Family friendly and free activities in Liverpool during the Easter school holidays
There are lots of family fun days taking place across the city, as well as special events at local attractions
The Easter holidays are just around the corner with Liverpool's school break starting on Monday, April 7 and kids returning to school on Monday, April 21. With weeks of school holiday time to be filled with fun activities, plenty of parents will be frantically searching for inspiration to help them plan their days.
Lots of families know how quickly the cost of half term activities can add up - but thankfully there are lots of free family fun days, Easter parties and bonnet parades taking place in and around Liverpool to get involved in. We've rounded up some of the free events and activities taking place during the Easter holidays.
There are also a number of paid-for family attractions that families can get involved in, so we've included some of these in our round-up of fun activities that could help fill a day during the school holidays. Here are some of the events taking place over the coming weeks.
Knowsley Safari
Between April 7 and 21, Knowsley Safari has a fun filled line-up of hands-on, themed activities is included in the general admission price – as well as 20% off tickets.
Little ones can meet the Easter Bunny and enjoy a magical story time in the comfort of the new cosy tipi on the Foot Safari. While three interactive Easter trails, with prizes at the end, will keep the whole family entertained.
Guests can get creative and be entertained as they learn how to become experts in protecting native wildlife, with conservation themed crafts. And with over 500 animals to see on the Foot Safari and Safari Drive, it is a cracking family day out.
Helena Berry, Head of Marketing & Sales, Knowsley Safari, says: “Guests are in for a real great outdoors treat this Easter, as the Safari springs into life. White rhino, African lions, wildebeest, and more, relish the longer days as they roam in the great expanse of their 550-acre Savannah-style Safari Drive; while Andean bears, giraffe, Amur tigers, meerkats – among many other species – love to bask in the sunshine on the Foot Safari.
“Our special Easter events programme will ensure visitors have extra creative fun, while learning about nature. Hands-on activities and adventures will keep inquisitive minds entertained, there really is something for everyone.”
Guests will also be able to recharge and refresh at the Safari’s many food and drink outlets, including the Oasis restaurant and Outdoor Food Court. And if the young ones still have energy to burn, they can enjoy the fairground rides and amusements too.
For further information and to book, please visit the website.
National Trust Easter egg trails
More than eight National Trust Easter trails are taking place across the North West including Quarry Bank, Dunham Massey, Lyme, Speke Hall, Little Moreton Hall, Hare Hill, Rufford Old Hall and Sizergh. The trails are taking place over the bank holiday weekend of April 18 to 21 and during the school holidays.
In Liverpool, Speke Hall's trail is set against the backdrop of the historic estate, and the trail is perfect for families looking to enjoy vibrant outdoor fun while also finding mindful moments in nature.
Speke Hall is a green oasis that offers plenty of space to run and explore. Families can spot birds at The Bund, watch planes soar overhead from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, or simply unwind in the gardens and grounds. After an Easter adventure, visitors can pop into the Home Farm restaurant for a delicious bite to eat – there are children’s meals available, or bring a picnic to enjoy in a scenic spot.
The Speke Hall trail takes place between 5 and 21 April, from 10:30am to 3:30pm.
Each National Trust Easter trail features activities inspired by nature, beauty and history. From identifying spring flowers and wildlife to uncovering intriguing histories and local legends, every single Easter trail is jam-packed with outdoor activities and experiences.
Trails cost £3.50 plus normal National Trust admission/free admission for National Trust members. Cost includes a chocolate egg, or a vegan and Free From chocolate egg, made in the UK using cocoa from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms.
Blackstock Market
Blackstock Market holds family fun days every Saturday and Sunday, with free entry, fun activities for kids, live entertainment and food. Taking place from 11am to 2pm each week, activities on offer include face painting, balloon animals and magicians, as well as soft play, bouncy castles, and live music.
No ticket is needed and kids of all ages can immerse themselves in a world of fun. Entertainment on offer at the venue ranges from movies and dancing to interactive shows and mascots.
On Sundays, families can round off the day with a 'Comedy for Kids' show in the main theatre from 2pm to 4pm. This show is a ticketed event, so visitors are advised to book tickets online through the website.
Indoor Funfair
A massive indoor funfair will return to Liverpool next week, with more than 30 rides to enjoy over the Easter holidays. Thousands of families are expected to join in the fun, which arrives at Exhibition Centre Liverpool for a two-week stay, from Tuesday, April 8.
Thrill rides 'Superstar' and 'Trabant' return with family favourites the dodgems and waltzer as well as a balloon ride and runaway train for little ones. The event is always a popular offering during the school holidays, thanks in part to the weather-proof location inside the Exhibition Centre.
