23 fab family days out for Summer 2023

With the Summer holidays looming you might be thinking about those longs weeks ahead and how you’re going to fill them…

But when you look at everything going on in and around Liverpool throughout July and August you’ll be wondering how on earth you’re going to fit in all these amazing family days out!

There’s more than ever to do across the Liverpool city region and beyond this summer which means some amazing days out to keep everyone in the family happy.

And here’s 23 to get you going…

Jurassic adventure at Knowsley Safari

The dinosaurs are taking over Knowsley for six weeks this summer so brace yourself for face-to-face encounters with gigantic, life-like prehistoric giants. The animated puppets roar, blink, and move just like the real thing – and the Jurassic adventure’s all included in the normal admission cost. Between Saturday, July 22 and Sunday, September 3, there’ll be live dinosaur shows throughout the day; you can meet Bruce, the incredible six-metre-long T-Rex, and younger visitors can stroke cute baby dinosaurs in the ‘petting zoo’ – and that’s as well as seeing its 750 animals including its cheeky baboons.

Find out more here.

Liverpool ONE Nature Trail

Liverpool ONE’s Nature Trail offers kids aged 4–11 the chance to interact with Chavasse Park’s natural environment and learn about the flora and fauna that call it home. Young explorers can follow a Nature Trail map and search for signposts hidden in the undergrowth where they’ll be asked to complete a task that means investigating the area, from finding out how many different bugs they can find to discovering why lichen might grow on the tree bark.

Find out more here.

Milkshake! Live – Monkey’s Musical at St Helens Theatre Royal

Channel 5 favourite Milkshake! is leaping off the screen and onto the stage and Milkshake! Live – Monkey’s Musical is on at St Helens Theatre Royal on Sunday, August 27. It’s a chance to learn songs and dances with your favourite Milkshake! friends and watch as the music, the lights, the costumes, and the stage brings the TV show to life.

Find out more here.

Gravity Max launches

Get buckled up for the launch of a new adrenaline-pumping venue that’ll have you absolutely buzzing. Gravity Max is set to open in Liverpool ONE on August 12 with a staggering 100,000 sq ft of amazing activities including a high-speed multi-level E-Karting track, urban street golf, batting cages, an immersive gamebox, and AR digital darts. There’s going to be six food outlets, three bars, and Liverpool’s largest roof terrace with regular DJs and live musicians ready to make sure you have the best time.

Find out more here.

Variety Film Club: Paddington at the Royal Court

Who doesn’t love Paddington, the young bear who travelled from the jungles of Peru to London for adoption by the Brown family and adventures in the big city? And who wouldn’t jump at the chance to watch it at the Royal Court on Thursday, August 17, where £7.50 will allow you to watch the film and enjoy a great bowl of scouse or, for the kids, a packed lunch. Another fab day sorted!

Find out more here.

Family time at the Everyman

There’s tons going on at the Everyman in Hope Street throughout summer, from silliness, songs and stories for the under-5s and their grown-ups at the Everyman Street Café in Storytime with The Bookworm Players every Wednesday morning from July 12 to July 26, and Teeny Tiny Tales on Thursday, July 13; and the theatre is running its summer holiday drama week for 7-12 year-olds from Monday, July 31 to Friday, August 4.

Find out more here.

Return of the Gods at World Museum

From Wonder Woman and Thor to Captain America, Hercules, and more, our TV and cinema screens have been dominated by chiselled superheroes wielding their power – and this family-friendly exhibition dives into ancient Greek and Roman mythology to find out where the inspiration came from. From slaying snakes to turning men to stone, these heroes would stop at nothing. Return of the Gods has got more than 100 sculptures and objects, and you can experience the luxury of a Roman villa before journeying into the underworld to meet Hades.

Find out more here.

The Forgotten Forest at the Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Fresh from performing at the Little Liverpool Theatre Festival, you can join larger-than-life ‘forest animals’ for an interactive, fun-packed show from 3D Interact, with three performances on Sunday, August 20. The furry friends have had their homes ruined by pollution and litter and mean Queen Morticia is trying to take their home. They might have to look for somewhere new to live unless you can help…

Find out more here.

