Liverpool City Holidays

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A maritime melting pot

Liverpool is a city with a potent, deeply rooted sense of civic pride and an identity infused over many centuries by diverse influxes of people from around the world passing through and settling at the meeting point between the River Mersey and the Irish Sea. The result is an outward-looking, cosmopolitan place, profoundly shaped by its maritime heritage.

The docks that once facilitated Liverpool’s status as one of the world’s busiest trading ports – and Britain’s gateway to the Atlantic – are now the focal point of a flourishing cultural scene, housing art galleries, concert venues, and museums, including The Beatles Story, which takes you on an immersive journey detailing how four young men changed music forever.

Football heritage

As with The Beatles, it’s difficult to overstate the crucial importance of Liverpool’s football clubs as a defining force of the city’s evolving identity over the years. Throughout the 1980s in particular, the simultaneous success of Liverpool and Everton on both the domestic and European stage was a shining light during a dark period of severe economic hardship for the city. Although the fortunes of the two clubs sit in rather stark contrast today, Anfield and Goodison Park – less than a mile apart from each other across Stanley Park – remain two of English football’s most iconic stadiums.

A flourishing cultural scene

In the former industrial zone known as the Baltic Triangle, a creative boom has seen red brick warehouses and factories embellished with murals and converted into craft breweries, dance clubs, design studios, and a street food market that showcases an eclectic mix of cuisines from around the globe. Take a stroll down Bold Street (in the city centre) or Lark Lane (next to Sefton Park) and you’ll discover an array of independent cafes, bars, and restaurants with a trendy, bohemian character, while in the Georgian Quarter, you’ll find rows of elegant 18th-century townhouses and gated gardens tucked between two cathedrals of sharply contrasting styles.

Spectacular coastal scenery

Just a few kilometres up the coast are two wonderfully serene beaches; Crosby, home to ‘Another Place’ – an art installation consisting of 100 cast iron figures designed by internationally acclaimed sculptor Antony Gormley – and Formby, fringed by sand dunes and pine forests where the rare, native red squirrel thrives. For a UK city break offering a combination of cultural attractions, architectural intrigue, culinary gems, and easy access to areas of outstanding natural beauty, Liverpool packs quite the punch.

Best things to do

Visit the Albert Dock
Once a key hub of Liverpool’s maritime trade, the complex of dock buildings and former warehouses that comprise the Royal Albert Dock is now the most visited multi-use venue in the UK outside of London. Here, you’ll find The Beatles Story, the Tate Liverpool gallery, the Merseyside Maritime Museum, several hotels and a whole host of bars, cafes and restaurants. It also hosts regular events, including food festivals, pop-up art exhibitions and even floating cinema screenings.
Explore the Baltic Triangle
Stroll from the Liverpool ONE shopping area down Park Lane and you’ll soon arrive at the Baltic Triangle – a former industrial neighbourhood that brims with innovation and a hip, laid-back vibe. Stop by for a pint at one of the independent craft breweries, grab a bite to eat while enjoying live music at the Baltic Market, or try your hand at the 18-hole crazy golf course. And be sure to allow time to check out the street art dotted in and around Jamaica Street, which includes murals of The Beatles, Jürgen Klopp and the Liver Bird wings.
Celebrate The Beatles’ legacy
Whether you’re a lifelong fan or you’ve only heard a handful of their most famous tracks, no trip to Liverpool would be complete without incorporating a few Beatles-themed elements into your itinerary. The Beatles Story at the Albert Dock does an excellent job of detailing their rise to global fame and their lasting legacy on the city through a series of immersive exhibitions. Then there's the Magical Mystery Tour bus, which operates a route that stops by the real life landmarks that inspired some of their greatest hits, such as Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane, ending up at the Cavern Club, where it all began. The Beatles statue on the Pier Head, with the Royal Liver Building in the background, makes the ultimate photo spot.

Explore our map of Liverpool City

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Your Liverpool questions, answered

How many nights do I need in Liverpool?

How much time have you got? There’s more to see and do in and around Liverpool than you could possibly squeeze into a single city break, so there’s no chance you’ll find yourself struggling to fill the time. A long weekend, though, would allow ample time to cover the top attractions.

What’s the best way to get around in Liverpool?

Liverpool’s city centre is really quite compact, so you can easily get to most major attractions on foot. The Baltic Triangle and the Georgian Quarter are a little further out, but still only a 15-20 minute walk from Liverpool ONE and the Albert Dock. If you plan on visiting Anfield or Goodison Park, you’re best off taking the bus, as they’re around an hour’s walk from the centre. To get to Crosby or Formby, meanwhile, the Merseyrail train service is the most convenient option.

Where are the best areas to eat out in Liverpool?

You’ll find no shortage of fantastic places to eat and drink in Liverpool – it’s one of the best foodie cities in the UK. In the centre, Bold Street, Berry Street, Duke Street and Castle Street all have an excellent variety of options for all different tastes and budgets, while the Baltic Market (in the Baltic Triangle) is a lively street food court with all kinds of different savoury and sweet culinary treats and a buzzing atmosphere. If you’re happy to venture a little further out, Lark Lane, around five kilometres out of the centre, next to Sefton Park, is a hidden gem with many independent bars and restaurants.

What’s the best time of year to visit Liverpool?

There’s no bad time of year to visit Liverpool – although if you’re planning to go in winter, wrap up warm and be prepared for wet, cold and windy weather. That said, the winter months do bring their own charm, with various festive markets, lights installations and ice rinks to enjoy. Liverpool lends itself particularly well to a spring or summer city break, as the warmer temperatures and long days allow you to make the most of exploring, eating and drinking outside.

How easy is it to get tickets for a Liverpool match?

Unless you already have a season ticket or a membership with lots of credits, or you know someone who does, it’s almost impossible to get hold of a ticket to watch Liverpool, as the sheer volume of demand vastly outstrips the supply. However, an Anfield stadium tour will give you a real insight into the club’s past and present, as well as a fascinating look behind the scenes. These tend to get heavily booked up, so it’s worth buying your ticket well in advance.

Where is best for a night out in Liverpool?

The area known as Ropewalks is jam-packed with places offering evening entertainment, from unpretentious dive bars and cosy pubs to speakeasy cocktail bars and multi-floor nightclubs. Alternatively, head to the Baltic Triangle and take your pick between gin gardens, craft breweries, late night garage raves and dance clubs in converted industrial warehouses. Mathew Street also has its fair share of lively hangouts – although it has a reputation as being stag and hen do central – while Castle Street is home to plenty of stylish, upscale bars with lots of outdoor seating in the summer months.

What are the best day trips from Liverpool?

There are all kinds of great excursions you can take from Liverpool if you fancy a change of scene and want to explore more of the surrounding area. You could hop on a Merseyrail train to Chester, a town steeped in Roman heritage and home to one of the UK’s largest zoos, head up the coast for a walk along Crosby or Formby beach, or, for a fun-packed family day out, visit Knowsley Safari Park. If you have the time and you’re able to drive, you could even take a day trip to the Lake District or Snowdonia National Park in northwest Wales.