This half-term the seven venues of National Museums Liverpool (NML) are bursting with exhibitions, events and workshops for all the family.
William Brown Street has been a school holiday choice for generations and this October half-term is no exception. The popular exhibition, Return of the Gods, continues at World Museum, accompanied by special events for anyone who wants to delve deeper into the myths and legends of ancient Greece and Rome. Up the hill at the Walker Art Gallery visitors will enjoy choosing their favourite painting from the 70 selected for the prestigious John Moores Painting Prize 2023. They may even be inspired to create their own masterpiece in Big Art, the gallery’s dedicated space for families.
The Liverpool waterfront offers the perfect backdrop for an exciting day trip this half-term. The Museum of Liverpool’s new exhibition, Happiness! will tickle funny bones young and old, exploring the career, and of course telling the jokes of Liverpool icon, Sir Ken Dodd. Across the dock the Maritime Museum’s Titanic and Liverpool: the untold story exhibition reveals the background of the most famous ship of all and its links to Liverpool. At the International Slavery Museum’s visitors are in for a real treat with drumming workshops and traditional storytelling.
Autumn is a wonderful time to get out of the city and see the changing colours of the season, followed by a cosy trip to a gallery. A jaunt to Lady Lever Art Gallery provides the last chance to see the enchanting Flower Fairies (closes 5 November) and to take part in themed crafts inspired by the natural beauty of Cecily Barker’s delicate paintings. While out in leafy Mossley Hill things are about to get very spooky with Sudley House getting into the spirit of Halloween, with creepy crafts, ghoulish ghost stories and a puzzling pumpkin trail!
October is also Black History Month and NML has a busy month of talks, workshops and music sessions, as well as fascinating online resources available all year round. Find out more here.
Half-term highlights across each venue:
World Museum
Return of the Gods
Until 25 February 2024
Adults £8 (concessions available), children under 17 free
Prepare for the high drama of the ancient world as we meet the gods and goddesses of Mt. Olympus. Their lives were packed with great loves, greater feuds and the powers to influence, save or condemn human lives forever. This family-friendly exhibition dives into ancient Greek and Roman mythology to expose the original ancient characters of the heroes and heroines of our time. This boldly designed exhibition allows you to step inside the stories, as two-metre-high statues tower above you. Featuring a stunning collection of over 100 sculptures and objects, displayed together for the first time, experience the luxury of a Roman villa, before journeying into the underworld to meet Hades.
Return of the Gods Exhibition Tour: Mythology and Daily Life
24, 27 and 28 October
11am and 2.30pm
Adults £13 (includes £8 exhibition ticket. Children £5)
Prepare for the high drama of the ancient world as we meet the gods and goddesses of Mt. Olympus. Their lives were packed with great loves, greater feuds and the powers to influence, save or condemn human lives for ever. This family-friendly exhibition and tour dives into ancient Greek and Roman mythology to expose the original ancient characters of the heroes and heroines of our time, and what they meant to people of the time.
Gods and Goddesses – Story Time Performance
25 October
11am, 12:30 and 2pm
Adults £3, children £2
Discover the mind-blowing myths from ancient times and learn how to recognise your Apollo from your Aphrodite with the simple trick of knowing the tale behind the talisman they hold, or the story behind the scenes they inhabit.
Aquarium Keeper Experience
31 October and 2 and 4 November
11:30am and 2:20pm
(Group of 2) £40
(Group of 4) £60
In this behind-the-scenes immersive experience an aquarium ranger will show you they look after the incredible creatures at the museum, from moon jellyfish to terrapins. You’ll learn how to use the specialist equipment and will even get the chance to feed the animals.
This experience is only available to participants aged 8 years and older. It can be booked for groups of up to two or four people, with a maximum of two under 18 per group of either size. If two under 18-year-olds are attending the two-person package, an adult must accompany them as a free spectator/chaperone.
Meet the Scientist
28 October
Follow a treasure map and discover more about the human body and the amazing world around us, with lots of fun activities for children of all ages and their adults.
