Liverpool

[ItsReallyHappening]

Thinking of a driving holiday to Liverpool over Easter and would appreciate any advice, tips, places to go and stay, etc.

Will have 20mth old and 8mth old so needs to be fairly baby friendly.

Also, Beatles places to visit? Is a tour worth it? Or should we just wing it?

Many thanks

I am from Liverpool but live in the Midlands. Check here out. I am staying in an apartment over Easter school holidays in the city centre. There are loads of apartments and hotels such as Premier Inn.

Liverpool school terms ends on Friday, 30th March and Summer term 2012 starts Monday, 16th April. Museums and libraries will all hold free events over school holidays.

Liverpool World Museum has free admission and has free Eggstravaganza craft events over Easter. There will be dinosaurs in the exhibition hall until 15th April. The Tate at the Albert Dock is ok too. The newish Museum of Liverpool has free Beatles events (never been). There are loads of places to eat at the main shopping area called Liverpool One. The man places to eat are grouped together and look over a green area which normally has a small funfair on it. If you are mad about the Beatles, you can get a Magical Mystery Tour bus around the city.

My DS is 5 and we plan to go to:

. Jump a cab to Yellowsub Play area. Only been once and the food was lovely. It is close to Albert Dock and gets really busy.

. Yellow Duck Marine
. Visit WORLD Museum.
. Go to Hard Days Night Hotel for cocktails (have babysitter)

Have you looked at any accommodation?

I can't believe people want to go on holiday to Liverpool

DS (10 and a half at the time) and I thought the Beatles Museum was quite interesting, but DH and DD (12 at the time) were rather underwhelmed.
Liverpool One is quite good for shopping
Albert Docks have the Tate, but we've never been in there
THere's the Walker Art Gallery next to the museum
Ferry 'cross the Mersey is good and something your DC might actually enjoy!
Nice beaches within a shortish drive - Formby Sands (red squirrel reserve) or West Kirby on the Wirral?

bigTillyMint eh? . If you enjoy city breaks, Liverpool is great .

The ferry is fab but watch your children. The ferries are used by commuters and tourists and there are huge gaps in the railings.

We never lost ours (and I never fell in as a kid, either!) over the sides on our numerous crossings, and have the photo's to prove it!

My wee ratbag nearly fell through . It clearly has made me over cautious.

some great suggestions here. (I am from Liverpool) My kids love going to the museum and never tire of it.

I got given some free tickets to the Beatles museum at the Albert Dock and my kids loved it (they are 6 and 8). I mean PROPERLY loved it, they were listening to every word of their audioguide and wouldnt' move on till they'd listned to all of it, it was wierd!! The Beatles are on the National Curriculum, would you believe, and probably because we are local my children found it very interesting as we drive past the Beatles landmarks all the time. It probably doens't hold much interest for younger children like yours.

Re: eating out, I reckon Italian restaurants are probably your best bet - they're the most child-friendly, I've found. So the usualy Pizza Express, ASK, and also the non-chain ones like the Olive Press on Castle Street or Casa Italia.

I wouldn't bother with indoor play places with children that young to be honest, unless it's pouring down and you're really stuck. It will be heaving over Easter. There are some lovely parks a bit of a drive out of the centre if the weather is nice eg. Calderstones Park (20 mins drive approx)

The Albert Dock is worth a walk around - there's the Maritime Museum (which my two like) as well as the Tate Liverpool. And there is the Wheel.

There is the new museum down by the waterfront which opened last year I think but wasn't very good when it first opened as they hadn't built all of it, I heard.

There is loads to do. It is a great place for a city break!

If you like Chinese food, Liverpool has the oldest Chinatown in Europe. I would eat at Mei Mei, or one of the out of Chinatown restaurants - Chung Ku or Tai Pan.

Both cathedrals are worth a visit, and the Albert Dock. The Liverpool museums are supposed to be pretty good (not been for years though). Liverpool One is great for shopping and there is cinema/eating widely available.

If you're driving, you could perhaps go across the water to the Port Sunlight museum with the children, or any of the farm attractions on the Wirral? Wirral Country Park is nice in good weather, there is some beach at Thursaston there. Church Farm at Thursaston is also a nice day out, and good for children.

I love Liverpool :).

Chester zoo is nearby if you have a car - it's huge and fabulous, and even when the car park is heaving it's so big inside it doesn't feel too crowded. Take a picnic though, it takes an age to get served in the restaurant and the little coffee shops get rammed in school holidays.

I live on the Wirral - there are some child-friendly activity rooms at all the Liverpool museums. Gusto on the docks (near the new museum and the Maritime) is really child friendly and has a million high chairs. There's also the Lady Lever art gallery in Port Sunlight, and they have an activity room too.

Thanks for starting this thread OP. We're going to Liverpool in May with DS (3.10), and will be saying around the docks somewhere and there are some great ideas on here!

Liverpool is an amazing city. I'm from new brighton just other side of mersey .I moved away two years ago and miss it so much. For one amazing shops .bv not good for dc but defy great bargain shopping.thew museum Are free and worth a look my two dc loved it aged 4 and 9.. The Liverpool duck is a must dc will love it.hop on ferry go to new brighton they have a fair and arcade s and adventure land for dc which is on beach on a lovely day really is beautiful. I recently went to the beatle s museum it is great my ds took.his camera and took.any opportunity to.take some snaps.my dd who is four is obsessed now with john Leon telling everyone she sees with glasses on they look like the dead guy john lennon whoops but at least she was interests. Kids can dress up and things for them to do.great play plAce for kiddie is underwater street kids love all ages.if I can think of more I will put on . Hope you have a lovely time xx

TATE Liverpool is v baby friendly - decent cafe, nice shop, lots of gallery space to trot about in, kids activity and a family room, and a silent disco on the second floor which is always a massive hit with my kids

FACT - arthouse cinema and art galleries has an exhibition called robots and avatars, including a robot which reads out your texts, v amusing; also decent cafe

Bluecoat arts centre - lovely garden space to play in, also coffee.

Cathedrals are both spectacular and interesting for kids. Joining them is Hope Street - good food, family friendly, especially at Host (asian) and The Quarter (pizza, pasta etc)

World Museum is good enough - but take your own packed lunch. The Walker Art Gallery next door is good too, has kids interactive gallery on ground floor.

take the train about 6 stops north to waterloo to see Antony Gormley's 100 lifesize iron men standing on the beach staring out to see. ACE park. Eat at Little Pizza Kitchen or the Lakeside Centre

Ferry is lots of fun

New museum brought me out in an allergic reaction - full of tat

The only thing I ever go to liverpool for is my passport or take my dad to his appointment's after moving to Manchester I've never been back.
The last trip to Liverpool was for my dad eye test at www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/kirkby
www.ukpassportservices.co.uk/liverpool-passport-office