Liverpool is one of the UK’s great cities rich in music history, waterfront charm, and football passion. But once you’ve done the Albert Dock and the Beatles Story, it’s worth looking further afield. The North West is packed with places worth a day trip or a full weekend away, from dramatic coastlines to Roman towns to sequin-soaked cabaret shows.
Here are 15 of the best places to visit near Liverpool, starting with one that deserves its own chapter.
1. Funny Girls, Blackpool — Blackpool’s Most Fabulous Night Out
Before we get to castles and coastlines, let’s start with something a bit different and honestly, something a lot of people are already making the trip for.
Funny Girls is Blackpool’s legendary drag and cabaret show, and it has been going strong since 1994. The venue itself is a stunning 1930s-style theatre, and the show is a full-on spectacle: high-energy dancing, outrageous costumes, jaw-dropping choreography, and a host who’ll have the whole room howling.
It’s about 60 miles up the coast from Liverpool around an hour’s drive and it’s well worth the journey. Shows run Wednesday to Sunday, doors open at 7pm, and cabaret kicks off from around 8.30pm. There’s also a pre-show three-course dinner option in their art deco restaurant, Garbo’s, at £29.85 per person.
The show runs through themed seasons: spring, summer, Halloween (Coven Queens), and Christmas. Tickets start from around £10 for standing, making this one of the best-value nights out in the North West.
It’s TripAdvisor-rated in the top 10% of attractions worldwide with over 35,000 reviews. Whether you’re planning a hen do, a birthday night out, or just want something wildly entertaining, Funny Girls delivers.
2. Blackpool — More Than Just the Tower
While you’re in Blackpool, give the town its dues. The Blackpool Tower is 158 metres of Victorian engineering and still absolutely worth it, especially the Eye in the Tower observation deck with its glass floor. The Pleasure Beach is one of the oldest amusement parks in the country and home to the iconic Pepsi Max Big One rollercoaster. And the Illuminations running from late August to early January are a proper North of England tradition.
3. Chester — A Roman Gem an Hour South
Chester is one of England’s most complete walled cities and sits about 40 minutes from Liverpool by train. The Roman amphitheatre is the largest discovered in Britain, and the black-and-white timber-framed buildings along The Rows are unlike anything else you’ll find in the country. The Rows are essentially a two-storey shopping street the upper level is a covered walkway with shops above street level, a medieval design that’s still completely functional today.
Chester Zoo is also here, consistently ranked among the best in Europe, covering 128 acres and home to over 35,000 animals.
4. The Lake District — National Park an Hour and a Half Away
The Lake District National Park starts around 90 minutes north of Liverpool and covers 912 square miles of fells, lakes, and valleys. Windermere is the largest natural lake in England, and a boat trip across it is one of the great simple pleasures of the North West. Ambleside and Grasmere are the classic bases. Grasmere is also home to Dove Cottage, where William Wordsworth lived and wrote, now a well-regarded museum.
5. Llandudno — North Wales by the Sea
Llandudno sits on the North Wales coast, about an hour from Liverpool, and it remains one of the best-preserved Victorian seaside towns in Britain. The pier stretches 700 metres into the Irish Sea the longest in Wales and the Great Orme headland looms above the town like a natural monument. You can take the Great Orme Tramway (the only remaining cable-operated street tramway in the UK) or the cable car to the summit for views across to Anglesey and the Snowdonia peaks.
6. Anglesey — Island Escape in North Wales
Cross the Menai Strait via Thomas Telford’s suspension bridge (built in 1826 and still elegant) and you’re on Anglesey, a large island with some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in Wales. Beaumaris Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a textbook example of a concentric castle design. The beaches at Rhosneigr and Llanddwyn Island are genuinely outstanding. And the town with the longest place name in Europe Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is absolutely on Anglesey.
7. Southport — Classic Seaside, Very Close
If you want a seaside day out without the long drive, Southport is just 18 miles north of Liverpool. Lord Street is a grand Victorian boulevard lined with glass canopies and independent shops, and the seaside funfair at the Pleasureland site is popular with families. The Marine Lake and pier offer a quieter contrast to Blackpool’s full-throttle energy.
8. The Ribble Valley — Lancashire’s Quiet Countryside
The Ribble Valley doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Settled around the River Ribble in the heart of Lancashire, it’s an area of rolling farmland, market towns, and the rugged Forest of Bowland an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Clitheroe is the main market town, with a small Norman castle and good independent food scene. It’s about 45 minutes from Liverpool and feels like a world away.
9. Manchester — City Break on the Doorstep
Manchester is 35 miles east and just 45 minutes by train, making it the most accessible city break from Liverpool. The Northern Quarter is one of the best independent shopping and dining areas in the country. The Science and Industry Museum is free to enter and genuinely fascinating, tracing Manchester’s role in the Industrial Revolution. The Manchester Art Gallery houses an impressive permanent collection with no admission charge.
