The Ultimate Guide to Christmas Shopping in Liverpool

The countdown to Christmas has officially started now our shops are open again and Christmas shopping in Liverpool is ON. Time is of the essence as we approach the big day and of course, you want to stay safe so it’s best to plan ahead. 

Here’s our ultimate Christmas Shopping in Liverpool Guide to give you plenty of tips and ideas …

How to get to town

The easiest way is by bus or train because then you’re not on the clock for parking. Arriva bus and Merseyrail train services are running safely again, just remember your mask! Check out which ones you’ll need and the times here – you’ll find the Christmas timetables too: 

Visit Arriva’s website here. 

Visit the Merseyrail website here. 

Parking

If you’d sooner take your car, then you’ll need to find somewhere to park. If you’re going to Liverpool ONE then the most convenient options are Q-Parks at Liverpool ONE (go in off the Strand), John Lewis or Hanover Street. It’s £2.70 for up to an hour, up to three hours is £8.50.

Parking at the Albert Dock is £3 for up to an hour, and £8 for three hours. Between Bold Street and Renshaw Street you’ll find Liverpool Central Village NCP, that’s £1 for up to an hour and £4 for 2-4 hours.

You can park at The Liner Hotel on Lord Nelson Street for £4 all day, or King Park which is opposite Kings Dock for £1 for the first hour up to £5 all day. There’s also loads of on-street parking if you want to take your chances at finding a space.

Opening hours

Picture – Liverpool BID Company

Lots of shops are making up for lost time by opening later in the run-up to Christmas so you’ve got extra time to get everything. For the big high street names, Liverpool ONE shops are open until 9pm on weekdays until Wed Dec 23, until 7pm on Saturdays and 5pm on Sundays. M&S on Church Street has extended its opening hours to 9pm on weekdays and 10pm from Dec 21-23. Primark is open until 10pm weekdays and 8pm on Saturdays. John Lewis is open until 8pm weekdays, 7pm Saturdays and 5pm Sundays.

Lunch pit stops

When you’re Christmas shopping, you might as well make a day of it, so you’ll be needing somewhere to have lunch. Try these 6 places for a re-fuel …

Bold Street Coffee

Picture – Antonio Franco

BSC’s one of Liverpool’s favourite indies and if you’re up the Bombed Out Church end of Bold Street, it’s the perfect place to break for a brew and a buoy (the creamy mushrooms on toasts are spot-on too).

More info here.

Duke Street Market

If you can’t quite decide who wants what for lunch, don’t argue – go to Duke Street Market instead because then everyone gets their pick. Cahita’s Christmas gravy dip Cubano is a festive stunner.

Pre-book your table here.

Rococo Coffee House

Shoppers in town know and love this place, it’s become a real Liverpool destination. Head upstairs on Lord Street, near the big H&M, grab a squishy sofa and relax with a panini.

Visit the website here.

Leaf

Back to Bold Street, if it’s cold out then you could use a soup and a sandwich, and Leaf knows this so it’s got you covered. Soup of the day with fresh focaccia sounds like a winner.

More info here.

Peaberry Coffee House & Kitchen

You can spend all day shopping down at the Albert Dock so stop off at Peaberry’s while you’re there – they’ve got a Christmas Club sandwich on toasted sourdough on the go right now.

Visit the website here.

Bluecoat Café

It’s good to see the Bluecoat on School Lane open again, and that doesn’t just mean the exhibition space, the café is open too and if it’s a sunny winter day there’s always the garden out back.

Get more info here.

Coffee/hot chocolate pit stops

You can’t shop without a bit of a warm-up somewhere along the way, so here’s 6 of our favourite places to stop off for a coffee or a hot chocolate …

Ropes & Twines

If you’re up on Bold Street, try Ropes & Twines speciality coffee shop and wine bar. Check out the fantastic gingerbread version of the street in their festive window display while you’re there.

More info here.

Mother

Still up that end of town, if you’re starting to flag looking for your pressies, get yourself to Wood Street for a double shot espresso that’ll keep you going ‘til closing time!

Visit the website here.

Moose Coffee

The brekkies in Moose are a feast, but it’s worth coming here even if it’s just for a coffee or go all-out with a Mallow Moose Hot Chocolate, loaded with whipped cream and marshmallows.

Visit the website here.

Thoughtfully Cafe

Two minutes from the John Lewis end of Liverpool ONE, in Cleveland Square, you’ll find the little gem that is Thoughtfully Café. Outdoor tables get you a waterfront view and the mince pies are perfect.

Visit the website here.

Root Coffee

On Hanover Street, right in the heart of all the shops, you’ll find Root Coffee. There’s coffees, obviously, or you might want to try one of their speciality hot chocolates like a white choc or red velvet.

