World Museum, Liverpool
Five floors, free, and it covers three things small children reliably love: giant dinosaurs, an aquarium and a space gallery. The best wet-weather day within half an hour.
Jungle Fun
Liverpool, Merseyside
Jungle Fun has been going for 19 years on the first floor of Belle Vale Shopping Centre in south-east Liverpool, and it is the kind of soft play most of us grew up with: a tall multi-level frame with slides, ball pits, nets and an assault course. The frame is big enough for adults to crawl in after a stuck toddler. Babies and under-4s have their own toddler area, and the frame is for children up to 11.
Children over one pay £8.50 off-peak and £10 at peak times. The first adult is £1.50 and each extra adult £2, which is cheap by current standards. Sessions last 1 hour 45 minutes. Weekdays are usually fine without booking, but book at weekends. The cafe does meals as well as coffee.
Parking at Belle Vale Shopping Centre is free and right outside, which is half the appeal on a wet Saturday.
What it costs: Over-1s £8.50 off-peak, £10.00 peak. Under-1s £5.50 off-peak, £6.00 peak. Under 6 months free with one fully paid child. First adult £1.50, additional adults £2.00, at all times. Sessions are 1 hour 45 minutes.50.
Know before you go
- Children must take shoes off and wear socks on the equipment, so pack a spare pair.
- At peak times you have to arrive at the start of your session. They clear and clean the centre between sessions, so there is no drifting in late and staying on.
- Only food and drink bought from the Jungle Fun cafe is allowed, so leave the packed lunch in the car.
Worth knowing: Children up to 11. The toddler area is for babies and children up to 4.
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