Getting around · Liverpool · United Kingdom
Getting around Liverpool
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Rodhullandemu, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Liverpool's centre is compact: the Pier Head, Albert Dock, Liverpool ONE, Bold Street and Lime Street are all within about 20 minutes' walk of each other. Merseyrail trains run under the centre and out to the Wirral, Crosby, Formby and Southport, and buses serve the suburbs and Anfield. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- LPL, MAN
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Merseytravel day tickets
Ways to get around
Walking
Walking from Lime Street station to the Albert Dock takes about 15–20 minutes, and from the Albert Dock up to the Anglican Cathedral about 15 minutes, mostly uphill.
Train
Merseyrail's underground loop links Lime Street, Central, Moorfields and James Street in the centre, with lines to Crosby, Formby, Southport, the Wirral, Chester and Liverpool South Parkway for the airport.
Bus
Buses run from Queen Square and Liverpool ONE bus stations to Anfield, Sefton Park, Woolton and other suburbs.
Ferry
Mersey Ferries cross from the Pier Head to Seacombe and Woodside on the Wirral, running both as commuter crossings and as river explorer cruises.
Taxi
Black cabs can be hailed or found at ranks at Lime Street station and in the centre, and ride-hailing apps operate across the city.
Tickets and passes
Merseytravel day tickets
Day tickets cover unlimited travel on buses, Merseyrail trains or both within chosen zones, which suits a day of trips to Crosby, Formby or the Wirral.
From the airport
Liverpool John Lennon Airport is about 12 km south-east of the centre. Buses run to the city centre in about 30–40 minutes, or a short bus connects to Liverpool South Parkway station for trains to Lime Street and Merseyrail to Central in about 10–15 minutes. Manchester Airport, about 55 km east, has direct trains to Lime Street in roughly 1 hour 10 minutes.
Do you need a car?
No. The centre is walkable and public transport covers the beaches, the Wirral and Chester. A car helps only for rural North Wales or the Lake District.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Chester | About 45 minutes by train | Merseyrail from Liverpool Central, or trains from Lime Street |
| Formby | About 30 minutes by train, then a walk | Merseyrail Northern line from Liverpool Central to Freshfield |
| Port Sunlight | About 15–20 minutes by train | Merseyrail Wirral line from the city centre |
| Manchester | About 35–50 minutes by train | Train from Lime Street |
| Southport | About 45 minutes by train | Merseyrail Northern line from Liverpool Central |
| Conwy | About 1 hour 30 minutes–2 hours by train | Train, usually changing at Chester |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Liverpool?
No. The centre is walkable and public transport covers the beaches, the Wirral and Chester. A car helps only for rural North Wales or the Lake District.
+How do you get from the airport to Liverpool?
Liverpool John Lennon Airport is about 12 km south-east of the centre. Buses run to the city centre in about 30–40 minutes, or a short bus connects to Liverpool South Parkway station for trains to Lime Street and Merseyrail to Central in about 10–15 minutes. Manchester Airport, about 55 km east, has direct trains to Lime Street in roughly 1 hour 10 minutes.
+What is the best way to get around Liverpool?
Walking: Walking from Lime Street station to the Albert Dock takes about 15–20 minutes, and from the Albert Dock up to the Anglican Cathedral about 15 minutes, mostly uphill.