BEST Things to Do in Liverpool with Kids (2025) -

Heading to Liverpool with kids? If you’re dying to see the famous Beatles landmarks but still want to make the trip kid-friendly so that they don’t hate you, then you’re in the right place!

We were very lucky to have Liverpool locals as close friends, that were able to take us to some of the famous sights and make the experience kid-friendly as well. We’ll now be able to share that knowledge with you so your whole family can enjoy Liverpool.

Even if your kids think that a Beatle is some sort of bug, I promise that you can still visit all the attractions in Liverpool, while having a great time with the kids.

So, lets jump in!

10 Best Things to Do in Liverpool with Kids

If you’re looking for Liverpool attractions that both you and the kids will enjoy, then look no further! Here are all the things you won’t want to miss during a family trip to Liverpool, how to get there and where to stay nearby!

1. Spend an afternoon at Royal Albert Dock

Famous tourist attraction in Liverpool, the “Royal” was added to its name in 2018. It has a number of landmarks and museums, and a number of movies have also been filmed here.

Royal Albert Dock makes for a nice leisurely family walk. There are shops, bars and restaurants, and some museums to check out.

I felt that our visit to Royal Albert Dock was complete with just a stroll around, enjoying the sun, and riding the carousel, but there are a number of things you can do while you’re here. Here are the things to do at Royal Albert Dock:

The Beatles Story Museum is colourful and interactive inside, and presents the story of the Beatles and their rise to fame. Its very visual, so I think even kids would admire many of the exhibits. A visit to the Beatles Story Museum can take an hour or so and its recommended that you book tickets online in advance.

The Victorian carousel. My daughter rode the Merry Go-Round, which is always fun for a 5-year old. Who doesn’t love a ride? The ride is very short (about a minute).

The International Slavery Museum. Entry is free, so you don’t have to feel terrible if the kids don’t last long. But I believe they would not only find this interesting, but (depending on their age) that it would be a unique and important learning experience for them. The International Slavery Museum has exhibits of the transatlantic slave trade.

The Merseyside Maritime Museum. Also sometimes called the “Titanic” museum, there’s a special Titanic exhibition inside the Merseyside Maritime Museum.

Take it from someone who worked as a teacher for years- school kids are obsessed with the Titanic for some reason. So this is something they may find pretty interesting. Like the International Slavery museum, entry to the Merseyside Maritime Museum is free of charge.

Where to stay near Royal Albert Dock

Since there’s so much to see in this area, and because its by the sea, its a nice neighbourhood t make your home base in.

Check out these family-friendly places to stay in Liverpool near Royal Albert Dock:

Budget: Tune Hotel Liverpool. The Tune Hotel Liverpool is only a 15 minute walk from the Royal Dock, and 10 minute walk to the Titanic Memorial. Its close to the train station, so its great for getting around to other parts of the city too. With 24-hour front desk support, you can feel safe and secure staying here with your family in a prime location on a budget.
Mid-range: Titanic Liverpool Inn Hotel. Located just a 5-minute drive from Mathew Street and Royal Albert Dock, the Titanic Liverpool Inn also has a restaurant on site, Stanley’s Bar & Grill, which is kid-friendly with a special kid’s menu.
Luxury: The Posh Pads apartment. Located only 500 m from Royal Albert Docks, this place has separate bedrooms, and an elegant touch for your ideal family vacation.

2. Take a stroll in Sefton Park

Nature isn’t the first thing that people think of when they think of a trip to Liverpool, but its home to some pretty nice parks.

Sefton Park was one of my favourite parks that we visited in Liverpool. It has a large pond, where you can see ducks, swans and even Canadian geese. Stroller-friendly trails, lots of shade, a waterfall, and a café, called Oasis in the Park.

You can also visit the Sefton Park palm house, which is a beautiful Victorian glasshouse. It has over 200 plants native to 5 different continents.

The parking at Sefton Park is pretty easy, so you should have no trouble driving there. If you’re taking public transit, the nearest train station is the St. Michels station, which you can take the Merseyside rail to.

Stay near Sefton Park

Sefton Park Hotel is a great options for families wanting to stay somewhere quieter, away from the business downtown. Not only was this place once the home of the 5th Beatle (Stuart Sutcliffe) but it serves a traditional English breakfast daily, and also has family rooms! Just a 10 minute drive from the city centre, and a 10-minute walk to the park, this Victorian-style villa will give your family a unique and private family-friendly experience.

3. Walk along the famous Penny Lane

Stop at Penny Lane for a mandatory picture in front of the sign, and to take a picture of the street (the lane) subject of the famous 1967 Beatles song.

