Summer is here again and once again it will be a challenge to find things to keep the kids entertained.
And finding ways to occupy their attention and that will not cost you an arm and a leg can be a hard task.
Thankfully help is at hand courtesy of Liverpool ECHO Family.
There is so much going in Liverpool, Wirral and beyond, you and your kids will be spoiled for choice.
Here are 50 free things to do with your young ones this summer.
Happy holidays!
1. Get your groove on at LIMF
Saturday, July 20 to Sunday, July 21
LIMF is back again and although it is now a ticketed event, it is still free for children 12 and under.
Headliners for this year include Nile Rodgers and Chic, Sister Sledge, Sigma, Ella Eyre and Mic Lowry.
General tickets for adults are £11 per day but children 11 and under go free but must still have a ticket.
Sefton Park, Liverpool
2. Get busy at Liverpool VG&M's holiday workshops
Every Thursday from August 1 to 29, drop in from 1pm to 4pm
Get crafty with the kids with various workshops running over the holidays.
Make a collage, creature your own sea creature or design your own ceramic tile in these fun free workshops. No booking required.
Victoria Gallery and Museum, Ashton Street, Liverpool
3. Sun yourself at the urban beach
Running until Sunday, September 1
Calderstones urban beach returns to Calderstones Park and will be open daily from 10.30am to 5.30pm.
This is a family event with kid's rides, beach themed bouncy castle and slide, mini golf. The beach is free to go on with 30 tonnes of sand, decking and deckchairs near to Calderstones Mansion.
There will also be various fairground rides and attractions all priced at £1.50 and these include a canoe water ride.
Go to facebook.com/calderstonesbeach for more details.
Calderstones Park, Calderstones
4. Have a kick about at the Albert Dock
Friday, August 23 to 30
The floating football pitch will return to the Albert Dock this summer - with free coaching sessions for kids.
The attraction has teamed up with the LFC Foundation to launch Summer Football on the Dock.
Boys and girls of all ages and abilities are invited to drop by and join in on the action – with no pre-booking required.
Albert Dock, Liverpool
5. Enjoy a free family day out at KidsFest
Sunday, August 18 from 10.30am to 6pm
Stanley Park is set to turn into a children’s paradise this summer as the James Bulger Memorial Trust returns with its fifth annual KidsFest.
The free-entry festival is set to be bigger and better than ever before with the amazing Roman Empire games, the Main Stage with acts from The Voice Kids, Britain’s Got Talent and X Factor to name a few. The dinosaurs will also be back again this year!
Families can also have a go on the bouncy castles, watch the KidsFest dance competition or bring a picnic and watch all the live entertainment.
Stanley Park, Liverpool
6. Follow the Mermaid Trail in New Brighton
If your looking for an enchanting trek across New Brighton, then try the Mermaid Trail.
The half a dozen colourful creations are inspired by the Black Rock Mermaid, which is said to have appeared to a sailor in New Brighton in the 18th Century.
You can find the mermaids at Kings Parade, Seabank Road, Vale Park, Promenade, Victoria Parade and Black Rock Mermaid.
New Brighton, Wirral
7. Go fly a kite
When the weather's a bit brisk why not head to your nearest open space and fly that new kite you've been dying to try out.
There are brilliant places all around Liverpool, Wirral and beyond to visit for the windy weather. From beaches to parks, we've picked out a few of the best breezy spots to fly a kite in Merseyside.
8. Walk by a lighthouse at Oglet
Take a stroll along the muddy banks of the Oglet shore from Liverpool John Lennon Airport towards Hale Head Lighthouse.
There is plenty of wildlife to spot and the area, on the shore of the River Mersey off Dungeon Lane, used to be a popular haunt for Beatles George Harrison, Paul McCartney and his brother Mike who would often visit Oglet on their bikes as children and play in the fields.
Access to the beach from Dungeon Lane in Speke or Lighthouse Lane in Hale
9. Take a selfie with The Beatles
After arriving on the waterfront back in December 2015, the statues have become a tourist hot-spot but that doesn't mean locals can't get in on the fun.
If the fab four don't take your fancy, you could visit St George's Hall and see the John Lennon Peace Statue which will be in the city from August 1 until the end of September after its time at Glastonbury Festival.
