It can be a nightmare planning a family day out, making sure all the kids are dressed appropriately and have been to the toilet before getting everyone safely in the car.
It can be even more difficult if your child has special needs, learning difficulties or autism - but this doesn't mean you should feel isolated or uncomfortable about venturing out.
There are plenty of places all over Liverpool and Merseyside which are autism-friendly and offer special stripped-back events and activities to help and support children with autism.
Whether it’s adjusting lighting and volume, creating a more welcoming environment or opening the venue a little earlier for a more relaxing atmosphere, you'll be able to find somewhere to cater for you.
Many venues have also signed up to an autism charter - an initiative run by the Wirral-based charity Autism Together - which provides training for staff.
These companies may also run autism-friendly sessions, activities or evenings. So with a little help, we've rounded up a list of places in Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, St Helens and Knowsley.
National Museums Liverpool
Museums are a great place to learn and discover new things and all of Liverpool's museums - Museum of Liverpool, World Museum, Merseyside Maritime Museum, International Slavery Museum including the Lady Lever and Walker Art Galleries and Sudley House - are autism friendly.
National Museums Liverpool run a series of relaxed sessions, which are usually once a month, with family-friendly events, activities and workshops.
Most of these are free and the kids can get involved in fun hands-on crafts in less crowded spaces.
Quieter times for a visit include 2.30pm to 5pm on weekdays during school term times because the venues become quieter after school groups have left and 10am to 12pm on Sunday mornings.
Tate Liverpool
Tate Liverpool is also autism-friendly and you can even borrow ear defenders from the reception desk for your little ones.
Entry to Tate Liverpool at the Albert Dock is free for everyone with a charge for special exhibitions although under 12s get into exhibitions for free.
The Clore Learning Centre is a free space designed for families and there are many different activities to explore. Sometimes it is light, sometimes it is dark but it is an ideal place to sit down and relax.
You can also pick up a free rocket backpack for the kids to use during their visit full of a number of arty activities and materials to touch.
The gallery is open daily from 10am to 5pm and can sometimes be noisy with school visits and visitor talks but you can ask staff at any time to direct you to a quieter area.
Find an accessible guide to the Tate here.
Picturehouse at FACT cinema
FACT on Wood Street, Liverpool often screen autism-friendly films which have been adapted to reduce anxiety and over-stimulation with no trailers or advertisements before the film.
The lights are also left on low throughout the film, which has reduced volume and cinema-goers are free to move around, make noise and sit where they like.
You can also take a break or leave the screen whenever you need to and staff are very sensitive to the needs of children and families with autism.
Tickets cost £2.50 each and screenings are there are at least one screening a week. Click here to find out when the next one is and tap 'Coming Soon'.
Other cinemas
Vue, Ocean Plaza, Southport and Vue IMAX Cheshire Oaks has autism-friendly screenings at 10am on the last Sunday of every month.
Odeon Bromborough in Wirral, Odeon Switch Island in Bootle, Odeon IMAX Cinema, Liverpool ONE and Odeon Warrington host autism-friendly viewings keeping the volume lower, having no trailers and more movement around the cinema.
The Light Cinema in New Brighton and Cineworld St Helens and Runcorn also have autism-friendly screenings too.
Play centres
There are lots of including soft play and indoor adventure playgrounds around Liverpool which offer autism or disability friendly sessions.
Funtown in Garston, south Liverpool, offers disability sessions on the second Tuesday of every month from 6pm to 8pm and they also have a sensory room.
Yellow Sub in Brunswick also offers a disability session on the second Tuesday of the month from 6.15pm to 8pm for children aged 12 and under with autism or disabilities.
Kidz Fantasy Land in Wavertree usually has its disability session on the last Monday of the month from 6pm to 8pm.
Jungle Fun at Belle Vale Shopping Centre hosts their disability sessions for children with learning difficulties or autism on the third Tuesday of the month from 4.30pm to 6.30pm for £6 each.
Area 51 Laser Quest also at Belle Vale Shopping Centre and Nerf Centre Liverpool on Vauxhall Road in Liverpool are also autism friendly.
Trampoline parks
Air Unlimited on Compass East, Speke run relaxed autism friendly sessions every Monday between 6pm to 8pm.
During the relaxed session, kids can bounce for up to two hours for £6.50 and parents and carers can go along for free.
There's something for all skill levels and ages, including autism-friendly sessions too at Jump Warehouse on Slaidburn Crescent in Southport every Monday 5pm to 6pm for £5.
Mattel Play Liverpool
The £1.5m family entertainment centre on the Albert Dock in Liverpool has also signed up to the city's autism charter.
