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I really enjoyed my recent trip to Liverpool, England – even if it was damn chilly! Luckily the weather wasn’t a massive problem. There are loads of things to do in Liverpool in winter so you shouldn’t let the weather affect your trip.
LIVERPOOL ESSENTIALS
Rough Guide to Liverpool
Accommodation: Hotels and apartments – Booking.com / Hostels – Hostelworld.com
Activities: GetYourGuide
Getting there: Trainline / Busbud
Read next: how to spend 1 day in Liverpool
Things to do in Liverpool during winter
Short of sitting outside with a pint (unless you’re really brave!) or cruising down the river, most things to do in Liverpool aren’t season dependant. If you’re hoping to stay warm, there are some excellent museums and galleries that don’t require you to face the elements. There’s also a lot of mulled wine if you’re spending Christmas in Liverpool!
Whether you’re looking for things to do in Liverpool this weekend or planning a future trip, these are my top recommendations.
1. Get stuck into the Liverpool brunch scene
No one likes to start a day on an empty stomach. Least of all me.
There’s a lot of great food in Liverpool and brunch is done especially well. We started our day with a Canadian themed breakfast at Moose Coffee where we consumed some serious calories in the form of pecan pancakes. Was it cliched to drizzle them in maple syrup? Maybe, but no regrets.
Other brunch spots in Liverpool include:
- Brunch Club – all your egg and avo dishes ‘til 5pm
- The Tavern Co – after winning best brunch in the UK two years running, you can beat this place does a good English brekkie.
- Baltic Market – at weekends, you can eat a hearty brunch at the Baltic Market; very warming in winter
- The Brink – famed for its pancakes, all profits from this cosy cafe go to supporting those in the community with alcohol addictions.
2. Learn about Liverpool’s history
One of the best things to do in Liverpool in winter
Another insightful throwback to Liverpool’s past is visiting a secret WWII bunker hidden underground. This is a great rainy day activity in Liverpool with 50+ hidden rooms and a replica pub and street. Book a ticket at GetYourGuide.
Don’t miss The British Music Experience beside the Museum of Liverpool. This collection of 600+ artefacts tells the story of The Beatles, David Bowie, Oasis and more. Book a ticket at GetYourGuide.
3. Check out the Liverpool Christmas market
Head straight to St George’s Plateau to warm up at a traditional Christmas market. With bratwurst, mulled wine and all the usual culprits, this is one of the best things to do in Liverpool in winter by far.
4. Not drinking? Warm up over coffee
If you’re not spending Christmas in Liverpool, treat yourself to coffee or hot chocolate in one of Liverpool’s many cool cafes. There’s a real speciality coffee scene in Liverpool with hipster cafes like Bold Street Coffee serving coffees from around the world.
5. Visit the Tate Liverpool
Another great thing to do in Liverpool in winter
6. Hit the shops
Liverpool is shopping heaven. During winter in Liverpool, you can shop to your heart’s content without having to take to the streets. Get down to Liverpool ONE for all your high street shops and Cavern Walks for boutique shopping and designer labels.
7. Experience The Beatles history
Yep, you’re in the birthplace of the Beatles so it would be rude not to check out the Liverpool Beatles locations including the Cavern Club where the four-piece used to play at the Cavern Pub next door. You can go inside for a drink, watch a tribute act or simply snap a photo with a Beatles statue.
Other things to do in Liverpool for Beatles fans include the Beatles Story, a vibrant exhibition dedicated to the live and times of the Beatles. Book a ticket for £16.You can also learn more about them via a Beatles Walking Tour, take the Magical Mystery Tour Bus (£18.95) or the tour of John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s family homes (£23 from the National Trust).
8. Radio City Tower
An excellent option for staying dry and warm during a winters day in Liverpool is taking a trip up the Radio City Tower, also known as St John’s Beacon. Here you’ll soak up views out over the city from just £6.50.
9. Grab dinner in Chinatown
By this point, you’ve probably recovered from brunch so you know what it’s time for… More eating!
Liverpool has the oldest Chinatown in Europe so don’t leave before taking a stroll through it. It’s not the biggest one but as I seek out Asian culture at every opportunity, I was happy. There are a couple of good restaurants like Chilli Chilli Restaurant (best for Sichuan food) and Mei Mei (best for dim sum).
10. Experience the bar scene
Liverpool is known for its nightlife which is good year-round – something I experienced a few years ago when I came for a hen
- ex-directory, a place my Liverpudlian friend swears by and that I love the concept of. To gain entry you have to find the right phone number online then enter via a secret door inside a fake phone box. I won’t say any more – figure it out yourself!