Drumming Displays with Agida African Arts
Tuesday 31 October
10:30 and 11.30am
Celebrate Black History Month with urban griot and master drummer Karim Mbaye, of Agida African Arts. Karim will share traditional Senegalese stories brought to life using African musical instruments including the drum and kora.
Drumming Workshops with Agida African Arts
Tuesday 31 October
12:30 and 2pm
Join urban griot and master drummer Karim Mbaye, of Agida African Arts, for traditional Senegalese stories brought to life using African musical instruments including the drum and kora. Families will have the chance to get hands on with traditional African instruments as they learn to drum and dance. Due to the size of the drums, this workshop is open to visitors aged 8+. All children must be supervised. Numbers are limited, please book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Walker Art Gallery
Photie Man: 50 years of Tom Wood
Until 7 January 2024
Adults £9, children 6 – 17 £2, children under 6 free. Concessions are available.
A new major photographic exhibition from Tom Wood at Walker Art Gallery, showcasing 50 years of the artist’s work. Photie Man celebrates the acclaimed Irish-born artist Tom Wood with a comprehensive survey of work spanning 50 years since the start of his career. The exhibition brings together photography from the 1970s to the present day, many of which are being displayed for the first time in Liverpool – where a large number of Wood’s iconic photographs were taken.
John Moores Painting Prize 2023
Until 25 February 2024
Adults £5, concessions available. Children under 17, free.
The John Moores Painting Prize is the UK’s most well-known painting competition, bringing together the best contemporary painting from across the UK to Liverpool.
The Curious Curiosity Shop
31 October and 1 November
12pm, 1pm, 2pm & 3pm
Abandoned and forgotten, suspended in time, until now…something is stirring within the peculiar storerooms of the Curious Curiosity Shop. Follow the Keeper of the Keys on a magical journey around the gallery in a performance fuelled by music, dance and art in this whimsical promenade production.
Presented by Tangled Dance Company in partnership with the Walker Art Gallery.
Places are limited and cannot be booked in advance. Arrive early to avoid disappointment.
Unwind at the Walker
Various dates
Children £2 with two adults (free)
An opportunity to introduce youngest visitors to elements of mindfulness through sensory play, movement and crafts, inspired by paintings and themed books which help children to understand emotions and explore their senses.
This session is aimed at children 0-5 years old, however older siblings are also welcome to attend with their accompanying adults.
These sessions have limited numbers so booking in advance is advised.
Craft and Create
31 October and 1 November
1pm
Be inspired be the art works and beautiful spaces then get creative in a craft workshop.
Rhymetime
21 and 28 October
11.15am
Rhymetime brings songs and stories, led by the Learning and Participation team, followed by free play in Big Art, the dedicated children’s gallery.
This session is aimed at pre-schoolers aged 0-4 years, however older siblings are also welcome to attend with their accompanying adults.
Museum of Liverpool
Happiness!
Until 3 March 2024
Adults £5 (concessions available), children under 17 free
Introduce the kids to the whimsical, surreal and theatrical humour of Sir Ken Dodd. From the Diddymen to the Broken Biscuit Factory, Ken’s imagination was both endless and infectious and transformed the UK comedy scene. Through never-before-seen personal objects, film, photography, digital interactives and of course many, many jokes, this tattyfilarious show is guaranteed to raise a smile!
Little Liverpool Specials
Various dates
Children £2 with two adults (free)
Little Liverpool is a hands-on fantasy world, crammed with fun activities especially for children under the age of six to play and learn. It is the perfect way to introduce little ones to the Museum of Liverpool. Look out special themed sessions: Lion Cubs, Shipmates and Scribble and Splash, available on various days. These sessions have limited numbers so booking in advance is advised.
