Children playing in autumn leaves in the park at Rufford Old Hall — Family days out in Liverpool and Lancashire | © Annapurna Mellor

Family-friendly places in Liverpool and Lancashire

Plan your family day out in Liverpool and Lancashire. From the beauty of the great outdoors and amazing histories to play areas, balance bikes and even a maze, there's something for the whole family to enjoy rain or shine.

Discover natural landscapes, historic houses, play areas and outdoor adventures with all the family.

Speke Hall, Liverpool

Make your own adventure every time you visit Speke Hall. Zoom along a zip wire in the woodland play area, find space to run and play on the North Lawn or indulge curious minds inside the Tudor house. And this summer there’s even more ways to play together.

Two adults outdoors, one holding a smartphone and the other carrying a child in a toy crown. Background includes greenery and a blurred building.

Rufford Old Hall, Ormskirk

There’s so much for families to do – you can borrow a balance bike, explore the surrounding gardens and woodland, discover the dedicated area for nature play and set your imagination free inside the house.

Family exploring the woodland at Rufford Old Hall, Lancashire

Gawthorpe Hall, Padiham

From discovering the majestic woods where children can enjoy the natural play area and views across Pendle Hill, to exploring inside the Hall’s stunning historic rooms that show what life was like in the Victorian period for the Kay-Shuttleworth family who once resided there.

A family exploring the North Parterre at Gawthorpe Hall, Lancashire

Heysham Coast, Lancashire

Explore this hidden gem on the Lancashire coast, with magnificent cliff-top views and plenty of room for little legs to run free.

Get close to nature and experience the joys of autumn this October half term. From nature trails to Halloween events, there’s plenty for you to try.

See all family activities and events

Brilliant bats at Speke Hall

Bats are very important creatures. In fact, they’re brilliant and we’re lucky that some of them call Speke Hall their home. During October half term, follow a self-led trail through the Clough Woodland. Learn which bat is so small it can fit inside a matchbox, how bats shout and guess some of our bats favourite smells!

Monsters and Legends at Rufford Old Hall

Wander through the garden and woodland at Rufford to see scarecrows created by the local community. This year’s theme is “Monsters & Legends”, so expect to find iconic creatures and legendary heroes!

Halloween at Quarry Bank

There’s a chill in the air at Quarry Bank this Halloween. We invite you to join us, if you're brave enough! Our frighteningly fun dusk to darkness light trail will return, are you in for a treat, or a trick? The darker it gets, the spookier it gets…

Cloaked headless figure sat on a black horse, with a mill chimney and smoke in the background

Spot deer at Dunham Massey

Discover the changing colours of the season at Dunham Massey. Spot rutting deer, follow self-guided walks through the parkland or join Spooks’ Autumn Art Adventure to celebrate art in the natural world.

A child balances on across a fallen branch in a wooded area of parkland during autumn at Dunham Massey in Cheshire

All things autumn at Lyme

Grab a trail pack to explore what makes autumn so special at Lyme. Look out for all the colours and weird and wonderful creatures that autumn has to offer, and enjoy autumn games and indoor creative activities.

Visitors exploring the garden on a family trail, with a lake and the house in the background in Autumn at Lyme, Cheshire

Escape into autumn at Little Moreton Hall

Visit Little Moreton Hall this half term and 'Escape into autumn’. Discover autumn colours and what wildlife gets up to over the season with a free spotter trail.

A family enjoying the gardens at Little Moreton Hall, Cheshire

There’s nothing quite like playing outdoors. Swooshing down slides, clambering over logs and letting your imagination run wild. It’s no wonder that play areas are an essential part of many family days out. Here are some top places to play in Liverpool and Lancashire.

Speke Hall

There are two play areas at Speke Hall. Let older kids run wild, take on exciting challenges or zoom down a zip line in the woodland play area. The gated play area, with wheelchair-accessible equipment, is a safe place for littler adventurers to explore while you enjoy a coffee on the nearby picnic benches.

Gawthorpe Hall

Kids can skip along woodland paths, play hide 'n' seek and get closer to the natural landscape at Gawthorpe Hall's woodland play area. With stepping stones and walls to climb on, they're sure to be tired out in no time!

A child in shorts jumping off a wooden structure onto a wooden stepping stone inside a woodland.

