Liverpool & MerseysideHidden gems: 10 unusual family days out in Merseyside
Tunnels under Edge Hill, a windmill on a sandstone ridge, a giant sculpture on an old colliery and islands you walk to across the sand. Ten places most Liverpool families have never been, nearly all of them free, with the small print checked.
What are some hidden gems to visit in Liverpool with kids?
Williamson's Tunnels under Edge Hill, Sudley House in Mossley Hill and Bidston Hill's windmill on the Wirral are three of the best. Further out, walk to the Hilbre Islands at low tide, climb to the Dream sculpture at Sutton Manor or explore Birkenhead Priory, the oldest building on Merseyside. Most of them are free.
Everyone knows the Albert Dock and the big museums. These are the places that make a child say "where are we?", and most of them cost nothing.
Under the city
Williamson's Tunnels, Edge Hill. A Georgian merchant called Joseph Williamson had tunnels dug under Edge Hill, and nobody is quite sure why. There are two ways in. The Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre on Smithdown Lane runs 45 minute tours for £3 a child and £15 a family, but it closes on 20 December. The volunteer Friends of Williamson's Tunnels on Mason Street run tours on set days, so book first. Our guide explains which to choose.
Sudley House, Mossley Hill. A Victorian merchant's house with its original paintings, free, quiet and much less busy than the city centre museums. It does not take long, so pair it with the gardens or a walk in Sefton Park.
Up high
Bidston Hill, Wirral. Heath and woodland on a sandstone ridge with a windmill, a lighthouse and an observatory, and views across to the Liverpool waterfront and Wales. Free. Park at Tam O'Shanter Urban Farm, a free community farm with a café and play area, and walk up. Paths are rough, so a carrier beats a buggy.
Dream at Sutton Manor, St Helens. A 20 metre white sculpture of a girl's head by Jaume Plensa on top of an old colliery spoil heap by the M62. Free, open access woodland, and an uphill walk that makes it feel earned.
By the water
Hilbre Islands, West Kirby. Three tidal islands you reach on foot across the sands, with grey seals often visible at low water. Free, apart from the car park on Dee Lane. Check the tide table and leave enough time to get back before the water returns: it suits older children best.
Birkenhead Priory, Birkenhead. The oldest standing building on Merseyside, beside the Mersey, with free entry and free volunteer tours. It is shut on Mondays and Tuesdays and opens from lunchtime on weekdays, so weekends give the longest visit.
Spike Island and Pickerings Pasture, Widnes. Two free nature spots on the Mersey estuary. Spike Island has woodland, wetland and canal walks and sits next to the Catalyst science centre, which has a café, and Pickerings Pasture is a quieter local nature reserve at Halebank.
Wild and quiet
Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve, near Sefton village. A big wetland reserve run by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust with bird hides and mostly unsurfaced paths. Free, with £4 parking. Wear wellies after rain.
Allerton Towers, south Liverpool. A 35 acre park on an old estate, with the lodge, stables and part of the orangery still standing, a partly walled garden and a play area. Use the Menlove Avenue entrance if the play area is the plan.
The FamDays verdict
For a first hidden gem, do Bidston Hill and Tam O'Shanter together: a windmill, a view, animals, a café and a play area, all free. For older children who want a story, book Williamson's Tunnels while the Heritage Centre is still open.
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