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Seasonal / Christmas

Christmas in Liverpool with kids 2026: what is confirmed, what it costs and what sells out first

A new ice rink at St George's Hall, a covered rink at the Pier Head, lanterns at Chester Zoo and four pantos. Here is what organisers have actually announced for Christmas 2026 across Merseyside, with prices, and what is still waiting on a date.

By FamDays · Checked 31 October 2026Half a day to a full evening, depending on the pickAll ages

Two white rhinos grazing at Knowsley Safari

Every October someone at our house announces that we are doing Christmas properly this year, and then nobody books anything until the second week of December, by which point the good dates have gone and the grotto costs more than the present. So this is the list I wish I had in October: what has actually been announced for Christmas 2026 in and around Liverpool, what it costs, and what is still a blank space on the organiser's website on 28 October. Every date and price comes from the organiser's own page, checked this week. Where 2026 plans are not out yet, I say so rather than guess from last year.

The big change in town: two ice rinks

The city centre has been reshuffled for 2026. The council announced in July that the St George's Hall site is now run by Underbelly, the company behind Edinburgh's Christmas, and the main event there is Skate St George's, an outdoor rink on the plateau with the hall as a backdrop. Underbelly's listing gives the dates as 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 and says there is a Christmas market with local traders to wander through, plus a rooftop bar. Skating prices and session times were not published when I checked.

At the Pier Head, Icebox Live is running Liverpool Christmas Wonderland, described by the council as a covered ice rink with thrill rides, games and other experiences in front of the Three Graces. Dates and prices are not out yet either. Pop up markets will appear on Basnett Street and at the Cunard Building on dates to be announced.

Two cautions. The council's own market page still shows last year's run of 15 November to 24 December, so do not take that as a 2026 fact. And nobody has published a lights switch on date.

Free and cheap

Liverpool ONE's Christmas page lists the Toy Parade for Saturday 14 November, with dancing toys, festive characters and Santa, and a new 30 metre tree at Paradise Place. Festive Thursdays bring free live entertainment through December and Wishmas on Saturday 5 December is an all day event with free entertainment and prizes. No grotto is listed, so manage expectations early.

The national museums stay free to enter, which is the quiet hero of a Liverpool Christmas when it is lashing down. The Walker Art Gallery has Big Art for Little Artists on the ground floor and a Christmas edition of its Art Sparks sessions listed with no 2026 dates yet. The World Museum moves to winter hours from 3 November, Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm, opens on Monday 21 and 28 December, and has a Christmas planetarium programme with tickets available soon. The Museum of Liverpool runs a Little Liverpool Christmas special for under 6s at £2 per child, but the page says no current dates, so check before promising it.

Croxteth Hall Country Park is free to walk, with Home Farm, play areas and the miniature railway; the hall's own Christmas programme comes from Liverpool City Halls and I could not confirm it for 2026. Formby has no Christmas events listed, but a cold bright walk through the pinewoods on Boxing Day costs nothing except £7 to park for non members.

Liverpool Cathedral's listing for Carols for Christmas Eve shows two services, 2pm and 4pm, free entry and no booking required, though it had not stamped 2026 on it when I looked. For the Metropolitan Cathedral, check its own site.

The big ticket ones

Knowsley Safari brings back Enchanted, its illuminated trail through the Foot Safari, on selected dates from 20 November to 23 December 2026, with a new route this year. Tickets start at £9.95, and booking before 1 November gets free marshmallow toasting. Refreshments, rides and the grotto are extra, several dates sold out in advance last year, and Foot Safari parking is free.

Chester Zoo runs Lanterns and Light from Friday 13 November to Sunday 3 January, 4.30pm to 8pm, from £12. Expect glowing jellyfish, fibre optic tunnels, fire gardens and performers in animal costume, with fairground rides and food on top. The zoo closes at 3.30pm on trail dates, so a day ticket and the lanterns are two separate visits. There is a 4pm quiet hour on selected dates for children who find crowds and loud music hard, and the zoo warns the popular slots go quickly.

