The Playhouse is the older half of the Everyman and Playhouse pair: a listed Victorian theatre that began as a music hall, under St John's Beacon in the pedestrianised Williamson Square, with 677 seats over three levels and a small Studio upstairs. For families it is the building that matters, because every picture-book show on the company's current listings is on here rather than up the hill at the Everyman.
Next up is Sir Charlie Stinky Socks and the Really Big Adventure, from 27 to 31 October: an interactive hour built on Kristina Stephenson's picture book, with live music, puppets, and the author herself credited as the narrator, pitched at 3 to 10 year olds. The rest of the family run is in 2027. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show (all ages, 75 puppets) is on from 16 to 20 February, Pip and Posy (ages 2 to 7) from 31 March to 3 April, and Zog and the Flying Doctors (3 and up) from 6 to 10 April. Each runs 55 minutes to an hour, which is about as long as a three-year-old's patience.
The honest catch is the gaps. Between those runs the Playhouse is mostly comedy, drama and touring musicals for grown-ups, and this year's Christmas show, Little Shop of Horrors, is 12+. For a Christmas show with small children, the Rock 'n' Roll Panto is at the Everyman on Hope Street, a 10 to 15 minute walk uphill, so check which theatre is on your tickets. Treat this as a page to look at before each school holiday rather than somewhere to drop into.
Sister venue: Liverpool Everyman, 5-11 Hope Street, Liverpool, L1 9BH.
What it costs: Priced per show, and each family show page gives one price without saying whether children pay less: Sir Charlie Stinky Socks £14, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show £16, Zog and the Flying Doctors £18, Pip and Posy £18.50. Children under 18 months can go as babes in arms on a knee, but the theatre asks you to check that is offered for your performance before booking.
An interactive hour built on Kristina Stephenson's picture book, made for its 20th anniversary, with live music, puppets, and the author herself credited as narrator. Best for 3 to 10. Expect some stage haze and a short dragon roar that the theatre promises is not too scary.
Worth knowing: This year's Christmas show here, Little Shop of Horrors, is rated 12+. The Christmas show for younger children is the Rock 'n' Roll Panto at the Everyman.
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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.
A Tudor hall with woodland walks, a maze and a natural play area in the grounds. Free if you have National Trust membership, and the indoor house is a good rain fallback.
The city's story with an overhead railway carriage to climb aboard and Little Liverpool, a dedicated hands-on gallery for under-6s. Free, on the waterfront, and the window views are half the fun.
Closed. The Maritime Museum and the International Slavery Museum next door are shut for essential maintenance ahead of a major redevelopment that National Museums Liverpool says is subject to funding, and no reopening date is published. The Albert Dock around them is still worth the walk, and the city's other national museums are free and open.
The famous ferry across the Mersey run as a 50-minute sightseeing loop with commentary, and the honest truth is kids love the boat more than any museum. Hop off at Seacombe for Eureka! next door.
South Liverpool's favourite park: lake, playground, ancient trees and the Storybarn, The Reader's hands-on storytelling space in the old coach house. The neolithic Calder Stones are older than Stonehenge, which is a good fact to deploy.
One email a week: what is on this weekend within a sensible drive, and the places worth booking before they go.