North West England
Date ideas in Liverpool
Updated
Liverpool is built around its waterfront, and a walk along the docks and the Pier Head is the place to start. Behind it there's a lot packed in: free galleries and museums, two cathedrals, the bars and restaurants of Bold Street and the Ropewalks, and the warehouses of the Baltic Triangle. There's plenty to do when it rains, and a beach and a big Victorian park for when it doesn't. These are our picks.
Our picks in Liverpool
Royal Albert Dock and the waterfront
Royal Albert Dock and the Pier Head, waterfront
Address: Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4AF- Outdoors
- Free
- Romantic
Walk the colonnades of the Royal Albert Dock's red-brick warehouses, then carry on along the river to the Pier Head and the Three Graces, calling in at the free Museum of Liverpool on the way.
Why it's a good date: It's the Liverpool everyone pictures, and it's lovely as the sun goes down over the Mersey. If it rains, duck into the Museum of Liverpool or the Maritime Museum, both free.
Photo: Humphrey Bolton, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Mersey Ferries River Explorer Cruise
Pier Head Ferry Terminal, waterfront
Address: Pier Head, Georges Parade, Liverpool L3 1DP- Activity
- Cheap and cheerful
- Romantic
- Outdoors
Take the ferry from the Pier Head on a circular cruise across the Mersey, calling at Seacombe and Woodside, with the city's skyline laid out across the water.
Why it's a good date: Stand on deck with the wind in your faces and the best view of Liverpool there is. Wrap up, even in summer, and go at the end of the day for the light.
Walker Art Gallery
William Brown Street, city centre
Address: William Brown Street, Liverpool L3 8EL- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Free
Wander the free city gallery, with everything from Tudor portraits and Pre-Raphaelites to David Hockney, plus changing exhibitions.
Why it's a good date: One of the best collections outside London, right by Lime Street. Choose the painting you'd each hang at home, then talk the other round to it.
Photo: Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Picton Reading Room at Central Library
William Brown Street, city centre
Address: Central Library, William Brown Street, Liverpool L3 8EW- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Free
- Cosy
Climb up through Central Library to the Picton Reading Room, a round Victorian reading room lined with books under a great domed ceiling.
Why it's a good date: It's free and quiet, and you'll look straight up at the dome the first time you walk in. Pair it with the Walker Art Gallery next door for a whole afternoon on one street. Keep your voices down.
Photo: Michael D Beckwith from England, CC0 (resized)
Liverpool Cathedral tower
St James' Mount, off Hope Street
Address: St James' Mount, Liverpool L1 7AZ- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Romantic
Wander Britain's biggest cathedral, free to enter, then take the lifts and stairs up the tower, past the world's heaviest ring of bells, to the views from the top.
Why it's a good date: The scale of the place takes your breath away, and so does the view across the city and the river. Pick a clear day for the tower, and check it's open before you go.
Photo: Rodhullandemu, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Sefton Park and the Palm House
Sefton Park, south Liverpool
Address: Palm House, Sefton Park, Liverpool L17 1AP- Outdoors
- Free
Walk round the lake and through the trees of Liverpool's great Victorian park, and warm up among the plants in the Palm House, its 1896 glasshouse.
Why it's a good date: A long, easy walk with somewhere warm and green in the middle of it. The Palm House is closed some days for weddings and events, so check before you go.
Photo: Paul White, CC BY 2.0 (resized)
Crosby Beach and Another Place
Crosby, north of the city, near Blundellsands & Crosby station
Address: Mariners Road, Crosby, Liverpool L23 6SX- Trip
- Outdoors
- Free
- Out of town
Walk the beach among Antony Gormley's Another Place: 100 cast-iron figures standing along the sand, all looking out to sea.
Why it's a good date: A short train ride out and you're on a wide, windswept beach with a hundred silent companions. Go for sunset, and stay off the soft sand near the figures furthest out: the tide comes in fast.
Photo: habiloid, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Have a pint in one of England's grandest Victorian pubs, all mosaics, stained glass, carved wood and famously ornate marble gents' toilets.
Why it's a good date: A drink somewhere this beautiful costs no more than anywhere else. It's across the road from the Philharmonic Hall, so it's the natural place to start a concert night.
Photo: User:Hassocks5489, CC0 (cropped and resized)
Baltic Market
Cains Brewery, Stanhope Street, Baltic Triangle
Address: Cains Brewery, Stanhope Street, Liverpool L8 5XJ- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Share plates from a line-up of independent street-food traders at long tables in a former brewery warehouse.
