Nine great places to visit in and around Merseyside this bank holiday weekend

Liverpool is full of things to see and do, but you might want to travel a little further afield for a day this bank holiday weekend.

Many will want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city to a quieter place to relax with friends and family. The ECHO has compiled a list of places you can visit in, around and a little further afield in Merseyside.

Whether you want to visit the coast, stretch your legs for a walk or grab a bite to eat, there is something for everyone. These beauty spots and villages are worth seeking out and spending some time in.

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Whether these places are on your doorstep or require a bit of a drive, they’re definitely worth the drive to see for yourself. The list below is not extensive, but it is a few places that ECHO has visited recently. Please share your own favorites in the comments.

Village with secret waterfall, Netflix cave and hidden tiny house

Rydal is a small village in Cumbria in the Lake District, situated between Ambleside and Grasmere. The village boasts beautiful views, a secret waterfall and a hidden house within a two-hour drive from Liverpool.

Things to see include Rydal Cave, which was recently rated as one of the best places to visit in the UK by Time Out, Rydal Hall with its secret waterfall and Ambleside, where you can grab a bite to eat at a traditional pub.

You can read more about it here.

Secluded village with beautiful beach “unlike anywhere else”

Walking down a country lane in Thurstaston, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were on holiday. Just 30 minutes from Liverpool, the village is home to farms, a caravan park, cozy cafes and beautiful walks.

Thurstaston Beach is small in size but wouldn’t look out of place on the Cornish coast. Wooden steps lead down from Wirral Country Park to the beach on the sandy banks of the Dee Estuary. It sits at the bottom of the clay cliffs and on a clear day offers beautiful views across Wales.

There’s also the Wirral Way – a walk along the track of an old railway that runs from West Kirby to Hooton in the middle of the Wirral, offering superb views across the Dee Estuary to Wales. Originally the railway formed a circuit of the Wirral and this is the missing link.

There are also plenty of cafes to visit where you can grab a coffee and cake. You can read more about it here.

The “landless” seaside village used to be the gateway to another land

Just 30 minutes from Liverpool is Cheshire’s only coastal resort which is like ‘being by the sea without the sea’.

The picturesque village of Parkgate on the Wirral peninsula is known for its award-winning ice cream, fish and chips and stunning views across the Dee Estuary to the Welsh hills. But 300 years ago it was home to one of Britain’s busiest ports, described as Cheshire’s gateway to Ireland.

The port was not only used to trade goods from England to Dublin, but also played an important role in Irish migration. As the River Dee went through its natural silting process in the 1800s, the receding waters gave way to a beach resort where people went to bathe.

Today, the water has receded from Parkgate all together and is now isolated by the River Dee and the Irish Sea. What was once a beach has been replaced by a salt marsh and RSPB nature reserve with a variety of wildlife that attracts bird watchers and walkers from the North West.

You can read more about it here.

‘Cute’ village with scenic walks, beer gardens and family run chippy, 30 minutes from Liverpool

A ‘cute’ village with beer gardens, scenic walks and a family run chippy continues to grow.

Coming off the M62, it would be easy to drive into and through Cronton and not stop – but whether it’s a hot summer’s day or time to wind down, it’s definitely a destination worth seeking out. Around half an hour away from Liverpool city centre, the village is home to a nature reserve, a beautiful tavern, a historic pub, popular chippy, scenic walks and much more.

Popular with families, dog walkers and cyclists, Pex Hill boasts stunning views, with visitors able to see the mountains of North Wales and the Mersey Estuary on a clear day. The nature reserve, owned by United Utilities, is known for its astronomical observatory and a disused quarry.

There are also places to visit for something to eat and drink including The Dandelion Tavern, The Unicorn Inn and Cronton Fish Bar. You can read more about it here.

Seaside town that is ‘like the Mediterranean’ when the sun comes out

A historic part of Cheshire, Hoylake is nestled on the Wirral peninsula between West Kirkby and Meols. Around 250,000 tourists from around the world descended on the seaside city last summer for The Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.

There are plenty of places to visit in the seaside town. People can enjoy a walk along the promenade on a sunny day, visit Market Street where there are plenty of places to eat and drink – or paint some pottery – or take your dog to ran on the beach.

