The hidden castle 30 minutes from Manchester perfect for a half term day out

February half term is upon us and while it means a much-welcome break off school for kids, for parents and guardians it comes with the challenge of keeping them busy.

It can be tricky finding things to do, especially if you’re sticking to a budget or if the weather is a bit rubbish, which is often the case at this time of year.

Luckily there’s lots of things to do in and around Greater Manchester, from fun museums to nearby walks which are completely free.

Castles are always something which capture the imagination of kids. Dramatic ruins can become the setting of countless games, whether it's imaginary battles or fairytale stories of princes and dragons.

Greater Manchester isn’t really known for its castles - you’re more likely to come across an old mill.

Yet around a half hour drive away from Manchester is a castle that’s completely free to visit, hidden in the woods beside Rivington Reservoir.

Liverpool Caste features half-built towers, ruined walls and steps that lead to nowhere. It feels like somewhere that’s been around for centuries, weathered away by the passing of time.

But that’s not actually the case. Liverpool Castle is in fact a replica of a castle which stood in the city of its namesake from the early 1200s until the early 1700s.

At the original site in Liverpool you’ll now find Derby Square and the Queen Victoria Monument, with the castle long since gone.

However, a replica was commissioned in 1912 by Lord Leverhulme; the founder of Lever Brothers, now part of the company Unilever; to be built in Lever Park.

But building work stopped in 1925 when William Lever died, although the castle was always intended to look like a ruin.

Even though the castle is a folly, it is still an intriguing place to visit