Summer is officially in full swing and with another heatwave en-route, we’ve rounded up our own top ten list of places to visit. From weekend road-trips, local leave days out or opting to holiday in the UK this summer, our list includes both family favourites and hidden gems you shouldn’t miss. Best of all, every place in our top ten is a project we have worked on or contributed to.

With our aim to create and revitalise spaces and neighbourhoods so communities can flourish and thrive, we’ve had a lot of choice to draw our inspiration from. Thanks to all our team who helped us compile the list. Enjoy and have a great Summer!

1. Chester Zoo

With over 20,000 animals and 128 acres of zoological gardens to explore, Chester Zoo is the UK’s most-visited wildlife attraction with more than 2 million visitors per year passing its gates. Our team worked with Chester Zoo on the design of their Sun Bear and Tapir enclosure. We also extended the Restaurant at Oakfield house which is the main building in the zoo.

2. Reimagining Wordsworth, Lake District National Park

There’s a reason why over 15 million visitors flock to The Lake District every year. With its postcard perfect mountains, hilltops and lakes (naturally!), the UK’s most popular national park was also named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017. The region is also known for Wordsworth Grasmere, the home of iconic poet William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy Wordsworth. Now re-open to the public after an extensive regeneration project, we were proud to be acting as Civil and Structural engineers on the Reimagining Wordsworth design, which was completed in 2020 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of William’s birth.

3. Caenarfon Castle, North Wales

On the edge of Snowdonia National Park and close to the Isle of Anglesey, Caernarfon provides beautiful coastline and rolling countryside, making it a great choice for a staycation this summer.  Caernarfon castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is Wales’ most famous castle that even 700 years after being built, commands your full attention. We’ve been involved in the ongoing transformation of Caernarfon, thanks to being appointed as  Civil and Structural Engineers on the ‘Caernarfon Island Regeneration’ project, the restoration of Caernarfon’s historic waterfront buildings.

4. Glasgow Science Centre

Opened in 2001, Glasgow Science Centre is a favourite with all age groups thanks to its IMAX cinema, Science Mall and Glasgow Tower, all on one site. With the Planetarium now reopened, (a spectacular state-of-the-art fulldome digital projection system) you can go on amazing journeys through the solar system, the Milky Way Galaxy and beyond! Located in the Clyde Waterfront Regeneration area on the south bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland, it’s also a great location to enjoy lunch at one of Britain’s largest urban renewal projects.

5. Freight Island, Manchester City Centre

Quickly establishing itself as one of Manchester’s hotspots, Escape to Freight Island opened last summer, and the lively open-air entertainment space is proving popular for both locals and tourists. The beauty of Freight Island is it offers something for everyone; a diverse collective of local food vendors, bars, live music and DJs, immersive art, children and dog friendly dining options, and of course, plenty of under-cover areas for the inevitable Manchester downpour.

6. London Printworks

A nightclub and events venue in South London, The Printworks London is a unique multi-purpose venue with six huge event spaces, spread over 120,000 sq ft. From gigs to world-famous DJ’s, it primarily focuses on electronic music, but has also been host to other genres such as orchestral music. We provided structural engineering appraisals of the existing buildings and designs of alterations for both short term use and long term feasibility studies. An exciting introduction to London’s nightlife scene, and the perfect spot to enjoy the long summer nights. Enjoy!

7. Formby Beach, Merseyside

A beautiful coastal gem, Formby Beach offers fun for all the family. With high sand dunes, views across the Irish Sea, picnic areas and paths directly to the woods, it’s ideal for families. We recently worked on the boardwalk path, which is fully accessible with a hard standing path and a wooden boardwalk path that leads onto the beach.

8. Delamere Forest

An oasis to escape the summer crowds and soak up some tranquility. Delamere, south-west of Manchester, is a place to let off steam,  watch wildlife by its beautiful lakes or holiday in one of their stunning forest cabins. For the more adventurous types, there’s Go Ape! To visit too. Our team worked on The Delamere Forest Visitor Centre, a new build arts and cultural space which was a key element of the redevelopment of the forest facilities. Keep an eye out for the Gruffalo Sculptures at Delamere Forest too, a big hit with the little ones!

9. Hepworth Gallery Wakefield, Yorkshire

The Hepworth Wakefield is an award-winning art gallery in the heart of Yorkshire, set within Wakefield’s historic waterfront overlooking the River Calder. The gallery presents major exhibitions of the best international modern and contemporary art, along with regular fairs and markets supporting artists and makers throughout the summer. Just next door to the Gallery you can also see the emerging refurb of Rutland Mills, soon to be Tileyard North, a mixed-use 135,000 sqft creative industries and cultural hub, our team have been appointed on as Civil, Structural and Transport Engineers.

 10. Berry Bros. & Rudd, London

Berry Bros. & Rudd is Britain’s oldest wine and spirit merchant, having traded from the same shop since 1698. Go and browse some quality wines and admire our work at 62-63 Pall Mall, even better do some wine tasting in the vaulted hospitality suite below ground.

*Thank you to Rachael McClenan, a Senior Structural Engineer based in our Manchester studio, who shared this lovely photo from her family trip to Wordsworth Museum.