Family Fun in New Brighton
New Brighton has everything you need for the perfect family day out. From searching for fairies in Vale Park to playtime in Bubbles, conquering its famous Black Pearl ship or trying your luck at Adventure Golf, there’s something to suit all tastes and needs.
Grab a Merseyrail Family Ticket – covering up to a family of five for just £13 – and head to New Brighton where your adventure awaits.
Explore the history of New Brighton
New Brighton was once a hot spot for smuggling and pirate hide outs, and there are still plenty of activities that hark back to its seafaring legacy. On the Magazine Promenade, you’ll stumble across the ginormous Black Pearl pirate ship. Made by hardworking local volunteers from driftwood washed up from the Mersey, the ship is full of skulls and crossbones, nooks and crannies and plenty of places to hide treasure! Offering stunning views of the mighty Mersey and Liverpool skyline, it’s the perfect place for all ages to clamber aboard and let their imaginations run as wild as the seven seas. The same group of volunteers who built the Black Pearl have also transformed the nearby Vale Park into a fairy glen, chockfull of magical sculptures that little ones will love to explore.
Real pirates and smugglers used to gather in New Brighton, and Wallasey’s infamous Mother Red Cap would mind their money and treasure while they were at sea – but when she died, no one could find the thousands of pounds of treasure she left behind. Intrigued? Take explorers of all ages along to find out more about the mystery of Mother Red Cap’s treasure, the smugglers of New Brighton, haunted pubs and shipwrecks on the Gunpowder, Smugglers and Wreckers of Wallasey Tour. Family friendly and suitable for wheelchair users, you’re guaranteed to find out something you never knew about New Brighton (we can’t guarantee finding any treasure though!)
Get active
If you’ve got a sports fanatic in your midst or need to burn off some steam then there’s plenty to keep you satisfied too. The promenade is perfect for cycling and rollerblading, while at the Marine Point Retail and Leisure Park – just a stone’s throw from New Brighton railway station – you can try your hand at a wide range of water sports on the marine lake. If you don't have a bike but fancy a ride along the sea wall, simply hire a Bike & Go at New Brighton station. You can even have a go at Footgolf, a hybrid, fun-for-all-the-family game played on a golf course where the aim of the game is to get the ball into the hole in the fewest moves possible. The only catch is that you’re only allowed to use your feet – no clubs allowed! For more fun-filled (and club-inclusive) action, you can also head to Champion Adventure Golf. The UK’s crème de la crème of miniature golf, it’s bound to keep you entertained for hours as you navigate tunnels, jumps, twists and turns and even water hazards. But don’t worry – there are nets to fish out rogue golf balls for those who aren’t quite up to scratch!
Burn off the kids' energy
For the younger set, Marine Point is also home to Bubbles’ World of Play– the UK’s largest and most innovative indoor play area. Suitable for children aged up to 11, explorers are encouraged to dive into over 30 different zones themed around different countries and cultures. From the Northern Lights to the Taj Mahal, Sydney Harbour Bridge and much more, there’s heaps of fun to be had (and things to be learned) along the way. Just down the road, you can also take toddlers to young teens along to Adventureland, where there’s something to keep everyone happy – from ball ponds and mazes to giant bouncy castles, trampolines, basketball and climbing walls. You’ll also find a spacious soft play area for toddlers and even a disco room for the dancers in your party.
Relax and be entertained
If you’re more about sitting down and taking in some top quality entertainment, Marine Point also boasts The Light cinema where you can catch the latest family blockbusters in luxurious comfort, while a few steps down the promenade you’ll find one of the jewels in New Brighton’s crown – The Floral Pavilion. It might not be panto season yet but there’s still tonnes of great shows on offer for kids – from riotous children’s TV legends Dick and Dom through to the critically acclaimed The Tiger Who Came To Tea, with its oodles of clumsy chaos, sing-a-long opportunities and magic moments.
Grab a bite to eat
We’re sure that after all this exploring and fun and games, you’ll have worked up an appetite. The perfect seaside bite to eat? It’s got to be fish and chips and an ice cream to round it all off with. Head to Mediterranean Sea Fish and Chip Shop for freshly battered scrumptious white fish and lovely piping hot chippy chips – we can’t promise the temperatures in New Brighton will match the Med but taste-wise, there’s nothing better than this. On the way back to the train station, make sure to pop into Caffe Cream at Marine Point. The award-winning ice cream parlour has more flavours than you can shake a stick at and lovely views of the marine lake, especially at sunset. We can’t think of a better way to end your whirlwind day in New Brighton.
Travel to New Brighton with Merseyrail
New Brighton's Marine Point is just 7 minutes' walk from New Brighton train station and you can get a train to New Brighton from any Wirral or Liverpool city centre station. Simply add New Brighton to your planner to get a door to door journey plan!
Remember, a family of up to 5 get unlimited off-peak (any time except 06.31 - 09.29 Monday to Friday) travel with a Merseyrail Family Ticket. That means a family can travel to New Brighton from Southport or Chester and back, and anywhere in between, for just £13.
