Schools Out! 11 Things to do with the kids this Summer on Merseyside

School is out, Fun is in!

Keeping the kids entertained during the summer hols is a full-time job and trying to get them to put the ipads down is becoming impossible!

We love searching for new ideas across the region to try and make those 6 weeks go a bit quicker for you, whether it be festivals, picnic spots or soft play.

So we’ve put our heads together and come up with the top 1 activities for the kids to have a go at this summer.

Give Mine craft a miss and give these a go!

1. Liverpool One – Mini Rio Olympics

Rio Olympic Spirit Arrives At Liverpool ONE – The Guide Liverpool

It’s a summer of sporting fun at Chavasse Park on the leisure terrace at L1. Little Olympians can hop, skip and jump their way down the long jump track, bounce on the bungee trampolines and then stand proud on the winner’s podium for a selfie! There’s also a nature trail across the park for mini wildlife lovers. With the added bonus of The Club House for a prosecco or pint, this could make for a handy post-shop chill out for all the family.For more details head to www.Liverpool-one.com/chavasse_park

2. Calderstones Park – Urban Beach

Urban Beach – Picture Liverpool Echo

Calderstones Park is hosting its Urban Beach even again this summer. From July 23^rd to Sept 4^th the park will be transformed into a huge fairground with man-made beach, deck chairs and buckets and spades a plenty. With a separate toddler beach, rides, bouncy slides and gallons of ice cream, it’s a great way to extend a lazy day at the park. Autism and disability friendly mornings take place on Mon 25^th July and Mon 22^nd August 10:30 – 12:30.

3. Albert Dock – Pirate Festival

The annual Pirate Festival return to the Albert Dock this summer with two jam-packed days of swashbuckling fun for all the family. With live action stunts, street theatre and more boats that you can shake a plank at, why not dress your little buccaneers up and spend a late summer weekend searching for treasure? Pirate Festival takes place on September 10/11^th more details released soon at www.albertdock.com/events

4. Sefton Park – LIMF Liverpool International Music Festival 2016

Start your summer hols in style and take the kids down to Sefton Park for the Liverpool International Music Festival 2016. With Maverick Sabre, Wretch 32, The Wombats, Ms Dynamite and the Lightning Seeds on the bill, plus a huge kid’s area with tonnes of craft activities and a man-made beach, LIMF is a real FREE Family affair! Pack a cooler, grab some blankets and pick a spot on the main stage field to have your own little party! More info here www.limfestival.com

5. Pier Head – Liverpool Loves Festival 2016

And we’re not done with festivals yet! Liverpool Loves is back again this year and what a ball we had on the Pier Head last August! Bring its unique blend of music, food, wellbeing and lifestyle tents and exhibitors, this year’s event is going to be even better and its FREE! With our very own Jay Hynd hosting the main stage you know the line-up is going to be phenomenal, so check out www.liverpoolloves.co.uk for all the family friendly activities and watch out for our line-up review here soon!

6. Gillmoss – Veolia Recycling Wonder

Ever wondered what happens to your recycling? We never really gave it another thought until one of our mums raved about the Veolia Recycling open days at Bidston and Gillmoss. Kids are invited to free sessions over the summer to get involved with craft activities and find out what really happens to their Rice Crispie boxes. Educational and free! Check out www.veolia.co.uk/merseyside-and-halton for dates and times.

7. Bebbington – Claremont Farm

It’s perfect strawberry picking time and Claremont Farm, Bebbington is the perfect place to take your little ones on a welly walk! Families have been picking strawbs here for 40 YEARS and alongside raspberries, gooseberries and blackcurrants, you’ll boots in time for a free tractor ride back to the scales! The Pick Your Own event is on from June til the start of August so piley in the car and head over, well behaved pooches are also welcome! Go to www.claremontfarm.co.uk for more details.

8. Allerton Tower Park – Summer Activity Camp

Merseyside Youth Challenge trust are holding a summer activity camp where kids can get involved in a whole host of fun stuff like archery, aerial runways, camp cooking and craft workshops, to name just a few! With sessions running from 9-4 from 1^st August, these sessions are bound to have the kids worn out and in bed early! Check out www.myct.org.uk for more details

9. Wood Street, City Centre – FACT Prototype Summer School Factlab Edition

Okay so maybe a bit of Mine Craft won’t hurt! At least they’re out of the house! FACT are hosting brilliant tech sessions at the Prototype Summer School where youngsters can work with technologists to build and explore a virtual world with electronics and coding. Sessions run from July 27-29 and August 1-12. More details available here www.fact.co.uk/whats-on

10. Various Locations – Soccer Schools Liverpool & Everton

If your little ones are just happy knocking a footy about all summer then how about upping their game a bit and enrolling on a summer scheme with either Liverpool or Everton FC? Liverpool are running a number of sessions from their Kirkby base over July and August, while Everton in the Community are running their footy camps city wide. Check out www.soccerschools.liverpoolfc.com or www.evertonfc.com/soccer-camps for dates and times. Just make sure you get the right team!

So there you have it, 10 brand new activities to try out this summer, and don’t forget to tweet or facebook us your pics!

11. Ormskirk – Farmer Teds 

Rain or shine, Farmer Teds offers the perfect day out for all the family. Birds of prey, tractor rides, mini beats, indoor & outdoor play areas and obviously an array of beautiful farm animals, it really is an action packed day out. As you can see in our video above!

READ 10 things we love about Farmer Teds