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Days out in Liverpool for toddlers and under 5s that work with a buggy, a nap and a short attention span

The museum gallery built for under 6s, the soft play with a baby area and an all day rate, the free farm with flat paths, the tiny railway and the pools where under 5s swim free. The under 5s list, checked by parents who have pushed a buggy round all of them.

By FamDays · Checked 19 October 2026 · Published 28 October 20262 to 3 hours0 to 5

The angular white Museum of Liverpool building at the Pier Head on a bright day

A day out with an under 5 is a different sport. The question is not "is it good" but "is there somewhere to change a nappy, can I get the buggy in, is there a bit for them, and will it be over before the nap". This list answers those four questions for every place on it.

Indoors and free

The Museum of Liverpool has Little Liverpool, a whole gallery for under 6s on the ground floor. It runs in timed sessions, so ask for the next one at the desk. The Walker has Big Art for Little Artists for under 8s, also on the ground floor, which tells you everything about who it is for. Bluecoat has the Children and Family Zone with toys and busy boards, baby changing on the ground floor and no booking.

Soft play that understands babies

Bubbles World of Play at New Brighton has a separate baby and toddler area for under 3s and a role play mini city for ages 1 to 5. On a term time weekday the off peak rate lets you stay all day, babies under 6 months are £2, and there is a free car park locked at 6pm. Bring socks or pay a pound a pair. Monkey Town in Kirkby has a separate under 4s area, charges £4.95 for under 2s with adults free, and gives you unlimited time. Willowbees has a 0 to 3 area, under 1s free and one adult free per paying child. Imagine That! in Wavertree runs Toddler Hangout sessions on some weekdays in term time, with free parking.

Animals at toddler pace

Tam O'Shanter Urban Farm on Bidston Hill is free, with level paths through all the animal areas, a cafe, toilets and free parking by the entrance. Acorn Farm in Kirkby is £3 for a child aged 1 to 16, under 12 months free, open every day 10am to 4pm, with no background music and a sensory garden; petting and pony ride tickets are extra and must be used on the day.

Parks with the right playground

Calderstones Park has the Linda McCartney playground built for toddlers, a miniature railway that runs on donations and the Storybarn, where The Reader runs Baby Drop In and Incy Wincy sessions that need booking. Croxteth Hall Country Park has an infant play area, flat estate roads and a free car park. Royden Park on the Wirral has a miniature railway, a cafe and toilets. Otterspool has free parking and a wide flat promenade.

Swimming where under 5s are free

Both Volair pools in Knowsley let under 5s in free: Kirkby has a small toddler pool, which makes it the one for babies, and Huyton has two 25m pools. Europa Pools in Birkenhead also lets under 5s swim free, and has a soft play for 0 to 6s at £4.20.

The cinema, at toddler volume

Picturehouse at FACT runs free Toddler Time screenings on Tuesdays, 30 minutes of preschool episodes with the lights up. The Light in New Brighton has Toddler Time and baby friendly screenings alongside the weekend Family Specials from £5.75.

Worth paying for

Eureka! Science and Discovery at Seacombe charges £7.45 for a toddler aged 1 or 2 and nothing for a baby, and the first paid ticket becomes a free annual pass. It has a Chill Out room and sensory bags. Catalyst in Widnes has a PlayLab for under 5s and a big free car park. Port Sunlight Museum lets under 5s in free and lends sensory backpacks. The Mersey Ferry River Explorer is 50 minutes, under 5s go free, and online tickets are open dated, so you can wait for a dry day.

The FamDays verdict

Two hours, one thing, home for the nap. Pick the free museum on a wet day, the free farm on a dry one, and keep the soft play money for the week when it has rained since Monday.

Everything families need to know before visiting

Where can I change a nappy in Liverpool city centre?

Bluecoat has baby changing on the ground floor, Central Library has a Changing Places toilet, and the Museum of Liverpool and the Walker both have family facilities.

Which soft play has an all day rate?

Bubbles World of Play in New Brighton on term time weekdays, and Monkey Town in Kirkby gives unlimited time every day.

