An afternoon in Liverpool with dc aged 9 and 7... How should we spend it?

[Clr2014]

Have never been into Liverpool before. Would like to feel like we have 'seen' it iykwim. Any advice / tips? Tia

Lots of museums etc round the albert docks and all are free. Probs the best place to head to tbh.

Im.not from the place but have been a couple of times and its a nice walk around the docks.

Museum of Liverpool Life and Maritime Museum - both v good. Be a 'proper' tourist and take a ferry across the Mersey.

If it's sunny, there is a little beach area at the top of Liverpool One.

Lots of free museums, shopping, the docks, great places to eat, I think there is a giant sand and water play area on top of Liverpool One atm. Liverpool World Museum and Underwater Street are my kids favorites.

Try this - www.theyellowduckmarine.co.uk

You'll see the main sights plus get to splash around in the harbour

The Maritime Museum and then a short train ride to Crosby Beach for miles of uncrowded sand and Anthony Gormley's extraordinary statues.

Thank you! Lots to explore here!

Oh - not sure how you'd fit it all in to one afternoon but you really shouldn't miss Hope Street. You can stand on the steps outside the Catholic Cathedral and look down the road to the Anglican Cathedral (biggest in Europe iirc.) It's a very beautiful street as well, with the newly refurbished Everyman Theatre (closed in August,) great pizzas at The Quarter and the famous suitcase installation that always appeals to the young....

And no one's mentioned the Walker Art Gallery. Or the brand new Central Library - both stupendous, world beating, worth a journey on their own...

There's masses to enjoy in Liverpool but you do have to have a plan; it's too spread out for profitable random wandering.

We were in Liverpool at the weekend seeing the Giants. So much to do there. The kids loved the ferry (didn't get off, just enjoyed the views). Museum of Liverpool was cool, there were kids activities at the Walker. We had a couple of beers in the cafe at The Bluecoat while the dc played ping pong and did crafts . And I feel we didn't scratch the surface of the city! It's a fab place, we'll be back soon, I hope. Have a great time.

Hope Street, the art gallery and the library are all excellent - but I'm not sure how much appeal they'd have to children.

Mmmm...

Over the last few years we've picniced on the Catholic Cathedral steps taking photos of the other at the end of the road; illegally climbed the suitcase installation etc; watched Bill Viola videos and enjoyed grand vistas at the Walker. (Oh and Picasso at the Tate.) And have you tried the echo in the Picton Room, (the old part of the Library) as well as admiring the view from ground floor to ceiling? Or spotting all the different books inscribed at the entrance? Or mime at Unity Theatre? All hugely successful with a child in that age range.

I agree they might want other stuff as well. Which is where Crosby Beach and Sefton Park (and Giants) come in. (But my long term project has been to get this particular child to like what I like...)

I like your thinking!