Two children running across lawn in front of brick and timber house — Children playing in garden in spring at Rufford Old Hall, Lancashire | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

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.

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Speke Hall

There's always adventure to be had at Speke Hall, whenever you visit. Have you ever played vegetable musical instruments? Solved a mind-boggling hedge maze? Zoomed along a zip wire? Made your own woodland den? Discover the fun activities your family can enjoy here.

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Rufford Old Hall

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.

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Gawthorpe Hall

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.

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Heysham Coast

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

Jam-packed with loads of activities, discover different ways to play at National Trust places in the North West. Summer of Play is sponsored by Starling Bank.

Visitors in the garden at Rufford Old Hall, Lancashire

Plan your summer holiday adventures

Let imaginations run wild while clambering over outdoor play areas. Bug hunt, dress up, and make wild art with nature’s materials. Seek and find among ancient trees and spy wildlife along lesser-trodden paths. Get active with sports-day games or race around a maze. And when it’s time to pause and recharge, unpack the picnic, refuel at a café or tuck into an ice cream. Click to start your summer adventure at Speke Hall, Rufford Old Hall, Gawthorpe Hall and more places in the North West.

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.

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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 safe place for little legs to explore while you enjoy a coffee on the nearby picnic benches.

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

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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!

When it rains you have two options: find somewhere indoors to explore or grab your waterproofs and get stuck in! Luckily we have loads of suggestions for both…

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

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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.

Visitors at Rufford Old Hall, Lancashire

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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!

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

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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.

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