Your Ultimate Guide to Christmas in Liverpool 🎄 
Culture
21 days out for all the family to enjoy before summer holidays finish in Liverpool
4 years ago
It’s been a strange old summer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of the last weeks of the summer holidays in and around Liverpool.
There’s still loads going on that you can do with the kids, with some events planned perfectly for you as well as the fab fun places we can always rely on…
Weigh anchor at the Royal Albert Dock
How heavy is the anchor in the Anchor Courtyard? And how many band members were in The Beatles? Do you know the answers?!
Get to know the Dock in more detail when you make your way around as a family on our Adventure Trail. Grab a copy of our Adventure Trail Map to answer questions on key points around the Dock – once you’ve completed them, head to The Nest art and gift shop on the Colonnades to have your passport stamped, and pick up your free sticker/badge.
It’s an interactive activity for all the family – and while it’s great for families with young children, it’s fun to get older siblings involved, too.
You choose when you want to take part – you can head over at any time of the day, and any day of the week – including weekends. Suitable for ages four and up, you can print a copy at home from the website before you set out or pick one up free from Dock venues including: Tate Liverpool, Holiday Inn Express Hotel, The Maritime and Clockwise in Edward Pavilion.
The Wind in the Willows at Sefton Park Palm House
It’s the first outdoor event taking place within the grounds and what a way to celebrate – with Illyria’s classic version of Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows.
Suitable for everyone from five and above, Mole yearns for adventure, Rat adores boats and Badger likes peace and quiet. But Into their lives bursts Toad who loves very fast cars and just can’t seem to help getting into trouble…
There are two hour-long shows at 2pm and 5pm. Adult tickets are
£12, and children 3 – 16 years, £10 (plus booking fee).
Have a thrilling day at Southport’s Pleasureland
Pleasureland in Southport is back open for the thrills and spills of the family-friendly amusement park and it’s looking better than ever so it’s definitely worth having a new look.
All the rides are open so you can choose to channel your inner racer on the dodgems, scare yourself silly on the Ghost Train or make a splash on the Log Flume – or choose from any of the many more fab fun rides you can go on, and there are loads of measures in place to keep you and your family safe.
There are now lots of picnic benches and green spaces so you can take your own food and fill yourself up with all your favourites
And booking is now online and instead of free entry and payment for individual rides, it’s one price for the whole day making it easier to do – and easier to budget. Wristbands are only £19.99 for weekdays and £24.99 for weekends and you can go on as many rides as many times as you want (and it’s £5.50 for non-riders which is ideal if gran wants to take you but she’s not keen on rides these days).
PLUS it’s close to all the other wonderful attractions that Southport has to offer from the fabulous wide-open beach, the fantastic Victorian Pier, the Model Railway Village, the stunning shops on Lord Street, plenty of great places to eat and drink, the Marine Lane and the ever-beautiful Victoria Park.
Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo is back open with the chance to visit and see oodles of animals as well as its fabulous gardens and green spaces.
There are 35,000 extraordinary animals in 128 acres of gardens.
And not only does your visit ensure a great time, your support helps the many conservation projects constantly being undertaken by the zoo and its staff.
Wade in to WWT Centre Martin Mere
Visitor numbers are restricted but you can still book online for a visit and enjoy 800 acres of wetland paradise, and say hello to some flamboyant flamingos and adorable otters.
Making a splash for August are some giant LEGO brick wetlands animals for you to meet while they enjoy their summer staycation at the Burscough attraction too, as well as some of the usual activities like the canoe safari, pond dipping, play areas and more…
Summer fun at Speke Hall, Garden and Estate
The hall isn’t open yet but there’s still a fab day to be had at Speke in the beautiful gardens and grounds of this rare Tudor timber-framed manor house.
There’s plenty of space to have fun and run around and it’s ideal for a family picnic. You’ll need to book tickets by 3pm the day before your visit. (Members can book for free, while non-members will need to pay when booking).
Museum magic
As always there’s tons going on at the city’s museums with the World Museum Liverpool and Walker Art Gallery back open for a few weeks now and the International Slavery Museum, Merseyside Maritime Museum and Museum of Liverpool open from Wednesday, August 19.
Yes there have been some changes and the days it’s open are restricted to allow staff to deep clean and keep you safe, but at World Museum Liverpool you can still discover treasures from around the world, explore outer space and meet live creatures, while at The Walker Art Gallery you can view beautiful paintings, sculptures and decorative art from the 13th century to the present day.
At the Merseyside Maritime Museum and International Slavery Museum you can explore Liverpool’s seafaring past and the history of transatlantic slavery and its legacies; and at Museum of Liverpool you can learn all about the city and its impact on the rest of the world.
And it’s all for free!
Knowsley Safari Park
The 550-acre safari park is back open with lions, rhino, wildebeest, camels, bison, and – oh yes, the baboons!
You can also get on foot to find the sea lion displays and play areas, meerkats, giraffe and a new tiger trail.
