How to make your weekend in Liverpool extra Christmassy

Get your Christmas jumper on and prepare for a whirlwind festive weekend in the city.

Okay so first up we know there’s no way you’re going to get around all the festive treats we’ve got lined up here, although some brave souls might give it a go, but we wanted to make sure there was something for everyone. Whether you’re off for pancakes with Santa, enjoying a waterfront stroll under the twinkly lights or tucking into a roast dinner with your family, here’s how to get Christmassy on a weekend in Liverpool,

Friday: It’s 4pm, you’ve collected the kids and it’s time for some after-school fun in the dark. With thousands of lights, sweet treats and thrill rides, what are you waiting for, let’s go!

Liverpool Christmas Ice Festival, Pier Head

Pre-book your ice-skating tickets and burn off some steam on the rink overlooked by our stunning Three Graces. Skate hire is included in the price and there are lockers for your valuables too. Having skated yourself dizzy, follow your nose to the food stalls and tuck into a fresh frankfurter loaded with sauce or a Nutella slathered crepe to warm you through before taking on the thrill rides or stopping in at the Ice Bar for a shot or two. Click here for more info.

Liverpool Museum Santa Selfie

On your way along the water front why not nip into the Museum of Liverpool and get a selfie with the famous Blackler’s Santa? This monumental big fella stands tall at over 5 metres and he wears a size 45 boot! More fun Santa facts here.

Albert Dock Light Spectacular & tasty festive treats

Next stop after dark has to be the Martin Luther King Jnr Building at Albert Dock to watch this years thrilling light spectacular (daily from 5pm-10pm on loop) which uses this iconic Liverpool landmark as a blank canvas to tell a captivating Christmas tale. You’ll likely need some munchies again by now so head around to Puffle Waffle for sweet and savoury Christmas comfort food at its best. Click here to see more on Christmas at Albert Dock.

Saturday: The only way to start your Saturday is with a big brekkie with the main man himself, followed by more festive fun, a bit of crimbo shopping and some hot toddies to warm your cockles. Get on it!

Breakfast with Santa at Pioneer, Crosby

How about starting your Christmas weekend in Liverpool having brekkie with Santa? Pioneer, Crosby is hosting a special breakfast event with singing elves, meet and greet with Santa, receive a gift plus a full English brekkie, pancakes, and top notch service, all for as little as £11 for the kids. Click here to book your spec. We’re also hearing great things about Breakfast with Santa event Wigwam Coffee Shop too!

Crimbo Shopping at Liverpool One and karaoke at Bar Hutte

Liverpool ONE is jam-packed with great Christmas gift ideas for all the family and with extended shopping hours throughout December, there’s no mad rush to get it all done at once. Browse more than 170 stores, pick up some prezzies, treat yourself to a cracking office party outfit, get a selfie by the 30m high tree, and get Christmassy with a mulled wine and round of karaoke with your mates at Bat Hutte. Click here for all the Christmas what’s on info at Liverpool ONE.

Liverpool’s Famous Grotto, St Johns Market

Having sang yourself hoarse on the karaoke, take a wander over to St John’s Market and prepare to go on a journey, leaving the famous Liverpool Landmarks behind as you head off for the North Pole. Liverpool’s famous Grotto, formerly of Lewis’s, has settled into it’s new home at St John’s Market and it’s everything we hoped it would be. Enjoy the spectacle of all the Christmas scenes before meeting Santa in his lodge for a little chat and a photo. What Christmas with kids is all about! More info here.

Wander the Liverpool Christmas Markets take in traditional carols at St George’s Hall

Feeling peckish again? You have to try the roast dinner wrap at Liverpool Christmas Market, we did and we’re still daydreaming about it! Huge Yorkshire puddings wrap around fresh roast turkey and all the trimmings and we guarantee it’ll leave you with gravy-dripping smiles all round! There’s more than 40 stalls at the St George’s Hall based market selling everything from stocking fillers to hot toddies and even snow! Click here to find out more. 

All is calm, all is bright in the St George’s Quarter. For a truly traditional Christmas celebration why not book your tickets to a carol concert at St George’s Hall? The beautiful setting of the great hall an concert rooms bring festive songs and carols alive with an unrivalled winters evening atmosphere. Click here to see what’s on.

Christmas cocktails and wines at Lock & Key

Christmas tipple you say? Oh yes we’re well up for that and where is more classy to enjoy a perfectly selected glass of wine or cocktail than at newly opened Lock & Key, Duke Street. Having kept a lot of original features, the interior of Lock & Key Kitchen & Bar screams cool decadence and is the perfect place for pre-drinks on your Christmas night out. Cheers! More info here.

