Plan Your Perfect Day Out in Liverpool in 4 Fun Steps

Liverpool is the perfect destination for a day trip. Nowhere quite matches this waterfront city for its blend of maritime history and cultural contributions that changed the world. Today, the vibrancy of a port city is still felt in the bustle of shopping streets and buzzing nightlife spots, and the home of The Beatles proudly continues its cultural heritage. Discover four steps for exploring from morning until late.

With the morning sun glistening on the water, the Royal Albert Dock is a captivating place to start your day in Liverpool. The city's docklands are filled with history, having been developed in 1846 with redbrick warehouses that are now a hub for city life. Many of these warehouses are home to restaurants, cafes and bars, while one houses The Beatles Story Museum - an essential stop for Beatles fans and anyone interested in the cultural history of Liverpool.

If you're travelling with kids and need ideas for family-friendly activities, a ferry ride across the Mersey is a wonderful way to make the most of a family day out in Liverpool. Mersey Ferries cruises depart less than 15 minutes' walk north of Albert Dock along the river. Before setting off on your excursion on the water, be sure to admire the historic Liver Building next to the departure point. Don't miss the two copper Liver Birds at the top of the towers of this stately 1911 building. These mythical birds watch over the sea and the city and are said to offer protection.

• The Beatles Story Museum, Britannia Vaults, Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4AD
• Open: 9am–5:30pm Sun–Fri, 9am–6:30pm Saturdays and school holidays
• Tickets are available online

Time for lunch! One dish is synonymous with Liverpool, so if you want to taste the city's history, seek out scouse. This wholesome meat-and-vegetable stew is a variation on lobscouse, a Scandinavian dish that was popular among sailors, including those docking in Liverpool. Ma Boyles Alehouse & Eatery (7 Tower Gardens, Tower Building, Liverpool L3 1LG), close to the ferry dock, is a cosy spot to try scouse stew. To add a major historical landmark to your lunch break, sample scouse at Welsford Bistro (Cathedral Gate, St James Rd, Liverpool, L1 7AZ) inside Liverpool Cathedral. The cathedral is free to enter.

Liverpool does traditional, and it also does trendy. Try steak amid a speakeasy atmosphere at Miller & Carter Albert Dock (Atlantic Pavilion Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4AF), or take a 10-minute walk into the city centre to sample South Asian cuisine at Mamasan Bar & Brasserie. This stunning three-floor venue is set within Liverpool ONE shopping complex. The shopping centre houses multiple eateries, including Gordon Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen & Bar, where the decorated chef's famous beef Wellington is on the menu. There are brand stores and boutiques to browse if you're still working up an appetite.

• Liverpool ONE, 5 Wall St, Liverpool L1 8JQ
• Open daily: Shops 10am–8pm, restaurants 11am–11pm (individual restaurants may vary slightly)

Walk off your lunch with a stroll through the city centre, stopping at some of the city's must-see cultural attractions. St George’s Hall (St George's Pl, Liverpool L1 1JJ) is an impressive example of Liverpool architecture that shouldn't be missed, even if it's just to stop and admire the Neoclassical exterior of this mid-19th-century icon. If you have time to linger, head inside for tours of the courtroom or the opulent Great Hall and Concert Room. On the opposite side of St John's Gardens, the World Museum is well worth a visit for its planetarium, aquarium and the Clore Natural History Centre.

There are unique experiences to enjoy during a day out in Liverpool. Discover hidden gems like the Baltic Triangle, just south of the city centre. This creative hub is filled with start-ups and studios in repurposed warehouses, as well as art galleries like The Gallery Liverpool (41 Stanhope Street, Liverpool, L8 5RE). Nearby Cains Brewery Village offers bars, coffee shops and food markets, as well as the independent shopping collective Red Brick Market (Stanhope Street, Cains Brewery, Liverpool, L8 5RE). Don't miss the street art as you make your way down Jamaica Street towards Cains Brewery Village.

• The World Museum, William Brown St, Liverpool L3 8EN
• Open: 10am–4pm Tue–Sun
• Entry is free, donations are welcome

When evening arrives, there's plenty more of Liverpool to enjoy. Explore the city's culinary landscape, which has something for everyone. Bold Street is lined with diverse global eateries, with Korean, Greek and Turkish fare among the options. For a refined experience with cuisine honouring Liverpool's maritime heritage, dine at Seaforth Restaurant inside The Municipal Hotel & Spa Liverpool - MGallery. Just a few minutes' walk from St George's Hall, the hotel is set in a former city council building dating from the 19th century, a grand landmark all of its own.

Thanks to the proximity of restaurants, bars and entertainment venues in the city centre, it's possible to experience Liverpool’s vibrant music scene in a single day. The Cavern Club, five minutes' walk from the Sixties-inspired ibis Styles Liverpool Centre Dale Street, is an essential stop for fans of The Beatles. The venue's Live Lounge room is a replica of the original Cavern Club where the Fab Four made their name, and a tribute band called The Cavern Club Beatles perform on Fridays and Saturdays. Other music venues to check out include legendary live house The Jacaranda (21-23 Slater St, Liverpool L1 4BW) and Zanzibar (43 Seel St, Liverpool L1 4AZ) near Bold Street, showcasing emerging local musicians.

If you're a theatre lover, catch a performance at Liverpool Empire Theatre, a 1920s icon close to Lime Street train station. Nearby, the Art Deco-style Royal Court Liverpool focuses on youth theatre. Of course, there's always the option of spending a relaxing evening in a pub chatting about your day out in Liverpool. The city has plenty of gorgeous historic pubs, including Doctor Duncan’s, dating from 1901. The pub has a fireplace, a Victorian pharmacy cabinet and ornate tiling throughout. It's very close to Royal Court Liverpool if you're in the mood for a post-theatre drink, and it's also close to city centre hotels, so you can walk or take a short taxi ride without having to drive.

• The Cavern Club, 10 Mathew St, Liverpool L2 6RE
• Open: 11am–Midnight Sun–Wed, 11am–1am Thursday, 11am–2am Friday & Saturday
• General admission (£5 for adults with discounts for children) cannot be purchased in advance. Tickets for The Cavern Club Beatles performances are available online

Incredibly, these are just some of the memorable ways to spend a day in Liverpool. You may well find you'd like to stay for a weekend or longer, in which case, don't forget to read our handy guide on all the fun things that Liverpool has to offer!