The indoor play venue is autism-friendly and offers special autism sessions on the last Wednesday of each month between 4.30pm to 6.30pm and are half price for playing customers at £7 with two carers free of charge. Additional carer places can then be purchased at our standard adult rate of £3.
Families are advised to book where capacity is limited to ensure a calm and relaxed experience for all guests - select the autism option from the drop down menu and then select your visit date and ticket types.
Certain aspects of the attraction, such as loud music and character appearances, will be available for customisation to ensure everyone has a comfortable time.
If you want to come another time, the centre advises coming along at 9.20am any day of the week for a quieter and more relaxed experience.
Central Library
Central Library on William Brown Street in Liverpool is autism friendly.
The library is a calm and welcoming space so it can be a safe environment for people with autism.
At Central Library, there are plenty of quiet places to relax in and there is a brilliant children's section in a huge circular space in the former lecture hall under the Picton Library, with ramps for buggies and big comfy seats for snuggling up with your little ones and a good book.
Lifestyles Fitness Centres
All Lifestyles Fitness Centres in Liverpool are autism friendly after becoming autism champions for the city.
The 14 centres have staff trained in autism awareness including how to recognise the signs that someone may have autism and the different ways people with autism can choose to communicate.
The centres also hold autism swimming sessions.
The Ice Cream Farm
If your kids love to enjoy a scoop or two of ice cream then they will enjoy a visit to The Ice Cream Farm on Newton Lane in Cheshire.
The farm is suitable for children of all ages and serves up more than 40 different flavours of ice cream, along with a range of activities for families.
Families can enjoy Honeycomb Canyon, Europe’s largest indoor sand and water play, adventure golf course Strawberry Falls, go kart track Silvercone and Fun Factory indoor soft play.
The farm runs autism-friendly sessions on the first Saturday of every month, in the evening from 5pm to 7pm.
Splash World
Splash World on the Esplanade in Southport has flumes and river rides to excite the kids as well as toddler pool and water play area which includes fountains and tipping buckets.
There are village-style changing areas to help accommodate all family sizes plus additional changing rooms with shower facilities for families too.
Splash World also runs inclusive quiet night sessions from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and have been developed for children and young people with disabilities, their families, carers and friends. They run at least twice a month and costs £6.50 plus one free carer. Find the latest dates here.
Chester Zoo
hosted its first autism-friendly event in the summer and it too has signed up to Autism Together's charter and trained more than 240 members of staff to become autism champions.
Many of the team have been trained to make them more aware about the challenges that might face people on the autistic spectrum during their visit to the zoo.
If you have a family member with autism who prefers less crowded places, you can visit the zoo during quieter times outside of school holidays, on weekdays or during the off peak season and carers go free.
If queuing is an issue or you need to use the accessible facilities then just ask a member of staff.
If you would like to visit as a group for a tailor made visit that will suit your needs then you can call the Groups team on 0870 720 1507 or the Learning team on 01244 650205.
Theatres
The Liverpool Empire on Lime Street is an autism-friendly theatre and even has a visual guide to prepare people with autism before they visit.
They also offer relaxed performances for people with learning or sensory disabilities, providing the exact same production as a typical audience would enjoy, with an atmosphere and attitude in the auditorium that makes everyone feel safe and comfortable.
At the Everyman Theatre on Hope Street, you can also enjoy relaxed performances for people with conditions such as autism, dementia, learning disabilities, mental health concerns, those who may make involuntary noises or anyone who could benefit from a more informal, relaxed environment.
The lights are slightly dimmed, the sound is softened, you are free to move around the auditorium and make noise plus there is a chill out area in the front of house for quiet time.
Shopping
St John's Shopping Centre and Market in Liverpool city centre has signed up to the autism charter with staff having had autism awareness training.
They wear official badges to identify themselves to people with autism or families with autistic children so they can be on hand if assistance is required. Some stores also have autism-friendly hours held at less busy times with dimmed lighting and sound.
Liverpool ONE has also signed up to the city's autism charter with more than 50 team members receiving training to help them understand how people with autism might see the world differently and the challenges they face when shopping.
Cheshire Oaks has also partnered with Autism Together and hold autism shopping evenings at least once a month. The evenings are designed to help people with autism feel more accepted and comfortable when accessing the shops on the centre.
The shops dim the lights, turn down the volume of background music and tannoy announcements are only made when necessary for health and safety.
Clarks at New Mersey Retail Park in Speke are also autism champions and offer out of hours appointments on a Sunday morning for autism-friendly shoe fittings.
The store opens at 10.30am, however appointments can be made from 9.30am before the store opens, to ensure a more relaxed and quiet atmosphere. To make an appointment, you are advised to ring earlier in the week - you can call 0151 427 6951 to book.
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