- Oh Me Oh My – a rooftop garden bar with views of the docks.
- Maya – fans of hip-hop and RnB need to get to this club pronto.
- Or as I mentioned above, the Cavern Club puts on a world-famous Beatles tribute night. Catch this on Friday and Saturday nights or head down for other live bands in the week.
11. Anfield Stadium Tour
Wrap up warm and tour the seventh-largest football stadium in the UK. Learn about the figures that shaped footballing history including John Houlding, the founder of Liverpool F.C, and tour the stadium with a knowledgeable guide. Book for £17 on GetYourGuide.
12. Take a Peaky Blinders tour
With the popularity of Netflix’ Peaky Blinders, it’s becoming a rite of passage for fans to explore the filming locations in the North of England. Take a bus tour around the city and watch clips of the show as you visit the exact locations where the scenes were filmed. Book a tour for £35.
I hope you enjoyed these things to do in Liverpool during winter! If you’re looking for more information for your stay, read on…
Other places to eat in Liverpool
- Lunya – the best tapas in town
- The Chilli Pot – this place doesn’t look much from the outside but stick with it for tasty Thai food and cheap lunch deals
- Alma de Cuba – a spectacular old church with Latin American food as well as a gospel brunch with hearty Sunday roasts. Intrigued? You should be.
Where to stay in Liverpool during winter
Hostel – YHA Liverpool Albert Dock (best overall hostel) // Embassie Liverpool (most social hostel)
Affordable hotel – The Liner at Liverpool (£56pn)
Self-catering apartment – Staycity Aparthotels at the Waterfront (£70pn)
Splurge – 30 James Street, a 4-star hotel with a spa from £80pn!
Browse all hotels and apartments on Booking.com.
Getting to Liverpool & away
Air – fly into Liverpool John Lennon Airport and hop on a £2.20 bus to the city centre (catch the 500 or 8A).
Rail – from London, trains start at £35 each way. From Manchester, you can nab tickets from £3.50 and the journey only takes 30 minutes. Book on Trainline to get the best prices.
Bus – National Express Coaches, the Megabus and Flixbus connect Liverpool with cities all over the UK. They’re usualy cheaper than the train but take longer. Find the best price and book on Busbud.
Visiting the UK?
Guidebooks – LP always get my seal of approval. Use the latest copy of Lonely Planet England.
Flights (international and domestic) – I use Skyscanner to find the best-value flights, using the ‘search by month’ tool to find the cheapest dates. You can also use the ‘to anywhere’ feature if you’re flexible on where you’re going.
Car hire – use Rentalcars.com to compare car rentals in the UK (and all around the world).
For UK trains, I use Trainline. The search feature allows you to compare prices, and they show live departure times on the website.
For buses, I use Busbud. It’s the only site that compares UK coaches and buses. Find London to Manchester journeys for £1!
Use Omio to compare trains and buses in one search. It’s so handy.
For hotels and self-catering apartments, I use Booking.com. You can filter by review score and price to find the best-rated budget places. For hostels, I use Hostelworld.com.
To save money on accommodation, I use Trusted Housesitters, a website that connects homeowners going away and travellers who can sit their homes & pets.
I use GetYourGuide for tours & activities when I don’t want to travel solo. The guides are knowledgeable and you can’t beat the prices. I also check Viator as they often have fun and unique offerings.
For food tours pairing travellers with passionate local chefs and foodies, check out EatWith.
Pack the latest copy of Lonely Planet UK.
Need travel insurance? I use True Traveller (for UK & Europe residents) since it’s affordable but covers everything you’d need including various activities, valuables and pre-existing conditions. Unlike some companies, they insure you if you’re already travelling / don’t yet have your flight home booked. Get a quote.
For travel insurance for other nationalities, I recommend Hey Mundo and for long-term digital nomad travellers, I suggest Safety Wing.
Check out my resources page for more travel discounts and budget tips from my 10+ years on the road!
Thanks for reading my Liverpool winter guide
Check out some of my other England posts:
- Complete backpackers guide to the UK
- My London archives
- 2 day Lake District itinerary
- How to spend a weekend in Manchester
- A complete Brighton day trip guide
- Complete Birmingham itinerary
- How to spend a weekend in Norfolk
- The perfect weekend in Dorset
- 2 day Oxford itinerary
- The big Bristol travel guide
- What to do during a Bath day trip
- The perfect London to Margate day trip
See you next time for more adventures,
Rose
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