Speke Hall is the wildcard. The National Trust's Christmas at Speke Hall page had not been updated for 2026 when I checked, and the house season ends on 1 November. Grounds tickets are adult £13, child £6.50, family £32.50, free for members, with free parking. Check the page before driving to Speke.

Santa trains mean a drive, but they are confirmed. The East Lancashire Railway's Santa Specials run on weekends from 28 November and daily from 19 to 24 December 2026, an 80 minute steam ride from Bury Bolton Street to Rawtenstall with Santa, a gift and a brass band. Prices climb with the date, from £25 adult and £24.50 child on the first weekend to £41.50 each on 20 and 24 December, plus a £2.50 booking fee per order. Ribble Steam Railway in Preston runs Santa trains on eight December dates with Fox and Edwards, £27.50 listed for 5 December, online booking essential. Adventure Coast Southport is closed for the 2026 season and has announced nothing for winter.

Pantos

The Everyman's Rock 'n' Roll Panto is Beauty and the Beast, 14 November 2026 to 16 January 2027, tickets £20 to £47. The relaxed performance is Thursday 14 January 2027 at 1.30pm, the audio described show is 9 December and the BSL performance on 18 November is already sold out, with a second on 18 December. The band plays everything live and it is the one grown ups actually enjoy.

St Helens Theatre Royal has The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan and the Return of Captain Hook from 28 November 2026 to 10 January 2027, with Mark Labbett from The Chase as Hook, tickets from £20. The Floral Pavilion in New Brighton has Aladdin from 5 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, Sean Jones back for his seventh year as Wishee Washee, tickets from £15 according to Wirral Council. The Liverpool Empire's family show is the CBeebies Panto, Treasure Island, with ticket information still to come.

Book now

Knowsley Enchanted before 1 November for the marshmallows and the weekend dates. Chester Zoo's early evening slots between schools finishing and Christmas. The Everyman relaxed performance, a single afternoon. East Lancashire Railway on 20 or 24 December if that is the date you want. Everything else can wait for the prices to appear.

The FamDays verdict

Two ice rinks, two lantern trails, four pantos and a lot of blank price boxes. Do a free museum morning and the Toy Parade in November, pick one paid trail, and book the panto that fits your child's noise tolerance. Then watch the Skate St George's and Pier Head pages, because that is where the real 2026 bill gets decided.

Your mission

Tick off discoveries as you go. It remembers on this phone.

0 of 8 found

Plan your visit

Skate St George's21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, St George's Hall, Christmas market on site, prices not yet published
Pier HeadLiverpool Christmas Wonderland, covered ice rink, rides and games, dates and prices not yet published
Knowsley Safari EnchantedSelected dates 20 November to 23 December 2026, tickets from £9.95, grotto and rides extra
Chester Zoo Lanterns and Light13 November to 3 January, 4.30pm to 8pm, from £12, zoo closes 3.30pm on trail dates
Everyman pantoBeauty and the Beast, 14 November 2026 to 16 January 2027, £20 to £47, relaxed performance 14 January 2027 at 1.30pm
St Helens Theatre RoyalPeter Pan, 28 November 2026 to 10 January 2027, from £20
Floral PavilionAladdin, 5 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, from £15
MuseumsWalker, World Museum and Museum of Liverpool free to enter; World Museum on winter hours Tue to Sun 10am to 4pm from 3 November

Everything families need to know before visiting

Is the Liverpool Christmas market free to enter?

Underbelly has published nothing to suggest the St George's Hall market charges entry, but 2026 opening hours and skating prices were not on its site when we checked. Rides, food and the rink are paid for separately.

When are Liverpool's Christmas lights switched on in 2026?

No date had been published by the council or Liverpool BID on 28 October 2026. We will update this guide when one appears.

How much does Enchanted at Knowsley Safari cost?

Tickets start at £9.95, with Santa's grotto, rides and refreshments charged on top. Book before 1 November and marshmallow toasting is included. It runs on selected dates from 20 November to 23 December 2026.

