Things To Do With Kids in Merseyside

Forty of the 89 places here sit in Liverpool itself, and a good share of them cost nothing. World Museum spans five floors with real Egyptian mummies, a planetarium and a handling centre with an aquarium; reviewers say most visitors only manage three floors in one visit, and Kids Days Out argues Merseyside's free museums change the maths on a family day out. The free parks differ more than you might expect: Sefton Park has caves, a waterfall and the Palm House for wet spells, Calderstones Park pairs a heritage trail with a Japanese garden, Newsham Park & Garden keeps toddler equipment separate from a skate park, and Crosby Coastal Park adds iron figures, paddling and crabbing to a seaside walk.

Paid days out are spread across the county. Knowsley Safari in Prescot combines a drive-through with a sea lion show and tiger cubs in season; the baboon section is known for damaging cars, so the Baboon Bus is the cautious choice. Otterspool adventure Liverpool bundles a petting farm, bouncing pillows, go-karts and mini golf into one entry price, while Adventure Coast Southport is free to enter and charges per ride. Splash World in Southport runs two-hour sessions with a toddler zone.

For rain, Imagine That! has four zones of role play, craft and science for ages 1 to 10, and Eureka! Science + Discovery in Wallasey sells full-price entry as an annual pass. Soft play and trampolines sort by age and needs: Bubbles' World of Play suits under-5s, Jumpin Josephs runs SEN and Tots Friday sessions, and Bounce House Inflatable Theme Park offers SEND quiet sessions. Cinemas split too: Showcase Cinema de Lux for sensory screenings, Everyman Liverpool for Baby Club, Cineworld Speke for loud 4DX. Teens get Roxy Ball Room Liverpool Cavern Quarter, The Climbing Hangar Liverpool North and TeamSport Go Karting Liverpool, though Junkyard Golf Club | Crazy Golf Liverpool and Lane7 Liverpool are drinks-led venues.