Top Things to Do in Liverpool with Kids
Elsewhere on this site, we’ve written a piece about things you can do in Liverpool, covering the likes of sport, music and culture.
Whilst many will also want to head to the city in order to have a few drinks and spend time enjoying the numerous culinary options on offer, there will be more than a few of you that find yourself on Merseyside with children wondering what you can do with them.
It is fair to say that the likes of the museums and similar cultural suggestions on the other page, as well as shopping and sports, are an option for those of you with kids, but here we’ll be looking at rather more fun things that Liverpool has to offer.
Educational Options
Although kids will always want to do the most exciting thing possible, the reality is that parents have a duty to do what they can to improve their child’s education whenever they can, so finding some educational things to do in Liverpool that are also fun and interesting can be a massive help on that front.
Eureka Science + Discovery: Okay, so this is over on the Wirral rather than in Liverpool city centre, but the fact that it’s located inside the Seacombe Ferry Terminal means that you can take a ferry ‘cross the Mersey to go there. It is specifically designed for young people up to the age of 14, so it is a great opportunity to speak curious minds about life’s infinite possibilities.
The History Whisperer at St George’s Hall: St George’s Hall is a great place to go to for a number of reasons, being one of the finest examples of neoclassical architecture anywhere in the world. Away from the Concert Room and the Great Hall is the History Whisperer, which is an immersive experience that teaches you about the social history of Liverpool in a fun and engaging way.
Quirky Quarter: In all honesty, the Quirky Quarter on Liverpool’s Duke Street isn’t the most educational experience you’re likely to have in the city, but it’s really good fun and will keep the kids entertained thanks to its unique offerings.
Imagine That! Science and Discovery Centre: If you’re in Liverpool during a school holiday, the kids will be understandably reluctant to engage in too much boring learning. That’s where Imagine That! comes in, offering four different zones that include shops, cafés and even a Slime Factory.
Western Approaches HQ: This secret underground bunker from World War Two on Rumford Street is a thrilling place to enter, teaching visitors about the role that Liverpool played during the Battle of the Atlantic. Complete with hidden rooms and a location for all of the maps, there will be plenty to keep your little ones occupied.
The World of Glass: Given that this is actually located in St Helens rather than the city centre, there will be some that think it’s a bit of a cheat to have it on the list. The fact that it’s free to visit, easy to get to by road and rail and promises a hands-on experience that brings art to life means that it’s definitely worthy of your time, however.
Port Sunlight Museum & Worker’s Cottage: This one might well be pushing it a little in terms of the fun side of things for some people, but Port Sunlight is a lovely part of the Wirral to spend time and this exhibition offers a chance to discover why one of the world’s first industrial worker villages was built in the first place.
The Bluecoat: Going to a museum or art gallery might not sound like too much fun, which is why the Bluecoat is a decent option. It is the home of Liverpool’s contemporary arts centre, introducing visitors to art in new and interesting ways in a Grade I listed building that has a free gallery.
Fun Things
Yes, keeping your children educated is an important part of being a parent, but so is just doing what you can to ensure that they’re having fun and living their best lives. On that front, there are a number of different options available to those of you heading to Liverpool with young people in your lives looking for something more interesting to do with your time.
Escape Rooms: There are a few different Escape Room options available around Liverpool from different companies, which lock you in a room for an hour and give you the means to escape if you are able to follow the breadcrumbs. Probably better for older kids than young ones, it is a great opportunity for you all to work as a family.
@theguideliverpool Get ready to escape from 16 thrilling rooms at Breakout Liverpool. 🤩 Breakout Liverpool is packed with LOADS of themed rooms waiting for you to conquer so we had to try it out for ourselves! If you’re new to the escape room scene, the idea is that you’re locked in a room with friends, family, or coworkers for an hour, and the only way out is to solve a series of puzzles and mysteries. Prepare to scour every corner for clues and put your teamwork to the test. At Breakout Liverpool, you can tackle a deadly virus, hunt down a magical artifact, or even go undercover as a secret agent! Also one of the cool things about Breakout Liverpool is that it has a theme with two identical rooms, so you can split into teams and see who can escape first. Each room accommodates up to five people, and the fun never stops with Breakout Liverpool being open seven days a week. Visit the Breakout Liverpool website to book your experience – it’s a must-do if you’re in the city! #Liverpool #LiverpoolReels #LiverpoolEscapeRoom #LiverpoolCity #EscapeRoom ♬ original sound – The Guide Liverpool
Challenge Point: Another option that is similar to an Escape Room in the sense that you have to work together to succeed is Challenge Point, presenting you with numerous gameshow-style games that you can compete in to win. One thing to bear in mind is that the minimum age for this is six years old.
Model Railway Village: If you’re looking to take a trip out to Southport whilst you’re on Merseyside, a visit to the Model Railway Village is a must. It is great for young ones who love trains, given that it offers 1.5 acres of miniature landscape in which model trains tootle about the place.
Arcades: We’re not talking about places you can head to in order to play the latest and greatest computerised video games here, but rather an old-school arcade like you’d find on the seaside. In fact, given that Southport and New Brighton are the two places that have them, that’s exactly where you’ll need to go to show the young people in your life how it was that you had fun when you were their age.
ArCains: If a computerised experience is what you want your kids to engage with, then ArCains could be exactly what you’re looking for. Set across three floors, you can play all of the video games on offer after you’ve paid to get in in the first place.
Otterspool Adventure Centre: Located on Otterspool Promenade, this family-friendly venue is cheap to enter and has everything from a petting zoo to an adventure playground and a mini-golf course.
Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre: £10 million was invested into Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre, giving people both young and old the chance to take part in the likes of windsurfing, jet skis, kayaking and sailing.
Liverpool’s Big Wheel: No, this isn’t one that is going to last all afternoon or anything, but it is a chance to see the city from a different point of view.
Wheelin’ it big in Liverpool
Mini Golf: From the Championship Adventure Golf on offer in New Brighton through to the mini-golf available to play in the Liverpool ONE, there are numerous different mini-golf opportunities for you to take part in around Merseyside.
Outdoor Offerings
If you are a believer in the idea that fresh air is not only important for young people but also a key way of tiring them out, you might want to think about some of the outdoor offerings available to you whilst you’re on Merseyside.
Knowsley Safari Park: In truth, this isn’t really an outdoor experience when you consider that you’ve got to stay in your car, but when your kids get excited because a rhinoceros is wandering past or a group of monkeys are climbing all of your vehicle, you’ll soon be glad you came.
Chester Zoo: If you do want to stick with the outdoor theme whilst also getting to see some animals, Chester Zoo is the perfect option for all concerned. One of the best zoos in the country, it is also nice and big so you can tire them out physically as well as mentally.
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Canoe Safari Experience: For those of you happy to take a trip out to Ormskirk, the Canoe Safari Experience on offer there is a safari, but not like you’ve ever experienced before. You don’t get to stay in the car this time, instead heading out on a self-guided canoe trip to see the animals. The minimum age for this one is five.
Windmill Animal Farm: Also off near to Ormskirk is Windmill Animal Farm, which gives you the chance to see the likes of newly born baby lambs, meet guinea pigs up close and personally and even head on a train ride.
Merseyside Beaches: From the beach in West Kirby through to Antony Gormley’s statues that stand in the water of Crosby Beach, there are plenty of options open to you if the weather is good.
Parks: Another thing that is outdoors and that Merseyside has loads of is parks, such as Bowring Park in Huyton, King’s Garden in Southport and Wirral Country Park over on the Paradise Peninsula.
