Perfectly positioned for visits to stunning beaches, beautiful Lakeland retreats, exciting cities and a whole other country (!), there are some truly incredible day trips from Liverpool. Read on for the best day trips from Liverpool that you just can’t miss!
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Liverpool is an absolutely amazing city to visit. With its fascinating history, rich culture, excellent shopping and varied nightlife there are plenty of fun things to do in Liverpool that will keep you busy for a good few days!
But there is another reason why Liverpool is so great…
…it provides the perfect base for going on some truly incredible day trips!
You don’t have to travel far on a day trip from Liverpool to experience a complete change of scenery. Travel just a short distance and you will be rewarded with stunning beaches, pretty villages and countryside retreats. Even Liverpool’s neighbouring cities offer something totally unique in terms of their history, style and vibe!
Most of the day trips from Liverpool covered here take about an hour to reach and most can be reached by train as well as by car. There’s just a couple (The Lake District and Yorkshire) that will take a little bit longer, but they’re still great options if you don’t mind going a little further afield.
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DAY TRIPS FROM LIVERPOOL WITHOUT A CAR
Just because you don’t want to take your car with you doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on the many great day trips from Liverpool. There are plenty of ways to take day trips from Liverpool using the train and coach networks, or by taking a tour.
Day Trips from Liverpool by Train
It’s easy to do a number of day trips from Liverpool by train. Some of Liverpool’s neighbouring cities such as Chester and Manchester are very easily accessible by train, as well as some of the smaller towns and rural areas listed in this post.
Day Trips from Liverpool by Coach or Minibus
There are lots of different options for taking a day trip from Liverpool by coach or minibus.
If you want to go it alone, check out the timetables for National Express to see if they can get you where you need to go.
I’ve also recommended some tours throughout this article, many of which involve travel by coach or minibus.
The beauty of taking day trips from Liverpool by coach or minibus tour is that you can often cram a lot more into your day. They’re great if you’re short on time, plus you have the benefit of an expert guide to tell you all about the places you’re visiting.
So, let’s get down to business! Read on as I reveal the 10 best day trips from Liverpool that you really can’t miss!
THE BEST DAY TRIPS FROM LIVERPOOL
Chester
Image by Wolfgang Zenz from Pixabay
The historic city of Chester is just a stone’s throw from Liverpool but it couldn’t be more different.
Packed full of period charm, the city of Chester is small enough to visit on a day trip from Liverpool and still pack in a lot of the city’s highlights.
From its black and white Tudor houses to its Roman ruins, Chester has a wealth of history just waiting to be explored. If you want to find out more about its Roman Heritage, head down to the immersive Dewa Roman Experience and enjoy atmospheric reconstructions and archaeological excavations. You should also make time to walk the city walls, visit the Roman Gardens and see the Amphitheatre.
For stunning views across the city, climb the stairs to the top of Chester Cathedral. Another more novel way to appreciate Chester’s beauty is to take a river cruise along the River Dee.
Even if shopping isn’t your thing, you should still take some time to wander around Chester’s main shopping streets. Here, you’ll find The Rows. Unique to Chester, they are half-timbered galleries which form a second row of shops above street level. Reached by little stairs from the street, they are full of quirky little independent shops and cafes and are a must on any visit to Chester.
If you’re short on time and want to pack in as much as possible, consider the Hop On Hop Off Bus. You’ll be able to see all the major Chester landmarks and learn about the history of this fascinating city as you travel around!
Journey Info
Liverpool to Chester takes around 45 minutes by train or car.
Click to check train times.
Travelling by car? Take the stress out of parking and enjoy cheaper rates when you book in advance.
Recommended Tour
Chester Sightseeing Half-day Short Excursion
The Lake District
The Lake District is arguably one of the most beautiful places in England. An area of outstanding natural beauty, The Lake District National Park is nestled in the heart of Cumbria.
There are so many things to do in the Lake District that you could spend an entire week here and not even cover half of them. Nevertheless, it’s still a great place to come on a day trip from Liverpool, and I should know – I’ve done it countless times before!
The trick to visiting the Lake District on a day trip from Liverpool is making sure you have your day planned out in advance. If you’ve only got a few hours, you don’t want to be wasting time deciding what to do when you could be out exploring the stunning lakes, taking a brisk hike or visiting one of the many beautiful historic houses.
If you’re looking for some inspiration, check out my ultimate guide to fun things to do in the Lake District!
You’re going to need a car if you want to come to the Lake District on a day trip from Liverpool. If you don’t have access to a car, or you don’t want to have to worry about parking when you get there, I’ve listed some tours below which all offer something a little different.
Apart from being more relaxing, one of the great things about a tour is that you have access to a knowledgeable guide so you can learn lots about the area too!
Journey Info
Depending on what part of the Lake District you choose to visit, travel time can be anything from 1.5 hours by car.