Why it's a good date: Each of you orders from a different kitchen and you swap halfway. It's relaxed and lively, and a good start to a night out in the Baltic Triangle.
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Hope Street, Georgian Quarter
Address: Philharmonic Hall, Hope Street, Liverpool L1 9BP- Event
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Big night
- Culture
See the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, or a touring band or comedian, in the art deco concert hall on Hope Street.
Why it's a good date: A proper night out in a gorgeous 1930s hall, with a drink at the Philharmonic Dining Rooms across the road before or after.
Photo: Samwalton9, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
Manifest
Watkinson Street, Baltic Triangle
Address: 4a Watkinson Street, Liverpool L1 0AG- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Romantic
- Foodie
Book dinner at the Michelin Guide-listed restaurant run by Paul and Charlotte Durand, cooking modern British food in an old warehouse in the Baltic Triangle.
Why it's a good date: The one to save for an anniversary: serious cooking without any stuffiness. Book ahead, especially at weekends.
Maray
Bold Street, Ropewalks
Address: 91 Bold Street, Liverpool L1 4HF- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Foodie
- Cosy
Share Middle Eastern-inspired small plates and a cocktail at a small, candle-lit restaurant at the top of Bold Street.
Why it's a good date: It's relaxed and warm, and the plates are for sharing: order a few, then a few more. Bold Street's bars are right outside when you've finished.
Berry & Rye
Berry Street, by Chinatown
Address: 48 Berry Street, Liverpool L1 4JQ- Bar
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Romantic
- Cosy
Find the unmarked door on Berry Street, knock, and step into a tiny prohibition-style bar with candlelight, classic cocktails and live music.
Why it's a good date: Finding the door is half the fun, and inside it's dark, small and made for leaning in close. It fills up fast, so book or go early.
Manolo
Slater Street, Ropewalks
Address: 41 Slater Street, Liverpool L1 4BX- Bar
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Big night
- Romantic
Settle in at a speakeasy-style cocktail lounge in the Ropewalks, with Caribbean-inspired drinks, table service and jazz and salsa early in the evening.
Why it's a good date: It feels like a night away somewhere warmer. Start mellow with a drink at the table, and stay as the music picks up.
Panoramic 34
West Tower, Brook Street, by the waterfront
Address: 34th Floor, West Tower, Brook Street, Liverpool L3 9PJ- Bar
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Romantic
- Big night
Take the lift to the 34th floor of the West Tower for cocktails with views across the city, the Mersey and out to the Welsh hills.
Why it's a good date: It's all about the view, so time it for sunset over the river, and stay for dinner if you want to make a night of it.
Bakchich
Bold Street, Ropewalks
Address: Bakchich, 54 Bold Street, Liverpool L1 4ER- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Share Lebanese street food and mezze at a bright, friendly spot on Bold Street.
Why it's a good date: Generous, good value and run with a real family welcome. Easy to drop into before a film at FACT or a wander down Bold Street.
Duke Street Market
Duke Street, Ropewalks
Address: Duke Street Food & Drink Market, 46 Duke Street, Liverpool L1 5AS- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Pick from a handful of independent kitchens and share at the long tables of a food hall on Duke Street.
Why it's a good date: Each of you orders from a different counter and you swap. It's relaxed and no booking needed, a good start to a night in the Ropewalks.
Bundobust
Bold Street, Ropewalks
Address: Bundobust, 17-19 Bold Street, Liverpool L1 4DN- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Share Indian vegetarian street food and a craft beer in a first-floor beer hall overlooking Bold Street.
Why it's a good date: Small plates made for sharing, bench seating and a lively, casual feel. It's a short walk from Lime Street, so it works before a gig or a train home.
Rudy's Pizza, Albert Dock
Royal Albert Dock, Waterfront
Address: Rudy's Pizza, Unit 6, Britannia Pavilion, Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4AD- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
Share Neapolitan pizza at Rudy's on the Royal Albert Dock, then walk the waterfront.
Why it's a good date: Quick, cheerful and good value, with the dock and the river right outside for a stroll afterwards. Book at weekends.
The Italian Club
Bold Street, Ropewalks
Address: The Italian Club, 85 Bold Street, Liverpool L1 4HF- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Cosy
Share pizza and pasta at a homely, family-run Italian on Bold Street.
Why it's a good date: Warm, busy and reasonably priced, the kind of place that feels like eating at someone's kitchen table. Book at weekends.
