20 fun things to do in Liverpool

The Art School Cellars is part of the renowned Art School restaurant but it is also an atmospheric destination in its own right. Head to this charming, subterranean bar for a pre-dinner cocktail, a post-prandial port and cheeseboard, or make it the focus of your visit. The Art School Cellars offers a lighter menu than the upstairs restaurant but it’s no less delightful for that.

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill is much more than just another soulless hotel restaurant. With its dockside location and terrace, celeb fans and cool boutique vibes, it’s one of Liverpool’s most impressive dining destinations.

Vintage and antiques shop 69A looks like it fell out of the pages of a storybook. A black cat is asleep in the window, its head resting on a pile of secondhand books. A sign on the door warns you to ‘please take care’ and says nothing about who or what of. Once inside, the narrow room stretches further and further back until you lose sight of where you came in.

Adam & Eve is Liverpool’s only Turkish Bath. It’s not as fancy as a high-end spa but it’s great value and a very relaxing, feel-good experience if you’re looking for bliss on a budget.

Part of the Cains Brewery Complex, ArCains is a gamers paradise. Whether it’s date night, a stag or hen do, team building with new colleagues or you’re just out with mates, there’s plenty of arcade games to keep you entertained and bring out the kid in you.

The Bluecoat is Liverpool city centre’s oldest building, and the oldest arts centre in the country.

Liverpool’s Brewery Bus Tours are a lively ride around the city’s coolest, off-the-beaten path breweries, with up to 12 craft beers along the way.

Doctor Duncan’s is named after Britain’s first Medical Health Officer, William Henry Duncan, who was born and raised in Liverpool. Its ornate, beautifully tiled interior makes it one of the North West’s most gorgeous pubs.

One of the buzziest spots in the Georgian Quarter, Frederiks models itself on the neighbourhood bars of Brooklyn. Think casual eats, coffee and lounging, with live music and quality cocktails as the day turns into night.

Golf Fang Liverpool takes genteel notions of mini golf and smashes them with an 8-Iron. Crazy golf is definitely the only word for it and it all takes place in a neon cathedral of graffiti.

Home to two floors of immersive activities, Gravity MAX is Liverpool’s biggest multi-entertainment venue.

The perfect brunch spot on Renshaw Street, Hardware is themed loosely around the Rapid Hardware shop it replaces.

In the heart of Liverpool’s beautiful Georgian neighbourhood, Hope Street Hotel is surrounded by some of the city’s most cultural hotspots – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and Everyman Theatre are just minutes away.

Housed in a former tea room over two floors of an art deco building, LEAF’s name and USP was meant to be, and indeed over 60 varieties of loose-leaf tea are served, alongside coffee and cake, cocktails, beers and wine, and an eclectic menu running from breakfast right through.

Nothing shakes up the senses quite like a winter dip in the docks. Head to Mariners Wharf for all-year-round aquatic activities at Liverpool Watersports Centre including open water swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing, powerboating, and giant swan pedalo-ing. Go in the warmer months and there’s an Aqua Park too – basically a big inflatable playground in the water. 

Have you even been to Liverpool if you haven’t crossed the Mersey on a ferry? Mersey Ferries not only cross the Mersey back and forth but also provide tours, entertainment and private hire.

Red Door Hair Salon is an amazing colour experience. Of course, this inclusive salon doesn’t just do cool hues and highlights but the depth and richness of the tones achieved here is something else.

Rough Hand Made is a gorgeous artisan bakery on Albert Dock. Eat in or take away but get there early because their pastries are beautiful – and as this seems to be a view shared by half of Liverpool, they can get snaffled up pretty quickly.

Roxy Ball Room is the home of booze and ball games, but there are pizzas and other street food faves to boost those all-important energy levels for the next tournament, be that ping pong, beer pong, shuffleboard or some ten-pin bowling magic.

Sefton Park is larger than most parks, although it’s still not Liverpool’s biggest – that award goes to Croxteth Country Park. There’s something for everyone with suburban pleasures and a chance to feel closer to nature.

Woodland trails, carpets of bluebells and an abundance of daffodils in the springtime as well as plenty of wildlife – watch out for the kingfishers near the lake – mean that Sefton Park often doesn’t feel like a city park at all.

Zap Graffiti is one of Liverpool’s most unique art venues, focused on showcasing graffiti designs and even giving you the option to pick up a spray can yourself.