Indoor Funfair runs until Monday, April 21 with 40 sessions across the two-week stay starting at 10am. There are afternoon sessions starting at 2pm and evening sessions at 6pm, except on the April 13 and April 21.
Visitors are advised to arrive 30 minutes before their session.
Pre-booked tickets are available from £13.99 for the 6pm session with the 10am session priced at £14.99 and 2pm session at £15.99. Refreshments and any prize games are not included in the ticket price.
Between 10am-1pm on Saturday, April 12 and between 6pm and 9pm on Sunday, April 20, there will be quieter sessions for those with sensory needs where music will be lowered, ride lights will be switched off and rides slowed where possible.
To book tickets, visit www.indoorfunfair.org/tickets/liverpool/ or for more information follow on Facebook or Instagram: @indoorfunfair
Calderstones fun fair
Calderstones is gearing up to host this year's funfair which offers guests the chance to ride as many times as they like for a small fee. From Saturday 5 - Monday 21 April, families can enjoy as many thrills as they can handle at the set price of £14.99
Last year, Allerton's Calderstones Park held a pop up beach and funfair, located at the children's play area in front of the mansion, in its own secure environment.
Kids can enjoy the huge beach and decked space or have a go on the 11 rides including Hot Rod Dodgems, three-deck Fun House, the Runaway Train rollercoaster and inflatable castles and slides, to name a few.
When you are eventually tired of the fun fair (which is unlikely) you can still wander the beautiful Calderstones grounds and see everything else the scenic park has to offer.
If you fancy exploring, you can find a hidden Japanese Garden where maple trees turn bright red during autumn. The peaceful setting can be reached through a gate next to a sign, which explains that the garden is open so the public can “enjoy the tranquillity of a Japanese scene”.
Narrow cobbled footpaths wind around the garden and there's a small number of stepping stones in place to take you across a pond as you admire the native Japanese shrubs, trees and topiary.
To discover the garden, you need to first enter the old English garden, which is also filled with beautiful autumn colours, sensory flowers and plenty of inquisitive squirrels looking for food to store for winter.
Away from the walled gardens, Calderstones also features a large duck and geese pond, along with the ancient Allerton Oak, beneath which a court sat 1,000 years ago. The park is named after and home to ancient megaliths, said to be older than Stonehenge.
Its Mansion House has a cosy café where you can grab a bite to eat and there’s The Reader Ice Cream Parlour, which also serves hot drinks. In the park, you will also find the Storybarn, which runs book-themed activities for children aimed at sparking a love of reading.
The Mansion House is free entry, and features The Calderstones Story, a dedicated exhibition that tells the story of life in Liverpool, beginning in the late Stone Age.
Liverpool ONE Easter Party and bonnet competition
On Good Friday (Friday, April 18), Liverpool ONE will be hosting an Easter celebration packed with family fun. The shopping complex will be holding craft workshops, face painting, and character meet-and-greets, as well as an Easter bonnet competition.
The Easter party will take place between 12pm and 5pm, with the bonnet competition taking place from 12pm until 4pm. The winners of the Easter bonnet competition will receive a Liverpool ONE gift card, with a first prize of £100, second prize of £50 and third prize of £25.
Shaun the Sheep AR trail
Explore Liverpool ONE and follow the trail using the bespoke ‘Fun with the Flock AR’ app to track down nine markers hidden across Liverpool ONE. Each location will unlock animated scenes, complete Bitzer the dog’s checklist of fun challenges, and interact with Shaun and his farmyard friends in unexpected places.
Along the way, enjoy plenty of selfie moments, play musical stat-ewes, and help Bitzer find the Flock as you tick off his checklist. Complete the trail and earn an exclusive Shaun the Sheep sticker – a perfect keepsake from your spring adventure!
Plus you could be in with a chance of winning £100 Liverpool ONE Gift Card for taking part.
Paddington story time at Waterstones
On Wednesday, April 16, at 1.30pm, families are invited to a special story time at Waterstones on College Lane. The event is free to attend and doesn't require a reservation.
Families can gather in the Children’s Section of Waterstones for a cosy story time featuring a selection of Paddington tales. There will also be plenty of Paddington-themed crafts and activities to enjoy throughout the event.
Although Paddington is a very busy bear and can’t attend himself, visitors are invited to dress up as him for a chance to win a special prize. One lucky winner will take home a Paddington standee, and everyone who dresses up will receive stickers. The results of the Paddington fancy dress contest will be announced at 2pm, right after the story time.
BOXPARK
Family fun will take centre stage at BOXPARK Liverpool throughout Easter with a special Easter egg hunt, an egg and spoon race and a huge kids party on Easter Monday. BOXPARK Liverpool is celebrating its first Easter in the city with a week-long line-up of events.