Mowgli, Bold Street
Bold Street, Ropewalks
Address: Mowgli Street Food, 69 Bold Street, Liverpool L1 4EZ- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Share Indian street food on swing seats at the Bold Street original of Mowgli.
Why it's a good date: The first Mowgli started here, and it's still colourful and fun, with small dishes that are easy to share. Book ahead at weekends.
Pho, Castle Street
Castle Street, Commercial District
Address: Pho, 22a Castle Street, Liverpool L2 0SU- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Best in Autumn, Winter, Spring
- Cosy
Warm up over bowls of Vietnamese noodle soup on Castle Street.
Why it's a good date: Fresh, filling and quick, good for a low-key weeknight before a wander down to the waterfront.
The Art School
Sugnall Street, Georgian Quarter
Address: The Art School, 1 Sugnall Street, Liverpool L7 7EB- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Romantic
Book Paul Askew's modern British cooking in the airy dining room of a converted Victorian building behind Hope Street.
Why it's a good date: A spacious, stylish room, a strong wine list and polished service make it one of the city's big occasion restaurants. Pair it with a show at the Philharmonic or the Everyman.
Vetch
Hope Street, Georgian Quarter
Address: Vetch, 29a Hope Street, Liverpool L1 9BQ- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Romantic
Book the tasting menu at Vetch, a small Hope Street restaurant mixing modern British cooking with East Asian flavours.
Why it's a good date: A calm, pared-back room where the cooking does the talking, listed in the Michelin Guide. Book ahead, and walk between the two cathedrals afterwards.
NORD
Old Hall Street, Commercial District
Address: NORD, The Plaza, 100 Old Hall Street, Liverpool L3 9QJ- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Romantic
Book dinner at NORD, where a Liverpool-born chef trained in Stockholm cooks Scandi-inspired food from local suppliers.
Why it's a good date: A big, modern room with cosy booths, good for a long dinner just back from the waterfront. Listed in the Michelin Guide. Book ahead at weekends.
Hawksmoor Liverpool
Brunswick Street, Commercial District
Address: Hawksmoor, India Buildings, 8 Brunswick Street, Liverpool L2 0PL- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Big night
- Romantic
Dress up for steak and cocktails in Hawksmoor's grand dining room inside India Buildings.
Why it's a good date: High ceilings and a proper sense of occasion in one of the city's great old office buildings. Start with a drink at the bar. Book ahead.
Gaucho Liverpool
Water Street, Commercial District
Address: Gaucho, 7 Water Street, Liverpool L2 0RD- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Big night
- Romantic
Book an Argentinian steak dinner in Gaucho's big, glamorous dining room on Water Street.
Why it's a good date: A big, dressed-up room and a serious Argentinian wine list make it a birthday or anniversary pick. It's a short walk from the Pier Head.
San Carlo
Castle Street, Commercial District
Address: San Carlo, 41 Castle Street, Liverpool L2 9SH- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Big night
- Romantic
Dress up for a glamorous Italian dinner at San Carlo on Castle Street.
Why it's a good date: A buzzing, glamorous room with plenty of people-watching. It's the place Liverpool goes for a big night, so book ahead at weekends.
The London Carriage Works
Hope Street, Georgian Quarter
Address: The London Carriage Works, Hope Street Hotel, 40 Hope Street, Liverpool L1 9DA- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Romantic
- Foodie
Book a seasonal dinner at the London Carriage Works, the restaurant of the Hope Street Hotel.
Why it's a good date: A smart, relaxed room with big windows onto Hope Street and an award-winning wine list. Handy before a concert at the Philharmonic, a few steps up Hope Street.
Dates in Liverpool: quick answers
What are good rainy-day dates in Liverpool?
The Walker Art Gallery, the Picton Reading Room at Central Library and the Museum of Liverpool are free and indoors. Liverpool Cathedral, the Palm House in Sefton Park and a concert at the Philharmonic Hall all keep you dry too.
Are there free date ideas in Liverpool?
Plenty. The Walker, the Picton Reading Room and the waterfront museums cost nothing, and so do a walk round the Royal Albert Dock, Sefton Park and Crosby Beach.
Where should we go for cocktails on a date in Liverpool?
Berry & Rye on Berry Street is a tiny bar behind an unmarked door, and a good spot for a first drink. Manolo on Slater Street is a Caribbean-inspired speakeasy in the Ropewalks, and Panoramic 34, on the 34th floor of the West Tower, is the one for the view.
Where can we go for a day out from Liverpool?
Take the train to Crosby for the beach and Antony Gormley's Another Place, or the ferry across the Mersey for the view back at the city.
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