Pier Head and St George's Hall
10. Release your inner artist at Tate Liverpool
The Learning centre is open Monday to Sunday from 10am until 5.50pm
There are plenty of activities on offer at Tate Liverpool, which offers free family activities and events all year round.
Special exhibitions do incur a charge, but under 16s can get in for free so if you have your eye on a particular exhibition, you can at least get your kids in at no extra cost.
Families can explore the wide array of art on offer, take part in some of the museum's hands-on activities or pay a visit to the Clore Learning Centre which is a special play area designed just for families that includes magnet play, books and a green screen section for visitors to take photos with props and costumes.
Tate Liverpool, Albert Dock, L3 4BB
11. Go on an adventure to Hilbre Islands Nature Reserve
Visitor Centre is open 10am to 5pm
Hilbre Islands are cut off from the mainland by the tide for up to four hours out of every 12. If you are planning a visit to the Islands you must allow yourself enough time so you can leave Hilbre at least three hours before high water, or longer if you have small children or walk slowly.
It takes about 1 hour to cross the 2 miles to Hilbre. Alternatively, you must set out from West Kirby at least three hours before high Water and allow for a stay of five hours or more on Hilbre. Tide tables can be purchased locally and are on display at Dee Lane slipway. There are no shops, public toilets or any fresh water on the Islands, and very little shelter (toilets are available at Dee Lane Slipway, West Kirby; open 10am-6pm) so be prepared.
Visitor Centre, Wirral Country Park, Station Road, Thurstaston
12. Visit Rice Lane City Farm
With 24 acres in total, there’s a long list of reasons to pay a visit. From the rare breed animals to the recently refurbished chapel and tranquil cemetery, it’s a breath of fresh air in the midst of the city.
The farm is free to visit, although small donations are welcome.
Rawcliffe Road, Walton, Liverpool
13. Pack up a picnic
There are so many beautiful places across Liverpool and beyond which make the perfect picnic spots for a day out with the family.
Whether you're looking for a spot to relax with a bite while the kids play, a secret spot that won't be too crowded or a place to lay down your blanket in Wirral with beautiful views - you won't be disappointed.
So why not pack up a picnic basket, head outdoors and enjoy the sunshine?
14. Eat for free
If you're strapped for cash and struggling to feed the whole family, there are plenty of places in Liverpool where kids can eat for free. Check them out here.
The list includes Tate Liverpool, Bella Italia and more.
15. Enjoy some free fun at Liverpool museum
Throughout the summer
At the Museum of Liverpool, there is plenty of free workshops that parents and children can take part in.
Including The Little Liverpool gallery which is a hands-on fantasy world especially for children under the age of six to play and learn. Inside the gallery our youngest visitors can create their own Liverpool - a city where they are in charge.
Collect a free ticket from the information desk on the day.
Museum of Liverpool, Pier Head, Liverpool Waterfront, L3 1DG
16. Get yourself in a lather at Port Sunlight
Port Sunlight is argued to be the finest surviving example of early urban planning in the UK. The late 19th Century village was built by William Hesketh Lever (later Viscount Leverhulme) to house his soap factory workers at Lever Brothers which eventually turned into the global giant Unilever.
Port Sunlight is now a Conservation Area and a major tourist attraction. The village is set in 130 acres of beautifully-maintained parkland with a mature treescape.
King George’s Drive, Wirral
17. Build sandcastles on the beach
Merseyside has no shortage of amazing beaches including in Wirral, so when the sun shines take advantage of the hot weather.
Let the kids run wild along the long stretches of sand and build huge castles while you relax with a book under the parasol.
Or if you fancy travelling a bit further afield than check out these hidden beaches that are well worth the drive from Liverpool.
Read our ultimate guide to Merseyside's beaches.
18. Buzz along to the Bug House
Open 10am to 5pm
In World Museum’s Bug House you can get closer than you ever dreamed possible (or maybe wanted for some) to beetles and flies, spiders and scorpions or centipedes and millipedes. The Bug House displays a selection of specimens from the museum’s vast research collection alongside real live colonies of leaf cutter ants and bees.
World Museum Liverpool, William Brown Street, Liverpool
19. Tam O'Shanter Urban Farm
Get up close with a variety of farm animals in Tam O’Shanter Urban Farm including pigs, sheep, goats, chicken and geese.
