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So here are 10 Things to do in Liverpool with the Kids
We recently published a post on the joys of train travel with Virgin Trains. As a result of that article we were asked if it is really possible to go away for the weekend with your family, by train, and not have to utilise any other of form of transport – the answer is, absolutely! Only a 2 hour train journey from London and you’re in Liverpool!
When you arrive into Liverpool you are literally in the centre of the City. Liverpool is a small city jam packed full of attractions and you can walk around between them really easily. There are loads of hotels, B&B’s and apartments to rent in the city centre, all within an easy walk of the train station. If you stay centrally, within a mile/20 minutes walk of your accommodation, you can enjoy the following activities:
1. The Albert Dock – 10 Things to do in Liverpool with Kids
The old weather map from Granada News is long gone, but there are pirate ships and boats to look at. Liverpool is a city in which to wander. You can wander around the dock, have lunch at Pizza Express, have ice cream on the grass and the kids can entertain themselves for hours on the riverfront. You can see our full post on the Albert Dock here!
2. The Beatles Story – 10 Things to do in Liverpool with Kids
Based down at Albert Dock the museum is a must do for any Beatles fans and has enough interactive exhibits to keep the kids happy to.
There’s always something for the kids to do in the Discovery Zone including free workshops.
Open all year round, 10am-6pm. Prices: Adults £15.95, children (aged 5-15) £9.50, children (0-4) free, concessions £12.
3. Mattel Play – 10 Things to do in Liverpool with Kids
Again based at the Albert Dock, and perfect for pre-schoolers. Mattel Play is an interactive indoor fun centre across three themed zones – Thomas & Friends, Bob the Builder and Fireman Sam. It still looks brand new and the standard of everything is impressive. It is pretty expensive though and with three kids that would put me off visiting, however mine are at the end of the age its relevant for so my view is probably skewed. You can read my full review here.
4. Merseyside Maritime Museum – 10 Things to do in Liverpool with Kids
At the Merseyside Maritime Museum you can explore the nautical heritage of Liverpool.
Alongside finding out about Liverpool’s central role in the American Civil War and Battle of the Atlantic, tour a historic Liverpool pilot cutter moored in the Dock and take a trip round the adjacent Pier Master’s House.
For families the museum recommends:
- In the Seized! gallery in the basement you can follow Matt the customs officer’s trail.
- The Sea Urchins play area on the first floor is aimed at 8-years and under. There are free maritime-themed activities on offer include costumes, activity sheets and story books. Download the Sea Urchins trail (pdf).
- Check the ‘What’s on’ listings for family-friendly activities to do at the museum
5. Tate Liverpool – 10 Things to do in Liverpool with Kids
The Tate has a great post on its website about what families can do and how they can enjoy the museum together which you can find here. There are trails and activity packs and games to play around the museum. There is a free play for children to play and with ever changing exhibits its a trip that can be repeated time and time again without the kids getting bored. Watch out for their special activities at the weekend and in the school holidays too.
6. Big Wheel – 10 Things to do in Liverpool with Kids
There is a Big Wheel!!. It’s no London Eye but it is high enough and affords lovely views over Liverpool. It is also significantly cheaper with under 3’s being free. The girls loved it.
7. World Museum – 10 Things to do in Liverpool with Kids
The World Museum in Liverpool is a free Museum five minutes walk from Liverpool Lime Street. There is a planetarium on the top floor which you need to book tickets for (worth doing when you arrive), an aquarium, a masks display, dinosaur exhibition, bug house and natural history centre to name a few.
There is a picnic area on floor 4 and the Clore Natural History Centre is also a good place to while away some time. We can spend a good hour in this area, playing with the microscopes, examining the skulls, playing charades with the cards which involved the kids describing animals on cards and me having to pretend not to guess too quickly.
You can read a review of a trip with pre-schoolers here.
8. Big Art, Walker Art Gallery – 10 Things to do in Liverpool with Kids
Big Art for Little Artists is a gallery for children within the Walker Art Gallery up to and including the age of eight. It has been designed to introduce children to art. It is open daily from 10am – 5pm and is just inside the main museum doors. It’s a great space to introduce the children to the art they can find in the museum and they even have fancy dress the kids can wear and then find the photos around the museum and take photos of themselves next to the art.
There are always special events on and the staff are friendly and engaging. A fabulous free activity. You can read a full review here.
9. Ferry Across the Mersey – 10 Things to do in Liverpool with Kids
You can get the ‘actual’ ferry across the Mersey and sing “Ferry across the Mersey” at full volume. The trick here is not to book a ‘cruise’ but to opt for a commuter ticket which is considerably cheaper and will be plenty of time for your little one to enjoy being on a boat, and enough time for you to panic about them going overboard.
and then get off on the Wirral and go into the ferry Port where you will find
10. Spaceport – 10 Things to do in Liverpool with Kids
Spaceport is described on their website as ‘taking an inspirational journey through space, as you walk through several themed galleries’, ‘which all feature a large variety of interactive hands-on exhibits’. The galleries and the exhibits are OK, but there is a a twenty five minute film played out on the domed ceiling of the theatre which is for me where Spaceport comes into its own. The film, about whether there is life anywhere else in the universe, had my kids, me, and the rest of the theatre were gripped. It was excellent. Funny, informative and enjoyable.
If you are heading to Spaceport I would make sure you call ahead to establish the show times as you would be completely missing out if you visited with Spaceport without watching the show. For me, if we had missed it, I wouldn’t have thought it was worth visiting with children the same age as mine, but they absolutely LOVED this part of the day.
Liverpool is a small city, cram packed with excellent places for families to stay, eat and have fun. No car or long treks necessary – enjoy!
You can read another local Mum’s review of what to do in Liverpool here too!
and also why not check out the Free Walking Tour mentioned in this article.
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I need to go back to go to the Beetles experience I am such a fab I love then so would beed loads of time x
There are lots of things here that can be done with/without children. Thank you