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Gardens & Arboretums in Liverpool

Only two proper gardens on this list, but they cover very different days out. Speke Hall sits on the Mersey with grounds from about £6.50 for kids, a maze, woodland play and a Tudor hall to poke round afterwards, plus toilets, parking and a cafe if the picnic plan falls through. It's the one to choose if you're in Liverpool itself and want to keep the drive short. Dunham Massey is a longer trip out to Altrincham, but it's worth it for the deer park alone. Tickets start from £11, and there's space to roam properly, picnic tables, a cafe and dog walking if that's part of the plan. Speke Hall suits a shorter visit with younger children thanks to the maze and woodland play; Dunham Massey is the one to save for when you want a full outdoor half-day with more ground to cover.

✓ 3 places✦ From £1