- Trains from London Euston take about 2h15 to Lime Street
- Most of the big museums on the waterfront are free
- The centre is compact and walkable from Lime Street to the Albert Dock
- Book hotels early for home football matches, big concerts and the Grand National in April
- Airports
- Liverpool John Lennon (LPL), Manchester (MAN)
- Best time to go
- May-September; any time of year for museums and gigs
- Type
- City
Liverpool wears its history proudly. Once one of the busiest ports in the world, it has a grand waterfront of Edwardian landmarks, two striking cathedrals, some of the best free museums in the country and, of course, the Beatles, who started out in the cellar clubs of Mathew Street. Add two Premier League football clubs, a famous nightlife and a warm, quick-witted welcome, and it is one of the easiest and most rewarding city breaks in Britain.
Liverpool is only about 45 minutes by train from Manchester, so the two pair well, and our United Kingdom guide has more ideas. Ferries also sail from the Mersey to Belfast.
Where to stay
- City centre and Liverpool ONE – close to Lime Street station, the shops and most restaurants, with plenty of chain hotels.
- Waterfront and Albert Dock – handy for the museums and river views, and good for a first visit.
- Ropewalks and the Baltic Triangle – former warehouse districts with bars, street food and live music; lively and sometimes noisy at weekends.
- Georgian Quarter – elegant terraces near the two cathedrals and Hope Street, with smaller hotels and good restaurants.
Things to do
- Royal Albert Dock – restored Victorian warehouses with shops, cafés and several museums.
- The Beatles Story – the band's story told through recreated scenes, on the Albert Dock.
- Merseyside Maritime Museum and International Slavery Museum – free museums on the city's seafaring past and its role in the transatlantic slave trade.
- Museum of Liverpool – free, on the history of the city, its music and its football.
- Cavern Quarter – Mathew Street and a rebuilt Cavern Club, with live music most days.
- The two cathedrals – the vast Anglican Liverpool Cathedral, with a tower you can climb, and the modern, circular Metropolitan Cathedral, linked by Hope Street.
- Football – stadium tours at Liverpool's Anfield and at Everton's new waterfront stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, if you can't get match tickets.
- Mersey Ferry and Crosby Beach – a river cruise past the Three Graces, then Antony Gormley's 100 iron figures of Another Place at Crosby.
Best time to visit
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Spring (March-May) | Mild, with the Grand National at Aintree in April filling hotels |
| Summer (June-August) | Longest days, busy waterfront, International Beatleweek around late August |
| Autumn (September-November) | Football season in full swing, quieter waterfront |
| Winter (December-February) | Cold and often wet, but Christmas markets and the museums keep it lively |
Getting there
Avanti West Coast trains run from London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street in about 2h15. Northern and TransPennine Express trains link Liverpool with Manchester in about 45 minutes to an hour, and there are direct trains from Birmingham in about 1h40. By car, Liverpool is around four hours from London via the M6 and M62, but city-centre parking is pricey. Liverpool John Lennon Airport has some domestic flights, including from Belfast and the Isle of Man, and ferries sail to Belfast, Dublin and the Isle of Man.
Getting around
The centre is compact and mostly walkable: Lime Street to the Albert Dock takes about 20 minutes on foot. Merseyrail trains reach the suburbs, Crosby and the Wirral, and buses fill the gaps. The Mersey Ferry runs river explorer cruises and links the Pier Head with Seacombe and Woodside. Taxis are plentiful, especially black cabs at Lime Street.
Save money by spending a day on the free museums, from the Walker Art Gallery near Lime Street to the Maritime Museum and Museum of Liverpool on the waterfront.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Liverpool?
Two days covers the waterfront, the Beatles sights and the cathedrals. Three days lets you add a football tour, Crosby Beach or a day trip to Manchester or Chester.
Is Liverpool good for a Beatles fan?
Very. Beyond The Beatles Story and the Cavern Club, there are bus tours to Penny Lane and Strawberry Field, and National Trust tours of the childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, which must be booked ahead.
Is Liverpool expensive?
It is usually cheaper than London for hotels, food and drink, and many of its best museums are free. Prices rise sharply on big match, concert and race weekends.
Written by
Thomas Ski, mountains & expeditions editor
Thomas is happiest above the tree line or below the Antarctic Circle. He writes our ski, mountain and polar expedition guides.
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