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Liverpool is a great city to visit for the whole family, so if you fancy a city break that you can bring the little ones on without them getting bored, then Liverpool is the place to come.
We’ve got city centre attractions, parks to play in when the sun’s shining, museums to learn about everything from the Beatles to our Maritime culture and indoor play centres for hours of fun. End the day with a meal in a restaurant that caters for everyone and you’ll have successfully completed your family holiday to Liverpool.
WHERE TO STAY
BASE SERVICED APARTMENTS
Right in the heart of the Ropewalks area of the city you’ll find Base Apartments. This modern residential apartment block is suitable for the whole family, making it feel like a home away from home. With apartments that sleep varying amounts of occupants, open plan living areas and kitchens and close to all the city-centre action, it’s a great spot for a family.
BRIDGE STREET APARTMENTS
Situated in the heart of Liverpool ONE, Bridge Street offer 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments that overlook the city making it a great base for the whole family. There are brilliant restaurants right on your doorstep but the apartments also come with a fully fitted kitchen and living room if you fancy a night in.
HOLIDAY INN
Holiday Inn have a few locations right in the heart of Liverpool and they make for a perfect spot to base the family. The spacious family rooms can accommodate two adults and two children with fantastic views over Liverpool. Check out their hotels in the city centre and at the Royal Albert Dock.
For more ideas on where to stay on your trip to Liverpool check out our accomodation page. There will be a hotel or an appartment to suit everyone.
THINGS TO DO
WORLD MUSEUM
The World Museum in St. George’s Quarter is the perfect place to take the kids on a trip to Liverpool. Not only will they learn about space, Ancient Egypt and the dinosaurs there is also an aquarium full of tropical fish and a bug house! With plenty of staff on hand to answer all the little one’s questions and give demonstrations you’ll all have a great day out here.
CENTRAL LIBRARY
Stop off at Liverpool Central Library in St. Georges Quarter to explore one of the coolest libraries in the country. The Picton Reading room is like something off the set of Harry Potter, the roof terrace will give you stunning views over Liverpool and the Discovery Area will give the kids the chance to explore the world of literature.
LIVERPOOL ONE
Take a stroll around Liverpool ONE and explore everything it has to offer. From all the shops and places to eat, to Chavasse Park perched on the top - you and the family can spend the afternoon exploring here and not get bored.
FERRY ACROSS THE MERSEY
A trip to Liverpool isn't complete without a ride on the Ferry across the Mersey. Jump on board the Dazzle Ferry and take in all the views over our famous waters. The kids will love spending an afternoon sailing the seas.
THE BEATLES STORY
You can never be too young to be a fan of The Beatles and what better place to learn all about them than at The Beatles Story on the Royal Albert Dock. This immersive tour will teach the whole family about the lives and careers of the biggest band in the world. There is also the Discovery Zone for the kids to take part in loads of Beatles themed arts and craft activities at the end.
MATTEL PLAY!
Take the kids along to Mattel Play! on the Royal Albert Dock for an afternoon of adventure play with Thomas & Friends, Bob The Builder and Fireman Sam. With train rides, ball pools, slides and loads of activities you’ll all have loads of fun!
SEFTON PARK
Head down to Sefton Park for a day out in the sun with the whole family. This magnificent 200-acre park has loads of green space to run about on, a boating lake, cafe and the famous Palm House. You could spend the whole day down here chilling in the sun and exploring all the local restaurants surrounding the park.
Check out our blog on all the other green spaces in Liverpool to head to for an afternoon in the fresh air.
MUSEUM OF LIVERPOOL
The Museum of Liverpool is the perfect place to head to learn all about Liverpool’s history. The kids will love this museum as there are loads of interactive elements to enjoy. Take part in a museum trail, hop on board the overhead railway and take in the views out of the window that has been voted ‘The Best Window with a View’.
What's on this year:
- Liverpool On Wheels
- Little Liverpool
- Museum Trails
SPRING CITY TRAMPOLINE PARK
For a bit of exercise, why not head down to Spring City Trampoline Park for an afternoon of bouncing around. With 49 trampolines, a dodgeball court, basketball lanes and a huge jump bag, the whole family will have a great time here.
HOVER FORCE
For a family adventure day out full of hovercrafts, mud buggies, grass karts and loads of other activities head to Hover Force just outside of the city centre. With experiences suitable for children 5 years and over there is plenty you can do out in the fresh air. Booking is essential so make sure you check out their website for more details.
KNOWSLEY SAFARI
Experience one of Liverpool's wildest day out with a family trip to Knowsley Safari. Drive through lion enclosures, get up close to baboons, see the giraffes, duck at the birds of prey display and get acquainted with the meerkats. It's the perfect day out for the whole family!
THE ROYAL ALBERT DOCK
Take a stroll around the Royal Albert Dock and explore everything Liverpool’s Waterfront has to offer. There are museums, restaurants, places to sit, a carousel and regular events popping up all the time to take part in. It’s always fun taking the time to soak up all the atmosphere of this part of Liverpool.