Which Liverpool panto has a relaxed performance?

The Everyman's Beauty and the Beast has one on Thursday 14 January 2027 at 1.30pm. The St Helens and Floral Pavilion announcements do not list one, so ask the box office.

What is free to do in Liverpool at Christmas with children?

The Walker, World Museum and Museum of Liverpool are free to enter all winter. Liverpool ONE's Toy Parade, Festive Thursdays and Wishmas are free, as are the Christmas Eve carol services at Liverpool Cathedral.

The places in this guide

Live from our checked listings: prices, ages and when each one was last confirmed.

15 places
Three giraffes outside their house at Chester ZooPhoto: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Chester Zoo

Upton, Chester
From £25
All agesOnline prices including a 10 percent donation, Value dates: adult (16 and over) 25.00, child (3 to 15) 25.00, student 25.00, toddler (1 to 2) 2.50, baby free, carer free. Standard dates online: adult 38.00, child 28.00, student 30.00, toddler 2.50. Gate prices including donation: adult 42.50, child 30.00, student 35.00, toddler 2.50. Prices without the donation are about 9 percent lower (for example adult Value 22.72, toddler 2.27). The site does not explain which dates are Value and which are Standard. No family ticket is listed. price_from is the toddler ticket; the lowest adult or child price is 25.00 online on Value dates.
Checked by FamDays on 18 Oct
Croxteth Hall seen across the lawn on a sunny dayPhoto: Radarsmum67, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Free
All agesThe country park is a public park with a free car park. Hall guided tours, the miniature railway and Croxteth Park Farm may be charged; no prices are given on the council or Liverpool City Halls pages fetched.
Checked by FamDays on 18 Oct
The Floral Pavilion theatre on the New Brighton seafrontPhoto: Rept0n1x, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Floral Pavilion

New Brighton
Price not listed
All agesPrices vary by show. The 2026 pantomime Aladdin (5 December 2026 to 3 January 2027) is £15 to £38.50 for adults, £15 to £35.50 for children, and from £120 for a family of four in selected price bands. Most dates were showing as sold out when checked.
Checked by FamDays on 31 Oct
A red squirrel on the woodland floor at FormbyPhoto: Peter from Liverpool, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Free
All agesNo admission charge. Pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users enter free. Car parking is £9.00 per car at either Victoria Road or Lifeboat Road for non members. A payment covers one car park only and cannot be transferred to the other.
Checked by FamDays on 18 Oct
Two white rhinos grazing at Knowsley SafariPhoto: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
From £24.50
All agesAdvance online booking: adult (16 and over) 26.00, child (3 to 15) 24.50, toddler (aged 1 and 2) 2.50, baby under 1 free, concession (65 and over) 24.50. Same day tickets: adult 29.00, child 27.50, toddler 2.50, concession 27.50. A standard ticket includes both the 5 mile Safari Drive and the Foot Safari; the site does not sell them separately. Prices may vary at peak times and bank holidays. No family ticket is listed. price_from is the toddler price; the lowest adult or child price is 24.50 in advance. The Baboon Bus is an optional extra added at checkout, price not stated.
Checked by FamDays on 18 Oct
Liverpool Cathedral seen from St James MountPhoto: Talsarnau Times, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Liverpool Cathedral

St James' Mount
Free
All agesEntry to the cathedral is free and donations are welcome. The Tower Experience is ticketed: standard £8, concession £6.50, family (2 adults and up to 3 children) £22.50, with reduced summer prices of £7, £5.69 and £19.69 from 25 June to 1 September. No separate child price is listed.
Checked by FamDays on 31 Oct
The Liverpool Empire Theatre on Lime StreetPhoto: User:Hassocks5489, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Liverpool Empire