The Atkinson, Southport

There’s a shedload of stuff going on at The Atkinson throughout summer from Story & Rhyme Time sessions, to Make It! Craft Workshops, Construction Club and Young Curators Summer Sessions. And, on Friday, August 11, you can join CBeebies favourites for Sarah & Duck’s Big Top Birthday stage show with two performances at 1.30pm and 4pm.

Find out more here.

Dinosaur Drama at the Empire Theatre

Jurassic Live is a 90-minute full stage dinosaur production with amazing special effects and professional puppeteers who bring the realistic creatures to life. Aimed at the whole family, it’s a comedic and thrilling stage adventure which follows a team of dino rangers on the hunt for an evil man stealing dinosaurs and their eggs. It’s on on Saturday, July 22.

Find out more here.

The beach and fun fair returns to Calderstones Park

With a huge sandpit, fairground rides for all ages, discos, character visits, Dino Days, arts and crafts, food and drink, and more, there’s something for everyone when the beach and fun fair arrives back at Calderstones Park from Saturday, July 22, to Sunday, September 3. It’ll be open daily from 11am to 5.30pm, and there are autism and disability friendly sessions on Wednesdays, August 2, 16 and 30 from 4-6pm.

Find out more here.

Encanto In Concert: The Film with Live Orchestra at The Philharmonic

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Academy Award®-winning film comes to life in a UK tour for the first time ever, featuring the entire feature-length movie with a full orchestra performing the score. It’s on at the Hope Street venue on Saturday, July 29.

Find out more here.

Days out at WWT Martin mere

There’s more than 800 acres of wonderful wetlands, wildlife, and tons of exciting activities guaranteeing hours of fun, so if you want to splash into summer you could start here with fab flamingos, canoe safari adventures, play areas, bug hunts, and more. This summer, too, between Thursday, July 22 and Sunday, September 3 you can explore arts and crafts throughout the ages as part of its ‘Drawn to Water’ partnership with illustrator, Quentin Blake, highlighting how wetland materials were used for food, textiles, crafting and more. You can get hands-on with willow weaving and clay modelling; view the wetlands through the eyes Quentin Blake as part of its Drawn to Water summer trail, step back in time at its Mere Tun village, and pick up your sword and shield and get defence-ready to protect the village with weapons training, among all the usual activities – and the GIANT LEGO® Brick Animals.

Find out more here.

Explore Port Sunlight village

Built by Lord Lever to create homes for workers at his soap factory, Port Sunlight has always been a great place to visit with its beautiful gardens and ‘model’ village, but this summer it’s better than ever. You can visit the museum and learn how William Lever created the village and changed living and working conditions, visit an Edwardian worker’s cottage, have fun in the new interactive SoapWorks family experience and, until September 10, see the exhibition of costumes that were worn in Peaky Blinders by some of its main stars like Helen McCrory and Tom Hardy.

Find out more here.

Mersey Ferries

Who doesn’t love a trip on the water, and this summer there’s lots of cruises setting sail with Mersey Ferries from their River Explorer Cruise which takes in the fabulous views of the famous waterfront with commentary on its history, to the Liverpool Bay Cruise which offers panoramic views of the river as you sail past Royal Seaforth Docks, Fort Perch Rock at New Brighton and along the Crosby Channel towards Blundellsands and Formby (with the chance to see Anthony Gormley’s spectacular Another Place art installation at Crosby Beach from the river). You can watch the sunset and sing and dance the night away to live music, DJs and tribute bands on its evening cruises; enjoy a festival vibe on the six-hour Fezzy Cross the Mersey Cruise with music from amazing local artists, and make memories at two Liverpool experiences with a combination River Explorer Cruise and The Beatles Story ticket.

Find out more here.

Speke Hall, Garden and Estate

There’s always loads of fun for families at Speke Hall with its the giant hedge maze, interactive Giant Childe of Hale trail, its woodland play area and 30-foot zip wire, but this summer there’s more to do than ever. The National Trust’s Summer of Play means from Monday, July 24, to Friday, August 25 you can take part in sports day style races, archery, wild art, Tudor dancing, carnival games, traditional garden games, and more. Open air theatre is also heading to Speke with Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland on Wednesday, July 19, and The Tales of Puddlesworth Park on Wednesday, July 26.

