19 days out with the kids in Liverpool and beyond as lockdown eases

We’ve got some brilliant news for your family, as so many of our great days out and fantastic family attractions are finally back!

Whether it’s a farmyard trip to visit the animals, a fun-filled family games night, incredible outdoor adventures, or a perfect place for packing up a picnic, you can make a family date to spend a day with a difference.

The teams at some of our top attractions have been working around the clock to open their doors, putting new safety measures in place, and giving your family all the more reason to support these superb locations with a well-deserved day out!

1 – Arrowe Country Park

Located over in Wirral’s Woodchurch, you’ll find over 250-acres of ponds, woodland and parkland to explore at Arrowe Country Park.

As well as an eighteen-hole golf course, Arrowe Country Park is a wonderful space which welcomes families to enjoy peaceful nature walks. In between woodland adventures, beautiful meadows make the ideal place for a picnic, with lots of hungry ducks to feed on the nearby lake, if you’ve got any leftovers to spare!

Further details here

2 – Church Farm: reopening Monday 29 June

The award-winning Church Farm, based in Thurstaston, Wirral, can’t wait to welcome your family back!

Head over and say hello to some adorable animals; including meercats, alpacas, emu, sheep, goats, and Church Farm’s latests arrivals, Hector and Humphrey, the miniature cows! There’s so much for kids to do from paddle boats to sandpits and go-karts, and the dog will love it too, with you and your pooch able to enjoy amazing views over the River Dee at Dee Dog Park.

Pre-booking is essential Book Tickets here

3 – Go Ape – reopening Saturday 4th July

Set in the beautiful, Cheshire surroundings of Delamere, if your family have been climbing the walls for the past few weeks, you’ll love taking the walking trails, high ropes and segway rides through this incredible forest setting.

Make your way from tree-to-tree, enjoying stunning views with the Treetop Challenge. While the Treetop Adventure is ideal for children and adults just starting to get to grips with Go Ape adventures. If you prefer keeping both feet on the ground, explore Delamere with an amazing Forest Segway ride!

Book your tickets here

4 – Speke Hall

Escape from it all in the splendid grounds and gardens of the National Trust’s Speke Hall Tudor estate, with restored gardens and woodland making it a magical place to visit with the family.

From the semi-ancient Clough Woodland, to following the tunnel-lined trail into the Secret Garden, you can enjoy a relaxing visit as you step back in time to admire the perfectly shaped topiary, and explore the beautiful Victorian Rose and Kitchen gardens.

Pre-booking is essential. Further details here

5 – Croxteth Park Farm

Discover this traditional working Victorian Farm, which you’ll find within 500-acres of historic grounds. You’ll encounter stunning woodland and wildlife as you enjoy making your way across this stunning stroll in West Derby, home to the Grade II listed Croxeth Hall.

At Croxteth Park Farm, you’re guaranteed a warm welcome from the residents, including pigs, sheep, meercats, owls, peacocks, and don’t forget to say hello to Cookie the goat and her new twin babies! You can also enjoy snacks and drinks from the takeaway café, and buy boxes of fresh, local produce along with beautiful flower boxes.

Further details here. Call 07889 594 040 to book your visit.

6 – Tenpin at Cheshire Oaks: reopening Saturday 4th July

Prepare to be bowled over as you and the kids can now head back over to Cheshire Oaks for a family tournament at Tenpin!

This state-of-the-art entertainment venue is an absolute treat for kids, featuring a 24-lane bowling alley, with interactive holograms, augmented reality climbing wall and even a digital aquarium wall, along with pool, arcade games, table tennis and a laser arena.

Prebook your visit here

7 – Calderstones Park

Set within 126-acres of lush woodland, historic Calderstones Park offers the perfect getaway, with huge woodlands, and lots to see along the way.

Enjoy exploring the beautiful Japanese and Old English botanical gardens, look out for the 1000 year-old, Allerton Oak tree, and while you’re visiting, you can grab a coffee, snacks and treat the children to an ice cream from the recently re-opened Reader Café between 12pm-5pm.

Further details here

8 – Windmill Animal Farm

There’s not only farmyard fun for the whole family at Windmill Animal Farm in Burscough, but so many rare and exotic animals to make it a day full of surprises!

During their visit, kids will love watching and learning about working life on Wildmill Animal Farm, and the friendly farmers will teach your family lots about the farmyard families you’ll meet. There’s an entertaining mix of inhabitants; from Guinea Pigs to Geckos, Highland cows to Rabbits – and even a bunch of reptile friends including pythons, boa constrictors and chameleons!

Pre-booking is essential on 01704 892 282. Further details here

9 – Knowsley Safari

The home of awesome outdoor adventure, Knowsley Safari brings a wonderful, wild kingdom of animals to the north west!

Your family will love driving through 550-acres of striking species including roaming lions, rhino, wildebeest, camels, and even a baboon jungle, on the Safari Drive. Head off on the Foot Safari to make your way along the amazing Tiger Trail, and stop for a picnic while you discover over 750 fascinating animals!

