mexican fusion tacos, loaded American-style sandwiches, you can share a few dishes, graze as you go, and stay as long as the little ones will allow.

6. Book a canal-side lunch in Chester

Chester feels particularly good in June. Walk part of the city walls, browse the Rows, then find a table overlooking the river. No agenda required beyond eating something nice and enjoying the weather.

7. Meet a mum for a picnic

Find a patch of grass somewhere simple and close to meet - a local park, a quiet corner of a National Trust estate - anywhere you can just sit. Split the picnic prep 50/50, lay out a blanket, and chat for half an hour while the babies roll, nap, or stare at the sky. 

8. Spend a few slow hours in Chorlton

Chorlton is easy to get to and great for a change of scenery. Start with coffee and a sweet treat from one of the independent cafés (we love Bohee, and Mothershift members get a discount!), wander down Beech Road for a slow browse, then drift towards Chorlton Water Park for some green space. 

9. Sit inside the Palm House at Sefton Park

Not everything in June needs to be a full plan, sometimes it’s just about going somewhere that feels a bit different for half an hour. The Palm House in Sefton Park is perfect for that - step inside, do a slow loop, then sit for a coffee or snack while the light pours through the glass. It’s an easy Liverpool add-on for a maternity leave day: pram-friendly and weather-proof for the days where the rain shows its face.