Recommended Tours
Lake District Tour
Lake District Sightseeing Adventure Day Trip
Lake District Cruise Ship Short Excursion
Manchester
Manchester makes a great day trip from Liverpool. It’s such a fun city with so much going on that you won’t be stuck for things to do in Manchester!
Often touted as the UK’s second city after London, Manchester is also Liverpool’s rival city – a love-hate relationship we can almost entirely blame on football!
Talking of football, fans of the sport will be excited to find out they can take a tour around Manchester United’s grounds at Old Trafford and visit the National Football Museum to browse some important collections of football memorabilia.
If football doesn’t get you excited, then don’t worry – it’s certainly not the only reason to venture to Manchester on a day trip from Liverpool!
A bit of a foodie destination, Manchester is also packed full of museums and galleries (come and see the world’s first computer with a stored memory, built in this very city!) as well as being the birthplace of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst (you can visit her house!), and the city where many a TV show is now filmed (you can take a tour around the BBC studios here!). Oh, and if you fancy going snowboarding, windsurfing or getting lost in the Crystal Maze, then you can do that here too!
Want to know what else Manchester has to offer? Check out my EPIC guide to all the fun things to do in Manchester!
Journey Info
Liverpool to Manchester takes around 1 hour by train or car.
Click to check train times.
Travelling by car? Take the stress out of parking and enjoy cheaper rates when you book in advance.
Southport
Southport is a Victorian seaside town and a pleasant day trip from Liverpool. It’s got everything you would expect from a traditional seaside resort – a fairground, a pier (the second largest pleasure pier in the British Isles no less!) and candyfloss! The main shopping area, Lord Street is also worth a look with its fancy Victorian shop fronts and elegant tree lined street.
Southport hosts many exciting events throughout the year such as the Southport Flower Show, the Southport Air Show and the British Musical Fireworks Championship. Best visited in the spring/summer months so you can appreciate its seaside charm, it’s worth checking What’s On before you arrive so you can make the most of your day trip from Liverpool.
Journey Info
Liverpool to Southport takes just under an hour by train or car.
Click to check train times.
Travelling by car? Take the stress out of parking and enjoy cheaper rates when you book in advance.
Formby
Image by andrew hatton from Pixabay
If you’re after some variety on your day trip from Liverpool, then Formby has exactly that! Catch the train to Freshfields station to enjoy breezy beaches, dramatic sand dunes, asparagus fields and coastal pinewoods that are home to a rare breed of native red squirrel!
There are several different walks you can enjoy including one where you can spot prehistoric footprints on the beach!
Journey Info
Liverpool to Formby takes around 40 minutes by train or car.
Click to check train times.
Wirral
The other ‘side’ of Merseyside, the Wirral Peninsula, lies just across the Mersey from Liverpool.
The Wirral makes a great day trip from Liverpool as there are so many things to do!
What you can do here on a day trip from Liverpool will depend on whether you’re planning on travelling by car or by train.
If you’re using the trains, one of the easiest places to explore is Port Sunlight – a beautiful Victorian residential area founded by Lord Lever to house his factory workers. Catch the train to Bebington Station and walk the short distance (around 7 minutes) to the historic village. Here you’ll find stunning architecture, a fascinating museum, a world renowned art gallery and beautiful parkland.
If you have a car, you can explore a little further afield.
If you fancy a beach day, try the breezy Thurstaston Beach with the nearby Wirral Country Park, or make your way to West Kirby Beach and watch sailing boats and windsurfers zip along the marina. You can even go looking for seals and rare birds if you take the breath-taking walk across to Hilbre Island from West Kirby – just be sure to check the tide times so you don’t get stuck!
Other Wirral highlights include getting lost in the Brimstage Maze and tucking into some delicious pub grub at the Fox and Hound or the Red Fox.
Journey Info
Liverpool to the Wirral takes approximately 40 minutes by train or car.
Click to check train times.
Crosby Beach
Crosby Beach is just 5 miles north of Liverpool making it the perfect choice for a short day trip from Liverpool. It’s also easily accessible by train or car.
Crosby Beach is the permanent home of Anthony Gormley’s sculpture ‘Another Place. Wander down the beach and spot the life-size cast-iron figures spread across 3km of the shore and almost 1km out to sea. According to Mr Gormley himself, Another Place harnesses the ebb and flow of the tide to explore man’s relationship with nature.
If you fancy a brisk coastal walk, try the 13.2 km coast to countryside walk which passes by Another Place en route.
Journey Info
Liverpool to Crosby Beach takes around 40 minutes by train or car.
Take the train to Waterloo Station, Blundellsands & Crosby Station or Hall Road Station.
Click to check train times.
Car parking is free – check details here.
Cheshire
You’ll find plenty to do on a day trip from Liverpool in neighbouring county Cheshire.
My top tip would be to check out Delemere Forest – a favourite day trip of mine for as long as I can remember!