Fun fact: John Lennon and Paul McCartney used to meet at Penny Lane to catch a bus into town.

How to Get to Penny Lane

We walked to Penny Lane with my 4 year old, which wasn’t far from where we were staying. But there are a number of ways to get to Penny Lane. You can:

Stay in a room in a family home near Penny Lane. This was what we did (although not at this place, it was a friend of our’s.) The Penny lane area is a nice and convenient place to stay, and a short walk to the train station to get anywhere else in Liverpool. This particular room being offered is highly rated for stays with kids.
Take a 7-min train ride from the city centre to the Mossley Hill station. From there, you can walk to the famous Penny Lane.

4. Walk through Mathew Street

Mathew street is a narrow cobblestone street with shops, cafés, souvenir stores and pubs. It’s very important for the Beatles history, because it has the bar where they played their first performance.

There’s a Beatles souvenir store, and the famous John Lennon statue that you can get photos in front of.

My daughter loved visiting Mathew street. She was only 4, and of course didn’t know the Beatles well, but she’d heard some of their songs.

There are a few things you’ll want to keep your eye out for on Mathew street:

The New Cavern Club. Families with children are welcome to visit during the day, but children under 18 aren’t allowed in the club after 8pm.
The John Lennon statue (pictured above)
The Liverpool Wall of Fame, which shows the names of every performer who’s played at the Cavern Club between 195 and 1973.

How to Get to Mathew Street

Mathew street is an 11 minute walk, 2 minute car drive or a 7-minute train ride from the Liverpool city centre. Get on the train at Liverpool Lime street low, and get off at Liverpool James street. From there, the famous Mathews street is just a 5-minute walk!

5. Take a day trip to Chester

Chester is a medieval city famous for its black and white buildings, great food, and historical landmarks.

It was originally settled by the Romans in the 1st century AD, so you can also visit some Roman-themed activities here which are entertaining for either adults or kids. Some of the things to do in Chester with kids are:

Visit the Chester Cathedral
Learn the way of life of the Romans at the Deva Roman Discovery Centre
Enjoy the outdoors at Chester Roman gardens
See animals at the Chester Zoo
With kids ages 6+, let a Roman gladiator take you on a walking tour of all the Roman landmarks

How to Get to Chester

From Liverpool, Chester is a 40-minute drive, or a 45-minute train ride. The train leaves many times a day from Liverpool Lime Street Station and can be booked online.

6. Visit Woolton

Woolton is an affluent neighbourhood in southeast Liverpool where you can find a number of Beatles landmarks, including:

John Lennon’s childhood home, at 251 Menlove avenue. Yoko Ono bought it after he died, but then sold it to the National Trust. You can book a tour with them to go inside of the house, or you can simply walk or drive by, which is what I did. (I do wish I’d gone inside though!)
Strawberry Field. Strawberry Field was a Salvation Army children’s care home that held a special place in John Lennon’s heart, because he spent time there playing and reflecting as a child, which is why he dedicated the famous song to it. I only took photos from outside of the iconic red gates, but you can also visit Strawberry Field now too. There are gardens inside to take a walk in, a shop and a café. Be sure to make a reservation to visit or eat in the café, it can fill up quick!
The church where Paul met John in 1957, called St. Peter’s Church. In the churchyard, you can find the graves of Eleanor Rigby from the famous song, as well as John McKenzie (believed to be the “Father” McKenzie mentioned in the same song) and John Lennon’s uncle George Toogood Smith (who he lived at 251 Menlove with for many years.)

If you’re exploring Woolton on foot, its about a 20 min walk from John Lennon’s house to the church. You’d be looking at about 30 mins of walking to see all three of the above attractions; totally doable if your kids are able to walk or you have a stroller or carrier.

While we were in Woolton, we grabbed lunch at The Elephant restaurant, which is very family-friendly with a special kid’s menu. Its nestled in the heart of the neighbourhood where you can also find shops and cafés. It’s also just a 1-minute walk from the St. Peter’s church.

We also visited the Liverpool Cheese Company, to look at handmade, artisan and locally-sourced cheeses and candies. This is well worth a stop as well!

In general, Woolton can be seen in an afternoon, but if you’re planning to tour Strawberry Field or John Lennon’s home, then you might want to budget a full day in the area.

How to Get to Woolton

From Liverpool Lime Street Railway Station, its a 43-minute train ride to Woolton.

