19 Free Days Out and Things to Do With Kids in Merseyside
I'm still adding to this list, so keep checking back, please get in touch if you've got any hidden gems to recommend, or if you have a picture to replace any that I'm missing (ie the places that have words). As a thank you, I'll send a 20% money off voucher to spend in the shop for anything that gets used.
I've tried to make sure that all the details on here are up to date, but please do double check on the websites I've linked to before you travel in case anything has changed. Although I'd love to be able to travel to every place on here, time and practicalities dictate that I've sourced a lot of information from 3rd parties so some information might be incorrect (Please let me know if you spot anything that is so that I can amend it).
Especially important: double check parking costs to avoid any nasty surprises on a day out that was supposed to be cheap, and obviously, be careful if you're visiting places with kids, especially where the terrain is dangerous (ruins, cliffs, beaches, slippy paths etc).
Happy adventuring!
Explore Liverpool's rich history in this museum packed with fun exhibits, including a hands -on children's gallery for under 6's (book a free ticked from the Welcome Desk)
Listen to untold stories of enslaved people, while learning about historical and contemporary slavery. Exhibits include the Igbo Family Compound, The Black Achievers Wall, and the Legacy Gallery. Check what's on.
See the Aquarium including dog fish, terapins, rays. There's also an Ancient Egypt gallery, a World Culture's gallery, and a Dinosaurs and Natural World gallery. There's also charged entry to a planetarium, and Ancient Gods exhibition.
A coastal nature haven, with a sandy beach, amazing sand dunes, and rare wildlife including natterjack toads and sand lizards. There's 2 shipwrecks to spot, and prehistoric footprints.
A free walking tour (although tips are encouraged). Better done with teens rather than younger kids, this 3 hour walking tour will teach you some of the city's incredible history.
An impressive collection, much of it from the excavations of John Garstang in Egypt, Sudan, and the Near East. It's known for its Nubian collection, and the Egyption mummy in the Egyptian Afterlife collection.
Say hello to Pumpkin the goat, Lux & Nox the pigs, Guinness the Donkey, Ping the Indian crested runner duck, and the sheep.
A Grade 2 listed church, it suffered catastrophic damage during the Blitz in 1941, leaving only the outside walls standing. Left derelict for decades, it's now been reclaimed as a cultural community space. To see the open days, visit the what's on page, or visit the Garden Bar.
A 94 acre family park with woodlands, a lake, fields, a 1,000 years old Oak tree, Japanese, and old English gardens. There's a playground, and a free rides on a miniature railway (Sundays only from 2pm, weather permitting). Check whats on at the Storybarn, a family space organising events to inspire children to love reading (admission charges apply).
Nearly a mile of golden sand, this beach is popular in the summer with day trippers. It's a great spot to watch boats sailing from the Mersey into the Irish Sea. There's a community built driftwood boat, 'The Black Pearl' to check out.
A wide, sandy beach, it's home to 'Another Place', the sculpture by artist, Antony Gormley, with 100 life-sized cast iron figures. Please take note of beach safety flags and signage. Swimming is risky due to strong tides.
A 235 acre park with beautiful monuments. Highlights include the Palm House, a giant conservatory filled with exotic plants. (Check the website for opening times). There's also a playground, 'Old Nick's Caves', a fairy glen, and Aviary viewing point.
Explore the house of a Victorian merchant, with great taste in period furniture and paintings. Check out what's on.
A lovely 15 mile traffic-free, pram-friendly trail from West Kirby to Hooton. Stop off at Thurstaston for the visitor centre (with toilets)
One of the best examples of an industrial worker village in the world including 900 Grade 2 listed houses, and 130 acres of parks and gardens. Pay to enter the museum, Workers Cottage and SoapWorks.
30 rooms of paintings, sculptures and decorative art. Check out the trails and kids activities.
A 28 hectare park with lots of pram friendly walkways, wildlife, woods, a lake, wetlands, and beautiful views over the Mersey. There's a cafe and toilets.
A sandy beach with stunning views over to Wales. There's an option to walk over to the beautiful Hilbre Island with possible seal sightings. It's very important you check the tides for this, (best to follow the rides out) and need to give yourself at least 3 hours before high tide to walk back.
Lovely woods with riverside walks, a bear pit, playground, great birdwatching, picnic facilities, cafe and a toilet.
You know what the kids would love to be filling in as you're exploring new places? An epic activity pack! And it should be filled with easy activity ideas, and stickers, and personalised!
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.