Things to do in Liverpool when it rains with kids, from free museums to soft play that costs less than a coffee
It is Merseyside, so it is going to rain. Here is where to go when it does, sorted by what it costs: the free museums with family rooms, the cheap swims and cinema clubs, and the soft play, trampolines and climbing walls that burn off a wet weekend.
You can plan a day out in Liverpool around the forecast if you like, but the forecast will not plan itself around you. At some point this weekend the rain is coming sideways off the river and there are two small people looking at you expectantly.
This is the list for that moment. It runs from free to pricey, because the right wet day out depends a lot on whether it is the first rainy Saturday of the month or the fourth.
Free and dry
The Museum of Liverpool is the obvious one and deserves to be. Little Liverpool on the ground floor is built for under 6s and runs in timed sessions, so ask for the next slot at the desk. The Walker Art Gallery next to Lime Street has Big Art for Little Artists for under 8s, and the World Museum next door has the Bug House, the aquarium and ancient Egypt, with planetarium shows charged separately (adult £4, concession £3, and they start on time with no late entry). The World Museum is closed on most Mondays outside school holidays, which catches people out.
Bluecoat has a free Children and Family Zone in the Hub. Central Library on William Brown Street has the Discover children's area with books and free computers, a Changing Places toilet and, upstairs, the Picton Reading Room, which is worth the lift ride just for the gasp. It is closed on Sundays and bank holidays.
Further afield and still free: Sudley House, the Lady Lever Art Gallery, the Williamson Art Gallery, The Atkinson in Southport and The World of Glass in St Helens.
Under a tenner a head
A swim is the cheapest wet weather win there is. Liverpool Aquatics Centre at Wavertree charges £2.20 for a junior and £4.40 for an adult, or £10 for a family swim; there is no toddler pool, and under 4s need one adult each in the water. Europa Pools in Birkenhead has a 25m pool (the flumes have closed), with under 5s free and a family swim at £17.20. The Volair centres at Huyton and Kirkby are £4.40 a junior, under 5s free and £18 for a family of four; Kirkby has the small toddler pool.
Picturehouse at FACT on Wood Street runs a Kids Club every Saturday at 11am, free Toddler Time screenings on Tuesdays and £3 child tickets on selected U, PG and 12A films. The Light in New Brighton has Family Specials from £5.75 at weekends and in the holidays, with toddler and baby friendly screenings too.
The Upside Down House at Liverpool ONE is £6.95 for anyone aged 4 and over, under 4s free, and takes about 20 minutes, which is exactly right for a short attention span and a long queue for lunch. Port Sunlight Museum is £5.50 a child, under 5s free, and the £24 family ticket lasts a year.
Soft play and the energy burners
For under 5s, Bubbles World of Play at New Brighton has a baby and toddler area, a role play mini city and a free car park, and the term time weekday rate lets you stay all day. Monkey Town in Kirkby is £9.95 for over 2s, £4.95 for under 2s, adults free, unlimited time and free parking. Willowbees in Newton-le-Willows is £6.50 for two hours on a weekday, one adult free per child, but it often shuts early for parties, so ring first. Imagine That! in Wavertree is role play, art, science and slime in pre booked timed sessions, £19.95 for a child aged 3 and over at weekends.
For the ones who need to run it off: Jump Inc at Hunts Cross is £10.99 for an hour on the trampolines, ages 4 and up, with short term time weekday hours. Flip Out Aintree is £15 a head for 90 minutes Tuesday to Thursday and £20 at the weekend, with free parking. Ninja Warrior UK at Speke is an inflatable obstacle course for ages 4 and up with a Mini Ninjas soft play for 0 to 3s, free retail park parking, and prices only in the booking system. Climbers from 4 can use the Little Hangar at The Climbing Hangar North in Sandhills for £8.50; the Garston Hangar takes 7 and up at £14, and Awesome Walls in Kirkdale takes 6 and up but first timers must book an instructor led session.
Worth the ticket
Eureka! Science and Discovery at Seacombe is £16.95 online for anyone aged 3 and over, £7.45 for a toddler, babies free, and the first paid visit turns into a free 12 month pass. Catalyst in Widnes is £13 for everyone with a 12 month pass included, a PlayLab for under 5s and a big free car park; tickets are currently sold in person only, and it shuts at 2pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Splash World on Southport seafront has flumes, a lazy river and a toddler zone, £13.50 for a junior aged 6 to 15 for a 90 minute session, online only. Quirky Quarter on Duke Street is illusion rooms and photo stops, about an hour, with an arrival slot booked online.
The FamDays verdict
Spend the first wet Saturday of the month on a free museum and the fourth on a trampoline park, and you will come in under what one wet day at a theme park costs. And take socks. Every soft play on this list will sell you a pair if you forget, and you will forget.