Treasure Hunt Liverpool
The city-based attraction is once again inviting people to solve the clues and discover hidden gems they didn’t know existed.
Follow treasure maps and solve the clues sent to your phones by Captain Bess. There are two different treasure hunts for wannabe pirates depending on where you want to explore and how long you want it to last.
For more details go to Get more info here.
Imagine That!
You might know it better as Underwater Street on Water Street in the city centre but it moved to become bigger and better – and changed its name to Imagine That!
Now on Wavertree Technology Park the great kids’ play centre features arts and crafts, science workshops and an Imagination Village including a construction zone, lots of shops, and American diner and theatre, a pet rescue and car wash and loads more.
Visits will need to be booked in advance because of limited numbers and visits will be restricted to three hours.
Go Ape
The high ropes adventure course is back open at Knowsley.
You can swing through the treetops and climb the ropes and nets to test your head for heights – and check your nerve!
Liverpool Watersports Centre
Liverpool Watersports Centre has reopened for customers wanting to get out and about and active again after lockdown.
Initially sports on offer will be limited to open water swimming, stand-up paddle board, sit-on-top kayaking and rafted canoeing.
You can book on the website and to see the new timetable go to the website here.
Escape Hunt Liverpool
Dive into new worlds completing ground-breaking missions; work as a team to find clues, solve puzzles and complete challenges before the time runs out.
Choose from The Last Vikings, Blackbeard’s Treasure, Escape the Wild West, Alice in Puzzleland and more.
Jungle Parc Liverpool
Jungle Parc in Croxteth Parc has got lots of hi-rise fun for young adventurers. Its Adventurer Course is a really popular activity for the younger members of the family as, like the Xplorer Course, there are more than 40 different activities including monkey bridges, super-fast Zips, Rocket Launchers, Cargo Nets, Tunnel Slides and more! (Minimum height 1.05m).
Each level of the Adventurer Course gets slightly higher, so you can have a great time whatever ability or age. Afterwards you can make the most of Croxteth Park itself – run around and possibly pack a picnic.
Formby Red Squirrel Walk
This never ceases to be a family favourite, getting out into the beautiful woodlands surrounding Formby, home to the rare native red squirrel.
There’s a 1.8-mile dog-friendly walk that covers easy terrain and should take about an hour.
And you’re close to the beach so you can build a sandcastle or go for a paddle.
More information on the website here
Delamere Forest Trail
Delamere Forest provides loads of gentle forest roads and trails ideal for families with children.
There are dry sandstone paths, lots of mature trees to shade or shelter under, and Blakemere Moss is an ideal for spotting plenty of our feathered friends.
Old Pale Hill, in particular, provides a superb walk with spectacular views extending as far as Liverpool’s famous skyline! See, you’re never far away.
New Brighton
You’ve got everything at New Brighton from a fabulous beach with its lovely prom, and all the fun of the fair.
Its New Palace fun fair attraction promises indoor and outdoor fun for a traditional day at the seaside. The outdoor fairground includes the ever-popular dodgems, plus small dippers, a fun house and other fun rides ideally suited to families with children aged from toddlers to 13.
The Hayloft (miniature railway, maize maze and playground)
The Hayloft is a family run ice cream shop, coffee shop and tearoom located close to Warrington – and it’s just brill for families.
There’s a great playground and a miniature steam railway (which adults might love more than the kids!) and, throughout August, for the first time ever, it’s got a maize maze, open from 10am to 5pm – last entry is 4pm – so you can have fun finding and answering the clues… and hopefully finding your way out! You can get your wristbands and clue sheets from the counter, and it’s £2.50 for children aged three to 14, and £2 for adults.
Fun on the farm at Farmer Ted’s
It’s not a day out, it’s an adventure at Farmer Ted’s Adventure Farm in Ormskirk.
There’s loads of animals for you to meet as well as mini beasts too. You can watch the Shaun the Sheep Show, test your navigational skills in the two mazes and have fun in the play areas.
It’s really well organised with timed events so you don’t miss anything on your must-see list, and there’s a brand-new Education Shed featuring videos, activities and presentations about life on a farm.
Trentham Monkey Forest
Monkey Forest is home to 140 free-ranging Barbary macaques, and visitors get the chance to see this endangered species living as they would in the wild.
The hourly feeding talks are currently not running, but you’ll still get the chance to walk along the forest trail and watch their fascinating behaviour.
You can refuel at the Banana Café or take your own food to enjoy in one of the designated picnic areas.
More info on the website here.
Lymm Dam
In 1824 the Lymm Dam was constructed to make way for a road, which is now the A56 – now it’s a central point in this picturesque village with a variety of footpaths, canal paths and the Trans Pennine Trail providing stunning walks.
There’s a rich wildlife around and about and, while the dam itself is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (or SINC) with the woodlands surrounding the dam containing a variety of trees and a carpet of wildflowers, bird and bats are often seen around it.
And you can usually rely on a great butty van and ice cream van to offer pre and post-walk treats for all the family.
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