Liverpool city breaks

Elsewhere, the city has distinctive neighbourhoods and districts: the historic waterfront area, a centre for trade in the 18th and 19th centuries, is now packed with museums; Chinatown is home to the oldest Chinese community in Europe; and the Baltic Triangle is the city’s indie hub with boutiques, craft beer bars and artist studios.

The best time to visit Liverpool is in summer, when the weather is likely to be at its most reliable – though note, prices will be higher and the city generally busier. In summer, expect average temperatures of around 20C and up to 10 hours of sunshine a day.

When is the cheapest time to visit?

The cheapest time to visit Liverpool is in winter, but it can be brutally cold and incredibly windy in this port city.

When to go for the best of both

Visit during the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn for good weather conditions and reasonably priced accommodation. Autumn and spring temperatures tend to hover around 15C.

This utterly immersive, colourful museum is worthy of every award it has earned. The Beatles Story museum charts exactly that – the tale of the Fab Four’s rise to fame from a village fete in rural Merseyside to their Hamburg concerts and all the way through to their unimaginable popularity and success in the UK and USA.

An audio tour transports you through their time, while recreations of key places – such as The Cavern Club and record stores – help the story truly come alive.

The Beatles’ childhood homes

It was Paul McCartney and John Lennon who were the true heart of the Beatles, setting up the band after their meeting at Woolton village fete and jamming in their childhood homes in suburban Liverpool.

These homes are now open for visitors – make a reservation with the National Trust and you’ll get a guided tour of 1950s home Mendips (251 Menlove Avenue), where John Lennon grew up, and 20 Forthlin Road, where Paul McCartney lived with his brother and dad.

The Magical Mystery Tour

Aptly named after the double EP released by The Beatles in 1967, the Magical Mystery Tour of Liverpool is the ultimate trip for superfans of the band. The bus tour takes in major locations that feature in songs, such as Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields, and the venues where the lads played for crowds of cooing girls. You’ll get the inside track on all things Beatles-related, and get to listen to their top hits along the way.

Liverpool Waterfront & Albert Docks

Liverpool Waterfront is not only a historic location for its role in the slave trade and home of White Star Line, the Titanic’s operator – it’s also a brilliant cultural destination, with museums that explore the city’s past and present.

Most notable is the Merseyside Maritime Museum, which houses the International Slavery Museum – a truly moving exhibition on enslaved people past and present. There’s also an outpost of the famous Tate gallery here, which showcases British and international works in a former maritime warehouse.

Crosby Beach

Liverpool city breaks don’t have to revolve around the city. Just 11.5km (7 miles) from the centre is Crosby Beach, known for its eerie Another Place sculptures by renowned artist Anthony Gormley.

The vast expanse of soft sand is made totally unique by the presence of his life-size, cast-iron human figures, each facing out to the ocean and covered in rust, barnacles or seaweed. A nearby marina offers sailing boat, kayak or windsurfing lessons and hire.

Alternatively, for the easiest access to the top museums and attractions in the city, the Albert Dock and Waterfront make for a great family base.

For travellers on a budget

Cheap Liverpool city breaks are easy to plan. The city is an excellent, affordable alternative to the UK’s capital cities, such as Edinburgh or London, so if you’re on a budget, base yourself around the Albert Dock. Here you’ll find an excellent selection of youth hostels and reasonably priced hotels, alongside the city’s exceptional collection of museums and galleries. The Tate is free to enter, as is the Museum of Liverpool on the Waterfront development.

For food and drink

The former rope-making centre of the city is now its trendiest neighbourhood, aptly named Ropewalks. A hub for independent shops, restaurants and bars, it’s always busy and makes a perfect base if great, innovative food and drink is top of your list. Dine out on Indian street food, mammoth burgers or vegan junk food.

Alternatively, try a little bit of everything at Duke Street Market – the city’s warehouse-turned-food-hall where you’ll find Cuban food, Asian cuisine and an excellent selection of local and international beers and wines.

For nightlife

The rough and ready Baltic Triangle is the centre of Liverpool’s nightlife. All factories and industrial estates, it’s the ultimate destination for all-night raves in formerly disused warehouses, or outdoor live concerts in urban gardens. For the morning after, the Baltic Triangle also has some of the best brunch spots in the city.

Of course, no night out in Liverpool is complete without a visit to the Cavern Club – the new version of the former Cavern Club where the Beatles famously made their name in the city. Come to see new and established music acts from around the world play on this renowned stage.

For culture

Most Liverpool’s museums are located around the Waterfront and the Royal Albert Dock, so base yourself here if sightseeing is your priority. Within these waterside neighbourhoods, you’ll find the Maritime Museum, the Museum of Liverpool, the Tate art gallery and The Beatles Story.

Around the Waterfront, restaurants and bars cater to all tastes, and you’ll get brilliant views of the gargantuan cruise ships that arrive and depart from the city’s terminal.