Merseyside is a historic and culturally rich metropolitan county in North West England with vibrant urban centres, iconic maritime and musical heritage, and strong transport links.
Basingwerk Abbey is a Grade I listed ruined Cistercian abbey founded in the 12th century located near Holywell, Flintshire, Wales. Visitors can explore extensive medieval ruins set within Greenfield Valley Heritage Park, managed by Cadw. The site showcases historic religious architecture and marks the start of the North Wales Pilgrims Way.
WWT Martin Mere is a large wetland nature reserve in Lancashire managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, renowned for birdwatching with observation hides and hosting many rare species. It provides significant habitat for wildfowl and migratory birds, especially in winter, and supports important biodiversity.
Formby is a coastal town in Merseyside known for its sandy beaches, extensive sand dunes, and a National Trust reserve protecting endangered red squirrels. It offers outdoor wildlife experiences, walking trails, and is popular with day trippers. The town also features historic links golf courses and nearby natural reserves.
Southport is a historic seaside town in Merseyside, England, known for its Victorian architecture, extensive sandy beaches, Victorian shopping streets, and as a center for leisure with events such as air shows and flower festivals.
Rufford Old Hall is a Grade I listed Tudor and Jacobean hall house in Lancashire featuring richly decorated interiors, a notable sixteenth-century carved wooden screen, extensive Victorian gardens with topiary squirrels, and historical collections of arms and rural memorabilia. The site offers both indoor historical architecture and outdoor garden experiences.
1 Jan–31 Dec (another 83 days)
Rufford Old Hall in Lancashire offers a programme of scheduled talks, demonstrations, exhibitions, and drop-in activities throughout 2026. Events include daily house tours and talks, garden talks, a monthly dementia friendly café, music performances, traditional yarn spinning demonstrations, sports and games during summer, fencing drop-in sessions, a Victorian play exhibition, a woodturners market, and a scarecrow festival in autumn. Admission to events is free with normal venue admission charges applying.
Speke Hall is a Grade I listed Tudor manor house in Liverpool, renowned for its historic timber-framed architecture, ancient yew trees, and scenic views over the Mersey estuary. Owned by the National Trust, it offers visitors both indoor exploration of historic rooms and outdoor gardens with walking paths.
12 Oct–8 Nov (next week)
Visitors follow an outdoor trail around the grounds of Speke Hall, completing five activities to discover a magic word and reunite the Sorceress of Speke with her lost animal familiars.