Where do under 5s swim free near Liverpool?

Volair Kirkby and Volair Huyton in Knowsley, and Europa Pools in Birkenhead.

The places in this guide

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

22 places
A cow in a field at Acorn Farm, KirkbyPhoto: Mike Pennington, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
From £3
All agesAdults £4.00, children aged 1 to 16 £3.00, under 12 months free of charge. Small animal petting and horse rides are charged extra and tickets must be used on the day of purchase. Groups of 15 or more must prebook a guided tour at an additional charge.
Checked by FamDays on 17 Oct
The brick courtyard of the Bluecoat on School Lane, LiverpoolPhoto: calflier001, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Bluecoat

Liverpool city centre
Free
All agesFree entry to the gallery, garden and building. Some events are ticketed and booked through the website or the Tickets and Information Desk.
Checked by FamDays on 17 Oct
The white curved building of Bubbles World of Play on the New Brighton seafrontPhoto: Mike Faherty, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
From £2.50
All agesStandard (non member) prices. Off peak, Mon to Fri school days, stay and play all day: babies 0 to 5 months 2 pounds, 6 to 11 months 4.50, toddlers 1 to 2 years 6.50, children 3 to 11 years 8.50, adults and over 11s 2.50. Peak, weekends and school holidays, 2 hour sessions: 0 to 5 months 2.50, 6 to 11 months 6.50, 1 to 2 years 12, 3 to 11 years 14.50, adults and over 11s 3.50. Member prices are about 50p lower. Socks compulsory, 1 pound a pair from reception. Prices subject to change per the site.
Checked by FamDays on 17 Oct
Autumn trees around the lake in Calderstones ParkPhoto: Ian Greig, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Free
All agesOrdinary public park. Miniature railway rides are free, donations welcome. Storybarn sessions are ticketed through The Reader (prices not shown on the page fetched). Angling permit required for the lake.
Checked by FamDays on 17 Oct
Catalyst Science Discovery Centre in Widnes from the front, with the play area in frontPhoto: Chemical Engineer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
From £13
All agesAdult, child and concession all £13.00. Every ticket currently includes a 12 month annual pass for unlimited return visits. Workshops and shows cost £2.75 per person on top of admission. The PlayLab area is free to access for under 5s but the site does not state an under 5 admission price.
Checked by FamDays on 17 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
The Seacombe ferry terminal building, home of Eureka! Science and DiscoveryPhoto: El Pollock, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
From £16.95
All agesOnline prices: adult (16 and over) £16.95, child (3 and over) £16.95, toddler (1 to 2) £7.45, baby under 1 free. Walk up prices are £2 higher per paid ticket (adult and child £18.95, toddler £9.45) and subject to availability. Every member of the group, including babies, needs a ticket.
Checked by FamDays on 17 Oct
The outside of Europa Pools, Birkenhead, with its pink water flumePhoto: Rept0n1x, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
From £3.95
All agesActive Wirral price list from 1 April 2026: adult swim 6.45, junior swim 3.95, under 5 swim free, family swim 17.20 for 4 people or 22.90 for 6 people, Wirral Passport concession 5.00, 50 plus session 2.90. Junior age range not defined on the page.
Checked by FamDays on 19 Oct
The Mersey Ferry Snowdrop in its dazzle paint on the river, with the Liverpool waterfront behindPhoto: Rodhullandemu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
From £9
All agesAdult (16 and over) £14.00, child (5 to 15) £9.00, under 5s free, concession (over 60s and student card holders) £12.50. Family ticket for 2 adults and up to 2 children £39.00; 2 adults and 3 children £42.00. Online tickets can be used on any date or time.
Checked by FamDays on 17 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
Otterspool Promenade beside the River MerseyPhoto: Bill Boaden, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Free
All agesPark, promenade and skatepark are free. The Adventure Centre (adventure mini golf, go karting, inflatable pillow) and its cafe are managed independently and charged separately; prices are not on the council page.
Checked by FamDays on 17 Oct
The FACT building on Wood Street, Liverpool, home of the Picturehouse cinemaPhoto: Sweetie candykim, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Picturehouse at FACT

