Liverpool is an exciting and intoxicating place to visit at any time of year, sure, but as anyone who has visited in winter will attest, the City of Scouse in the colder months is a whole other spectacle entirely.
The city famed for its footy and the Fab Four has cold weather activities and attractions for all the family, from its Christmas Market and revered museum all the way to its cosy pubs. So, if you’re visiting this festive season and are wondering how to fill your itinerary, you’ve come to the right place; here are 6 top things to do on a Liverpool winter getaway.
GETTING THERE
Liverpool is the fifth most visited city in the UK, and transport links in and out of the city are regular and reliable.
The train from London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street (the city’s main station) takes around 2 and a half hours and will set you back around £65 for a single ticket. Considerably cheaper is the London to Liverpool coach with ticket prices starting at around £20. Do be aware that your journey will be considerably longer, too; it should take you just under 5 hours from London Victoria or London Golders Green coach stations to Liverpool One bus station in Canning Place.
GET INTO THE HOLIDAY MOOD WITH THE LIVERPOOL CHRISTMAS MARKET
The Liverpool Christmas Market is a yearly winter market located in Liverpool’s St John’s Gardens, William Brown Street and the area around the north entrance of St George’s Hall. The event features rides and a funfair, alongside holiday food, crafts, and plenty of warming drinks.
For the kids, Santa’s Village is always popular, with its Big Wheel and Bavarian snow slide delighting the little ones. Adults will find there’s fun to be had in the market’s festival themed bars; we just love the Alpine Lodge, which serves gorgeous mulled cider, and its karaoke cable cars.
Open every day from Friday 12th of November to Thursday 23rd of December, with the exception of Remembrance Sunday (this year on the 14th of November).
LEARN ABOUT THE CITY’S RICH HISTORY IN THE MUSEUM OF LIVERPOOL
Liverpool can get more than a little chilly during the winter months, but fortunately, much of the best entertainment in the city happens indoors, and for free!
The Museum of Liverpool is a fascinating museum that showcases Liverpool’s history, people, and remarkable global significance. And the best part? It’s free entry with no need to book in advance. Do be aware that the museum is closed from the 24th to the 27th of December.
Here, you’ll find art, botanical collections, oral testimonies, and archaeological artefacts, with the museum placing a firm focus on interactive exhibitions and a particular emphasis on women’s and LGBTQ+ rights.
Perhaps the highlight of the museum, though, is the opportunity to explore a top-secret WWII bunker hidden underground in the Western Approaches exhibition, offering a fascinating glimpse into Liverpool’s past. With 50+ private chambers and a recreated tavern and street, this is a terrific pastime for a cold day in Liverpool.
WALK AROUND THE ROYAL ALBERT DOCK
A view of Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock from across the water is one of the city’s most iconic images, made up of docks and buildings along the shoreline, and reflecting Liverpool’s rich industrial heritage.
The Royal Albert Dock, which has been standing since 1846 and employs iron and masonry instead of wood, was the world’s first non-combustible storage system. Though the Royal Albert Dock is superb at any time of year, it’s more special around the holidays. Take a stroll around the dock to see all of the holiday lights, look for Bella and Bertie dressed up for the holidays, and enjoy a beer or a festive meal at one of the countless taverns and restaurants.
And if the kids get restless, the Mattel Play amusement park is found at the dock, too. Divided into three interactive, themed play zones, Bob the Builder, Thomas the Tank and Fireman Sam, there are vehicles to ride, costumes to try on and games to play within the 13’000 party paradise, all based on the popular children’s T.V programmes. All of this costs just £12. This one is best suited to toddlers.
APPRECIATE ART AT TATE LIVERPOOL
Tate Liverpool is a well-known art gallery that houses the Tate Collection (alongside Tate Britain and Tate Modern in London, and Tate St Ives in Cornwall) a distinguished collection of British and international art dating from the 16th century to the present day. The museum’s permanent collection, located on the Royal Albert Dock, spans centuries and includes modern pieces by the Guerrilla Girls and works by Henri Matisse, though British art is the uniting theme.
In addition to the Tate Collection, exclusive temporary exhibits and activities are hosted here for the winter. Right now, the gallery is hosting an insight into Lucian Freud’s portraits, running until the 16th January, as well as an exhibition of 80 works by the artist, painter, designer and collaborator Lucy McKenzie.
GET A GLIMPSE OF THE BEATLES’ HISTORY
A visit to Liverpool would feel somewhat perverse without visiting some of the city’s historic sites relating to the Beatles. Whether you’re a major Beatles fan, know only a few songs, or don’t know of them at all, you’ve come to the perfect location to explore arguably the biggest ever band ever to have done it.
The Beatles Story, located in the Royal Albert Dock, is the world’s most significant exhibition dedicated only to chronicling the story of The Beatles’ journey to stardom. This interactive experience takes you on a journey through the Fab Four’s history, covering everything from the early days of The Quarrymen through the endless gigs at The Cavern Club, Beatlemania sweeping over the world, and their respective solo careers, too.
You can also experience the remarkable collection of historical music artefacts while walking through at your leisure and listening to the multimedia audio guide available in twelve different languages.
Then, head to the Cavern Club, arguably the world’s most famous concert venue. It’s a renowned basement that witnessed seven decades of fantastic music and has hosted The Beatles 292 times on their magnificent stage! The Cavern Club is open seven days a week for a variety of live music in the pulsing core of Liverpool’s legendary music scene. You never know who you’ll stumble into, from rock’n’roll to acoustic gigs, Beatles covers bands and touring musicians.
The heritage of the Cavern Club doesn’t stop at the Beatles, however. Incredibly, the Rolling Stones, the Who, Stevie Wonder, Oasis, Adele, the Arctic Monkeys and Queen have all graced the stage in the club’s illustrious history.
Make sure you check out the Cavern Wall of Fame opposite the venue, which documents the groups who played at the original venue, as well as those acts from the city who reached number 1 in the UK charts. Wow!
Read: 5 IDEAL things for music lovers to do in Liverpool
SEE THE CITY SKYLINE IN RADIO CITY TOWER
The Radio City Tower is one of Liverpool’s most famous sites. The tower (St John’s Beacon is its official name) is part of the St Johns Shopping Centre and looms large some 400 feet above the city centre, offering 360-degree views of Merseyside, the Wirral and even North Wales.
On crisp and clear winter days, you can see as far as Snowdonia and even Cumbria. The observation deck remains available to the public today; however, the remainder of the structure is mainly used for radio station services. Fear not; you won’t have to clamber up several flights of stairs to reach the top. Lifts are available.
Adult tickets cost just £7. Do check the site’s current opening hours before visiting, as COVID restrictions have affected the tower’s usual times.