Find out more here.

RLB360

Get a Liver Bird’s Eye View of the city and learn more about one of its most iconic attractions, The Royal Liver Building. Taking pride of place at the heart of the famous waterfront, it’s a symbol of Liverpool, its history, and its people, and the RLB360 tour can help you find out more about the famous landmark and its place in local heritage. After you’ve viewed the exhibition, you take a guided tour to the 10th and 15th floors to enjoy a state-of-the-art projection inside the historic clock tower and spectacular 360° views of the Liverpool skyline. Now that’s a view!

Find out more here.

Eureka! Science + Discovery

Science, technology, and more are made fun at Eureka! with hundreds of hands-on, innovative and interactive activities based on things you experience every day, all of which will help you learn about the uniqueness of our bodies, explore things that are part of the fabric and spaces of our homes and nature, and get creative. The Burrow is also now open for the under-7s too and, if you’re peckish while you’re at the Wallasey attraction, you can dine at the Discovery Café or take your own picnic.

Find out more here.

Maritime Museum

You can discover all about Liverpool’s seafaring past and life at sea at the Merseyside Maritime Museum at the Royal Albert Dock. It’s certainly worth dropping anchor and disembarking for its ‘Life on Board’ gallery, exploring the moving and fascinating stories of Liverpool’s seafarers and passengers, as is the Seized! The Border & Customs Uncovered gallery where you can see counterfeit goods seized by Customs. The Titanic and Liverpool is one of the most popular galleries, as is On The Waterfront which looks at how the docks have changed over the years, and you can travel back to the days of the Clipper ships with one of its storytellers to hear the adventures of Tom, the young cabin boy on board the sailing ship, Lady May.

Find out more here.

British Music Experience

As the UK’s only museum dedicated to celebrating British rock and pop, the BME boasts an unrivalled collection of memorabilia, stage outfits, instruments, images and footage of all your favourite artists from 1945 to the present day. In the Gibson Brands Interactive Studio you’ll find electric, acoustic and bass guitars, including Les Pauls, SGs and 335s, as well as Roland drums, synthesisers and keyboards, just waiting for you to give them a go, and you can master some star moves in the Dance The Decades Experience. 

Find out more here.

Farmer Ted’s Adventure Farm

We’re not sure about being extinct, those dinosaurs seem to be everywhere this year, including at Farmer Ted’s in Ormskirk which has got a Jurassic Tedventure. State-of-the-art animatronics mean you can come face-to-face with the ferocious T-Rex, the towering brontosaurus, swift raptors and more; and favourite dinosaurs Vinny and Titan will entertain with their interactive show. That’s all in addition to the usual fun down on the farm including the Massive Maize Maze, the Shaun the Sheep Farm Adventure, the Mini Beasts Centre, and the chance to meet Farmer Ted’s animals like Laura the Llama, and Shetland ponies, Bracken, Ruby and Jessie.

Find out more here.

Chester Zoo

There are 35,000 extraordinary animals in 128 acres of gardens and green spaces at Chester Zoo, along with its Madagascar Play Area, monorail train fun, and more. Into The Night is back this summer with the chance to discover its animals’ evening routines as the sun sets, enjoy evening entertainment and food and drink – that’s on Fridays and Saturdays in July – and, for the first time ever, Luna Cinema is at Chester Zoo on August 22, 23, and 24, and you can also explore the zoo from 3pm, including access to its brand-new immersive experience, Planet Shark: Predator or Prey, before taking your seats for Grease (PG), Top Gun: Maverick (12A)  and The Greatest Showman (PG) respectively.

Find out more here.

Get crafty with Derby Mouse at Liverpool Cathedral

Join the education team at Liverpool Cathedral for free arts and crafts activities during the summer holidays. Each family-friendly session is free and lasts up to 45 minutes with sessions at 11am, 1pm, and 2pm, on Mondays and Tuesdays, August 7-8, 14-15, and 21-22. They’re held in the education zone at the rear of the main space.

Find out more here.

For more family days out around Liverpool click HERE.