When it rains you have two options: find some indoor fun or grab your waterproofs and get stuck in! Luckily we have loads of suggestions for both…

Explore the house at Speke Hall

Step inside the Tudor house to see if you can find the portrait of local legend, the Child of Hale who was said to have been over 9 feet tall! Make sure to bring your waterproofs and explore the fun Giant Child of Hale play trail in the woods if the weather clears up.

A woman and child looking wondrously inside a room at Speke Hall

Play pretend at Rufford Old Hall

The house at Rufford is filled with fascinating treasures and stories. Imaginations will run free when little ones spot the suits of armour in the Great Hall – and they can escape even further into their own story by dressing up like a Tudor lady or gentleman!

Visitors at Rufford Old Hall, Lancashire

Top ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ activities to do when it’s raining

We've compiled a selection of items from the ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ list that are perfect for rainy days, so grab your waterproofs and get involved.

Two children in coats and wellies walk along the path with umbrellas up towards East Riddlesden Hall, Yorkshire

Embrace the rain at Gawthorpe Hall

Don’t let the rain keep you at home – there’s plenty of activities that you can get up to no matter the weather at Gawthorpe Hall. Put on your wellies and splash in muddy puddles, or create a modern art masterpiece from squishy mud – you can find inspiration with ’50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ activities.

Children's feet in wellington boots jumping in puddles at Sheffield Park, East Sussex

Discover a world of endless adventures with our pick of some of the best things for teenagers to do in Liverpool and Lancashire. Round up your friends and family and get exploring.

Become a budding photographer

Full of far-reaching views and picturesque buildings, the places we care for are a young photographer’s dream. The black-and-white Tudor houses at Rufford and Speke make for striking photos, while the Lancashire views from Holcombe Moor will help you hone your landscape shots. Visit Hardmans’ 1950s photography studio to get some inspiration or click here for our top photography tips.

A blonde woman looking off to the right side of the picture is being filed by a young man in a blue jacket and dark brown hair with a video camera

Create art with nature’s materials

Build dens or create natural masterpieces as a family. Rufford Old Hall has a dedicated nature play area that is full of brightly coloured leaves, twigs and fallen branches. There’s plenty of woodland to explore at Speke Hall too.

Teenager building a den in the West Wood

Follow the footsteps of Charlotte Brontë

Did you know that Charlotte Brontë visited Gawthorpe Hall in 1850 to stay with her friends Sir James and Lady Kay-Shuttleworth? The author of Jane Eyre described the Hall as ‘...grey, stately and picturesque, a model of old English architecture’. Today Gawthorpe is the final stop on the long-distance ‘Brontë Way’ walking route.

A view of the South Front of Gawthorpe Hall set in it's grounds on a stormy day

Tuck into a sweet treat

Rounding off the day with a sweet treat and hot drink are a key part of any visit. From breakfast baps and toasties, to doughnuts and brownies, and lots of vegan options, we’ve got something for everyone. Or grab a coffee to takeaway before your walk – we’ll even give you 25p off your drink if you bring your own reusable cup.

A person holding a reusable cup filled with coffe

Discover more family days out in the North of England with plenty of places to play, explore, and create memories.

Family-friendly places in Cheshire and Greater Manchester

Plan your a family day out in Cheshire and Greater Manchester. We've got play areas, activities for kids, wildlife to spot and plenty of things to do when it rains.

Autumn fun in the Winter Garden at Dunham Massey, Cheshire

Family-friendly places in the Lake District

Plan your next family day out in the Lake District – seek out natural play areas, scramble over rocks and spot wildlife on your way. Make the most of your membership and visit somewhere new.

A family explores around the Bowderstone on a sunny Autumn day

Family-friendly places in Yorkshire

Plan an adventure in Yorkshire. With play areas, activities for kids, wildlife to spot and plenty of things to do when it rains. Bring the whole family to make memories during your time together.

An adult with a baby, two toddlers and a dog make their way around the Wentworth Castle Gardens, South Yorkshire

Adventure awaits: family fun in the North East

Make the most of summer with fun-filled family adventures across the North East—whatever the weather. From sunny nature trails and garden games to indoor trails, and historic houses to explore, there’s something for every kind of day. Whether you're chasing butterflies or dodging rain showers, discover exciting ways to play, learn, and make memories together.