A firm Liverpool family favourite is back for Christmas with the return of Blacker’s Giant Santa at the Museum of Liverpool from 7 November.

Giant Santa, who towered over shoppers in Blackler’s department store each winter from 1957 until 1988, first went on display in the Museum of Liverpool’s atrium in 2016 and has returned for Christmas almost every year since. His super-sized arrival ushers in seasonal festivities across National Museums Liverpool’s venues.

Staying at Museum of Liverpool the popular waterfront museum recently won a Kids in Museums national Family Friendly Museum award, making it the most wonderful time of the year to call in and check out the smash-hit exhibition Happiness!, which explores the life of Liverpool icon, Sir Ken Dodd. For Doddy, famously busy all year round, Christmas was a particularly special time with pantomimes and his legendary marathon new year shows.

At World Museum, bookings are open for a tradition spanning almost 200 years, as the Royal Institute’s Christmas Lectures come to Liverpool’s World Museum for the first time ever. Inspiring children and adults with mind-expanding talks and hands-on science, the lectures will be livestreamed to the museum, as one of the only 16 livestream partners. Over three gripping presentations – on 12, 14 and 16 December – from robots to gaming and more, Professor Mike Wooldridge will explain Artificial Intelligence (AI) – how it works and affects us all.

Sudley House is hosting a traditional Victorian Christmas with all the trimmings on 2 and 3 December. Spend quality time with friends and family enjoying carols, festive crafts and cosy storytelling in the beautiful setting of this Victorian merchant’s home.

While you’re enjoying the exhibitions, collections and festive fare at National Museums Liverpool’s venues why not tick some names off your shopping list? There are gifts for the whole family with a wide range of presents across fashion, culture, books, football and more. Browse the online shop for gift ideas here.

You could also give the gift of a National Museums Liverpool Membership and give a loved one a whole year of incredible free experiences, new discoveries and discounts. Find out more here.