What would you do with a 2 year old in Liverpool?

[TwllBach]

I am taking 2 yo DS to Liverpool this week for an over night stay. The hotel is near the Albert Docks and we are also picking my DM up as well. What would you do with a toddler there? The Mattel (I think) is closed when we are there so I didn't think it through brilliantly, but I would love some recommendations!

You really can't beat the world museum for little ones. Ds has been going since he was two and if asked where he would like to go that is generally on the list. There's an aquarium, dinosaur floor, space and time floor (with rockets and meteors you can touch) and a planetarium, a bug house and the clore centre which is all interactive.

It's free entry too. The tate and walker galleries tend to have something on for little ones to do.

On the docks the tall ship zebu is often open to explore and has various pirate hats, swords and pistols to play with.

Europa swimming baths in the wirral is fab too (about two or three stops on the train from any of the Liverpool city centre stations or a short drive through the tunnel). Has water slides and a wave machine and is really great fun.

Farmer Ted's is a good city petting farm with lots to do and about a 20 minute /half hour drive from the city centre.

Train to New Brighton from James st station is 20 mins.
Huge soft play place called Bubbles at bottom of hill. 10 min walk to vale park with its little fairy garden.

We live in Liverpool and it’s hreat for children!

Ours are four now, but the things below are things we definitely did and enjoyed with them aged two.

• World Museum. When you arrive ask what’s on in the planetarium as they have some lovely little shows for two-year-olds. Small aquarium in there and bug area. Dinosaur bit too. Small but ideal museum. My daughters’ fabourite!

• Central library. Has children’s events on all week, magic show, story time etc. Beautiful library.

• Walker Art Gallery. Children’s area with craft and dressing up.

All within a stone’s throw of each other!

• Crosby beach. Worth a visit. Nice little walk. Wrap up warm!

• ferry. Ours LOVED this. And it’s quite relaxing for you as you can sit down etc.

He’s probably too young to get the value from Under Water Street, which is now called Imagine That and located in Wavertree. Utterly brilliant for slightly older ones.

Does he stil nap? Will you have time to sit in nice cafe’s while he does? Bold Street Coffee is my favourite.

*great for children, I meant!

Bold street coffee is nice but Maggie May's (also on bold street) has some of the best scouse in the city and is very kid friendly too

Underwater St is now called imagine that.

It has moved to Wavertree tech park. Hence the name change.

Check opening times on website.

Thank you so much for all the suggestions! I’m picking my DM up at 1.30 so I figure we’ve got an afternoon to fill, then back to the hotel for dinner to avoid a danger nap and then a morning to fill before dropping DM off on a lunch time train home! I’ve made a list of all the suggestions and am going to research them now.

My cousin live in Liverpool. If you’ve just got an afternoon to fill I’d go to the Liverpool museum which is right by the Albert Dock and go in the Little Liverpool room. You pick up free tickets from reception and there’s all little activities and a big wet area with aprons where the children can play with boats. They do a song and dancing at the end and it’s perfect for that age. There’s a big train set and dolls house upstairs in that museum too. Also really handy is the Tate Gallery (a few mins walk). The Clore learning centre upstairs has a room set up with different play activities so sometimes they have a green screen and props, I’ve also seen light boxes, materials to make pictures to project on the wall and role play like beach toys and den making equipment. One day we went and the room was just full af all different sized tubes and coloured scarves. I was in there for about 3 hrs with my 2 rolling and stacking them, stuffing the scarves in and having a whale of a time! There is usually some kind of free craft activity going on in the adjacent room that you can just drop in to as well. All free and much more fun than the small (and very overpriced imo) Mattel Play a few doors down!

The Tate has a room with rainbow floors at the moment as well which might appeal. Want to go for a visit myself now!

We only had an hour and a half to kill this afternoon in the end so we walked to Albert docks and hit up the Liverpool museum. He loved it! Depending on his mood tomorrow I might take us on the open too bus or the ferry, but DMs train is actually at 12.30 not 1.30 so we don’t have as much time as I’d like.

I forgot how beautiful it is here. The buildings are lovely and it was twilight when we were walking back and just stunning. I’ve yet to leave DS for a night but I can well imagine that when I do it’ll be to come back here!

What a gorgeous little boy.
Where is that op. Is it in the WM
I.didn't know they had trains there.
My nephew would love it there.

Glad you had a good time! Liverpool is rather satisfying.

babyspider it’s the Liverpool museum. Only small but lovely.

We’re going to imagine that tomorrow I think - poor DM’s knees are painful after walking around this afternoon so hopefully it’ll be less walking for her!

Imagine that is great, mine 2 loved it there