The venue will host the ultimate Easter Egg hunt across the city, Easter-themed quizzes, student celebrations, late night parties and an Easter-themed karaoke and Drag Bingo.
From Wednesday, April 16 until Monday, April 21, BOXPARK Liverpool will have free pool and shuffleboard tables upstairs, and the venue’s food traders will be on hand, serving up their dishes throughout the week.
Families can enjoy a completely free Easter Egg Hunt on Wednesday, April 16, as well as complimentary arts and crafts, face painting fun and a movie marathon of Charlie & The Chocolate Factory in BOXPARK’s Beatbox; BOXPARK’s upstairs hangout where live music, DJ decks and movies come alive.
Other family focussed fun includes the Egg On Ya Face Family Afternoon on Thursday, April 17. From 12-2pm, guests can take part in a kids’ quiz and garden games including the egg and spoon race and a bouncy castle.
And from 12-5pm on Easter Monday, there will be a kids' social event suitable for the whole family. The day is jam-packed with exciting entertainment, interactive games and more including a special Easter bonnet parade with prizes for the best ones. There will be a disco, arts and crafts, bubble machine, mystery Easter egg hunt as well as visit from the Easter bunny. There’s also a silent disco, baby sensory play, Bricklands Lego and more.
Throughout the entire week, BOXPARK will have a special kids' menu to take advantage of, featuring dishes from the street food traders. Dishes include Yum Cha’s Kids Katsu, Shake? 's kids burger, Yoki Social Table’s kids dumplings and Beak Fried Chicken’s beak bites and fries.
Attendees must secure tickets via BOXPARK’s website for all events.
Haydock family fun day
Haydock Park’s Family Fun Day on Saturday, April 19 will be filled with thrilling racing action alongside activities and entertainment.
Odeon Cinema
A trip to the cinema is always a fun way to fill the day - and there are a number of films showing over the coming weeks that would be ideal family choices. A Minecraft Movie will be showing at Liverpool's Odeon cinemas throughout the Easter holidays, as well as Disney's Snow White and Dog Man.
National Museums Liverpool
The Museum of Liverpool is hosting an Easter and Spring Special of the Little Liverpool exhibition at the waterfront landmark. The usual Little Liverpool gallery will feature added spring crafts, activities and fun for children aged from 0 to five years old.
Little Liverpool Easter and Spring specials take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at 11.15am and on Friday and Sunday afternoons at 2.15pm from Tuesday, April 8 to Sunday, April 27.
Little Liverpool special sessions have a limited number of tickets available at £2 per child. Tickets can be booked on this page or at the museum.
Bunny trail at Royal Albert Dock
This Easter half-term, the Albert Dock is holding a Bunny Tail Trail to track down the Easter Bunny and give visitors the chance to win a special prize.
From Monday, April 7 until Monday, April 21, visitors to the dock can search for 12 brightly coloured bunny vinyls which are hidden in venues’ windows and on food trucks, and complete the trail to find Easter Bunny.
Families can start their adventure on the inner quay by picking up a free pair of rabbit ears and a special sticker from The Nest, where the first clue is located. Scan the QR code and solve the rhyming riddle to find the next bunny tail on the trail.
After finding all of their hidden bunnies, scan the last QR code located in the Easter bunny’s burrow and enter your details to be in with a chance of winning the ultimate family weekend at the dock. More info here.
Eureka
Eureka! Science + Discovery is designed for children and young people up to 14 years to discover how Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) influence and shape their lives. Through connecting the everyday with the extraordinary, we ignite curiosities and present possibilities.
The science and discovery museum is teaming up with Liverpool Neuroscience Group to host a series of events in celebration of the British Neuroscience Association’s International Festival of Neuroscience this April. Visitors to the museum can meet real-life neuroscientists, ask questions, and get hands-on with experiments to discover how our brains and senses work together.
The events will be taking place between April 5 and April 21. Every day there will be a 'Senses Science Show', where visitors can explore the senses, discover which body parts are in charge of each one, and see how our brains help us make sense of the world in a 30 minute science show. There is also 'Mind Craft' each day, where visitors can make their own neurons and brain hats.
Between April 5 and 13, visitors can celebrate neurodivergence by watching an interactive drama to explore why our differences make us stronger. The 'World of Brains' show needs to be booked upon arrival at the museum.
Easter crafts at John Lewis
Join John Lewis in-store for an Easter craft class, where children can get creative and personalise a decoration that can be hung in the home or on an Easter tree. This workshop is designed for children aged 3+ with adult supervision.
Tickets are free and include complimentary materials. At the end of the event, kids can take their decorations home with them.
More info here.