The school summer holidays have arrived, and families are looking for affordable ways to keep children entertained. Many places across Merseyside offer free entry and activities. From a piano festival in the city centre to arts and crafts in Southport, there’s something for everyone.
Parks and Playgrounds
Birkenhead Park has a children's play area, walking and cycling routes, and sports facilities including tennis. Address: Park Dr, Birkenhead CH41 4HY.
Calderstones Park covers 94 acres with woodlands, a lake, a 1,000-year-old oak tree, Japanese and English gardens, and the Linda McCartney playground. Address: Calderstones Road, Liverpool L18 3JB.
Croxteth Hall and Country Park is a 500-acre estate with woodland walks, a children's play area, and farm livestock. Address: Muirhead Ave E, Liverpool L11 1EH.
Princes Park is a historic Grade II* park with a serpentine lake and sunburst gates. Address: Devonshire Rd, Liverpool L8 3TZ.
Sefton Park spans 235 acres with monuments, a playground, Old Nick's caves, and the Fairy Glen. Address: Rawcliffe Rd, Liverpool L9 1AW.
Beaches and Coast
Another Place, Crosby Beach: Antony Gormley's installation of 100 cast-iron figures along the foreshore. Address: Mariners Rd, Blundellsands, Liverpool L23 6SX.
Formby Beach offers miles of sand and views of Lancashire and North Wales. The National Trust car park is open. Address: Blundell Avenue, Formby, Liverpool L37 1PH.
New Brighton Beach has a mile-long sandy beach with attractions. Address: Wallasey, CH45 3PZ.
Museums and Galleries
Museum of Liverpool features exhibits on the city's history, including Beatles memorabilia and archaeology. Address: Pier Head, Liverpool L3 1DG.
Walker Art Gallery has paintings and sculptures by artists including Lucian Freud. Address: William Brown St, Liverpool L3 8EL.
World Museum houses objects from around the world, an aquarium, and an Ancient Egypt collection. Life-like dinosaur puppets appear every Wednesday and Thursday. Address: William Brown St, Liverpool L3 8EN.
Liverpool Cathedral displays regular rotating artwork. Address: St James' Mount, Liverpool L1 7AZ.
Farms and Sculptures
Rice Lane City Farm has cows, sheep, goats, donkeys, pigs, horses, rabbits, and birds, plus a woodland walk. Free entry with donations welcome. Address: Rawcliffe Rd, Liverpool L9 1AW.
Tam O'Shanter Urban Farm on Bidston Hill offers free entry, animals to feed, and rural education. Address: Boundary Rd, Birkenhead CH43 7PD.
The Dream is a 20-metre high sculpture of a girl at the former Sutton Manor Colliery, St Helens. Address: Sutton Manor, St Helens WA9 4BE.
Other Attractions
Formby Pinewoods is a peaceful woodland with red squirrels and birds. Address: Blundell Avenue, Formby, Liverpool L37 1PH.
Liverpool ONE offers Beach Fest (Jul 18–Aug 31), Tickle the Ivories piano festival (Jul 10–Sep 11), and the Minton Tile Trail (Jul 17–Sep 2). Address: 5 Wall St, Liverpool L1 8JQ.
Liverpool street art includes murals of Paul O'Grady and Jürgen Klopp by various artists. Locations vary.
Royden Park Railway is run by volunteers and offers free rides (donations welcome). The park also has a lake, walled gardens, and woodland walks. Address: Hill Bark Rd, Frankby, Wirral CH48 1NP.
The Atkinson hosts free Make It! Summer Craft Workshops every Thursday from Jul 23–Aug 27, 11am–3pm. Address: Lord St, Southport PR8 1DB.
Vale Park in New Brighton has Fairy Gardens made from driftwood, and free weekend performances in July and August, including a bandstand centenary celebration on Aug 23–24. Address: Vale Park, New Brighton, Wallasey CH45.