Lime Street
Price not listed
All agesPrices vary by show and are shown only in the ATG booking system. The venue info page lists touring musicals through the winter including Elf The Musical (19 to 22 November 2026), Mamma Mia (8 December 2026 to 3 January 2027), Back To The Future The Musical (12 January to 6 February 2027) and Mrs Doubtfire The Musical (2 to 21 March 2027).
Checked by FamDays on 31 Oct
The Everyman Theatre on Hope StreetPhoto: User:Hassocks5489, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Price not listed
All agesPrices vary by show. The Rock 'n' Roll Panto 2026, Beauty and the Beast (14 November 2026 to 16 January 2027), is priced £20 to £47. People aged 14 to 25 can buy £5 tickets with a free membership. No family ticket is advertised.
Checked by FamDays on 31 Oct
The angular white Museum of Liverpool building at the Pier Head on a bright dayPhoto: Acediscovery, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Free
All agesFree entry
Checked by FamDays on 15 Oct
The black and white timbered front of Speke Hall seen across the lawnPhoto: Rodhullandemu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
From £13
All agesStandard Speke Hall admission without Gift Aid. Grounds only: adult (18 and over) £13.00, child (5 to 17) £6.50, family (2 adults and up to 3 children) £32.50, 1 adult and up to 3 children £19.50. House and grounds: adult £18.00, child £9.00, family £45.00, 1 adult and up to 3 children £27.00. Gift Aid prices are about 10 percent higher. Under 5s free. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.
Checked by FamDays on 18 Oct
St George's Hall on Lime StreetPhoto: MatthewHoobin, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

St George's Hall

Lime Street
From £5
All agesThe History Whisperer experience: adult £9, concession (students and over 65s) £7, child under 16 £5, family of 2 adults and 2 children £25, fees included. Separate Great Hall viewing sessions on selected dates cost £3 for 30 to 40 minutes of self paced time in the hall. Guided tour prices are not listed on the pages fetched.
Checked by FamDays on 31 Oct
The front of St Helens Theatre Royal on Corporation StreetPhoto: Rodhullandemu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

St Helens Theatre Royal

St Helens town centre
Price not listed
All agesPrices vary by show. The 2026 pantomime, Peter Pan, runs from 28 November 2026 to 10 January 2027 with tickets from £20. Concessionary tickets are available for essential companions supporting disabled patrons, subject to availability.
Checked by FamDays on 31 Oct
The front of the Walker Art Gallery on William Brown Street under a blue skyPhoto: Superchilum, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Walker Art Gallery

William Brown Street
Free
All agesFree entry
Checked by FamDays on 15 Oct
The columned front and steps of World Museum on William Brown StreetPhoto: Fatih Renkligil, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

World Museum

Liverpool city centre
Free
All agesFree general admission. The Planetarium is charged separately: adult £4, concession £3, child 3 to 17 £2, under 3s free.
Checked by FamDays on 18 Oct
Entrance to Adventure Coast Southport on the seafrontPhoto: Colin Park, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia CommonsClosed until 2027
Free
All agesThe FAQ states entry to the park is completely free. Rides are paid for separately: an Unlimited Access Wristband costs £36 with a limited number released daily between 11am and 12pm, or guests use a £2 per person admission card that is topped up as needed and can be reused within the same season. Card payments only.
Checked by FamDays on 28 Oct

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Local parent insider tips

Before you set off

  • Book the big ones, turn up to the small onesThe safari park, the big soft plays and anything with a timed entry sell out in school holidays. Parks, beaches, most museums and the libraries never do. Every card says whether you need to book.
  • Go early or go lateMost paid attractions are quietest in the first hour and the last two. Free museums in the city centre are busiest between 11 and 2 on a wet Saturday.
  • Train beats car for the coast and the centreMerseyrail stops next to the beach at Crosby, Freshfield and Southport, and under the museums at Liverpool Central. Under 5s travel free and a Saveaway covers the day after 9.30 on weekdays and all day at weekends.
  • How we checkEvery listing is rechecked against the venue's own website every week, and each card shows the date it was last confirmed. If something has changed since, the Tell us link on every page reaches a person who fixes it.

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Prices and hours in this guide come from each venue's own website on the day we checked them, and the cards above update every morning. Always check with the venue before you set off.