The farm is open every day from 9.30am to 4.30pm and entry is free, though donations are welcome.
25 Boundary Road, Birkenhead
20. Wander to Childwall Woods
Open 24 hours all year
Childwall Woods is classed as an ancient woodland. Once owned by the Gascoigne family (yes Bamber Gascoigne) and later by the Marquis of Salisbury, the woodlands are now classed as an official nature reserve. Hunt for tree faces, bugs or build a den.
Access from Childwall Park Avenue, Childwall Abbey Road and Woolton Road
21. Enjoy a stroll at Calderstones Park, Liverpool
Open 24 hours all year round
Take a stroll around the magnificent Japanese Garden with its breathtaking plants or let the children play on the “Linda McCartney” play area (sponsored and paid for by our very own Paul McCartney).
The climbing frame is second to none, according to former Liverpool park ranger Richie Baker. See too if you can spot the 1,000 year old oak tree.
Calderstones Road, Liverpool
22. Explore St George's Hall
Open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am until 5pm
St George's Hall is a Grade 1 listed building in the heart of our beautiful city centre.
It's been used in a plenty of films, including Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them so young fans can relive all their wizarding fantasies while exploring the historic building.
St Johns Gardens is a lush green space at the back of the hall that makes for a charming city centre rest.
St George's Place, L1 1JJ
23. Discover our wonderful world
Various dates from July 29
Every weekend throughout the summer you can learn more about our wonderful world at Liverpool's World Museum.
Head to the interactive centres for fabulous family fun activities. Free drop-in. For full details please ask at the information desk on the day.
World Museum, William Brown Street, Liverpool, L3 8EN
24. Tickle the Ivories
Running until September 8
The sound of music will once again fill the streets of Liverpool as the North West’s favourite piano festival, Tickle the Ivories, returns this summer.
Back for its ninth year, six pianos will be dotted around Liverpool ONE, celebrating the region’s vast musical talent.
To book a slot on one of the pianos, visit the website or contact Open Culture on 0151 478 4550.
25. Programming Lego Mars Rovers
August 10 - 11am, 12.15pm, 2.15pm and 3.30pm
In this specialist workshop, kids can learn about the difficulties controlling robots on another planet, and discover the artificial intelligence techniques that let them make decisions for themselves.
It is delivered by experts from the department of Computer Science at the University of Liverpool.
This workshop does not involve building with lego. This is a free event but places are limited. Please collect your tickets at the information desk on day.
World Museum, William Brown Street, Liverpool, L3 8EN
26. Ride your bike along Otterspool Prom
Open 24 hours
With beautiful views across the River Mersey, the promenade is an ideal place to go for a cycle. It’s safe and traffic-free, it’s spacious and, crucially, it’s flat! And if little legs get tired, or little people complain of being saddle sore, you can always have a break from the bikes on the playground with, among other things, its climbing frame, spinning dish and climbing net.
Waterfront, South Liverpool via Jericho Lane
27. Go on an ancient Egypt tour
The fascinating free tour well tell you all about Liverpool's connection to ancient Egypt.
Families can meet the visitor host at the entrance of the ancient Egypt gallery on floor 3 at 3pm.
It is a drop-in event and no need to book, to find out when it is running, visit the website here.
World Museum, William Brown Street, Liverpool, L3 8EN
28. Go for a walk
Make the most of the sunny weather and head outdoors. But don't forget to pack your waterproofs to avoid getting soaked in the summer showers and enjoy a nice relaxing family walk.
Check out our guide to easy family walks in Liverpool and beyond.
29. Look in on Leasowe Lighthouse
Open first and third Sundays of the month, 1pm-4pm
Built in 1763 by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, Leasowe Lighthouse is the oldest brick built lighthouse in Britain. It stands 101ft (27 metres) tall on Leasowe Common in Wirral. Now a site of public interest, the Lighthouse features guided tours, special events and a Visitor Centre with displays about the Lighthouse, the North Wirral Coastal Park and the Wirral coastline.
Leasowe Common, Moreton
30. Get hands on at Liverpool's Maritime Museum
Taking the kids around the Maritime Museum is exciting enough, but throughout the summer there is also some workshops and activities that families can get involved in.
