The Merseyrail destinations perfect for a day out this half-term

Merseyrail has got your half-term sorted with lots of destinations to explore across Liverpool City Region.

School’s out, and everything is starting to look a lot brighter across Liverpool City Region!

Life’s finally getting back on track and that means you can get out and about this February half-term and keep the kids super-busy – and happy – throughout the holiday.

There’s loads to do in and around Liverpool, with some of the most popular places only steps away from a Merseyrail station, and hopping on the train means you don’t have to worry about traffic jams and how to get there, or parking when you finally arrive!

A  Family Ticket with unlimited off-peak travel for a family of up to five costs just £13* so it’s not going to break the budget, and all you’ll have to focus on is having a great day out and spending precious time together.

So what are you waiting for? Just look at these five amazing places you can visit:

Southport

Destination station: Southport

If you jump on the train from Moorfields station it takes only 44 minutes to get to the ever-popular seaside resort.

Southport Market’s been transformed into a fab food and drink market, so this is definitely one for your itinerary with Mexican street food, perfect pizzas, traditional pie & mash, and more on the menu.

Kids’ll love the arcade and amusements at the entrance to the pier or you can try your luck at the vintage arcade with old penny slot machines at end of the pier pavillion. And, of course, Southport’s vintage pier is the second longest in the country so that alone is worth a stroll along with the chance to enjoy some classic coastal views. With miles of space Southport Beach has everything you need for that magical day out too.

Chester

Destination station: Chester

It takes 46 minutes to get from Liverpool Central station to Chester, and once you’re there you can soak up the Roman heritage of this beautiful city. You can visit the amphitheatre, historically used for entertainment and military training or take a walk around its famous city walls.

There are great places to grab a bite to eat too, from Sergios’s famous Italian restaurant or Hickory’s American Smokehouse by the river, to Siam Thai & Teppanyaki Restaurant if you’re on the hunt for something a little bit different.

Liverpool

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

Where to start with our fabulous city?! Well, how about the World Museum where you can begin by exploring dinosaurs and the natural earth, or uncovering the fascinating secrets of ancient Egypt; and not forgetting the Aquarium which is back with bigger and better tanks filled will all sorts of different species including an octopus called Polpo, or the out-of-this-world Planetarium.

The History Whisperer is a fabulous new experience which brings St George’s Hall to life and you can join Livie as she leads you through the sights and sounds of prison life in an immersive journey through this extraordinary building; and then there’s Liverpool ONE which, as well as all its stores, cafes, bars, restaurants and cinema, has got fab and fun things for kids like On the Green, its new golf experience, and Escape Live with its Horrible Histories Escape Room.

New Brighton

Destination station: New Brighton

Liverpool Central station is the place to jump on the train and, from there, it takes only 23 minutes to get to New Brighton.

If you’ve got little ones, Bubbles World of Play (aimed at up-to-11s) has got the largest play frame in the UK and kids can explore more than 30 different countries and zones; or you can check out the latest movies at The Light Cinema.

If you want the good times to roll, you can head to Riverside Bowl and see if you can score a strike, or target the fun at its LaserQuest challenge.

Sefton Park

Destination station: St Michael’s station 

It’s just a 12-minute train journey and then the shortest of walks to Sefton Park, one of the best-known and loved parks in Merseyside. Grade One listed, there are loads of great features at the 200-acre spot including the boating lake which you can take a stroll around, the replica statues of Eros and Peter Pan, the café, and the breath-taking Palm House that’s been beautifully restored. With so much space you can take a ball and have a game of footie, or if you’ve got plenty of energy, have fun in the children’s play areas.

* Family Tickets are valid for unlimited travel, only excluding peak hours 06:31 – 09:29 Monday – Friday. Outside of these hours, including all day weekends and Bank Holidays you can hop on and off the train as much as you want!

Find out more and book your tickets now by visiting the Merseyrail website HERE.