Merseyrail – What’s on around Liverpool City Region this Christmas, and how to get there by train

Christmas is coming, and there’s loads to see and do across the whole of the city region – and getting there is easy with Merseyrail.

Not only does it mean you can leave the car at home and treat yourself to a mulled wine – or a glass of festive fizz, you can spend all your time enjoying the fab events and experiences around instead of getting grumpy as you try to find somewhere to park.

There are regular services across the Merseyrail network, with trains every 15 minutes to get you to your Christmassy destination with ease, and fares are low-cost too so you’ll have even more money to spend on Christmas shopping!

And, there’s an extra reason to let the train take the strain because it could mean there’ll be a surprise pressie in it for you – from us! 

Every Monday from now until Christmas, we’re doing a great giveaway of theatre tickets to some very lucky passengers. Our special elf, Claire Simmo, will be greeting commuters with the festive freebie to brighten up their day – and it could be you. So keep your eye on The Guide Liverpool socials to see where she’ll be.

If you want to give yourself a special Christmas gift, here are 10 things you can do around the city region, and how to get there by train:

Liverpool – Market and Luna Cinema at St George’s Hall

Liverpool Christmas Market’s back at St George’sPlateau, William Brown Street and St John’s Gardens until Christmas Eve which means there’s plenty of time to bag a bargain with stalls filled with Christmas gifts, art & crafts, and jewellery. It’s also chance to enjoy some fabulous food from Yorkshire pudding wraps to pretzels and crepes; a drink at the various bars, or, if you fancy it, a sing-song on the karaoke ski lifts.

If you’d rather stay inside, The Luna Winter Cinema is returning to St George’s Hall from December 10-23, with some seasonal classics from Home Alone and Elf, to A Muppet Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life. Throw in some mulled wine and a mince pie and you’ve got yourself a very merry Christmas.

Destination stations: Moorfields, James Street, Liverpool Central or Lime Street.

Chester – Christmas Market

Chester is set to sparkle once again for Christmas with the launch of its Christmas Market, festive parades and a host of events guaranteed to get you in the mood for Santa’s arrival.

The ever-popular market will be back in Town Hall Square and to ensure a festive feel, the Christmas lights will be on across the city centre.  

The Christmas Market will be open Sunday to Wednesday 10.30am to 6.30pm Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 10.30am to 8pm.

Destination station: Chester.

Southport – Gingerbread Family Trail

Ooh how many will you be able to find? Ten members of the Gingerbread family have been hidden in store windows throughout the seaside town and the challenge is on to find them all. Pick up a 

Gingerbread Map Trail or to follow it online through the Southport BID website to see if you can tick off all 10, and once you have written down all their names, pop your entries into Santa’s letterbox in Wayfarers Arcade and you could win an iPad!

Destination station: Southport.

Liverpool – Christmas shopping at Liverpool ONE

It’s a one-stop destination where you’re guaranteed to get pressies for every member of your family with stores from high-street to high-end to suit every taste and budget. Whether it’s jewellery for Auntie Joan, or new togs for your other half you know you’ll be sorted, AND you can start to feel all festive with lots of tinkling Christmas lights and Liverpool ONE’s new show-stopping 25ft neon tree. That’s at the heart of Alpine Village, which also boasts games, wreath-making, food and drink stalls, and fun family events.

Destination stations: Moorfields, James Street, Liverpool Central or Lime Street.

Aigburth – World Cup Fan Park in Sefton Park

The World Cup has officially kicked off in Qatar- and so has the Fan Park in Sefton Park. A heated big top that will seat up to 2,500 fans, it will keep out the winter chills as you soak up all the action on the pitch. And, along with fabulous food stalls, there’ll be tons going on inside, including music from around the globe to tie in with that day’s teams, dance acts, a matchday host and appearances from footballing legends.

Destination station: St Michael’s station.

Liverpool – Albert Dock light trail and Turner Prize

Evening strolls just got a bit brighter with the magical, illuminated trail at the Albert Dock. It’s back now and this year there’s a stunning Yellow Submarine outside The Beatles Story as well as giant lit-up characters Triton, Neptune, Bella and Bertie, and a twinkling jellyfish outside the Martin Luther King Jr building. You can download a map with a specially-selected playlist to see if you can track them all down.

And, with the winner soon to be announced, you can see what the Turner Prize is all about as Tate Liverpool presents a free exhibition of work by the four shortlisted artists.

Destination stations: Moorfields, Lime Street, James Stret and Central.

Wirral – Christmas day out in New Brighton

It might be a little cold to go for a paddle on its famous beach – or is it? – but it’s still worth a festive trip to New Brighton. The Light has got tons of festive films to satisfy all those seasonal cravings (including Spirited with Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds and a fantastic Frozen Sing-A-Long), and there’s large helpings of slapstick, song and panto fun at the Floral Pavilion with this year’s panto, Cinderella, starring Lee Latchford Evans. The Floral Pavilion is also hosting Santa for special Storytime Sessions, and you can enjoy a Festive Afternoon Tea; and if it’s some shopping you need to do, then Marine Point has got more gift ideas than Santa’s elves.

Destination Station: New Brighton.

Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet

Not just a great place to pick up all your Christmas gifts or get that party outfit, Cheshire Oaks has a whole host of festivities over the Christmas season including a Winter Village where you can book a magical Christmas hut and enjoy a traditional German bratwurst from the swing grill, or warm up with a mulled wine at the bar. 

There’s fairground fun with the big ferris wheel, on which you can upgrade your flight to book Santa in the Sky, and a carousel. And Cheshire Oaks – which has the second tallest Christmas tree in the UK, at more than 100ft tall and with over 100,000 baubles and thousands of twinkling lights – promises entertainment too with live music including a gospel choir, and more.

Destination station: Chester then get the X8 bus

M&S Bank Arena – Aladdin in Panto 

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Christmas isn’t Christmas without a trip to the panto, and M&S Bank Arena promises one of the best with Coronation’s Street’s baddie Connor McIntyre starring as Abanazar, and the Guide and Radio City’s Leanne Campbell appearing as The Spirit of the Ring, in Aladdin.

Aladdin, his mum Widow Twankey, and his brother Wishee Washee embark on a magical adventure to try to defeat the evil Abanazar, but will Aladdin save the day and get to marry the beautiful Princess Jasmine?

Destination stations: Moorfields, Lime Street, James Stret and Central.

*Don’t forget drinking alcohol is banned from all Merseyrail trains and stations so hold off until you get to your festive destination before you pour your mulled wine.

Find out more about Merseyrail services this Christmas HERE.