MERSEYSIDE MARITIME MUSEUM
The Maritime Museum is the perfect place to take the kids to explore the depths of Liverpool's seafaring past. With loads of information and artefacts from our maritime history there is plenty to see and do. There are loads of family friendly activities for the kids to have a go at so they can have fun and learn at the same time.
CHESTER ZOO
For a fun-filled day out head over to the award winning Chester Zoo. With over 125 acres and 20,000 animals to explore you and the kids will have a wild time seeing everything from lions, tigers, elephants, rhinos and loads more! At just under an hours drive from Liverpool or a short ride on the Merseyrail train service, it’s really easy to get to with no fuss!
ADVENTURE DOCK
If you’re all feeling a bit adventurous then head into the waters of Duke’s Dock for inflatable obstacle course, Adventure Dock to challenge everyone. Made up of huge inflatable free-fall slides, trampolines, rafts and barriers, you can splash, slide and race your family and friends to be crowned the winner. This is only open during the Summer months so make sure to check opening days before you visit.
OPEN TOP TOUR BUS
Jump on an open top tour bus to rest your legs and take in all the sights of the city. If the weather is nice you can sit on top of the bus in the open air and soak up all the sun on your journey. It’s a great way to see the city without having to walk around and it’s perfect for the kids.
Check out our blog on all the tours you can head on with the whole family. It’s a great way to see Liverpool with the kids.
CROSBY BEACH
Jump on the Southport Merseyrail line for 20 minutes and head to Crosby Beach to see Antony Gormley’s ‘Another Place’ or better known as the Iron Men. The long stretch of beach makes for a great day out in the sun with an ice cream and a picnic.
LIVERPOOL WHEEL
Jump on board Liverpool’s very own wheel and go for a ride whilst seeing the city from above. The kids will love this spin on the wheel that overlooks the Royal Albert Dock, the city and the Mersey; see which landmarks you can all spot.
FACT
FACT Gallery on Wood Street have loads of different activities suitable for children. Every Saturday they put on Do Something Saturdays which provide families the space to make, do and be creative together. Drop in anytime between 12-4pm to join in on the free activities.
The Picturehouse Cinema in the same building also has various child friendly film screenings making going to the pictures fun for the whole family.
BLUECOAT
Bluecoat is a great place to take the kids for an afternoon of art and culture. There are exhibitions, a courtyard, little shops and a cafe so you’ll be able to keep everyone entertained. They even hold family friendly workshops and events regularly so keep an eye on what's going on there before you visit.
AIR UNLIMITED
A short journey south of city will take you to Air Unlimited, Liverpool’s ultimate playground. This inflatable bouncy park will have you and the kids entertained all afternoon with different areas and courses to suit children of any age.
FOOTBALL STADIUM TOUR
If the kids are football fans then there is no better place to take them than Liverpool. Head over to Anfield Stadium if you’re a fan of Liverpool FC or Goodison Park if you’re more of an Everton supporter. Either way, the kids will be made up seeing where their favourite team score huge goals.
ZAP GRAFFITI
If the kids are into making art then head over to Zap Graffiti to learn all about street art. Open to ages 6 and above, Zap Graffiti will show the kids basic graffiti art skills on posters for you to take home. It’s something a little different for the family to do and lets everyone’s creativity run free.
ESCAPE HUNT
If you’re a family who are into their puzzles then Escape Hunt will make for a brilliant day out. Kids over the age of 10 will love this escape room style activity with themes like Blackbeards Treasure, The Last Vikings, Alice in Puzzleland and Operation Mindfall - the brains will be working overtime.
THE CLIMBING HANGAR
Visit The Climbing Hangar on Birchall Street, right next to Sandhills station for an afternoon of climbing the walls - in a good way. Kids from ages four and up will be able to enjoy different abilities of the climbing walls and you’ll also be given a little training session too if you've never done it before.
TATE LIVERPOOL
Tate Liverpool on the Royal Albert Dock is a great place to take the kids for an afternoon. Not only can they explore some of the best collections of modern art in the world there are also loads of family events on and a cafe for food afterwards.
IMAGINE THAT! SCIENCE AND DISCOVERY CENTRE
The Imagine That! Science and Discovery Centre is a great day out for families with children up to the age of 10. With over 15,00 square feet to explore everything from science, imagination, construction, art and the outdoors; the kids will learn loads whilst having lots of fun! At just a 10 minute drive out of the city centre it makes for the perfect day out.
CROXTETH HALL & COUNTRY PARK
Croxteth Hall and Country Park is a brilliant outdoor space to head to for a bit of fresh air. Not only can you explore the Hall and the Walled Garden, there is plenty of space to run around and there is also the Croxteth Park Farm too. The traditional working Victorian Farm has all sorts of different farm animals for the kids to learn about.
