Make the most of late summer, by exploring what the region has to offer post-lockdown. There’s still a host of ways to entertain the family.
Many cultural spaces and venues have now reopened, alongside new courses and activities for kids. You can try your hand at horse riding, watch some outdoor theatre or take an explorer trip on Mersey Ferries.
Don’t miss out, there’s still time yet for some fun with the family before the start of school!
1/ Visit an art gallery
The main Liverpool art galleries have reopened and several have relaunched their exhibitions. These are great for older children and include ‘And Say The Animal Responded’ at FACT and Frances Disley’s ‘Pattern Buffer’ at Bluecoat.
Walker Art Gallery have also relaunched their Linda McCartney photographic retrospective.
FACT, Weds-Sat, 12pm-7pm, Sun, 12pm-5pm.
www.fact.co.uk
Bluecoat, Thurs-Sat, 11am-4pm.
www.thebluecoat.org.uk
Walker Art Gallery, Weds-Sun, 10am-5pm.
www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker-art-gallery
2/ Outdoor theatre
Try some outdoor theatre with the family this summer. Norton Priory Museum and Gardens are staging The Wind in the Willows, presented by the award winning Immersion Theatre Company.
Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre in Chester are also staging Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors .
Norton Priory Museum and Gardens, Runcorn, 29 August, 5.30pm.
www.nortonpriory.org
Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, Chester, until 30 August, various times.
www.grosvenorparkopenairtheatre.co.uk
3/ Cinema
We can now visit cinemas again, so you could take the kids for a traditional family treat. Reopenings include independent cinemas, such as The Picturehouse at FACT, The Plaza in Waterloo and larger venues such as the Odeon at Liverpool ONE.
There are also several drive-in and open-air cinemas that have opened in response to the pandemic, including Chester’s Moonlight Flicks.
4/ Kids Art Classes
Art classes are a great way to engage children and get them thinking creatively. The classes can provide them with an ongoing interest.
Liverpool’s dot-art has several family art courses – a Summer Art School and their Collaboradoodle! sessions.
Summer Art School, Liverpool Cathedral, 31 August, 9.30am-11am.
Collaboradoodle! Liverpool Cathedral, 28 August, 9.30am-11am.
5/ Mersey Ferry
Hop on the Mersey Ferry and enjoy Liverpool’s Unesco World Heritage Waterfront views. You can also take the ferry to discover Wirral.
New Brighton Promenade is perfect for a summer walk or you could visit the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight.
Pier Head, Liverpool Waterfront, various times.
www.merseyferries.co.uk
6/ Swimming
Swimming pools are also back open for some family exercise and fun. There are larger venues such as Liverpool Aquatics Centre in Wavertree and quieter pools such as Crosby Leisure Centre.
Many centres also offer gym facilities for some additional exercise!
Crosby Leisure Centre, L23 – Mon-Fri, 7am-8pm, Sat-Sun, 8am-5pm.
Liverpool Aquatics Centre, L17 – Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri, 6.15am-10pm, Weds, 9.30am-10pm, Sat/Sun, 8am-4pm.
7/ St Johns Beacon (Radio City Tower)
Take a trip up St Johns Beacon, the radio and observation tower opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1969.
The tower’s observation deck offers up amazing views of the Liverpool Waterfront, the Wirral and North Wales.
Houghton Street, City Centre, 10.15am-5.15pm.
8/ Horse riding
Try something different and take horse riding lessons with the family. Both Croxteth Park Riding Centre and Lodge Riding Centre cater for all abilities, with horses and ponies suitable for all riders.
Croxteth Park Riding Centre, Tues-Sat, 9am-5.30pm
www.croxtethparkridingcentre.co.uk
Lodge Riding Centre, Prescot, 9am-9pm.
www.liverpoolridingschool.co.uk
9/ City Tours
A city tour is perfect for the family to discover new sights and interesting facts about Liverpool.
Livertours have a range of tour options, including city walks, Beatle tours and a special football themed walk.
Shiverpool also offer some fantastic ghost tours, with their brand of unique ‘spirited’ street entertainment.
Livertours, City Centre, various times.
www.livertoursliverpool.com
Shiverpool, City Centre, various times.
www.shiverpool.co.uk
10/ A day at the park
Explore one of Liverpool’s fantastic parks on a family day out. From Calderstones to Sefton Park, each has their own character and unique appeal.
They can also host a range of activities, such as the reading classes for kids by The Reader in Calderstones Park. There are also cafes and amenities in the larger Merseyside parks.
www.liverpool.gov.uk/leisure-parks-and-wellbeing/parks-and-greenspaces
Visit our What’s On section to browse event listings for the Liverpool City Region or add your own.