Your complete guide to school holiday activities in Wirral & Merseyside. Covering Easter, May, summer, October and Christmas holidays with age-appropriate ideas.
If there is one thing every parent in Wirral and Merseyside knows, it is that school holidays arrive faster than you can say โhave you got any plans?โ Whether you are a meticulous planner with colour-coded spreadsheets or someone who wings it on a Monday morning, this guide is here to help you navigate every single school holiday throughout the year with confidence, sanity, and maybe even a bit of fun for yourself too.
We have pulled together everything you need: term dates for local councils, age-appropriate activity ideas, rainy day lifesavers, and plenty of inspiration to keep children entertained from the February freeze right through to the Christmas festivities.
School Term Dates 2026: Wirral, Liverpool, Chester & Cheshire
Before you can plan anything, you need to know exactly when the holidays fall. Here are the key dates for the 2026/2027 academic year across our local councils. Do note that individual schools may vary by a day or two, so always double-check with your school directly.
Wirral Council
- February Half Term: Monday 16th - Friday 20th February 2026
- Easter Holidays: Saturday 4th April - Sunday 19th April 2026
- May Half Term: Monday 25th - Friday 29th May 2026
- Summer Holidays: Friday 17th July - Tuesday 1st September 2026
- October Half Term: Monday 26th - Friday 30th October 2026
- Christmas Holidays: Friday 18th December 2026 - Friday 2nd January 2027
Liverpool City Council
- February Half Term: Monday 16th - Friday 20th February 2026
- Easter Holidays: Monday 6th April - Friday 17th April 2026
- May Half Term: Monday 25th - Friday 29th May 2026
- Summer Holidays: Tuesday 21st July - Monday 7th September 2026
- October Half Term: Monday 26th - Friday 30th October 2026
- Christmas Holidays: Monday 21st December 2026 - Friday 2nd January 2027
Chester & Cheshire West
- February Half Term: Monday 16th - Friday 20th February 2026
- Easter Holidays: Monday 6th April - Friday 17th April 2026
- May Half Term: Monday 25th - Friday 29th May 2026
- Summer Holidays: Friday 17th July - Tuesday 1st September 2026
- October Half Term: Monday 26th - Friday 30th October 2026
- Christmas Holidays: Friday 18th December 2026 - Friday 2nd January 2027
Top tip: Bookmark this page so you can refer back to it throughout the year. We update these dates as councils confirm any changes.
Holiday-by-Holiday Activity Planner
February Half Term
February half term is short, cold, and often wet. The trick is to lean into indoor activities rather than fight the weather. One full week might not sound like much, but if you are working from home with children bouncing off the walls, it can feel like a lifetime.
Best bets for February:
- Indoor soft play sessions at Bubbles World of Play are an absolute godsend when it is grey and drizzling outside
- Museums and galleries across Liverpool, many of which are free
- Local library events and craft workshops
- Swimming sessions at council leisure centres
- Home-based craft projects and baking days
For our full breakdown of half term ideas, head over to our February Half Term Activities Guide.
Easter Holidays
Easter is often the first holiday where you get a proper stretch of time off: two full weeks to fill. The weather can be glorious or absolutely dismal, so a blend of indoor and outdoor plans is essential.
Best bets for Easter:
- Egg hunts at local parks and National Trust properties across Wirral
- Spring walks along the Wirral Way or through Eastham Country Park
- Beach days at West Kirby, New Brighton, or Formby (wrap up warm, mind)
- Bubbles World of Play for guaranteed fun whatever the forecast
- Easter craft activities at home or at local community centres
Two weeks is a long stretch, so pace yourself. Mix bigger days out with quieter days at home to avoid burnout for both you and the children. Our detailed Easter Holidays Activity Guide has a week-by-week planner to help.
May Half Term
May half term is a treat. Just one week, usually blessed with decent weather, and everyone is in high spirits after the long slog from Easter to summer. This is the week to make the most of the outdoors.
Best bets for May:
- Picnics at Birkenhead Park, Sefton Park, or Calderstones Park
- Cycling along the Wirral Way or around Thurstaston Common
- Coastal walks and rock pooling at Hilbre Island (check tide times!)
- A day out in Chester exploring the Roman walls and the zoo
- Soft play at Bubbles when the inevitable rainy day strikes
Get the full rundown in our May Half Term Guide.
Summer Holidays
Six weeks. The big one. The marathon of school holidays that requires serious strategic planning. Summer holidays in Wirral and Merseyside are brilliant if you break them down into manageable chunks rather than staring down the barrel of 42 consecutive days.
Best bets for summer:
- Beach days at New Brighton, West Kirby, Crosby, and Formby
- Liverpool waterfront attractions including the Museum of Liverpool and Tate Liverpool
- Day trips to Southport, Chester, or the North Wales coast
- Holiday clubs and sports camps for older children
- Regular Bubbles World of Play visits to break up the weeks
- Free outdoor festivals and events across Merseyside
- Paddling pools and splash parks when the sun cooperates
The key to surviving summer is rhythm. Aim for two or three bigger outings per week, fill the gaps with garden time and playdates, and do not feel guilty about the odd screen-time afternoon. Everyone needs a breather. Our Summer Holidays Guide goes into much more detail.
October Half Term
October half term has a wonderful atmosphere. The leaves are turning, Halloween is approaching, and there is something cosy about wrapping up for autumn adventures. At just one week, it is manageable but still needs a plan.
Best bets for October:
- Halloween events and pumpkin patches across Wirral and Cheshire
- Autumn nature walks through Royden Park or Dibbinsdale
- Indoor play at Bubbles World of Play when the dark evenings close in early
- Baking and Halloween craft sessions at home
- Fireworks night preparations and bonfire events (early November ones often start selling tickets now)
Check out our complete October Half Term Guide for the full list.
