Liverpool Day Trips by Train

October 29, 2026

Merseyrail’s two lines make Liverpool an easy base for day trips. The Wirral Line heads to Chester, Port Sunlight, New Brighton and West Kirby, and the Northern Line serves Crosby, Formby and Southport. Prices are in pounds sterling (GBP).

Chester

Chester is about 45 minutes from the city centre on the Wirral Line. The main sights are the Roman walls, the medieval Rows and the cathedral. Chester Zoo is the big paid attraction, with adult tickets around GBP 34 to GBP 38 when bought online. Merseyrail sometimes offers 2-for-1 deals on selected dates. A Day Saver ticket costs about GBP 5 to GBP 6.50, but Chester may sit outside the area it covers, so check the ticket area at merseyrail.org first.

Port Sunlight

This planned model village on the Wirral was built for soap factory workers. The Lady Lever Art Gallery is free, but its hours are listed as either daily or Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00, so check ahead. The village is best explored on foot.

Southport

Southport is about 45 minutes away on the Northern Line. Lord Street is a long, tree-lined shopping boulevard with Victorian arcades. The pier has been closed since December 2022. A restoration was approved in 2026, but the opening date is unconfirmed, so treat the pier as a view only.

Formby

Take the Northern Line to Freshfield. The National Trust’s Formby coast has pine woods, dunes and a red squirrel trail. Walking in is free, and car parking costs roughly GBP 7.50 to GBP 9 for non-members. Squirrels are reported but never guaranteed. The Victoria Road entrance and car park may be closed or being redeveloped, so check the National Trust page. The beach itself is unpatrolled, with rip currents and shifting tidal gullies, so stay out of the water.

Crosby Beach

Antony Gormley’s Another Place has 100 iron figures along about 3 km of foreshore. The beach is not for bathing and is permanently red-flagged. The mud is deep and the tide comes in fast. Stay within about 50 m of the promenade, check the tide times, and do not walk out towards the far statues. If you get stuck, keep still, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. Trains from the centre take about 20 minutes to Blundellsands and Crosby.

Hilbre Island

You can walk to Hilbre only at low tide, from the Dee Lane slipway in West Kirby. The rising tide cuts off the return path, and channels fill quickly. Read the tide tables on the noticeboard before setting out and leave plenty of time to come back.

Tips

New Brighton is about 20 minutes from the city centre on the Wirral Line.
Aintree racecourse is the Grand National venue. The 2027 festival runs from 8 to 10 April, with the main race on Saturday 10 April.

Official pages: Merseyrail Day Saver , Sefton water safety , Southport Pier . Search for organised trips on Viator .