This picturesque town in Merseyside offers travellers a unique escape from the chaos of the nearby city and a chance to relax by the water

Most travellers headed to Merseyside make a beeline for Liverpool, but there is a nearby seaside town that should be on everyone’s radar. Less than three miles north of Liverpool, Bootle is often overlooked by travellers who are not privy to the town’s unique blend of maritime heritage and attractions.

Unlike its more well-known neighbour, Bootle offers a quieter but equally enriching experience for those looking to explore beyond the Merseyside holiday hotspots. It’s calming atmosphere has made an unlikely and under-the-radar holiday destination for exhausted city dwellers and holidaying young families.

Undoubtedly, Bootle’s greatest draw is its connection to the water. The town sits along the River Mersey and is home to part of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, one of the UK’s longest, most historic and most picturesque waterways.

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Strolling along the canal paths and watching the narrowboats break the water is the ultimate remedy for those in need of a break from city life. Travellers hoping to get even closer to the water can take a one-mile trip from Bootle to Crosby Beach by bus or foot.

Crosby Beach is a lovely wide sand beach, but it is most well-known for housing the permanent installation of 100 life-size, cast-iron figures by Antony Gormley, known as “Another Place“. These statues have become an iconic marker of Merseyside but visitors are advised to check tide times before arrival and avoid walking out further than 50 metres from the promenade.

It also has plenty of unique art and architectural landmarks to discover. One accessible and easy to spot site is the Bootle Town Hall, a Victorian-era building first opened in 1882. For those more keen to explore nature, the North Park and South Park are two incredible nearby green spaces. South Park in particular has become a hub for the Bootle community and even has an official Facebook group of nearly 1,000 members dedicated to the improvement of the park.

Bootle’s arts and culture scene is not as developed as Liverpool’s, but it still has plenty of local festivals worth checking out. Here is a list of the ones to keep an eye out for:

• Bootle Country Music Festival: This year the festival wil take place on September 6, 2025 at the Lock & Quay in Bootle
• Salt and Tar Music Weekender : This canalside festival, held at Salt and Tar will feature acts including the Sugababes, Billy Ocean, The K’s, and Ocean Colour Scene. This year the festival will run from Friday, August 8 to Sunday, August 10, 2025.
• Salt and Tar Food & Drink Fest : This festival will run from July 12 to July 13, 2025 and will showcase street food and drink creations produced both locally across the Sefton borough and Liverpool City Region