View the full listings here.
Albert Dock, Liverpool
31. Join the construction club
July 20, August 3, 17, 31
Young inventors, creators and builders are invited to drop in and play with the massive supply of LEGO.
Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
The Atkinson, Lord Street, Southport
32. Hunt for a Superlambanana
Liverpool has plenty of icons and the Superlambana is one of the most popular in the city.
Originally commissioned in 1998, the 8 tonne sculpture has popped up in various locations throughout the city and other versions have been commissioned over the years.
The Superlambanana is currently on Tithebarn Street but smaller versions, with different paint jobs, can be found in a variety of locations across the city - why not go on a hunt and track them all down?
Various locations
33. Go for a drive
Finding new places to take the family for a day out can be a hard task.
And keeping the kids entertained over the schools holidays can be even more difficult especially if you've got to travel to find something to.
From theme parks, national parks to zoos and beaches, there will be something that you can all enjoy together.
Visit our guide to days out within an hours drive from Liverpool.
34. Make a discovery
Discover more about the Maritime Museum contraband collections and learn about the ways of the smuggler with our handling collection.
This event is linked to the collections in the 'Seized! The Border and Customs uncovered' gallery. Drop in, no booking required.
Check the website for listings here.
Merseyside Maritime Museum, Albert Dock, Liverpool Waterfront
35. Feed the ducks in Sefton Park
Open daily
Grab some lettuce, defrosted frozen peas or sweetcorn, oats, seeds or rice and head to this ever popular park.
And, when the ducks paddle off you can admire the Palm House, visit the Fairy Glen or explore Old Nick’s Caves.
Access from Queen’s Drive, Greenbank Drive, Greenbank Road, Aigburth Drive, Lark Lane and Elmswood Road
36. Play games on a rainy day
If the heatwave takes a turn for the worse and it's miserable, windy and raining outside, sometimes it’s just nicer to stay in your cosy warm home. But how do you entertain the kids?
Find out how with our 20 fun indoor activities for kids.
37. Have a game of rounders or cricket in Royden Country Park
Open 24 hours all year round
Royden boasts large open areas where children can play freely. During the summer bank holidays model train enthusiasts run a steam powered passenger locomotive which is a big hit with kids of all ages.
And arts and crafts fairs are held during bank holiday weekends where you can purchase items made by Wirral craftsmen and women.
Hill Bark Road, Irby
38. Get Fit at Walton Hall Park
Open all year round
There’s a fun fitness trail around the park, with a range of keep fit stations and suggested exercises. One complete loop around the fitness trail is 3.25km.
Walton Hall Avenue, Liverpool
39. Brace yourself for Bidston Hill
Bidston Windmill open 10am to 12pm
Prepare yourself for a climb up Bidston Hill, 100 acres of heathland and woodland that contains historic buildings and ancient rock carvings and is . one of the highest points on the Wirral.
Keep your eyes peeled for Bidston Windmill which replaced a wooden mill that was destroyed by fire in 1791 and is open on the first Saturday of each month from April to September, between 10am to noon (last entry is 11.45am).
Birkenhead, Prenton
40. Play football in Stanley Park
Open 6am to 9.30pm
Sandwiched between Anfield and Goodison there can’t be anywhere better to kick a ball around than in the middle of the sacred soccer grounds of Everton and Liverpool. And if the inspiration of two footballing giants doesn’t grab you, you can admire the Grade II listed Isla Gladstone Conservatory; fish in the park lakes (a permit is required for angling) or just enjoy the swings, multi-play, roundabout and see-saw in the play area.
Walton Lane and Anfield Road, Anfield
41. Make your own entertainment
Sometimes the simplest things can entertain or stimulate the minds of children.
There are plenty of household items that double as toys and they don’t cost a lot.
Kids can find fun in just about everything, so raid the recycling and you’ll be surprised with what you come up with.
42. Walk the Wirral Way
Visitor centre at Wirral Country Park open 10am to 4.45pm
The Wirral Way stretches from Parkgate to Heswall and beyond and is a great walking (and cycling) route. Wirral Country Park is located on the Wirral Way, which follows the track bed of part of the former Birkenhead Railway route from West Kirby to Hooton.
