Things to do in Liverpool

Liverpool is a distinctive and world-renowned city, recognised for its musical heritage, sporting history and unique Scouse accent.

With two cathedrals, numerous galleries and museums, iconic buildings and more than a few references to the city’s most famous export – The Beatles – the city is the perfect destination for a weekend city break.

Top Liverpool landmarks

Liverpool cathedrals

Liverpool’s aptly named Hope Street is bookended by two imposing cathedrals, the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral and the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral .
Liverpool Football Stadia

Liverpool’s passion for football is famous worldwide, and in Liverpool and Everton , the city can boast two of the English game’s most historically successful football teams.
Liverpool galleries

Unbeknown to many, Liverpool has the highest number of galleries and museums of any UK city except for London.
The Beatles

If there’s one thing you’re likely to know about Liverpool, it’s that the world’s most famous band hailed from the city. And it’s fair to say that Liverpudlians aren’t shy of shouting about it!
Watersports in Liverpool

Liverpool Docks is a fantastic place to experience water activities and to see the World Heritage site from a different perspective.

Best things to do in Liverpool

Alcotraz – Liverpool's speakeasy cocktail bar prison experience

Alcotraz Cell Block Three-Six promises to be one of the most unique cocktail bars in Liverpool.
Anfield Stadium

Anfield Stadium is the home of Liverpool Football Club. Soak up the atmosphere on a tour of the legendary Anfield Stadium and Museum or, if you're visiting the city at a weekend, watch a match.
Another Place - Anthony Gormley

These amazing statues are a sight to behold. 100 cast iron replicas of the artist’s body, spread over a 3km stretch of beach.
Breakout Liverpool

Can you break out of Liverpool's live escape room game? You've got 60 minutes to escape a locked room by finding clues and solving puzzles with your team. Visit the Breakout website
Walking and Rambling in Liverpool

If you're planning on staying at YHA Liverpool Albert Dock, why not download a free map and get out exploring?All our self-guided walks start and end at a YHA hostel and are graded so that you can exp
Watersports in Liverpool

Liverpool Docks is a fantastic place to experience water activities and to see the World Heritage site from a different perspective.

Beyond Liverpool

While there's plenty to entertain you within the city itself, the area that surrounds Liverpool is also ideal for adventures. With its proximity to the coast, you can easily take a short trip to the likes of Formby, Crosby and Southport, all of which offer beautiful sandy beaches. Crosby beach is perhaps best known thanks to the Anthony Gormley ‘Iron Men’ sculptures which adorn the sand. Alternatively, Chester is less than an hour’s journey away, and its Roman features and Tudor-style buildings are well worth taking a look at.

Transport in Liverpool

By train

Liverpool’s main train station is Liverpool Lime Street, which is a hub for trains from across the country, including London, Manchester, Birmingham and beyond. The city also has its own Merseyrail network, which allows visitors to access the wider Merseyside area with ease.

By bus

Regular National Express coach services operate to and from Liverpool from across the UK, including services from London, Manchester and Leeds. The city also has a comprehensive bus service, with routes to all of the major landmarks and suburbs available from the city centre.

By plane

The city is served by Liverpool John Lennon Airport, the first airport in the UK to be named after an individual. There are regular bus services between the airport and the city centre.

By car

Liverpool is accessible by car via the M62, which links to both the M6 and M1 to give access from across the country.

Find your perfect Liverpool accommodation

Insider tips

You must try stand-up paddle boarding at Liverpool Water Sports Centre! Explore the city from a different angle, with this introduction to paddle boarding. I have done this a few times now this season and it’s awesome!

Ian - YHA Hostel Manager

Liverpool has a great collection of museums and galleries. One of our favourites is FACT on Wood Street. The centre hosts workshops in film and creative technology, a cinema and gallery space.

Ian - YHA Hostel Manager

Plan a weekend in Liverpool

With so much to see and do, you’ll need a couple of days and nights to feel like you’ve got anywhere close to ticking off the length of your Liverpool list.

Accommodation

YHA Liverpool Albert Dock makes an ideal base for a weekend away by the Mersey. In fact, it could hardly be better positioned, being just a short walk from the city centre and the city’s well-known docks and museums. The hostel has a range of room-types to suit a range of requirements, along with a large social space and bar area. YHA Liverpool Albert Dock also has 24-hour access and free parking, perfect for a city centre location.

A group of people eating in a restaurant

Dining out

Dine in at the hostel and you’ll find plenty of choice to please your appetite! Alternatively, if you want to branch out into the city, Liverpool has a growing range of restaurants to satisfy your needs. Bold Street is the home of casual dining in Liverpool, with cuisine from all over the world finding its way to this narrow street. Our favourites include Mowgli Street Food, Bakchich Lebanese and The Italian Club, which all offer great value, high-quality food.

Nightlife

As darkness falls Liverpool really comes to life. The city is renowned for its nightlife and it’s not hard to see why. A night out in Liverpool has even been ranked at number three in Rough Guides’ 50 Things to Do Before You Die. Come for a Friday or Saturday night and the streets are sure to be thronging with people having a great time in the city’s numerous nightspots, particularly in the Baltic Triangle and Concert Square areas of the city where many of the nightspots are concentrated.

Music Scene

Liverpool’s nightlife venues are well complemented by its varied music scene. Its most famous venues are those found in the Cavern Quarter and Mathew Street, with Eric’s and the Cavern still playing host to live music on a almost daily basis. Elsewhere, small venues like Arts Club and the Jacaranda host gigs with flourishing artists, while the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall is a stunning venue for a range of musical productions.

Best budget accommodation in Liverpool

For a city centre location with 24-hour access and free parking, YHA Liverpool Albert Dock is an excellent budget accommodation choice for anyone looking to visit this North West city. Ideally situated to stroll towards the city’s main tourist attractions, YHA Liverpool Albert Dock offers mostly en-suite bedrooms. The hostel is a top choice for families, solo travellers and groups seeking to visit one of the UK’s best-loved cities. Its social areas are vast and bright, with plenty of nods to Liverpool’s vibrant cultural past.

View some of our popular Liverpool blogs

YHA’s Liverpool guide

If you’ve never been to Liverpool before then you are definitely missing out. It’s the UK’s fifth largest city, with a thriving foodie scene and very lively nightlife culture, plus there are plenty of arty things to get up to in between...