There is no shortage of walks with incredible views at Hoylake. It is home to Red Rocks Marsh – a coastal reserve covering 10 acres of sand dunes, reeds and marsh. Red Rocks Beach can be accessed from Stanley Road in Hoylake and offers stunning views across the Dee Estuary to Wales on a clear day.

More than 200 species of birds have been recorded in the nature reserve, which is also home to 50 species of flowering plants. The stew is also home to Wirral’s only toad breeding colony.

You can read more about it here.

Amazing Harry Potter location you can visit for free two hours from Liverpool

As many will know, Yorkshire is not too far away and has plenty of scenic walks to boast. Malham Cove is a popular route that takes in the stunning scenery of Malham Cove, Gordale Scar, Janet’s Foss and Malham Tarn, which is the highest lake in Britain.

Last year he also presented ITV’s Britain’s Favorite Walks, presented by Julia Bradbury. The site – around two hours’ drive from Liverpool – is steeped in history, overlooks the village of Malham and has attracted visitors for centuries. But recent years have seen Harry Potter fans arriving in their droves.

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, scenes were filmed throughout the area, including the bay and Malham Tarn. Fans will note that the natural limestone formation is the location where Harry and Hermione make out after an argument with Ron Weasley.

There are also lovely pubs to stop at in the nearby village of Malham. Read more about it here.

Gorgeous village with ‘biggest beer garden’ and ‘scenic walks’ just 20 minutes from Liverpool

Frankby is steeped in history and is known for its historic buildings, scenic walks, popular pub and incredible five star hotel.

The Farmers Arms, is a popular pub enjoyed by residents from all over the Wirral. A standout landmark on the quiet road, it boasts stunning views, a huge beer garden and everything you could want from a traditional country pub.

Last year The Farmers Arms was one of four Merseyside pubs shortlisted for the Great British Pub Awards. A destination in its own right, the pub has been at the heart of the community for more than a century.

Nearby is Royden Park, which boasts woodland, meadows, fishing and wetlands, as well as a walled garden, miniature railway and more. On Sundays, you can see the children’s favorite steam passenger locomotive.

Royden Park also holds regular craft fairs. But in the grounds you can also find a large Mock Tudor house known as HillBark, which was rebuilt between 1929 and 1931.

You can read more about it here.

Hidden gem village with Michelin Guide restaurant and award winning cheese shop

Located just south of Southport, Birkdale is a typical Victorian village that has managed to retain many traditional businesses – from a fishmonger to a liquor store, butcher and cheese shop. Among these businesses are a number of independent bars and restaurants that attract both locals and visitors from further afield at weekends.

The village of Birkdale is just a short walk from Southport Beach, which attracts visitors on their way back from a coastal walk. When it comes to places to eat and drink, the village is spoiled for choice.

It also includes an award-winning cheese shop – Birkdale Cheese Co – which sells a selection of classic cheese flavors from Birkdale blue and Birkdale mature cheddar to more exotic cheeses such as 8 Blumen – a swiss coated cheese in eight different varieties of wild flower. Customers can sit outside and enjoy a glass of wine and a cheese or charcuterie board.

The shop was recently named as one of the UK’s most influential cheesemongers of 2024. It has now teamed up with nearby Majestic Wines to offer cheese and wine nights.

You can read more about it here.

Four Michelin star village where people “made them feel immediately at home”

Set in green pastures and rolling fields of farmland, Aughton is home to just over 8,000 people. The village lies between Maghull and Ormskirk on the border between Merseyside and West Lancashire and is only a 25 minute train journey from Liverpool Central.

Arriving in Aughton, visitors will find a residential area where tree lined roads are found in all parts of the parish. They will also find four Michelin stars.

Michelin awards the prestigious distinction to establishments in its annual guide based on food quality, cooking techniques, value and consistency. In the 2023 edition, So-Lo in Aughton received one star for the first time, while nearby Moor Hall retained its two stars. The barn at Moor Hall has retained one star.

Just up the road from Town Green station is a string of establishments making their mark, these include a butchers, cafe and bar. The area is perfect for a walk and for a special meal.

You can read more about it here.

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