Liverpool city centre
From £3
All agesStandard ticket prices vary by film and time and are shown per screening. Child tickets are £3 for ages 14 and under on selected U, PG and 12A screenings, subject to availability. Kids Club price is not stated on the information page. Toddler Time is free for accompanying adults. Picturehouse Membership from £6.99 a month.
Checked by FamDays on 19 Oct
Port Sunlight Museum with spring flowerbeds in frontPhoto: David Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
From £5.50
All agesMuseum and Worker's Cottage ticket: adult 8 pounds, concession 7 pounds, child aged 5 to 16 5.50 pounds, family of 2 adults and 2 children 24 pounds. Under 5s free. Carers accompanying a visitor with a disability enter free. Ticket valid for 12 months from purchase. Mabel's Wash Day trail 2 pounds. Gift Aid available.
Checked by FamDays on 17 Oct
The laburnum arch in the walled garden at Royden ParkPhoto: Rodhullandemu, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Free
All agesNo admission charge is listed; car parking is paid. Fishing on the lake needs a permit. Miniature railway rides are run by a separate society (Wirral Model Engineering Society) and are promoted on its Facebook page; any ride charge is not stated by the council.
Checked by FamDays on 19 Oct
The dovecote and paddock at Tam O'Shanter Urban Farm, BidstonPhoto: El Pollock, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Free
All agesThe site describes itself as a free urban farm and asks visitors to make a donation or fundraise for the farm.
Checked by FamDays on 17 Oct
The entrance of Kirkby Leisure CentrePhoto: Ian Greig, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
From £4.40
All agesVolair pay as you go: adult swim 6.40 (concession 3.90), junior 4.40 (concession 2.70), under 5s free, family of 2 adults and 2 juniors 18.00. Page last modified 1 October 2026.
Checked by FamDays on 19 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

Imagine That!

Wavertree
From £8.95
All agesWeekends and school holidays: child 3 and over £19.95, toddler aged 1 and 2 £15.95, adult £8.95, baby under 12 months free with a paying sibling. Midweek Toddler Hangout (September to May, term time): toddler under 4 £12.95, adult £5.95, child over 4 £15.95, baby under 12 months free. The venue advertises 20 percent off for booking early. All bookings are non-refundable.
Checked by FamDays on 17 Oct
From £4.95
All agesOver 2s £9.95, under 2s £4.95, parents and accompanying adults free of charge. No weekday or weekend difference shown. The venue describes play time as unlimited. A 10 Play Session Card costs £79.60 for over 2s or £39.60 for under 2s, has no expiry, can be shared and is sold at the counter. Socks must be worn and are sold at reception; price not stated.
Checked by FamDays on 19 Oct
From £5.75
All agesFamily Special screenings from 5.75 pounds a ticket every Saturday and Sunday, and Monday to Friday in school holidays and on bank holidays; special event screenings may cost extra. Toddler Time screenings from 3.99 pounds per child with the parent or carer free. Family Ticket for four: adults pay the kids price on standard price films. Standard adult and child ticket prices were not captured.
Checked by FamDays on 17 Oct
From £4.40
All agesVolair pay as you go: adult swim 6.40 (concession 3.90), junior 4.40 (concession 2.70), under 5s free, family of 2 adults and 2 juniors 18.00. Page last modified 1 October 2026.
Checked by FamDays on 19 Oct

Willowbees Adventure Play

Newton-le-Willows
From £6.50
All agesChild play only, 2 hours: £6.50 Mon to Fri, £8 weekends and school holidays. One adult free per paying child, each additional adult £1. Under 1s free. Play and Eat £10.50, Mon to Fri 3.30pm to 5.30pm in term time only. Registered childminders and foster carers pay £3.60 per child Mon to Fri in term time (maximum four children, ID required) and foster carers £4 at weekends and holidays. Children of Have a Go Active Gold members get half price entry.
Checked by FamDays on 19 Oct

Read next

More from FamDays, built from the same checked listings.

All guides
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.
  • 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.