Things to do in the Liverpool/Cheshire area with kids on a short break

mwddrwg

Morning all,

We're on a very tight budget at the moment and were thinking of taking the kids away for a short midweek break to the Liverpool/Cheshire area as it's not too far from us. We intend get a family room in a Travelodge/Premier Inn to be used as a base and visit places of interest to the kids during the day.

Does anyone have any recommendations of places to go in the area that 8-year old kids would love? Any pointers towards accomodation deals would also be appreciated.

Many thanks

samsil

Hi there
A few things spring to mind
Knowsley safari park, Chester zoo both good.
tatton park a good cheap day out you just pay for car park entry but playground v good zip wire etc.
Haven't been to but have heard of - my kids are younger than 8-
' The crocky trail' and 'underwater street' Liverpool had mostly good reviews on trip advisor

mumontherun

Lots of the museums are family friendly and often have kids activities and I think are free.

Website www.netmums.com Merseyside is very good for ideas on places to go

cte1111

Spaceport is quite fun for children of that age:
http://www.spaceport.org.uk/

It's at the ferry port, so you can combine it with a 'ferry cross the Mersey' day out.

There's also a soft play centre at the same location, although your kids are probably too old to enjoy that.

LunaLady

We are going to Chester in a few weeks and plan to visit Chester Zoo, and the Aquarium at Ellesmere Port.

emma.cook3

Yes, zoo is great, aquarium, chester is nice with the wall walk and the river boats but not in january. There is a hand on museum in mold which looks good.
If you go to the zoo you need to get tickets first from local hotels or cheshire oaks cos they are much cheaper.

Lacemaker

I live close to Tatton and can't recommend highly enough, also Dunham Massey, Styal Mill, Jodrell Bank, and the Imperial War Museum North at Salford Quays which is fantastic.

sara1980

The zoo is a fab day out but can work out quite expensive if you are on a budget.
Blue Planet is a good for a couple of hours, but not much more.
Knowsley Safari Park, you can usually get vouchers for the kids to get in free, and you can drive round as many times as you like, the monkeys are the best!!
The museums in Liverpool are (to the best of my knowledge) all free to enter.
I've never been to Crocky Trail, my kids have though & thoroughly enjoyed it.
There is a slightly cheaper version to Crocky Trail called Manley Mere, we have visited that on many occasions, and the kids (and adults) always have a ball, if you visit Manley Mere, take old clothes & a spare set, as you will get muddy!!
If you want to travel as far as Manchester there is the football museum (I'm not sure on prices though)
You also have Claymoore Navigation in Runcorn where you can hire a canal boat for the day, not cheap, but a fab experience for the kids.
For an even cheaper day out, visit the local parks (weather permitting)

kingfisherblue

Some of these suggestions are quite expensive IMO. The museums in Liverpool are good and most are free (not sure about the new museum though). The World Museum is great and you can easily spend all day there.

In Widnes there is the Catalyst Museum, which is a hands on science museum. It is about a fiver for adults, less for children, and there are family tickets and concessions available. The top floor has glass walls, which my kids love. Again you can easily spend all day there. Outside is a large Outdoor area with plenty of walking, called Spike Island. You can use the same free car park for both.

The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester is free and another all-dayer. There is a charge for additional exhibitions though.

In St. Helens there is The World of Glass. Entry into the museum itself has to be paid for, but there is a cafe area with a great play area of mirrors - not just your usual wobbly mirrors, but all sorts of stuff. In half term they have workshops for glass painting for less than a fiver per child, but you do have to book. There is also a shop and a very nice cafe.

Also in St. Helens is Sherdley Park, which has an animal corner with peacocks, rabbits, ponies, etc. It is free, and also in the park is a children's play area and plenty of space to run about.

Acorn Farm in Knowsley is an urban farm that is cheap, and most kids enjoy the animals there. The shop has pocket money toys for the kids, and you can buy feed for the animals.

Sankey Valley is popular for walks and can be reached from either St. Helens or Warrington. Delamere Forest in Cheshire is good too.

I know the OP asked about Liverpool and Cheshire, not St. Helens, but the town is only twenty minutes or so up the motorway from Liverpool, so some of the suggestions might be useful.

greenface

Depends when your thinking of going. Greenacres Farm Park is in Mancot/Queensferry. Urban Farm Knowsley. Tam'o'shanter in Bidston Birkenhead . Free Museams in Liverpool . Williamson Art Gallery in Birkenhead. Football tours to the two best teams in the world ( Liverpool & Liverpool Reserves) Crocky trail & Nearby Ice cream factory at TattenHall. Ellesmere port boat museam . Ferry cross the Mersey ( i feel a song comming on )

steph2901

Tatten Park, Crocky Trails, Joddrell Bank, Stockly Farm, Chester Zoo and Gulliver's World are places my kids have loved when up that way visiting family.