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.
Speke Hall
- Cost
- Grounds £13 adult, house and grounds £18; NT members free
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Where
- Liverpool, Merseyside
- Weather
- Works in the rain
- Booking
- Just turn up, NT members free
A Tudor manor caught between woodland and the Mersey, with a hedge maze, a natural play area and enough estate to lose an afternoon. The house itself is creaky, atmospheric and short enough not to outstay its welcome with children.
The maze and play area carry the day for kids; the house is a bonus round for curious ones. The garden, estate, restaurant and play areas are open every day, but the house only opens Wednesday to Sunday, 12.30pm to 5pm (last entry 4.30pm), until 1 November. National Trust members and under-fives go in free, parking is free, and the main gates lock at 5pm, so be back at the car before then.
What it costs: Prices without Gift Aid. Grounds only: adult £13, child 5 to 17 £6.50, family (two adults and up to three children) £32.50, one adult and up to three children £19.50. House and grounds: adult £18, child £9, family £45, one adult and up to three children £27. Gift Aid prices are about 10% higher. Free for National Trust members and under 5s. Under 18s must be with an adult. No need to pre-book. Parking is free.
Know before you go
- The hedge maze and the play area carry the visit for kids, and the house is a bonus round.
- Dogs on leads are welcome in most of the grounds but not in the play areas, the maze or the kitchen garden.
- The house is shut on Mondays and Tuesdays and closes for the season after 1 November. The grounds and play areas stay open every day.
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★★★★★ 4.7 across 4,896 Google reviews.
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