To celebrate the return of the Wirral Loop Line after the six month track renewal works, we take a look at what’s on offer across the region this summer with Merseyrail.
Regular services from Wirral are now running through to Liverpool as normal with return fares from as little as £1.95.
This means you can now spend, hopefully sunny, days and nights rediscovering the region this summer.
Here are some ideas to get you started.
International Beatles Week, 23 – 29 August
This is truly an international event with 70 bands from over 20 countries and fans from over 40.
Live music is the focus of International Beatleweek with three stages at The Cavern Club, in Mathew Street, all day, every day (with a different band on every hour), but the festival also goes out into the city to various venues so you can get a real feel of Liverpool.
This year, Beatleweek will be at the Royal Court, Alma De Cuba, St. George’s Hall and it’s back to the Adelphi Hotel for late night parties and the Annual Beatles convention.
Nearest Merseyrail station: Moorfields for The Cavern, Lime Street for the Royal Court, St George’s Hall & the Adelphi, Central for Alma De Cuba
More information here https://www.internationalbeatleweek.com
Folk Festival On The Dock, 26-28 August
The Albert Dock’s Folk Festival on the Dock began in 2016, presented by the BBC’s Janice Long.
The event welcomed over 100 folk, roots and sea shanty acts making almost 450 performers. With last year’s inaugural event being so successful, the FREE event is back over August Bank Holiday weekend to celebrate Liverpool’s rich musical heritage
Nearest Merseyrail station: James Street
For more information, visit http://www.albertdock.com/events/event/folk-dock-2017/
Clipper Round The World Yacht Race, 20 August
The biggest round-the-world ocean race is to return to Liverpool with the start and finish of this unique global challenge moving from the capital back to the River Mersey, 10 years since it last came.
The 2017-18 edition of the famous Clipper Round the World Yacht Race will set sail from Albert Dock, returning approximately 11 months later in Summer 2018.
The 40,000-nautical mile Clipper 2017-18 Race will mark the fourth-time Liverpool has hosted the Clipper Race in its eleven editions, making the city the event’s most frequented start and finish port ever.
Nearest Merseyrail station: James Street
For more information visit https://www.clipperroundtheworld.com
Visit the new look Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill Liverpool
The celebrity chef’s restaurant has just has just had a radical makeover.
Boasting a chic new look that pays homage to the rich industrial heritage of the restaurant’s location on Chapel Street – once home to the city’s cotton trade – and Liverpool’s enduring music legacy, Marco’s is a place where guests feel welcome and relaxed to unwind and enjoy great food and impeccable service, at an affordable price.
As part of the reinvention is a brand new menu, designed by Marco, featuring classic dishes made using a range of seasonal ingredients, with steak remaining very much at the heart, all sourced from Royal Warrant appointed butcher, Campbell Brothers.
Marco is the Godfather of modern cooking, a true original, and this new look steakhouse will re-establish his rightful place at the top of Liverpool’s restaurant scene.
Nearest Merseyrail station: Moorfields (Old Hall Street exit)
For more information visit https://www.mpwrestaurants.co.uk/our-brands/steakhouse-bar-and-grill/liverpool/
Enjoy a family day out at the Pier Head Village
This summer festival on Liverpool’s iconic waterfront runs until September 10.
It includes three of Europe’s tallest and most thrilling adrenaline rides, an inflatable village for the little ones, live acoustic music at the Sound City bar, a beach club and artisan & farmers’ market. Now that the Wirral loop line is open again, a family of up to 5 can get there for just £11 with a Merseyrail Family Ticket.
It is open seven days a week from 11am-11pm.
Nearest station: James Street
For more information, visit www.pierheadvillageliverpool.com
The Mermaid Trail, New Brighton
An exciting new tourist trail celebrating a New Brighton legend is New Brighton’s latest visitor attraction.
The Mermaid Trail takes its inspiration from ‘The Black Rock Mermaid’, who was said to have appeared to a local sailor in New Brighton in the 18th century.
The Mermaid Trail is a set of six identical Mermaid statues situated in key locations across New Brighton. They have each been individually decorated, four of them by local schools, one by a community group and one by the local artist who designed and sculpted the statues, Barry Canning-Eaton.
Statue 1 – Kings Parade
Statue 2 – Atherton Street/Victoria Road
Statue 3 – Seabank Road
Statue 4 – Vale Park
Statue 5 – Marine Promenade
Statue 6 – Victoria Parade
The Mermaid Trail is free but you can buy a map guide at various locations in New Brighton.
Nearest station: New Brighton
Port Sunlight
Port Sunlight was founded by ‘Soap King’ William Hesketh Lever in 1888 to house his ‘Sunlight Soap’ factory workers.
His business is now better known as Unilever, the global company which makes some of the world’s most popular brands.
Today, his village is home to a fascinating museum, beautiful architecture, a world-class art gallery, stunning parkland and a thriving community.
Most of the attractions are free of charge but we recommend the village trails for families. ‘Explorers’ and ‘Past and Present’ which can be picked up from the museum gift shop for just 60p each.
Nearest station: Port Sunlight or Bebington
For more information, visit http://portsunlightvillage.com/whats-on/
Enjoy an award-winning ice cream at Caffe Cream
Homemade in Wirral, Caffe Cream has two parlours at Marine Point, in New Brighton and at Birkenhead Park visitors’ centre.
They have over 130 flavours, which are rotated according to the season and also include vegan ice cream too.
They recently hit the headlines after launching, possibly, the strangest food combo ever – ice cream and chips.
Over the years, they have collected an array of regional and national awards, ranging from two Wirral Taste Awards to a number of Great Taste and ICA Awards.
Nearest stations: New Brighton and Birkenhead Park
For more information visit http://www.caffecream.co.uk
Birkenhead Park
Designed by Sir Joseph Paxton and opened in April 1847, Birkenhead Park was the first publicly funded park in the world.
Birkenhead Park has influenced the design of urban parks across the World, and was the inspiration for the most famous urban park in the world – Central Park, New York.
Today, Birkenhead Park is a Grade I listed historic landscape and conservation area, with many Grade II and Grade II* listed buildings and structures. It is recognised as a site of excellence by Green Flag and holds the prestigious Green Heritage Award.
There is so much to see and do, including a large adventure playground for children, 2 cricket clubs, tennis courts, bowling greens, football pitches and 2 large fishing lakes.
Entry is free of charge.
Nearest station: Birkenhead Park
For more information, visit http://www.visitwirral.com/things-to-do/birkenhead-park-p44211
