Lister Steps at The Old Library
WHERE
Liverpool
What it’s like
A heritage library turned café and play spot, with a helter skelter slide, story sessions and party rooms.
There's a helter skelter slide indoors, which is not what you expect to find in a library, and it's the sort of detail that makes this worth a mention to your kids before you even arrive. Story Box runs on Wednesday mornings, 10am to 12pm, and Growing Minds sessions happen fortnightly on a Thursday afternoon, so if you time a visit around one of those you get a proper structured bit alongside the free play.
The café is the other half of the day. Crosby Coffee, sandwiches, hot food and a weekly special cake, all served in the heritage space with bookshelves around you and terrace access if the weather's playing along. It only runs Monday to Friday, 10am to 1.30pm, with food orders cut off at 1pm and drinks at 1.30pm, so this isn't a place for a lazy afternoon visit, more a late morning one.
Parking is free on the roadside, which takes the edge off, and the building is wheelchair accessible with free WiFi if you need to get some work done while the kids explore the outdoor play space. Birthday parties get their own rooms with exclusive use, indoor and outdoor space, that same helter skelter slide, and in-house catering organised through a dedicated Events Manager, which is a fair bit more sorted than the average soft play party.
Facilities
Need to know
- Last entry
- 1:00pm (food orders), 1:30pm (drinks)
- Parking
- Free roadside parking
- Food
- Café serving Crosby Coffee, weekly special cakes, sandwiches, and hot food
- The café only runs weekday mornings, so a weekend visit means no food or drink on site.
- Story Box is a set Wednesday morning slot, not a drop-in any time.
- Growing Minds sessions are fortnightly on Thursdays, so check which week it falls on.
- There's a terrace for fine days if you fancy getting outside with a coffee.
Plan your visit
What time is the café open?
Monday to Friday, 10am to 1.30pm. Last food orders are at 1pm and last drinks at 1.30pm, so it's a morning visit rather than an afternoon one.
What can kids actually do there?
There's a helter skelter slide, story sessions called Story Box on Wednesday mornings, and fortnightly Growing Minds sessions on Thursday afternoons.
Is there parking nearby?
Free roadside parking.
Can you book a birthday party there?
Yes, with exclusive use of party rooms, indoor and outdoor activity space, the helter skelter slide, and in-house catering arranged through their Events Manager.
Is it accessible with a wheelchair or buggy?
The building is wheelchair accessible.
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