OTTERSPOOL ADVENTURE
Enjoy some outdoor fun with the family at Otterspool Adventure. The kids can have a fantastic time on the outdoor play area, turn their hand to a round of adventure golf, race around the track in a shiny ranger, bounce around on giant inflatables, work their way through the maze and loads more.
For even more things to do in Liverpool head over to our 'What's On' section of the website to see what events are happening when you're in the city.
PLACES TO EAT
SMUGGLERS COVE
Smugglers Cove on the Royal Albert Dock will be a hit with the kids. For just £6.95 they can get a main and a dessert in this sophisticated pirate themed restaurant. They even get their food served in a treasure chest!
TATE LIVERPOOL CAFE
If you’ve just been into Tate Liverpool then sticking around for lunch at the cafe will top off the morning. Not only can they experience a bit of culture but kids under 12 can eat free when an accompanying adult buys a main meal.
YARD AND COOP
The kids will love Yard and Coop - home to buttermilk fried chicken. The little ones not only eat free with every meal purchased by an adult but they have their own menu to colour in too. The best bit though - you get to sit inside a chicken coop!
OLIVE
Olive on Castle Street is a great place to take the whole family. Adults can sample the finest Italian inspired dishes while the kids can pick from their own menu. They can even make their own pizza!
For more child friendly restaurants check out our special blog on all the best places to head with the kids.
MERSEYRAIL
Getting around the city with the kids has never been easier with Merseyrail. You can get a Family ticket which will allow up to 5 people unlimited travel all week after peak hours - all for just £11! There are stations all around the city and further afar so you can explore every inch of Liverpool with no fuss.
Hopefully we have been able to give you some inspiration for your family city break to Liverpool. There are plenty of things to do that will allow you to see our wonderful city and make sure the kids have a great time too. If you want a few more ideas head over to the 'Things to Do' section of our website to see what else is going on.
You might also find these blogs useful too:
- Child Friendly Restaurants in Liverpool
- Itinerary - Liverpool. Lee, Kelly & Family's Way
- Dog Friendly Liverpool
- What To Do When it Rains in Liverpool
Related
In line with government recommendations, all National Museums Liverpool venues are temporarily closed to the public until further notice to support efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). For more information please visit the National Museums Liverpool website.
Liverpool Record Office, housed within the Central Library, collects, preserves, and makes available archives and printed material relating to all aspects of the history of Liverpool.
Offers more than 170 famous high street stores, fashion brands, cool independent boutiques, cafés and restaurants to the city centre.
San Francisco has its cable cars, New York has its yellow cabs… and Liverpool has its world famous Mersey Ferries.
The Beatles Story will re-open to the public on July 20th, 2020. The award-winning ‘The Beatles Story’ is the world's largest permanent exhibition purely devoted to telling the story of The Beatles’ rise to fame.
Sefton Park in Liverpool is arguably the best known and most loved by locals. The magnificent 200-acre Park looks like a natural landscape rather than a man-made park.
The Museum of Liverpool has now opened following the lockdown period. The Museum of Liverpool is the world’s first national museum devoted to the history of a regional city and the largest newly-built national museum in Britain for more than a century.
Located on Liverpool’s incredible World Heritage Site waterfront, the Albert Dock structure features the largest collection of Grade I listed buildings in the whole country.
The Merseyside Maritime Museum will be reopening on 19th August. For more information please visit the National Museums Liverpool website. Submerge yourself in Liverpool’s historic seafaring past at the Merseyside Maritime Museum.
A visit to Cheshire isn’t complete without a trip to the UK’s number one zoo. Chester Zoo is home to over 27,000 endangered and exotic animals based in beautiful, award-winning zoological gardens.
Due to the ongoing situation surrounding Coronavirus, Adventure Dock is closed until further notice.
Another Place is an art installation on the coast. 100 spectacular cast-iron, life-size figures by Anthony Gormley spread across three metres of the foreshore and stretch almost 1 kilometre out to sea.
FACT Galleries are now open following the lockdown period. Picturehouse Cinema is currently closed and The Garden by LEAF is permanently closed.
A Grade I listed, 300 year old building in the heart of Liverpool’s city centre, Bluecoat offers a year-round programme of visual art, literature, music, dance and family activities.
Stadium tours at Goodison Park are currently suspended due to the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. For further information please visit the Everton Football Club website. Everton's expert tour guides will provide an insightful trip through the history of the world's oldest purpose-built football stadium and one of the most pioneering clubs in the English game.
See the player’s dressing room, press room, This Is Anfield sign, tunnel, pitch, manager’s dugout and the Kop – plus much more.
Tate Liverpool will be reopening on 27 July 2020 following the lockdown period.
Imagine That! Science and Discovery Centre truly is a full day out for all families of children up to 10 years of age.
Croxteth Hall and Country Park is a stunning heritage venue, fully accessible for all ages and abilities offering a variety of activities for all interests.
A timeless family getaway transformed into a recreational retreat, still holding on to its original interior and distinct personality.
Hover Force is all about adrenaline and adventure, with the need for speed for ages from 5 upwards.
