Comparison · Liverpool vs Manchester · United Kingdom
Liverpool vs Manchester
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Peter Tarleton, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Choose Liverpool for The Beatles, Royal Albert Dock and beaches; choose Manchester for Football and Industrial heritage. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 50 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 50 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Liverpool
- May–July and September
- Best time for Manchester
- May–September
Side by side
| Liverpool | Manchester | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Known for | The Beatles, Royal Albert Dock and Liverpool FC and Everton | Football, Industrial heritage and Music scene |
| Best time to visit | May–July and September | May–September |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $150–$260 | $160–$280 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 20°C (68°F) | July, 21°C (70°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 8°C (46°F) | January, 7°C (45°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 11 | 13 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 7 |
| Beaches | Crosby Beach | — |
| Airports | LPL, MAN | MAN, LPL |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Liverpool for…
The Beatles, Royal Albert Dock and beaches. Liverpool grew rich as one of the world's great ports, and its waterfront still shows it: the Royal Liver Building and the other Three Graces at the Pier Head, and the iron-columned warehouses of the Royal Albert Dock. The city is also the home of the…
Choose Manchester for…
Football and Industrial heritage. Manchester was the world's first industrial city, and its centre is still built from the cotton warehouses, canals and railway viaducts of that era, now turned into bars, flats and venues. Most sights are free and walkable within the compact centre: the…
Top sights compared
| # | Liverpool | Manchester |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Albert Dock | Science and Industry Museum |
| 2 | The Beatles Story | John Rylands Library |
| 3 | Pier Head and the Three Graces | Manchester Museum |
| 4 | Royal Liver Building tower tour | Manchester Art Gallery |
| 5 | Museum of Liverpool | The Whitworth |
Food compared
| Liverpool | Manchester |
|---|---|
| Scouse | Curry on the Curry Mile |
| Blind scouse | Dim sum in Chinatown |
| Wet Nelly | Lancashire hotpot |
| Fish and chips | Eccles cake |
Which is cheaper?
Liverpool and Manchester cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $150–$260 in Liverpool and $160–$280 in Manchester (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Liverpool on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Liverpool and Manchester are about 50 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Liverpool and 3 in Manchester.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Liverpool or Manchester cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $150–$260 in Liverpool and $160–$280 in Manchester (estimates).
+Is Liverpool or Manchester better for a first trip?
Pick Liverpool for The Beatles, Royal Albert Dock and beaches, or Manchester for Football and Industrial heritage.
+How far is Liverpool from Manchester?
About 50 km in a straight line.