A festive family meal at The Club House

If you’re looking for a pre-Christmas dinner for all the family to enjoy, we recommend The Club House, Liverpool ONE. Having just launched it’s mouth-watering new winter menu including the famous turkey hanging kebab with spiced cranberry glaze and our favourite chocolate and peanut tart! The kids menu is fab, the cocktails and frozen and The Lodge pop up venue is open for shuffleboard! Click here to discover more.

Panto madness at the Epstein with our Simmo

There’s tonnes of panto’s to choose from across the Liverpool City Region from Snow White in St Helens, to Rock N’ Roll Little Mermaid at The Everyman, Aladdin at the Echo Arena and Jungle Book at the Unity. We’re heading to see our very own Clare Simmo transform into her alter ego Tinkerbell in Peter Pan at the Epstein this weekend, starring alongside Dane Bowers in this classic JM Barrie tale of the boy who couldn’t grow up. Click here for a full panto round up. 

To book your tickets to the biggest shows in the best Liverpool venues, head to www.ticketmaster.co.uk or click here.

Christmas film nights at The Jac, FACT and Crosby Plaza

Alongside the family friendly panto’s you can catch up on some serious Christmas chill time with classic film showings across the city too. The Jacaranda is hosting movie nights, showing the likes of Die Hard and Elf to an audience of just 30, with big squishy beanbags and free popcorn, plus Crosby Plaza Cinema is lining up Daddy’s Home 2 and Olaf’s Frozen Adventure. What’s your fave Christmas film?

Sunday: A day of rest, or a full day of all things Christmas in Liverpool! Grab your wellies and get ready for some fresh air fun, tree decorating, fairground rides and plenty of the finest comfort food.

Hearty Breakfast in the suburbs at The Old Stables

Enjoy a hearty, healthy or indulgent breakfast on Sunday morning at the stunning Old Stables Restaurant at Allerton Manor. Decked out in it’s festive best, this light filled dining room is the perfect place to start a lazy Sunday with the family, or fuel your belly for plenty of fairground fun. We recommend the full 18 breakfast and American pancakes! Full menu here.

Great value winter fun at Santa Land, Calderstones Park

We’re staying in the suburbs for our Santa meet and greet today as Santa Land at Calderstones Park offers up great value fun for all the family. For just £10 your kids can enjoy three hours unlimited access to 8 great rides plus they can enjoy story time with Mrs Claus and then head in to meet Father Christmas himself. There’s a bar for the adults to warm up with mulled wine and hot drinks plus plenty of hot and cold snacks too. Check it out here.

Decorate your tree and home with Taskers

You can never have too many twinkly lights at Christmastime, and so we’re nipping over to Taskers to stock up on a few more decorations, LED lights, maybe another tree for the dining room, a stocking for the dog, an extra chair for Christmas dinner and a partridge in a pear tree! If you’re still looking for some crimbo decorating inspiration, Taskers will sort you right out. Click here to find out more.

Spent up and shopped out, Pizza time at Crazy Pedro’s

What a Sunday! We’re starving and only a completely bonkers, unique Christmas pizza from Liverpool’s newest pizza joint, Crazy Pedro’s on Parr Street will satisfy out hungry bellies.  The Mary, Joseph and Baby Cheese’s pizza is a festive taste sensation with delicious helpings of all your Christmas favourites. Bite into turkey, pigs in blankets, sage and onion stuffing, honey roasted parsnips and cranberry sauce, it will literally have you rocking around the Christmas tree. Menus and more here.

Raise a glass to the McCallister’s at The Home Alone Christmas Theme Bar

The tree is up, the presents are wrapped, have we forgotten anything? KEVVIINNNNN! We mean…..DRINKSSSSSS. Baltic Triangle has just welcomed probably the coolest new bar for festive drinks. The Home Alone Christmas Theme Bar is basically the McCallisters all American home, and you’re invited in for a drink! Wrap this up with a round of ghetto golf or a night at 24 Kitchen Street for an unforgettable office night out. Click here for more.

However you get into the Christmas spirit in Liverpool, we hope you have a ball! For more ways to entertain the kids this winter click here, and if you’re looking for foodie inspiration we’ve got you covered too, just click here and prepare to drool!

We reckon that little lot will keep you busy for a whole weekend in Liverpool! If you think we’ve missed out a brilliant Liverpool Christmas event then drop us a line! Tweet us @TheGuideLpool or drop us a message on Facebook here, and we’ll share the best on our socials.