National Museums Liverpool has a fun-filled summer of events and activities for the whole family to enjoy across the city’s eight venues.
From July 18 to 27, the Festival of Archaeology, a series of special events and activities exploring Liverpool’s regional archaeology collection, will bring history to life at the Museum of Liverpool.
Families can explore the work of the museum’s Archaeology team, their recent digs and take part in a range of interactive workshops, craft activities and even get to meet Vikings.
Over at the Albert Dock, the Merseyside Maritime Museum offers families the chance to uncover objects from the Titanic, find out about life at sea and learn about the port of Liverpool.
For any child who has wondered if a swashbuckling life is all it’s cracked up to be, the Maritime is holding pirate-themed events (August 3 and 16), where children can create their own fearsome pirate masks, treasure chests or parrots in craft events.
Visitors can enter the world of the Customs Officer – a dark and unseen place of smuggling, intrigue and danger, where things are not always what they seem in Seized! Border and Customs uncovered.
Families can learn all about smuggling by trying their hands at being a Customs Officer in rummage events (July 24 and August 14, 21 and 27 ).
There are also opportunities to hear tales of travelling, adventures and smuggling in storytelling sessions (July 28 and August 13), and meet the UK Border Force dog team from Manchester Airport in a Sniffer Dog demonstration (August 4, 11, 18 and 26 August).
Upstairs in the Merseyside Maritime Museum is the International Slavery Museum, where the Afro Supa Hero exhibition includes the chance to make your own badges, mini heroes and comic books (July 2, 3, 9, 10, 21, 22 and 30 and August 2, 3, 4, 5, 14, 15 and 29)
Five floors of intrigue and excitement at World Museum help visitors to explore the whole world with the Eye for Colour exhibition returning for its 10th anniversary.
The must-see visual feast event is packed with hands-on exhibits and interactive displays, exploring the endless ways in which colour shapes our world.
Visitors can also join in with batastic creative crafts to celebrate International Bat Night (August 27 and 28) and have a go at making finger puppets, bat masks and origami pet bats.
Brand new planetarium shows are also taking place every day in the school holidays. Just buy tickets from the Info Desk to take a space journey that’s out of this world.
Home to Renaissance masterpieces, Tudor portraits and one of the best collections of Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite art in the country, the Walker Art Gallery also has Big Art for Little Artists, a dedicated space for children.
Stocked with costumes, stories, trails and games, families can explore the world-class collection in a fun way.
Every Monday in August, a member of the Walker’s Education team will help budding artists create their own wonderful piece of artwork to take home with you.
Outside of the city centre are two more wonderful art galleries. Both situated in picturesque surroundings, the Lady Lever Art Gallery and Sudley House are not to be missed and a perfect escape from the summer crowds.
For more information and a full list of events at National Museums Liverpool: www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/summer