10 Things to do During the School Holidays
Published on
Thursday, May 19, 2022
There’s so much to see and do in Liverpool and Wirral, so while the kids are off why not hop on a River Explorer Cruise on the iconic Mersey Ferry to visit both sides of the River Mersey and be a tourist in your hometown?
Here’s our top ten ideas about the amazing places you can visit and fun things to do, which are only a short walk or bus ride away from our Woodside and Liverpool Gerry Marsden Ferry Terminals. So, sit back and have a read through our blog and let us help you plan the perfect family day out.
5 Things to do in Wirral
There’s lots of incredible places to explore in Wirral with quiet sandy beaches, seaside towns, beautiful garden villages and the world-famous Birkenhead Park.
1. Visit Woodside Ferry Village based at Woodside Ferry Terminal
River Explorer Cruises depart hourly from our terminals in Liverpool and Wirral. Hop off the ferry at Woodside to visit Woodside Ferry Village, a fantastic food court that all the family will enjoy.
Woodside Ferry Village has a range of national and international vendors that provide yummy food and drinks. Check out their website for menus, and opening times
2. Explore the historic Birkenhead Park
Did you know that Birkenhead Park influenced the design of Central Park in New York?
The designer of Central Park F.L. Olmsted visited Birkenhead Park in 1850 and was so inspired by the ‘people’s park’ (as he called it) that he based his initial designs on Birkenhead Park!
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Woodside Ferry Village
Birkenhead Park
If you’ve never visited the historic park, which opened in 1847 you are missing out. From open meadows, lakeside walks, a fitness trail, fishing lake, café, a children’s playground and much more, it’s a must visit for all the family. Birkenhead Park is only a 25-minute walk or short bus ride away from Woodside Ferry Terminal.
3. Discover the magical Black Pearl Pirate Ship and Vale Park Fairy Village
If you’re looking for a seaside day out in Merseyside, how about a visit to New Brighton? Home of the much-loved Black Pearl Pirate Ship and Vale Park Fairy Village
The classic seaside resort also has a range of shops, restaurants, a bowling alley, an amusement arcade, and cinema. To reach New Brighton you can catch the 411 bus outside Woodside Ferry Terminal.
4. All aboard! At Wirral Tramway & Wirral Transport Museum
For all those transport lovers out there don’t forget about Wirral Tramway & Wirral Transport Museum which is only a short walk away from Woodside Ferry Terminal and is a favourite with local families. Here you can wander through a fascinating collection of trams, buses, cars, motorcycles and cycles from a bygone age and experience tram travel in one of their fully restored heritage trams.
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Port Sunlight
5. Enjoy a stroll through Port Sunlight’s beautiful garden village
The charming village of Port Sunlight built at the end of the 19th century to house workers at the nearby Lever Factory promises a relaxing day out for all the family, with beautiful buildings and two fantastic attractions: the Lady Lever Art Gallery and Port Sunlight Museum and Garden Village- it is a true delight.
Lady Lever Art Gallery, opened in 1922, houses the magnificent personal collection of William Hesketh Lever. Don’t miss your chance to see the internationally renowned collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings and one of the UK’s finest collections of fine and decorative art. There’s a café on the lower ground floor and the gallery has lots of family friendly activities and resources to keep everyone entertained during their visit.
Port Sunlight is only a few stops away by train from Hamilton Square Rail Station. Hop off the ferry at Woodside Ferry Terminal where you will find Hamilton Square Rail Station is only a couple of minutes’ walk away.
5 Things to do in Liverpool
Liverpool is packed full of brilliant places to visit and fun things to do, check out our top five places to visit below, which are only a short walk away from the terminal.
6. Visit Liverpool’s world-class museums
Only a five-minute walk away from the Liverpool Gerry Marsden Ferry Terminal are the incredible Museum of Liverpool, Maritime Museum and the International Slavery Museum.
Learn more about the history of Liverpool, our maritime past and hear the untold stories of enslaved people and learn about historical and contemporary slavery at these historic museums. The Museum of Liverpool and Maritime Museum have cafés on their ground floors, and all three museums have educational activities for the kids to help them learn more and keep them entertained.
7. Learn more about the Fab Four at The Beatles Story
Enjoy the scenic ten-minute walk from the Liverpool Gerry Marsden Ferry Terminal over to The Beatles Story at Royal Albert Dock and enjoy a Magical Mystery Tour of the award-winning attraction dedicated to the Fab Four.
The Beatles Story is the world's largest permanent exhibition purely devoted to telling the story of the lives and times of The Beatles. Check out the authentic memorabilia on show including clothing, John Lennon’s spectacles and Ringo Starr’s drum kit and walk-through recreations of important places and moments in The Beatles’ career like The Cavern Club and Abbey Road Studios.
8. Relax, shop, eat and drink at Royal Albert Dock
Soak up the breath-taking architecture and history of the Royal Albert Dock and wander around its many attractions, restaurants, bars and quirky shops. It’s a must do visit when in Liverpool and is a charming place to sit with a cuppa (or something stronger), enjoy the views and quietly watch the world go by. Plus, it’s only a ten-minute walk from the ferry terminal.
9. Explore British and International visual art at Tate Liverpool
During your time at Royal Albert Dock, don’t miss a trip to Tate Liverpool, which is one of the largest galleries of modern and contemporary art in the UK.
With a range of exhibitions, daily tours, workshops, talks and conferences there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Plus, don’t forget to visit Ugo Rondinone’s Liverpool Mountain the gravity-defying 10-metre-high outdoor sculpture at Mermaid Courtyard, just outside Tate Liverpool.
10. Eat, shop and play at Liverpool ONE
If you’re looking to get some serious shopping done Liverpool ONE is the place to visit and it is only a fifteen-minute walk away from the Liverpool Gerry Marsden Ferry Terminal. The open-air retail and leisure destination has over 170 shops like John Lewis, Zara and Waterstones. It is also home to some great toy stores including the Lego Shop, bars, restaurants and attractions like Junkyard Golf, Escape Live and an Odeon cinema.
Book your tickets for a River Explorer Cruise
With all this and more to do on both sides of the River Mersey why not hop on one of our daily River Explorer Cruises and set sail on your family adventure.
We hope you have an unforgettable day out. See you on board soon!