Enjoy 20% off all tickets. Pre-booking is essential. Book your place

10 – Sefton Park

Grade I listed by English Heritage, Sefton Park is the home of 235-acres of beautiful parkland, which makes the perfect setting for children and families to explore.

Making your way around the park, children can amble through Fairy Glen and past the wildlife and floating gardens of the magnificent boating lake, with a treasure trove of famous sites for families to find in Sefton Park, from the famous, domed-structure of the Palm House, to the statue of Peter Pan and Victorian bandstand.

Further details here

11 – Manley Mere Watersports

Head out to Manley Mere in Frodsham, at the heart of Chester countryside, to find weekends of family lakeside adventures!

Take the family for an unforgettable visit to Manley Mere where you can cool down in the incredible surroundings with open water swimming, enjoy fishing, and hire kayaks and paddle boards to get out on the water every Saturday and Sunday.

Prebooking is essential. Further details here

12 – Gorse Hill Nature Reserve

The natural habitat of Gorse Hill Nature Reserve in Aughton, Ormskirk, makes for a picture perfect woodland stroll among the wildlife.

Situated on Gaw Hill, a sandstone ridge offering spectacular views across the West Lancashire Plain, take one of the footpaths through this Northwest Ecological Trust project, to enjoy spectacular meadows and woodlands, reaching incredible views across the Welsh Hills, and along the coastline to Southport and the Cumbrian hills.

Free Admission Wednesday & Saturday 9:30am-4pm. Further details here

13 – Blue Planet Aquarium: reopening Saturday 4th July

This incredible underwater world features more than 100 living displays, with over 50 different exhibits, and one of the largest collections of sharks in Europe.

Take a water-lined walk through the Underwater Shark Tunnel, where you’ll be surrounded by species including Sand Tiger, nurse and zebra sharks. Meanwhile, your family can explore the freshwater displays of the Northern Streams, watch Giant Pacific Octopus in the Octopus lighthouse, say hello to the Frog Zone, and meet the inhabitants of the Amazon River, along with Caiman crocodiles!

Pre-book your visit here

14 – New Brighton Promenade

Children will love getting a fresh perspective on Liverpool’s amazing waterfront as families enjoy the incredible views offered by a seaside trip to New Brighton!

While you’re there, look out for New Brighton Lighthouse and The Black Pearl interactive artwork in Cosy Cove; made up of driftwood and ships ropes, and featuring sculptures and carvings around the ship. Back on dry land, the magical Mermaid trail stars five mermaid statues sculpted by a local artist and found at Kings Parade, Atherton Street/Victoria Road, Seabank Road, Marine Promenade and Victoria Parade.

Further details here

15 – Royal Liver Building 360: reopening Saturday 4 July

If you’re looking to create family memories of the moment Liverpool reopened to visitors, start at the top with this unforgettable 360º tour of our most famous building.

This spectacular tower tour offers even more than simply sensational views of the Liverpool and Wirral skyline from the 10th and 15th floors. The world-class audio-visual experience is something children won’t forget, with incredible pieces of the building’s history on display from inside the historic clock tower.

Pre-book tickets here

16 – Martin Mere Wetland Centre

The UK’s leading wetland conservation charity is a calming oasis of wildlife, where kids can enjoy nature while exploring the wonders of the wetlands!

Martin Mere holds 800-acres of adventure, including the Reedbed Walk and nature trail, and a host of surprises in The WOW zone! A wildlife haven for migratory birds, and a sanctuary for endangered species, this wonderful wildlife site has over 2,000 species of birds, mammals, insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles and fascinating mini-beasts!

Pre-booking is essential. Further details here

17 – Chester Zoo

It’s the most visited zoo in the UK, and it’s no wonder, because Chester Zoo is home to an incredible 35,000 extraordinary animals set across 128-acres of zoological gardens waiting for you to explore!

Set off on a colourful, Zoo adventure, as you explore Lemur Island, cross Elephant Bridge, meeting Caribbean flamingoes, encountering Ecuador Amazon parrots, magnificent mandrills, prickly porcupines and spider monkeys – among so many families waiting to meet yours!

Pre-book full-day or afternoon places. Book your place

18 – Southport Promenade

A trip out to Southport is always a hit with kids, with a brisk stroll along the oldest, and second longest, pier in the country, guaranteed to tire them out!

While you’re taking in spectacular views across 22-miles of coastline from Southport Beach, look out for Blackpool Tower, and enjoy scenes stretching all the way over to North Wales. Meanwhile, nearby Ocean Plaza offers reopened stores including Matalan and Dunhelm, and you can order family takeaways for collection just in time for home!

Further details here

19 – World Museum Liverpool: reopening in July

They’ve kept us brilliantly entertained with virtual tours for the last few weeks, and finally, families can make a return visit to our incredible World Museum.

Whatever their ages, children love to explore the secrets of the planetarium, the fascinating world of dinosaurs, Ancient Egypt gallery, Bug House and Aquarium, among some of the many ways to fire young imagination and inspire learning, set within the incredible surroundings of Liverpool’s Cultural Quarter. Keep checking social media channels for that all important reopening date.

Further details here