Travel Information

From abroad, there are three main options to reach Liverpool. You can fly to Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL, about 13 km away from the city centre), to Manchester Airport (MAN, about 57 km away), or any of the airports in London and then take a fast train (approx. 2 hours to reach Liverpool).

By Air
arriving at Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL)

By Bus

500 Arriva airport flyer bus Service

Runs between Liverpool Airport and Liverpool One Bus Station. Also serves Liverpool South Parkway, providing a more direct connection to the rail network. Runs every 30 mins at Bus Stop 1 outside the terminal and costs £2.20 one way. The journey to the city centre takes approximately 35 mins.

86/86A/86D

Runs from Liverpool Airport (Stand 3) to Liverpool City Centre - Liverpool ONE Bus Station via South Parkway. Runs every 20-30 minutes. Travel Time is 8 mins to South Parkway and approx. 45 mins to the city centre. The 86/86A run 24/7 every 30 mins.

80A

Runs from Liverpool Airport (Stand 3) - Speke - Liverpool City Centre (Hanover Street) via Liverpool South Parkway every 15-30 mins. Travel time 15 mins to Liverpool South parkway, 40 mins to Liverpool City Centre.

By Taxi

Private Hire and Hackney Cabs available on arrival to Liverpool Airport. The Hackney Cab rank is available directly outside the entrance to the airport terminal.

By Car

Liverpool John Lennon Airport is located near M57, M62 and M56 motorways. Fastest route is via the A561, which takes approx. 27 mins.

By Rail

Liverpool South Parkway is the closest rail station to Liverpool Airport. Approx. 2 miles away, it has links to Manchester, Yorkshire, the North East, East Midlands, West Midlands, and connections to London via Runcorn and Crewe. Regular buses (500, 80A and 86A) operate between Liverpool Airport and the station. Trains run from this station to Liverpool Lime Street approx. every 10 mins. Travel time 10-36 mins depending on the route.

Liverpool Lime Street is 7 miles from Liverpool John Lennon Airport with connections to all main rail networks in the UK. The station is a short walk or bus journey to Liverpool One Bus Station. The buses 10A, C4 and C5 (city centre circular bus) will take you from Liverpool Lime Street to Liverpool One Bus station.

By Air
arriving at Manchester Airport (MAN)

By Train

A train service runs directly from Manchester airport to Liverpool Lime Street Station every half hour. Travel time is between 1 hour and 1h30.

By Coach

The National Express coach service runs from 'The Station' at Manchester Airport. 'The Station' is an integrated transport hub that links Manchester with the North West and other major U.K cities. There is a free shuttle bus between the airport terminals and the station. National Express run a service every hour - 1h30 direct from the Manchester Airport station to Liverpool One Coach Station. Prices range between £5 - £8 for a single journey and travel time is approx. 1 hour.

By Car

Liverpool city centre is easily accessible from Manchester Airport by car via the M56 and M62 motorways. The driving distance is 57 km and travel time approx. 55 mins. Car rental options are available, please visit the airport website for car hire suppliers.

By Taxi

Private hire taxi services are available at the airport. The average price from Manchester Airport to Liverpool City Centre is £65 for a travel time of approx. 50 mins.

By Rail

The four-day Easter holiday period (Friday 30 March - Monday 2nd April) in the UK is regularly used to perform major engineering work on the UK rail network. This can sometimes cause disruption to travel. For live (on the day) rail travel information we recommend referring to this URL. For specific details of the Easter period, see this page. We have noted that Manchester Victoria station (the 2nd largest in Liverpool's neighbouring city) will be closed over this period, affecting some services between Liverpool and Manchester (this does not affect trains between Manchester Airport and Liverpool), there is also some disruption expected on the West Coast Main Line between Birmingham and the North West of England (i.e. Liverpool).

Virgin Trains

Travelling to Liverpool by train has never been easier or faster, as it's only 2h13 from Central London on Virgin Trains' state-of-the-art tilting Pendolino trains. Onboard passengers can enjoy space to relax and unwind, Wi-Fi, power sockets and Quiet Zones for those who need a break from their smart devices.
Virgin Trains also offer regular direct services from Stafford and Crewe to Liverpool Lime Street.

TransPennine Express

There are also direct train services from Scarborough, Newcastle, Leeds, York and Manchester with TransPennine Express. Save over 50% when you book in advance.

Other Rail Services

London Midland Trains and Northern Rail also run routes to Liverpool from all major UK cities.

Once in Liverpool, the Merseyrail train network has good links to other areas of the region and an underground rail service serving 4 city centre stations, Lime Street, James Street, Moorfields and Liverpool Central.

By Road

The Liverpool city region is well-connected to the UK motorway network. From the M6 take the M62, M58 or M56 direct to the destination.

To travel to the Wirral Peninsula from the city centre, take the Mersey Tunnel (toll £1.70). If you're heading up to the coast, Southport is an enjoyable coastal drive away. The Silver Jubilee Bridge in Runcorn crosses the River Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal to provide convenient road access to Halton. Knowsley and St Helens are easily accessible too, both only a short drive from the city centre.

If you are not a British citizen you might need entry clearance (that is permission) to enter the UK. Only British nationals, European Union citizens, non-EU member states of the European Economic Area (EEA - Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland), Switzerland, and members of the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) are exempt from needing a visa to enter the UK.

If you do not fall under any of the above-mentioned states, you must check whether you will need a visa for entry. Check the official visa and immigration website here.

For touristic information, please see the official Visit Liverpool website.