Hop on the train for more fun this Easter with Merseyrail 

Merseyrail has got your Easter holidays sorted with access to plenty of things to see and do across Liverpool City Region

Spring has sprung and Easter’s just around the corner which means there’s loads to do in and around the city region.

And, while we all love a good egg hunt at this time of year, thankfully you don’t have to search too hard to find eggs-citing activities and attractions, many of them just a short walk from a Merseyrail Station.

With low-cost fares and trains from every 15 minutes, you can enjoy fab family days out without breaking the bank and save yourself the hassle of finding a place to park – which means there’s more time to have fun and keep everybody in a cracking mood.

A family day ticket* for two adults and up to three children costs just £13 for unlimited off-peak travel, and a day saver starts from £4.45 for adults and £2.20 for young people (5-18).

So, what are you waiting for? Hop to it…

Southport

With the weather cheering up a bit, Southport beach is always worth a visit, along with a trip to the revamped Southport Market which has got an Easter Extravaganza on Good Friday and Easter Saturday, April 7-8. There’s free face-painting and a live interactive Colin and his Egg-tastic Adventure show, and an Easter Slime Workshop on Wednesday, April 12.

You can have a gander around the shops in the Victorian Shopping arcade or stop for a cuppa and cake in one of the lovely tearooms and cafes, play a few games in Victoria Park, or blow away the cobwebs with a brisk walk along the famous prom.

If you’re feeling arty, the Atkinson’s got free craft workshops on throughout the Easter holidays, and for the thrill seekers among us, who can resist a trip to Southport Pleasureland which is back open with great rides and activities for all ages?

Best of it is, you’re just minutes from Southport Station where, if you take our advice, you’ll pick up an award-winning FWIP ice cream from the Mtogo store while you’re there!

New Brighton/ Wirral

You’re never short of things to do across the water – a train ride beneath the Mersey is an adventure in itself! – and this Easter is no different.

You’ve got the beautiful New Brighton for starters which is more than just a great beach with golden sands. You’ve got the amazing pier you can walk along with an ice cream (a 99 for us!) and don’t forget the marine lake, Perch Rock Fort, and Perch Rock lighthouse.  

All close to New Brighton Station, Marine Point leisure complex has got loads of shops, bars and restaurants, and there’s always plenty of new films at The Light Cinema including, on Saturday, April 8, Peter Rabbit with James Corden voicing the mischievous bunny.

For very little people there’s hours of fun guaranteed at Bubbles World of Play, and at Eureka! Science + Discovery there’s loads of activities in the MakeCreate zone. Over at Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight, they’re getting crafty too with a host of Craft and Create Spring sessions.

Liverpool City Centre

You can head into the city centre via Central Station, although with the new salted caramel flavour FWIP ice cream at the Mtogo store, and soft toy trains on offer as a souvenir of your journey, you might find it hard to leave!

But once you do, there’s a host of Easter fun round every corner. It’s Blooming Beautiful in Liverpool ONE, as thousands of flowers have been used to create stunning floral installations, all with the Ukrainian flag colours to celebrate Eurovision 2023. So, as you shop, take a trip to the cinema, dine at one of its restaurants, or test your putting skills at Junkyard Golf, you can admire the view and get even more eggs-cited about the world-famous contest coming to town.

Just up the road from Central Station, the Bombed Out Church is back open from Friday, March 31, just in time for Easter with family workshops and a visit from the Easter Bunny himself, and if you fancy a bit of song and slapstick, Sleeping Beauty is casting her panto spell at the Epstein Theatre from Friday, April 7 to Sunday, April 16.

The Indoor Funfair is back at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool (not far from Central and across the road from James Street Station) with 26 rides and attractions, and if that’s not enough to keep you busy, there are spring crafts galore across the venues at National Museums Liverpool and the Tate Liverpool.

South Liverpool

With all the daffs out Sefton Park’s looking lovely right now so it’s the perfect place for an Easter adventure, whether that includes a stroll around the lake or spotting the statues of Eros and Peter Pan (and it’s only a short walk from St Michaels Station). The café’s a great place to grab a bite to eat, and as well as marvelling at the breath-taking restored Palm House, you might want to join Auntie Egglentine who’s holding a fun-filled Easter Party with the Bookworm Players there on Wednesday, April 5, with games, dancing, an Easter Egg Hunt, and the chance to meet the Easter Bunny.

Otterspool Adventure is also hosting an Easter Adventure from April 1-16 with the fun including an Easter Egg Hunt, a show, a parade and a spring farm.

Find out about more days out, events and attractions at www.destinationmerseyside.com.

* It covers 1 or 2 adults travelling with children aged 5-15 and is valid for unlimited travel, excluding peak hours 06:31 – 09:29 Monday – Friday. Outside of these hours, including all day weekends and Bank Holidays, you can get on and off the train as much as you want!