10 scenic drives from Liverpool

Driving in Liverpool

Your top 10 road trips from Liverpool are just around the corner. But before you strap on your seatbelt and hit the highway, take a look at a few tips on driving in and around this charming city.

Several Liverpool roads have 20mph limits, so please observe the signage carefully and drive cautiously. In other busy, built-up areas, the limit is 30mph, while it’s 60mph on single carriage roads and 70mph on motorways and dual carriageways.

Using your mobile phone is not permitted unless the system is hands free and wearing seatbelts is compulsory for the driver and all passengers.

You should always drive on the left in Liverpool (and throughout the UK) and drive defensively, whilst being courteous to other drivers and observant of cyclists and pedestrians.

Without further ado, let’s put the foot down a little for our top 10 Liverpool road trips ̶ let’s get stuck in!

1. Delamere Forest

Fancy escaping the hustle and bustle of city life for a soul-cleansing stroll through 972 hectares of sweet-smelling evergreen woodland? You can do just that at Delamere Forest. And if you’re feeling a little livelier, this popular Liverpool day trip destination also has Segways for hire and a Tree Top adventure complex with platforms, rope courses and zip lines aplenty ̶ a bit like a real-life Ewok village!

Getting there: drive south east out of Liverpool along the M53 to reach Delamere Forest in around 35 minutes.

2. Sefton Shipwrecks

The Sefton Shipwrecks are located off the coast at Formby and they’re a spectacular site ̶ when the tide is low these striking silhouettes peek from the water like maritime ghosts. The Irish Sea off Liverpool Bay was once a gateway to the world, but conditions can be treacherous, hence the presence of the remains of ships like the Pegu, Ionic Star, Bradda, Star of Hope and others.

Getting there: drive north along the A565 to reach Formby in just 40 minutes.

3. Port Sunlight Village

If you love Arts and Crafts aesthetics and want to see a unique example of social history, Port Sunlight Village is must-see. Built by progressive Victorian entrepreneur William Hesketh Lever to house his soap factory workers in comfortable conditions, this pretty village is a fascinating place to visit and is peppered with pubs and cafes where you can refresh yourself (strictly soft drinks for drivers).

Getting there: this terrific spot is only 15 minutes from Liverpool via the Birkenhead Tunnel/Queensway tunnel and A41.

4. Colwyn Bay

This super three-mile stretch of Welsh sand and shingle is longer than Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana (it might be slightly chiller though!). The views are lovely, there’s a promenade where you can enjoy the views while sampling a tasty ice cream and an excellent water sports centre. You’ll also find the famous Harlequin Puppet Theatre, crazy golf and the nearby Welsh Mountain Zoo, which has Sumatran tigers, snow leopards and more!

Getting there take the North Wales Expressway from Liverpool to reach Colwyn Bay in around one hour and fifteen minutes.

5. Crosby Beach

Part of the Merseyside coastline north of Liverpool, Crosby Beach is a favourite place for Liverpudlians to take a seaside day trip and it boasts soft golden sands, stunning views of the Mersey Estuary and Welsh mountains, and lots of distractions for kids of all ages. Awarded the Quality Coast Award by Keep Britain Tidy, this pristine beach is also home to the iconic ‘Another Place’ installation by Anthony Gormley (which comprises 100 life-sized figures gazing out to sea across a 3km stretch of the shore).

Getting there: Take the A565 north of Liverpool to reach Crosby Beach in 20 minutes.

6. Lake Windermere

A stunning, serene lake which for many is the jewel in Cumbria’s Lake District National Park, Windermere is a magical day trip from Liverpool which allows you to relax and switch off completely or take part in exciting water sports. If you (or your kids) love Peter Rabbit, the Beatrix Potter Attraction at Bowness-on-Windermere brings the beloved author’s story to life, Holehird Gardens boast a host of heathers and scrubs and Orrest Hill offers panoramic views across the lakes and fells.

Getting there: Windermere is around two hours’ drive north from Liverpool via the M6.

7. Lyme Park

A sprawling country estate south of Disley in Cheshire, Lyme Park is a dog-friendly outdoor attraction that boats a magnificent neoclassical mansion and no less than 1400 acres of formal gardens, ancient woodlands and wild moorland. Situated at the border of the Peak District national park, this was the home of the Legh family for over 500 years and as well as the views across the Cheshire Plain and Manchester, a herd of red deer and plenty of birds and wildlife add to the magic.

Getting there: drive east from the city along the M62 to reach Lyme Park in just over one hour.

8. Speke and Garston

This little-known coastal reserve a stone’s throw from Liverpool is a wonderful place to while away a few hours in calm, scenic surroundings. It comprises a 70 acre territory that reaches from Garston Docks to Liverpool John Lennon Airport, skirting the Mersey Estuary. If plane spotting, cycling, sailing or bird watching float your boat, you’ll love it!

Getting there: take the A561 south from Liverpool city centre and you’ll reach Speke and Garston in half an hour.

9. Martin Mere

An amazing nature reserve near Ormskirk, Martin Mere is a little slice of paradise which is easy to reach from Liverpool. There are over 2000 species of amphibians, reptiles, fish, insects, mammals and birds here, so it’s perfect for wildlife enthusiasts. As well as pink-footed geese, whooper swans and wild ducks, you can also see otters messing about in the water and there’s an eco-garden to explore.

Getting there: take the M57 and M58 south of Liverpool to reach Martin Mere in 36 minutes.

10. Talacre Beach

Another Welsh beauty spot beach close to Liverpool, Talacre Beach in Clwyd is located across the River Dee from the Wirral. Its golden powder sands are backed by distinctive dunes and a selection of caravan and holiday parks means that you can stay over if the mood takes you. The Point of Ayr lighthouse is the main landmark here and it dates from 1776, but this is also a twitchers paradise ̶ the nearby Dee Estuary is replete with birds like warblers, meadow pipits and skylarks.

Getting there: take the A548 out of Liverpool to reach Talacre Beach in just over one hour.

These top 10 Liverpool road trips prove that there’s a world of superb scenery, entertainment, history and culture beyond the border of this brilliant city, just waiting to be discovered (or rediscovered) by car.

From seaside towns to windswept beaches, shipwrecks to stately homes and formal gardens, there’s no chance you could ever be bored here and because these destinations are reasonably close, they’re ideal for day trips with kids.

Hire a car in Liverpool with Enjoy Travel and fall in love with this fabulous part of England ̶ you can thank us later!