More info here.

Hotel Chocolat

If you fancy a bit of indulgence, and after schlepping around the shops you’ve earned it, take yourself to Hotel Chocolat café in Liverpool ONE and get a speciality hot choc – how about salted caramel or chilli?

More info here.

Where’s the deccies?

Pic credit. Peter Byrne/PA

Liverpool looks really beautiful right now, all lit up for Christmas. Obviously there’s the trees – the two main ones are the multi-coloured hearts one in Liverpool ONE and the traditional one at the top end of Church Street – but there’s loads more too. The Albert Dock is absolutely stunning thanks to a Christmas Light Walk with nearly three million lights including a huge Liver Bird. Find out where all the best deccies and places to take a selfie with them are here.

Toy stores

Because Christmas is (supposed to be) mostly about the kids, you’ll be wanting the best toy shops to visit too. Here are six ideas, just to give Santa a bit of a hand …

Hamleys

Hamleys on Paradise Street in Liverpool ONE is like a classic little bit of Christmas toy shop magic, the kind you find in old films. It’s like a wonderland, with loads of demos going on, so prepare to be spoilt for choice.

The Entertainer

If you want a really great selection of branded toys including Barbie, WWE, Jurassic World, Marvel and DC Comics, and L.O.L Surprise Dolls, then look no further because The Entertainer in Liverpool ONE has a massive range for all ages.

Build-a-Bear

On Thomas Lane in Liverpool ONE, Build-a-Bear is the place to go to make and stuff your own cuddly pal and get it some personalised outfits too. You can even get Harry Potter bears with their own mini house robes, scarfs and wands!

Disney Store

The magic of Disney never gets old, kids just always love it and whatever their favourite characters or films you’ll find all the merch, from Frozen 2 to Toy Story and Mulan, at the Disney Store on South John Street in Liverpool ONE.

The LEGO Shop

If your kids love letting their imaginations run wild, and they’re good at making things, the LEGO Shop on South John Street in Liverpool ONE will have everything you need to tick off their Christmas lists. Some of the sets in here are unbelievable.

Waterstones

Picture – Visit Liverpool

You can’t beat a real hold-it-in-your-hand book to keep kids quiet for hours – pick the right one and they just disappear into a different world. Waterstones on College Lane is huge so there’s plenty of space to browse and find their favourites.

Independent stores you must visit 

It’s been a tough time for the city’s indies, so it’s more important than ever to show them some love when you’re doing your Christmas shopping if you can. Whether you’re buying for yourself, or for a gift, here’s 6 places to put on your list …

Red Brick Hangar

Inside Cains Brewery Village in the Baltic, Red Brick market is the kind of place to find all your pressies under one roof because it’s got more than 50 indie businesses including arts & craft, vinyl, comics, jewellery and foodie gifts – plus it’s open again 7 days a week.

More information here.

Resurrection

Just follow the bright orange signage on Bold Street and you’ll find fantastic fashion and streetwear from labels like Carhartt, Dickies and Ellesse as well as a great vintage section upstairs at Resurrection.

Visit the website here.

The Nest

If you’re heading down to the Albert Dock, The Nest – over on the Tate Liverpool side – is a perfect place to find original gifts and cards, and you’ll be supporting our creatives because they all come from local artists, designers, photographers and makers.

Go to the website here.

Utility

For gorgeous cool gift ideas, Utility in Liverpool ONE and on Bold Street has so much unusual design-led home stuff, you’ll probably end up coming home with something amazing for your own house too.

More info here.

The Art Quarter Liverpool

You could spend ages here just marvelling at how talented everyone is – The Art Quarter Liverpool in Met Quarter is a collective of local artists and they’re often there in the shop to chat about their work.

More info here.

Mococo

Jewellery is never a bad thing to wake up to on Christmas morning, and if you’re looking for brands like ChloBo, Hot Diamonds, Olivia Burton, Swarovski and Thomas Sabo then Mococo in Met Quarter has them all and more.

More info here.

Covid safe tips

Going into Tier 2 has been a massive boost for Liverpool businesses, and it’s fantastic news that our infection rates have come down so much. We need to keep up the good work, so if you’re out shopping in Liverpool, try to follow a few simple tips:

• Even though stores have hand sanitiser stations, take some with you in your bag or pocket
• Remember to wear a face mask when you go indoors, or if you’re walking through a busy congested area
• Try to shop at quieter times, either in the morning or early evening, to avoid crowds
• In Liverpool ONE, follow the signs and stick to the left when you’re walking about, try to stay two metres apart from other shoppers and give way if you’re heading towards someone