Around Liverpool Accommodation

Knowsley Safari Park Kirkby Huyton Knowsley Hall Festival Liverpool UK

Knowsley Safari Park & Knowsley Hall

Situated just 8 miles from Liverpool city centre, Knowsley Safari Park is part of the Stanley Estate and opened in 1971. The park has proved to be one of Merseyside's top leisure attractions. Conservation programmes are extensive here and endangered species are constantly added. The welfare of animals at Knowsley is paramount, and animals live in as close to their near natural environment as possible. The park contains one of the largest Pere David's deer herd in the UK and the on-site education centre and safai school offer children a comprehensive interactive education on the natural world and the fragility of the planet's ecosystems.

A huge range of animals are within the park including bison, baboons, buffalo, camels, African elephants, tigers, lions, white rhino and smaller animals such as otters. The Californian sea lions are a particular favourite. An extensive choice of family attractions are on-site including amusement rides, bug and bee house, restaurant and safari shop, a woodland walk and Mizzy Lake Farm especially popular with younger children.

Knowsley Safari Park, Prescot, Merseyside, L34 4AN. Tel. 0151 430 9009. Summer Opening Times 1st March to 31st Oct. 10.00am with Last entry to Safari Drive 4.00pm. Winter Opening Times are 1st November to 28th February 10.30am with Last entry to Safari Drive 3.00pm.

The historic seat of the Stanley Family, Knowsley Hall, sits within 2500 acres of parkland designed by Lancelot Brown (1716-1783), better known as 'Capability Brown', widely regarded as England's greatest gardener. His influence on English Landscaping is well known, with other gardens to his name including Harewood House near Leeds, Blenheim Palace and Warwick Castle. The Hall's historic state rooms are now popular for corporate, wedding and private function events. Knowsley Hall & Estate, Prescot, Merseyside L34 4AG. Tel. 0151 489 4827.

Huyton & Kirkby Art Galleries & Attractions

Both the Huyton & Kirkby Contemporary Art Galleries in the Knowsley area are well worth a visit. Both host around six to eight outstanding contemporary visual arts changing exhibitions annually.

Huyton Gallery, Huyton Library, Civic Way, Huyton, Merseyside, L36 9GD. Open from Mon to Fri 9.15am - 7pm, Sat 10am - 4pm, Sun 12pm - 4pm.

Kirkby Gallery, Kirkby Library, Newtown Gardens, Kirkby, Merseyside, L32 8RR. Open Mon & Fri 9.15am - 5pm, Tues and Thurs 9.15am - 7pm, Sat 10am - 4pm & Sun 11am -4pm.

One of the great things about the city of Liverpool is the host of family attractions situated just a few miles outside of the centre and easily reached via train or bus. As well as the ever popular safari park in Knowsley, Acorn Farm in the Kirkby area is a top family farm park attraction with on-site woodland walk, shop and cafe, play area and horse rides. Activities also include the Small Animal Petting Pavilion and kids get lots of opportunity to stroke and feed animals. Open from 10am to 4pm, 7 days a week. Checkout Acorn Farm's webguide right for details. Acorn Farm, Depot Road, Kirkby, Knowsley, L33 3AR. Tel. 0151 548 1524.

National Wildflower Centre

Set within the 35 acre Victorian Court Hey Park, the National Wildflower Centre is just a couple of minutes off the M62 motorway and 5 miles from Liverpool city centre.

A unique fun family venue, the wildflower centre offers an opportunity, particularly for children, to discover just how important wildflowers are to our environment. Historic Court Hey Park, once part of the gardens connected to the Gladstone family, provides the perfect home for this award winning centre. On-site garden attractions include the walled garden which is now home to the demonstration area and wildflower nursery containing around 60 species of plants.

Three wildlife ponds are also on-site, plus a conference venue and comprehensive events programme. Younger tots will love the play area with plenty of space to burn off steam. Indoor activities run in the centre's craft and exhibition barn and story bags can be borrowed to read during your visit. The centre sells plants and seeds both on-line and via the on-site shop. The Cornflower Cafe offers welcome refreshment, meals and snacks.

National Wildflower Centre, Court Hey Park, Roby Road L16 3NA. Tel. 0151 738 1913. The centre is a mere 20 minutes walk from Broad Green Station. Checkout the webguide link right for direction details.

Prescot Museum

Prescot in the Knowsley area has a fascinating history relating to the clock and watch making industry. The Prescot Museum based in a Georgian townhouse which once played host to the local cockerel fighting pit is where to head to find out more about the watch making heritage of the area.

Prescot Museum, 34 Church Street, Prescot, L34 3LA. Tel. 0151 430 7787.

Halton, Runcorn & Widnes Attractions

Catalyst Science Discovery Centre, Gossage Building, Mersey Road, Widnes WA8 0DF Tel. 0151 420 1121.

Brindly Theatre & Arts Centre, High Street, Runcorn, Cheshire. WA7 1BG. Tel. 0151 907 8360.

Norton Priory Museum & Gardens, Tudor Road, Manor Park, Runcorn, Cheshire WA7 1SX. Tel. 01928 569895.

Sefton Park Palm House

More Victorian gems are around Liverpool city centre, and one of the most spectacular open to the public is the Palm House in Sefton Park. The park sits just south of Liverpool Centre off the A561 Aigburth Road.

This vast Victorian glasshouse was first opened in 1896 courtesy of a gift from local Liverpool millionaire Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928). Heir to a banking fortune and with Liberal politics, Thompson bequethed numerous bursaries to the city. Extensively renovated in recent times, the spectacular Victorian glasshouse at Sefton Park makes for a superb family day out. Around the glasshouse stand several fascinating statues of explorers such as Cook, Portuguese Henry the Navigator, Christopher Columbus, Charles Darwin and popular later additions such as the Peter Pan statue now fully restored and back in position in the park.

Inside the glasshouse has been returned to its original splendour with a stunning array of palms and feature plants from around the world. With an educational slant (special events and talks run throughout the year), highlights include the Banana Plants, the only palm native to Europe - the Chamaerops humils, citrus and other fruits and a beautiful selection of Bougainvilleas. Stanley Park north of Liverpool city centre also has a feature Victorian glasshouse. See details via the Liverpool Park's webguide right.

Sefton Park Palm House, Preservation Trust, Sefton Park, Liverpool L17 1AP. Tel.0151 726 9304. Open Summer, from April to October 10.30am to 5pm. Winter from November to March 10.30am to 4pm. The Palm House can be privately hired for events, weddings and so forth. See the website link right for details. Occasional closures due to private events are posted via the website.

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