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Liverpool is just ‘down the road’ from my home city of Manchester, but makes for an epic city break. The city has so much history including being one of the most significant port cities in the World. Like many port cities, it does have it’s dark side and can be a little rough around the edges. However the city comes with an unrivalled sense of community, identity and pride as well as having lots of fun and interesting things to do. All of this makes it a great place to escape to for a couple of days.
Liverpool is perfect for a city break if:
- You are interested in culture and history
- You enjoy great food and independent restaurants
- You like music and nightlife
Things to do on a Liverpool city break
Let’s start with some fun and unique activities.
World Museum
Liverpool’s World Museum is one of my favourite museums and a great way to learn about other cultures even when you are not travelling yourself. It’s one of the biggest museums in the UK, and you could easily spend a full day here. The cultural collections from different countries across the world are extensive and so fascinating. It houses extensive collections covering archaeology, ethnology, natural sciences, and space exploration, including a planetarium and an aquarium. They often have temporary exhibitions which can be super exciting. I managed to see the Terracotta Army there back in 2018 and it was unbelievable.
History and ghost tour
One of the best city tours I’ve ever taken is the Shiverpool Ghost Walking Tour. Not only is this interesting, it’s also very theatrical and so is very entertaining. I took this tour a few years ago and to this day the phrase ‘Green demon let us pass’ still pops into my mind when using a pelican crossing! It’s a great way to explore parts of the city that you might not otherwise visit so I’d definitely recommend it.
The tour starts at The Philharmonic Pub which is a very ornate Victorian Pub. It’s actually worth visiting in it’s own right. As I understand it, the gents’ toilets have pink marble urinals although it must be said that I haven’t verified this information. What more could you ask for?
Tours take place in the evening which adds to the spooky atmosphere. This means that you can maximise time on your city break by heading to the museum in the daytime and taking the tour in the evening.
Albert Dock
No trip to Liverpool is complete without a stroll around the beautiful Albert Dock. It’s lovely to do this early in the morning if you can before it gets too busy, or it is also lovely when the sun is setting.
There are plenty of bars and restaurants around this area. You will also find the Tate Liverpool gallery here too if this is of interest to you.
Beatles Story Museum
I can’t write a guide to Liverpool without mentioning The Beatles Story Museum, which is one of Liverpool’s most popular attractions. I have to say that this is really not my cup of tea. However I hear it’s great, as long as you like The Beatles (obviously).
Sefton Park
Sefton Park is a classic British park a few miles outside of the city centre. It features a wonderful Victorian Palm House which has been restored to it’s former glory. From the city centre you can get an Uber there or it can be reached by public bus.
Restaurants and bars
Liverpool is packed full of independent restaurants and has a really cool food scene. Here are a few of my favourites.
Salt House Tapas is one of my absolute favourite restaurants of all time. It’s an independent restaurant and serves the most delicious tapas with a modern twist. To boot, it is set in a beautiful and historical building so it really is a special place to visit. It’s no surprise that this restaurant is super busy so you will need to book in advance.
The restaurant gets it’s name from the nearby Salthouse dock, which as you might imagine, has a historical link to the salt industry.
Back to the restaurant, another tip is to be aware that the dishes come out when they are ready and not altogether. I actually like this but it does change how I order. We tend to order 3 or 4 at a time (between 2 people) and then gauge whether we want more. The serving sizes are fairly big and the desserts are mind-blowing, so also keep this in mind! I once overordered and overfed my Brother when I took him here as a treat while he was studying in the city. He has never let me live it down so take this as my warning!
A great option for middle Eastern food is Bakchich situated on Bold Street. There are lots of independent restaurants here on this street so it’s a good place to get to know on your city break. There is a theme developing here, but portions here are also large and so try not to over order. We’ve made the mistake before of sharing a mezze platter and then a main, which was just too much.
If you like sushi then you have to try Etsu Japanese Restaurant. I’d go so far as to say it’s the best sushi I’ve ever had. Their matcha ice cream is also incredible. It’s open in the evenings so is a great option for dinner, but you will need to book especially if you are visiting at the weekend.
For coffee and brunch options Bold Street Coffee is an absolute winner. It’s not the cheapest but the food and coffee are great quality so definitely worth it. It’s been so successful that they have expanded and now have several branches in Manchester, which I’m very glad of as it means that I can get my delicious coffee fix regularly!
For a drink, The Bridewell Pub is a former jail that has now been converted into a pub. It serves a range of craft beers as well as the usual offerings. It’s very unique so definitely worth a visit!
When is the best time to visit Liverpool for a city break?
Liverpool is a really beautiful city and best enjoyed in the summer, but of course this means that there are many more visitors during this time. It’s a firm favourite for hen and stag parties which often happen in the warmer months, and tourism related to The Beatles is at it’s peak then too.
As an alternative May is a good time to visit as the weather is warming up, the flowers are starting to bloom and so is the café culture in the city. This makes it a great time to explore.
One small caveat to this is that the football season does finish around this time, and if one of the local teams do well, or play one another, then the city can get a little lairy after dark. This won’t affect a trip to the museum (in fact it will probably be quieter) but is just something to be aware of particularly if you are out in the evening. This isn’t specific to Liverpool as I will tend to avoid Manchester on derby day too.
How long do you need for a city break in Liverpool?
I’d say two nights is sufficient for a city break. If you want to stay longer then you could explore outside of the city centre or combine your visit with a trip to North Wales, Chester, Manchester, or the Lake District.
Where to stay for a city break in Liverpool
On a city break I always like to have a central location and my recommendations reflect that. Last time I visited I splurged a little by staying at The Pullman which was a great option in all respects. The room was comfortable and we had a great view! Breakfast was also top notch and we were perfectly placed for an early morning walk along the docks.
It’s worth saying that this hotel is next to the M&S Bank Arena so it is likely to be more expensive if there is a concert or exhibition taking place.
Another good option in the city centre is the Novotel which is in a great location and is clean and comfortable.
For other hotel options, depending on your needs check out this guide to Hotels in Liverpool.
Parking in the city centre is tricky and expensive so I’d recommend coming by train if you can. If you are coming from Liverpool John Lennon Airport there is a bus to the city centre every 30 minutes. Alternatively you could take an uber.
I hope you have a great time in this wonderful city!