In 1973, backed by money from the Countryside Commission, the old railway line was opened as Wirral Country Park - the first country park in Britain. Today it is must for a family day out and its facilities include picnic areas, a BBQ area and bird hide. And you can use it as a base from which to walk the 12 mile Wirral Way.
Here's our list of fun things to do along the Wirral Way.
Wirral Country park, Station Road, Thurstaston, open daily from dawn till dusk.
43. Steel yourself for a visit to the Iron Men
Head to Another Place by Antony Gormley and see these spectacular sculptures up close. The installations consists of 100 cast-iron, life-size figures spread out along three kilometres of the foreshore, stretching almost one kilometre out to sea.
Each one weighs 650 kilos and are made from casts of the artist’s own body standing on the beach, all of them looking out to sea, staring at the horizon in silent expectation. Admire or run around fabulous figures - or take clothes to dress them up and take pictures of the funniest one.
Mariners Road, Crosby Beach, Liverpool
44. Take a walk by the Walled Garden in Greenbank Park
Open all year
The walled garden, in Greenbank Park is an ideal spot for families with little ones. The park was purchased by the Council from the Rathbone family in 1897 and was the first of Liverpool’s park to develop an ‘Old English Garden’ and boating lake.
Kids and adults alike can enjoy the beauty of the walled garden with its covered walkways and raised rose beds, kids can play hide and seek and explore the nooks and crannies of this garden without going far, while parents can relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. There is a children’s playground as well as football pitches.
Greenbank Park, Mossley Hill
45. Climb on the suitcases on Hope Street and then explore the secret garden and stream at St James’ Gardens under Liverpool Cathedral
Open 24 hours
A day out along Hope Street has plenty of outdoor fun. Kids will love playing amongst the suitcases and learning about the history of Liverpool through exploring the labels, for example, John Lennon’s guitar case, of this piece of public art.
A short stroll away is the subterranean St James’ Garden. With access through a tunnel at the side of the Anglican Cathedral, visitors emerge into a park lined with historic gravestones, and dotted with interesting stone sculptures. It also has its own freshwater stream, and is a great place for all the family to explore.
Hope Street, Liverpool
46. Roll down the hills in Princes Park
Open all year round
Princes Park is a grade II-listed Liverpool park, originally built as a private development with gated access, the park was acquired for the general public in 1913. Find the final resting place of Judy the Donkey and roll down the hills near the Ullet Road entrance and enjoy the play areas in the centre of the park.
Princes Park, Ullet Road, Toxteth
47. Paddle and watch the watersports at Wirral Coastal Park
Open all year round
Four miles in length, there is lots to explore at the North Wirral Coastal Park with historical Leasowe lighthouse which is occasionally open to the public, excellent coastal walks with sea views, picnic areas and sand-dunes plus bathing beaches which are great for kids to paddle and watch the watersports.
Pasture Road, Birkenhead
48. Climb aboard a pirate ship at New Brighton
Open all year
Get your long johns on and your cutlasses out and check out the Black Pearl pirate ship made entirely from driftwood on New Brighton beach. If you get peckish why not take a walk along the seafront with an ice cream or some fish and chips, take the kids to the funfair and the indoor arcade, or later relax on the beach and take in the sunset over the Liverpool skyline.
New Brighton beach
49. Play in the grass at New Brighton Dips
New Brighton ‘dips’ are a great place for the whole family to set up their base on a sunny day. They are right on the promenade, with beaches and tourist attractions within easy walking distance. So why not set up a gazebo, bring a picnic, balls and games and you could even bring the dog.
See how many ships you can spot coming in from Liverpool bay and stay until sunset to watch the sky change colour as the sun sets across the river. If rain stops play, there are nearby indoor play areas and facilities to escape to at the new Marine Point development further up the promenade.
50. Explore Thor’s Rock in Thurstaston
Thurstaton Common is a local nature reserve with views of the Dee Estuary and the Clwydian Hills of Wales. The area is popular with walkers and families and the common is home to ‘Thor’s Rock’ which, according to local legend, was a religious site for Viking Settler’s in the area, although historians believe it to be a natural outcrop that was exploited in the 18th century for mining.
The Rock towers above the common and presents a fantastic natural climbing frame for children whose imaginations can run wild.
Access from School Lane, Thurstaston, Wirral - open all year.