Future Voices: Open Mic
29 October
From 1.30
Drop into the atrium, at the heart of Museum of Liverpool, for live open mic sessions from talented young performers. Expect anything from music, poetry, comedy, spoken words, drama or storytelling, showcasing the amazing creativity in the city. If you’re aged between 16-24 and interested in taking part register here
An Armourers Tale
31 October and 1 and 2 November
11:30am and 2:30pm
In 1337 the Hundred Years War began. King Edward III mustered his forces against the French king, achieving victories at Crecy and Poitiers. Travel back in time to the medieval period and become part of Edward’s army at a turbulent time in history, meeting Lord FitzWarin and Sergeant at Arms, John, to discover more about weapons and armour of the age.
Maritime Museum
Titanic – Fashions and Fortunes
1, 2 and 3 November
11am – 12 noon and 1:30pm – 3:30pm
What clothes and other items might those on Titanic have packed for their journey? Using fashion and the prized possessions of passengers discover the different people on board that fateful night.
Suitable for adults and children over 7.
The Leaving of Liverpool
4 November
11.30am, 1.30pm, 2.30pm
Go back in time to Liverpool, 1854, and meet travellers as they embark on a journey across seas to start a new life. Listen to stories of hope and fear, as role players bring to life the tales of emigrants who travelled through the port of Liverpool.
Old Dock Tour
Various dates
Adults £8.50, children aged 6-17, £7.50. Children under 6 go free. Concessions available.
Discover the origin of Liverpool’s fortune, buried deep below the Liverpool ONE shopping centre. Families will be fascinated by the large portion of the Old Dock wall still rising more than 20 feet from the bed of the Pool – the creek that gave Liverpool its name. Friendly guides will bring the history to life, explaining how this feat of engineering changed Liverpool’s destiny forever.
International Slavery Museum
Drumming Workshop with Agida African Arts
2 November
12.30pm and 2pm
Join urban griot and master drummer Karim Mbaye, of Agida African Arts, for traditional Senegalese stories brought to life using African musical instruments including the drum and kora. Families will have the chance to listen to get hands on with traditional African instruments as they learn to drum and dance.
Due to the size of the drums, this workshop is open to visitors aged 8+. All children must be supervised. Numbers are limited, please book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Lady Lever Art Gallery
Flower Fairies
Until 5 November 2023
Tickets are free to book with a suggested donation.
The Lady Lever Art Gallery explores 100 years of Cicely Mary Barker’s ethereal illustrations in a new exhibition, Flower Fairies. In association with Penguin Ventures (part of Penguin Random House UK), the exhibition looks at the delicate work created by Barker. Flower Fairies, features around 45 exquisite and botanically accurate, original illustrations, including Barker’s best-loved flower fairy creations and early sketches, alongside digital projections, items from National Museums Liverpool’s botany collection and costumes inspired by the fairies, designed by award-winning costume designer Vin Burnham.
Flower Fairies: Craft and Create
25 and 26 October
1-4pm
Immerse yourself in nature and magic of Flower Fairies-inspired craft and create sessions. Inspired by the incredible artwork of Cicily Barker families will make special creations to take home and keep.
Flower Fairies: Story Explorers
Thursday 26 October
10:30am, 1pm, 2:30pm
The autumn Flower Fairies have emerged ready for Wirral’s October half-term. Listen to a story, explore sensory trays, inspired by nature, and make an artwork to take home all followed by a chance for a magical wonder through the Flower Fairies exhibition.
These activities are specially for children under 5 and their grown-ups.
Places are limited. Book in advance to avoid disappointment
Sudley House
Spooky Sudley
28 and 29 October
11am
What was that noise? Was that a footstep on the stair? Join the annual Halloween celebrations at Sudley House, for ghost stories and creepy crafts. This event is family-friendly but it is recommended very young visitors are pre-warned that the theme of the event will be a bit spooky!
A day out isn’t complete without a souvenir and in NML’s gift shops you can find everything from art-themed gifts to pocket money purchases inspired by the collections.
If you’re planning on multiple visits, NML offers a range of membership options for individuals and families which include unlimited access to paid exhibitions across all seven venues, Planetarium shows at World Museum and the Old Dock tours. Memberships also include access to special events, previews and talks and 15% discount in museum and gallery cafés, gift shops and NML’s online shop.
Categories: Children | Heritage | Liverpool | News | Participate | World culture
