10 Great Day Trips to Take From Liverpool, UK

Easily reachable from Liverpool, Crosby is a clean beach with facilities for all the family. Anthony Gormley’s ‘Another Place’ sculpture is permanently placed on the beach, which boasts great views of ships across the water.

With sand dunes, miles of beaches and plentiful pine woodlands, Formby is a must-visit when visiting Liverpool. Owned by the National Trust, this protected area of the North West is wonderful for long walks, sunbathing in the summer and nature trails.

Southport is a quaint seaside town just a 40 minute drive from the centre of Liverpool. Its range of attractions and long stretches of sandy beaches attract visitors here, with main talking points the pier, Pleasureland theme park and Splash World.

Liverpool is an ideal base to visit the UK’s most visited zoo, with journeys taking around 40 minutes by car or approximately an hour by public transport. Chester Zoo is home to more than 500 different species of animals across a 125-acre site, including rhinos, giraffes, elephants, cheetahs and sloths.

It would be impossible to mention day trips from Liverpool without discussing the nearest national parks. The Lake District is the largest in England and offers breathtaking skylines, stunning natural habitats and of course, beautiful lakes. For further exploration, Derwentwater and Windermere are well worth a visit thanks to their admirable mountains and scenery.

Speke Hall is a 16th century Tudor manor which is incredibly close to the centre of Liverpool. Restored in the 19th century, this picturesque example of Tudor-Victorian architecture is worth a visit alone. Take the stunning gardens and surrounding woodlands into account too and you’re on to a winner. Parts of Speke Hall date back to around 1530, making this one of the oldest buildings to discover in the area.

Just a short hop across the Mersey river is New Brighton, on the Wirral. Here you’ll find Marine Point; a shopping and entertainment complex for all the family. With a children’s play area, plentiful shops, a cinema and stunning views across the Mersey, you’re set for the day with a trip to Marine Point.

Another wonderful national park close to Liverpool is the Peak District. Perfect for hiking, cycling and taking in the stunning surroundings around you, this huge national park has it all. Though you’ll need to leave early as the Peak District is about a 75 minute drive from the city – a little further out than our other suggestions – we’re certain you’ll be amazed by its beauty.

The historical 19th century village of Port Sunlight is a wonderful day out in itself. Its 900 Grade II listed buildings, vast amount of parks, gardens and trails to explore plus an award-winning museum are just a small selection of the attractions amongst the village which was built to house the soap factory workers in the late 1800s.

The North Wales Coast is home to a wonderful collection of beaches and versatile attractions for all of the family. Take Colwyn Bay for example; a seaside town with stunning coastal views atop its vantage point. Most North West locals visiting North Wales will have been to the town of Llandudno at some point in their lives, and with its accessibility, attractions and underground copper mine it’s a firm favourite.