Christmas Holidays
Christmas holidays are unique because so much of the time is taken up with family gatherings, Christmas Day itself, and the strange limbo between Boxing Day and New Year. But there are still plenty of days to fill, particularly for children who are buzzing with festive energy.
Best bets for Christmas:
- Christmas markets in Liverpool and Chester
- Pantomime season at theatres across Merseyside
- Winter walks along the promenade at New Brighton or Otterspool
- Bubbles World of Play for burning off selection-box energy
- Ice skating and festive attractions
- Quiet days at home with new Christmas toys and books
Our Christmas Activities Guide covers everything from grotto visits to New Yearโs Eve plans for families.
Age-Appropriate Activity Ideas
Not every activity suits every child, and dragging a toddler round a museum designed for older children is nobodyโs idea of a good time. Here is a breakdown by age group to help you plan smarter.
Babies (0-12 Months)
School holidays with a baby are less about entertaining them and more about keeping yourself sane while older siblings are off school. Look for:
- Sensory play sessions at local childrenโs centres
- Baby-friendly soft play at Bubbles World of Play, where dedicated baby areas keep little ones safe
- Buggy-friendly walks along the Wirral Way, through parks, or along the prom
- Baby swimming classes at local pools
- Story time sessions at your nearest library
Toddlers (1-4 Years)
Toddlers need to move, explore, and burn energy. Containment is key, preferably somewhere they cannot escape into a car park.
- Soft play is genuinely the perfect toddler activity. The dedicated toddler zones at Bubbles let them climb, slide, and tumble in a safe environment
- Sandpit and water play at beaches or parks on dry days
- Feeding the ducks at Birkenhead Park or Sefton Park (use proper duck food, not bread)
- Toddler groups that run during holidays at community centres
- Farm visits where they can see and touch animals
Children Aged 5-8
This is the sweet spot where children are old enough to really enjoy days out but still young enough to find everything exciting.
- Soft play adventures at Bubbles World of Play with friends
- Museum trips to the World Museum or Museum of Liverpool
- Cycling with stabilisers along flat, safe routes
- Nature trails and scavenger hunts in local woodlands
- Swimming at local leisure centres
- Art and craft workshops run by local organisations during holidays
- Mini golf and other family-friendly attractions
Older Children (9-11)
Keeping older primary school children entertained can be trickier. They want independence but still need supervision, and โthatโs boringโ becomes a frequent refrain.
- Active play at Bubbles World of Play where the larger climbing structures and slides really come into their own
- Watersports at West Kirby Marine Lake
- Bike rides along more adventurous trails
- Holiday sports clubs and camps
- Cinema trips for new releases during holiday periods
- Bowling, laser tag, and other group activities with friends
- Day trips to Chester, Southport, or Liverpool for a change of scenery
Rainy Day Survival Strategies
Letโs be honest: we live in Merseyside. Rain is not an occasional inconvenience; it is a lifestyle. Having a reliable roster of indoor activities is not optional, it is essential.
Your rainy day essentials:
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Bubbles World of Play - Book tickets for all-day indoor play that keeps children active and happy regardless of the weather. With areas for every age group, it is the single most reliable rainy day option in the area.
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Museums and galleries - Liverpool is blessed with world-class, free museums. The World Museum, Museum of Liverpool, Tate Liverpool, and the Maritime Museum can easily fill a full day.
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Libraries - Wirral and Liverpool libraries run fantastic holiday programmes with storytelling, craft sessions, and reading challenges. All free.
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Cinema - Holiday film releases are timed perfectly for desperate parents. Matinee screenings are often cheaper.
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Home days - Do not underestimate the power of a well-stocked craft box, a baking session, or a den-building afternoon. Not every day needs to be an outing.
Budget-Friendly Holiday Ideas
School holidays can be expensive, especially the six-week summer stretch. Here are ways to keep costs manageable without sacrificing fun:
- Free outdoor spaces - Wirral and Merseyside have incredible parks, beaches, and woodland walks that cost nothing
- Library events - Almost always free and genuinely entertaining
- Packed lunches - Eating out adds up faster than anything else. Pack sandwiches and snacks for days out
- Look for offers - Many attractions, including Bubbles World of Play, run school holiday promotions. Follow us on social media to catch them
- Alternate big and small days - You do not need a major outing every day. A morning at the park followed by an afternoon at home is a perfectly good day
- Playdates - Free, sociable, and they entertain each other. Rotate hosting duties with other parents
Planning Your Perfect Holiday
The families who enjoy school holidays most are usually the ones who plan just enough without over-scheduling. Here is a simple framework:
- Check the dates using the term date information above
- Block out any fixed commitments like family visits or holiday clubs
- Plan two to three bigger outings per week and leave the rest flexible
- Always have a rainy day backup (hint: Bubbles World of Play works every single time)
- Involve the children in choosing activities so they feel ownership over the plans
- Build in downtime because overstimulated, overtired children are nobodyโs friend
Ready to Start Planning?
Whatever the season, whatever the weather, and whatever age your children are, Wirral and Merseyside have more than enough to keep families busy throughout every school holiday. The trick is knowing what is available and having a plan, even a loose one.
For guaranteed indoor fun that works in every holiday, every weather condition, and for every age group, Bubbles World of Play is always here. With dedicated zones for babies, toddlers, and older children, comfortable seating for parents, and a cafe to keep everyone fed, it is the one venue you will find yourself returning to again and again.
Book your tickets now and get one holiday outing sorted before you have even finished your cup of tea. You can also explore our birthday party packages if you are planning a celebration during the holidays.
We will keep updating this guide as new events and activities are announced throughout the year, so bookmark this page and check back before each holiday. Happy planning!