Visit Liverpool by Train
Find out about trains to Liverpool, how to get great discounts on your travel, and top offers on things to do when you get there
Welcome to Liverpool
Liverpool might be most famous for The Beatles, but it’s also a cultural destination with fantastic museums, art galleries and theatres as well as magnificent architecture, ferry rides on the River Mersey and leafy parks. There are also great cafes, restaurants and a pedestrianised shopping area.
Find out more about travelling to Liverpool by train below, along with everything you need to know about the town. Discover all the best things to do and places to visit in Liverpool – and don’t forget you can save money on your train travel with a Railcard.
By taking the train you are also helping to lower carbon emissions. And, if you require additional support when travelling, the Passenger Assist service can help you.
If you fancy travelling a bit further afield, you can also visit our Day Trips from Liverpool by Train page.
How to get to Liverpool by train
Liverpool has 4 stations:
Liverpool Lime Street: This is Liverpool’s main station. There are regular direct trains to and from many destinations, including Manchester, Newcastle, Hull, Nottingham and Sheffield. There are direct services to and from London Euston every day
Liverpool Central: For trains to and from Southport, Chester, New Brighton and Ormskirk
Liverpool James Street: For trains to and from Liverpool Central, New Brighton, Ellesmere Port, Chester and West Kirby
Moorfields: For trains to and from Liverpool Central, West Kirby, Chester and Southport
You can plan your Liverpool train journey, find the cheapest fares and book tickets online with our Journey Planner.
Fastest journey times to Liverpool Lime Street by train
From | To | Journey time from* |
---|---|---|
London | Liverpool | 2 hr 20 min |
Manchester | Liverpool | 38 min |
Birmingham | Liverpool | 1 hr 38 min |
Bristol | Liverpool | 3 hr 8 min |
Leeds | Liverpool | 1 hr 44 min |
Edinburgh | Liverpool | 3 hr 29 min |
Glasgow | Liverpool | 2 hr 23 min |
Cardiff | Liverpool | 3 hr 33 min |
* Please note, some journeys will take longer and you may have to change trains
Get great offers on top Liverpool attractions
Visit National Rail’s Days Out Guide for more great offers when you travel by train.
2FOR1: Liverpool Football Club Stadium Tour & Museum
Enjoy epic views of the pitch and city landscape from the top level of the Main Stand, plus see the club’s dressing room, trophies and interactive museum
2FOR1: British Music Experience
Discover the story of British Music through costumes, instruments, performance, and memorabilia
2FOR1: Liverpool City Sights Open Top Bus Tour
The hop-on hop-off tour covers The Royal Albert Dock, the iconic UNESCO waterfront, the Cavern Club, both cathedrals, Chinatown and lots more
More attractions in Liverpool
Visit the Royal Liver Building(external link, opens in a new tab), Europe’s first skyscraper and the perfect place to get a citywide view of Liverpool
Take a ferry across the Mersey(external link, opens in a new tab) to get an unrivalled look at Liverpool’s iconic buildings from the water
Explore the story of how the Fab Four conquered the world at The Beatles Story(external link, opens in a new tab), an immersive, award-winning homage
Free things to do in Liverpool
Take some time out of the city by visiting the 200-acre Sefton Park(external link, opens in a new tab), with its boating lake, cafe and replica statues of Eros and Peter Pan
Visit the stunning Museum of Liverpool(external link, opens in a new tab), on the banks of the Mersey, which has permanent Beatles, sporting and regional archaeology collections
Wander around Liverpool Cathedral(external link, opens in a new tab), the largest in Britain and the fifth largest in the world, or the striking Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral(external link, opens in a new tab)
Explore the International Slavery Museum(external link, opens in a new tab) to learn about the history of the transatlantic slave trade
Accessible Liverpool
If you require assistance for any part of your rail journey, please visit our Passenger Assist page to find out more
To search or browse Liverpool’s accessible attractions, restaurants, hotels and more, visit the AccessAble website(external link, opens in a new tab)
Theatre and shows in Liverpool
Catch a show at the Royal Court Liverpool(external link, opens in a new tab), a stunning art deco building in which the likes of John Gielgud and Judi Dench have performed
Unity Theatre(external link, opens in a new tab) prides itself on presenting work by both established and emerging artists that is affordable and community driven
Enjoy some brilliant jokes at the Hot Water Comedy Club(external link, opens in a new tab), which has 2 venues in the city
Sport in Liverpool
Find out all about Sporting Routes in the UK with Kirsty Gallacher’s audio series
Visit Everton FC’s home ground, Goodison Park(external link, opens in a new tab), or get 2FOR1 entry at the Liverpool Football Club Stadium Tour & Museum(external link, opens in a new tab) with National Rail’s Days Out Guide
Aintree Racecourse(external link, opens in a new tab) is the home of The Grand National
Explore probably the largest collection of billiards and snooker memorabilia in the world, at the Snooker Heritage Collection(external link, opens in a new tab)
Music in Liverpool
Find out all about the history of Liverpool’s Musical Routes with Jo Whiley’s audio guide
Visit the historic Cavern Club(external link, opens in a new tab), which hosted The Beatles, as well as the likes of Bo Diddley, the Rolling Stones and Arctic Monkeys
See a show at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall(external link, opens in a new tab), which draws an audience of over 350,000 people a year
Check out Future Yard(external link, opens in a new tab) in Birkenhead, a 280-capacity space for that supports new and established musicians in an intimate space with strong green credentials
LGBTQIA+ Liverpool
The Pride Quarter(external link, opens in a new tab) in the city centre is the home of many LGBQI+ events each year
Every year, Liverpool hosts its annual Pride Festival(external link, opens in a new tab)
Drag Me to Cabaret(external link, opens in a new tab) is an interactive drag show with singing, dancing and comedy
Liverpool in film and TV
Liverpool is a popular shooting location for many films and TV shows, including:
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was filmed in front of St George’s Hall
A fight scene in Creed was filmed at Goodison Park, the Everton FC stadium
One of the fight scenes in Captain America: The First Avenger was filmed in Stanley Docks
The Batman features a scene on top of the Liver Building
Find out more about Liverpool
Go to the Visit Liverpool website(external link, opens in a new tab).
Get 1/3 off train fares with a Railcard
Save up to 1/3 off your trips when you travel by train with a Railcard
From children to seniors, over 20 million people in Great Britain can save with a Railcard. See which one is right for you
Buy yours today for just £30 and you’ll make the cost back in 1 or 2 trips!
Journey times and offers are correct at time of publication but subject to change.
Ferry image credit: © VisitLiverpool
Royal Liver Building image credit: © VisitLiverpool
Sefton Park image credit: © VisitLiverpool
Royal Court Liverpool image credit: by Scouse Smurf is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
Cavern Club image credit: © VisitLiverpool
LGBTQ Quarter image credit: © VisitLiverpool
St George’s Hall image credit: © VisitLiverpool