7. Spend an afternoon at the historic Speke Hall

Speke Hall is one of the last mansions of its kind; a Victorian Tudor house. You can tour the mansion and learn about history, but its also very child-friendly.

It has gardens, a maze, play area, a woodland where they can play and even a second-hand bookshop.

There are baby changing facilities, and the House Farm Shop offers kids a lunch with a sandwich, fruit, a treat and a drink. You can eat at Speke Hall, or bring a picnic to enjoy in the gardens.

Like John Lennon’s childhood home, Speke Hall is also owned by the National Trust, so you can book your visit through them.

8. Take a day trip to Blackpool

Blackpool is worth visiting if you’re in Liverpool during the summer, and can enjoy the beaches, arcades and outdoor eateries.

Blackpool is one of the best coastal cities in the UK. There’s a great beach, and lots of other very family friendly things to do along the strip – arcades, restaurants, a look out tower, and more.

Blackpool is about an hour and a half from Liverpool, so you’d want to budget a full day for it if you want to add it to your Liverpool itinerary. You can drive here, or there are trains that leave daily from Liverpool.

We visited in the summer with my 4- year old, and there happened to be a pirate ship as well as pirates on the beach – my daughter got quite a kick out of those. (Of course, this isn’t here all the time.)

Good to Know: Just north of Blackpool is a beach called . It’s a popular place in the UK where you can find sea glass on the beach.

9. Go see the Titanic Memorial

The Titanic memorial might be especially interesting for older children who are familiar with the ship. (As a school teacher, I found children were obsessed with the Titanic.)

The RMS Titanic was registered in Liverpool, and carried the name of the city on her stern. The ship was also owned by White Star Line, which was founded in Liverpool in the 1840s.

Shortly after the sinking a tall, 48 ft tall monument was built on Pier Head, where it still stands.

It’s officially called the “Memorial for the Engine Room Heroes” which was meant to honour the 36 engineers in the engine room at the time of the sinking, but it grew to include all engine room fatalities, including those in WW2.

Places to Stay in Liverpool with Kids

I highlighted some places to stay near Woolton and Royal Albert Docks above, but if you want to stay somewhere more central; perhaps closer to city centre and near the train station, then here are some other great options for your family.

Budget: Travelodge Liverpool Docks. Located less than 10 minutes away by car from Matthews street, Royal Albert Dock, Titanic memorial and Sefton Park, this lodge is known for its family-friendly environment and high-quality for affordable pricing. Its also steps away from places the kids will be dying to check out – Bounce House Inflatable Theme park, and Yellow Sub, an indoor playground. There are also a number of restaurants in the area.
Mid-range: Liverpool Inn Hotel. Rated highly on stays with families, Liverpool Inn Hotel is only a 2-minute walk from the train station, and also within walking distance to Royal Albert Dock.
Luxury: Crowne Plaza Liverpool City Centre. At Crowne Plaza, you get the best of both worlds – only 1.3 kms to Royal Albert Dock, but so close to the city centre that you can see beautiful historic landmarks from the window. The Crowne Plaza comes with a swimming pool, hot tub, fitness centre, and a delicious buffet breakfast.

FAQ: Things to Do in Liverpool with Kids

Here are the most commonly asked questions by tourists when planning a trip to Liverpool, especially if they’re heading there with children in tow.

Is Liverpool worth a visit?

Liverpool is highly worth a visit while you’re in England. Not only does it have beautiful historical landmarks like old churches and cathedrals, but it has the unique Beatle landmarks that can’t be found anywhere else, as well as Titanic. The waterfront, beautiful parks and walkable city centre make it a great place to visit, as adults or with kids.

How long to spend in Liverpool?

If you’d like to see most of the Beatles landmarks, and enjoy some of the museums and other attractions, then 3-4 days in Liverpool should give you enough time to do almost everything.

What’s the best way to get around Liverpool?

The train, which is called the Merseytrail, is high accesbile, easy to use and runs frequently. There are four underground stations, and 68 stations throughout the city.

When is the best time of year to visit Liverpool?

North England can get quite rainy anytime throughout the year, paired with chill in winter. The best time to visit Liverpool would be the spring or the summer.

Conclusion: Things to Do in Liverpool with Kids

Between Beatles landmarks, parks, interesting museums, and Titanic memorials – Liverpool is an extremely family-friendly city which interesting history; a lot of which most kids will recognize from pop-culture and be able to appreciate with you.

There are a lot of things to do in Liverpool with kids, and we hope this gave you a good idea of all the interesting sights there are to see in this amazing city.

Another family-friendly city right across the pond from Liverpool is Dublin.