10. Conwy — Medieval Walls and a World-Beater of a Castle
Conwy in North Wales, around 75 minutes from Liverpool, is centred on one of Edward I’s finest castles. Conwy Castle (another UNESCO World Heritage Site) sits above the estuary and has all eight of its original towers intact. The town walls are also fully walkable with about 1.3 kilometres of medieval masonry still doing its job as a perimeter around the old town.
11. Lancaster — History Worth the Drive
Lancaster sits 60 miles north of Liverpool and punches above its weight for history. Lancaster Castle has been standing since Norman times and has served as a courthouse and prison, it only stopped functioning as a working prison in 2011. The Judges’ Lodgings museum and the Ashton Memorial folly in Williamson Park are both worth your time. The city also has a strong independent food and café scene built around its university presence.
12. Snowdonia National Park — Mountain Country in Wales
Snowdonia (Eryri) is around 90 minutes from Liverpool and home to Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), the highest mountain in Wales at 1,085 metres. You can walk up there are six main routes of varying difficulty or take the Snowdon Mountain Railway from Llanberis to the summit. The surrounding valleys, including the Ogwen Valley and the Llanberis Pass, are spectacular walking and climbing territory that draws people from across the UK.
13. Formby — Red Squirrels and Sand Dunes on Liverpool’s Doorstep
Formby is a National Trust nature reserve just 11 miles north of Liverpool city centre, making it the easiest day out on this list. The ancient pinewoods are one of the last strongholds for red squirrels in England. The beach and sand dunes stretch for miles and are genuinely wild-feeling. At low tide, you can sometimes spot prehistoric animal and human footprints in the exposed clay some dating back 5,000 years.
14. Llangollen — Canal, Railway, and an Eisteddfod Town
Llangollen sits in a deep valley carved by the River Dee in northeast Wales, about 65 miles from Liverpool. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, a UNESCO World Heritage Site designed by Thomas Telford and completed in 1805 carries the Llangollen Canal 38 metres above the river on a cast-iron trough. Walking or narrowboating across it is not for those who don’t like heights. The town also hosts the International Eisteddfod each summer, a world-famous Welsh cultural festival.
15. Isle of Man — Ferry Across the Irish Sea
For something more adventurous, the Isle of Man is two to four hours by fast ferry from Liverpool’s Pier Head terminal and is technically its own self-governing Crown Dependency with a distinct culture and history. Castletown has a beautifully preserved medieval castle (Castle Rushen), the TT motorcycle circuit is world-famous, and the island has some genuinely quiet, underexplored countryside. It’s a proper mini-break destination with a completely different feel from the mainland.
Quick Summary: Best Places to Visit Near Liverpool at a Glance
Here’s a fast overview to help you plan:
- Under 30 minutes: Formby (beach and red squirrels)
- 30–60 minutes: Southport (seaside), Chester (Roman history), Manchester (city break)
- 60–90 minutes: Blackpool including Funny Girls (cabaret and coast), Lancaster (history), Llandudno (Victorian seaside)
- 90+ minutes: Lake District (fells and lakes), Snowdonia (mountains), Isle of Man (ferry trip)
FAQs: Best Places to Visit Near Liverpool
What is the closest beach to Liverpool?
Formby is the nearest beach, about 11 miles north of the city centre. It’s a National Trust site known for red squirrels, pine woods, and wide sandy dunes. Southport is another popular option, around 18 miles north and easy to reach by train.
How far is Blackpool from Liverpool?
Blackpool is about 60 miles north of Liverpool and takes roughly an hour to drive. You can also reach it by train, changing at Preston. It’s a popular destination for day trips and weekend breaks, especially for visitors looking for entertainment options like the Funny Girls cabaret show.
What are the best day trips from Liverpool for families?
Chester Zoo, Llandudno, and the Lake District all work well for families. Closer to home, Formby’s red squirrel reserve and beach are ideal for a shorter outing. Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach is another classic family choice, particularly during the school holidays.
Is it worth visiting the Lake District from Liverpool?
Yes, the Lake District is around 90 minutes from Liverpool and well worth it, especially for a weekend. Windermere, Ambleside, and Grasmere are all accessible in a day trip, though staying overnight gives you much more time to appreciate the scenery and walking routes.
What is there to do in North Wales near Liverpool?
North Wales is excellent for day trips from Liverpool. The main draws include Conwy Castle, Llandudno’s Victorian seafront and pier, Snowdonia for walking and mountain scenery, Anglesey’s beaches and Beaumaris Castle, and Llangollen’s aqueduct and river valley. Most of these are 60 to 90 minutes from Liverpool by road.