Delemere Forest is Cheshire’s largest area of woodland and is the ideal place to go on a day trip from Liverpool if you fancy getting out the city for a bit and taking on some easy-going trails in the fresh air. Children will love the Gruffalo Trail, and there’s always a warm hot chocolate and a slab of cake waiting for you at the end of your hike. Mountain bikes are available to hire too if you’d rather explore on two wheels!
There are some amazing country pubs around Delemere too – perfect for some top nosh before you make your way back to Liverpool.
Journey Info
Liverpool to Delemere takes around 45 minutes by train or car
Take the train to Delemere Station. Click to check train times.
There are pay and display car parks in the forest.
Recommended Tour
Love Peaky Blinders? The Official Peaky Blinders Full-Day Tour takes in the filming locations around Liverpool and also makes a trip to the stately home of Arley Hall in Cheshire.
Yorkshire
I love Yorkshire, and even though it’s a little bit further away than some of the other day trips from Liverpool I’ve covered here, it’s still definitely worth considering for a unique day out.
Again, like with the Lake District, it’s important to plan your day trip to Yorkshire in advance so you’re not wasting any valuable time on the day.
There are many places you could visit in Yorkshire but my favourites have to be the historic city of York, the beautiful spa town of Harrogate and the quirky village of Howarth.
Want more information about things to do in York? Check out my complete guide to York!
It’s possible to take the train to all of these places, but just make sure you check the train times so you’re certain you have enough time to fit everything in!
Another way to explore Yorkshire would be to take a tour. Like I mentioned earlier, a tour can be a great way to pack as much as possible into a short space of time. You may see more this way too as you won’t have to worry about public transport, parking or directions! In case this is something you want to consider, I’ve recommended some tours below.
Journey Info
Liverpool to York takes around 2 hours by car. Other places in Yorkshire will vary.
Train journeys will vary but are around 2.5 hours to York.
Click to check train times.
Travelling by car? Take the stress out of parking and enjoy cheaper rates when you book in advance.
Recommended Tours
Full-Day Yorkshire Sightseeing Adventure
North Wales
Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay
Ask anyone from Liverpool and I’m pretty sure that most of them will have taken a day trip from Liverpool to North Wales at some point in their lives. I know I certainly have!
There are a few areas of North Wales that are ideal for a day trip from Liverpool as they are only around an hour’s drive away from the city.
The easiest place to access by train is Llandudno. A Victorian seaside resort, it has a classic Victorian pier, historic castles, the amazing Great Orme Tramway which has been taking passengers up Llandudno’s own mini-mountain since 1898, and the longest cable car in Britain!
If you’re travelling by car and you fancy doing something a little different, head to Llangollen and take a ride on a steam locomotive. There’s plenty to explore around Llangollen town and further afield in places such as Betws-y-Coed too!
Another option is to drive to Conwy and visit the smallest house in Britain. At just 72 inches across, 122 inches high and 120 inches deep, it’s hard to believe that its last tenant was a 6’3 fisherman! Conwy is a town surrounded by castle walls and it’s possible to walk on sections of the castle walls as well as explore the castle ruins.
Journey Info
Liverpool to Conwy/LLandudno takes between 45 minutes to 1 hour by car.
There are pay and display car parks.
Train to Llandudno takes around 2 ¾ hours.
Click to check train times.
Recommended Tours
North Wales Adventure Sightseeing Day Trip
Other Day Trips from Liverpool
Walton Hall & Gardens – a grand hall, idyllic parkland, children’s zoo and cafe in Warrington, Cheshire. You could combine a trip here with a visit to the Lewis Carroll Centre (see below).
Lewis Carroll Centre – a visitor centre in Daresbury, Cheshire where the creator of Alice in Wonderland grew up.
Norton Priory Museum & Gardens – explore 12th century Priory ruins in Runcorn, Cheshire. Enjoy acres of woodland, a sculpture trail, cafe, picnic areas and kids events.
Lytham St Annes – just over an hour by car from Liverpool, Lytham St Annes is an affluent Victorian/Edwardian seaside resort south of Blackpool.
Blackpool – Another seaside resort famous for Blackpool Pleasure Beach and the landmark Blackpool Tower. You haven’t been to Blackpool if you don’t come home with a stick of Blackpool Rock! Blackpool is easy to get to from Liverpool by train.
Want to stick around in Liverpool after all?
Not sure what to do?
Check out my ULTIMATE guide to things to do in Liverpool!
DAY TRIPS FROM LIVERPOOL: WHERE WILL YOU CHOOSE TO GO
I hope this post has given you some inspiration and you can now go ahead and plan your day trips from Liverpool.
If you’re considering a tour, click the button below to view a complete roundup of all the tours I’ve mentioned in this article.
Where will you choose to go? Do you have any more ideas for day trips from Liverpool? Drop me a message and let me know!
