National Libraries Week culminates in a dizzy weekend of non-stop activity, from Shouting Not Shushing – a hectic, interactive Living Library exhibition in London, with large numbers of authors dropping in – to a gala children’s day at Gateshead. The savoury dishes here are all served with imaginative salads that sometimes use fresh herbs from the owner’s garden. There are also filled rolls, baguettes and ciabatta from pounds 2.25. The likes of lemon cake (pounds 1.25) and chocolate almond cake (pounds 1.30) come from local bakeries. Facilities for children include a high-chair and changing area in the Ladies.
Open 10am- 5.30pm.From the Egon Ronay guide `And Children Come Too’ (Bookman, pounds 9.99). Joint aquarium and cruise tickets also available.Pit stopWhen you’ve finished cruising on the Mersey, take at look at the river from the Tate Gallery at Albert Dock – and head for the coffee shop (0151 709 0122) even if you don’t have time to do the exhibitions justice. Pirate’s Paradise play area, child pounds 1.Other attractions: Seacombe aquarium, adult pounds 1.45, child (3-15) 80p, family pounds 4. I saw a fisherman catch an old boot and a crab but no fish, but he didn’t look disappointed.The dealLocation: Mersey Ferries (0151 630 1030) can be joined at the Pier Head, Liverpool; Seacombe Terminal, Wallasey; or Woodside Terminal, Birkenhead.Opening times: Cruises sail hourly, seven days a week, all the year around, beginning at 10am, but it is best to check sailing times before departing.Price: 50-minute Heritage cruise, adult return pounds 3.20, child (5-15 years) return pounds 1.65, family (two adults and up to three children) pounds 8.25, concessions pounds 2.25. I’d love to go again, especially with my friends.Sam: There’s lots to see from the top deck of the ferry, but it’s quite blowy. We saw the captain’s room but not the captain, and we saw the Isle of Man boat The water looked quite inviting.
The Pirate’s Paradise play area which we visited at Seacombe before going on the boat was good fun There were lots of ropes to climb and a bouncy castle. My favourite bit was the customs office in Liverpool: it’s a lovely blue-and-cream building like a castle. There were lots of birds to look at, too – one of them landed on the boat.We spent a lot of time exploring the boat and we got something to eat at the lunch bar. I’d really recommend that visitors go to the tramsheds at Birkenhead.Craig: It was really, really good on the ferry. The boys loved rushing round the boat and watching the seagulls; they were very interested in the docks, too.
