Liverpool is a surprisingly easy city to visit with children. The main sights are close together, many of the best museums are free, the waterfront is flat and good for pushchairs, and there is plenty to see that is genuinely exciting rather than merely educational. The key is to mix big, active experiences with quieter ones and to keep a rainy-day plan in your pocket. Here are the best ideas, roughly in order of how much children enjoy them.
World Museum
This is the best family stop in the city, and it costs nothing to enter. Children can watch live fish and insects in the aquarium and the bug house, look through a large telescope in the space gallery, explore the Ancient Egypt gallery with its mummies, and try hands-on displays about the human body. A planetarium shows presentations for different ages, and some of these need a ticket, so check what is on. The museum usually opens from Wednesday to Sunday, and weekday mornings are calm. Allow at least two hours, and longer for animal-loving children.
A Mersey ferry cruise
The fifty-minute River Explorer cruise from the Pier Head is a hit with children of all ages, who love being on a boat, watching the waterfront slide past and spotting the Liver Birds. There is indoor seating below and an open deck above for photographs, so it works in most weather, though the river can be windy, so pack a warm layer. The audio commentary tells the story of the river in an accessible way. Make a day of the Pier Head by combining the cruise with a free visit to the Museum of Liverpool, which has a hands-on area for young children.
The Beatles Story and the Magical Mystery Tour
You do not need to be a fan for children to enjoy these. The Beatles Story on the Royal Albert Dock has colourful recreated sets, a yellow submarine and a Discovery Zone for younger visitors, all on one underground level. The Magical Mystery Tour is a bright, painted bus that visits Penny Lane and Strawberry Field, and children enjoy the singing and the stories, although two hours on a bus is a stretch for the youngest.
A stadium tour
For football-mad children, the Anfield stadium tour and the LFC Museum are a dream, with a walk down the tunnel and a look inside the dressing rooms. The Everton tour at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium on the waterfront is in smaller groups and suits children who like modern architecture and the details of how a stadium works. Check the fixture lists before you go, because access changes around match days.
Crosby Beach
Antony Gormley’s hundred iron figures on Crosby Beach are a free, quirky adventure, and children love counting them and searching for their favourite. It is a twenty-five minute train ride from the city centre. Always check the tide times, stay close to the promenade, keep children away from the soft sand and mud and do not let them walk out to the far figures. Take warm layers and a change of shoes.
Older children and teenagers
Teenagers who enjoy history often love the Western Approaches bunker, where the Battle of the Atlantic was run, and the stories of the Crown Court cells at St George’s Hall. The tower of Liverpool Cathedral offers a big view for older children who can manage the lifts and stairs, and the Royal Liver Building 360 tour takes you up to the 15th floor for a panorama over the river.
Rainy-day plan
Liverpool has plenty to do indoors. The World Museum, the Walker Art Gallery, the Museum of Liverpool, The Beatles Story and the British Music Experience are all under cover, and the Royal Albert Dock has cafés and restaurants where you can warm up between visits. Do not try to fit more than two main sights into a day with young children, and leave time for a play stop and an early supper.
Where to stay
Space is the key with children. Titanic Hotel Liverpool has huge rooms from 56 square metres, a secure car park and a spa, and sits near Hill Dickinson Stadium. Premier Inn Liverpool City Centre (Liverpool One) offers family rooms in a central location and is easy on the budget. Pullman Liverpool on Kings Dock has river views and suites and is a five-minute walk from the Royal Albert Dock. Whichever you pick, book early for school holidays and match weekends.