Where to stay in Liverpool for The Grand National

The annual Grand National returns to Aintree on 7th-9th April, showcasing three days of top-class racing. Here we’ll share how to get tickets, where to stay for The Grand National, and other exciting things to see and do in Liverpool during your trip.

Grand National 2022 Schedule

The Opening Day at Aintree kicks off on Thursday, 7th April. It features seven races, including The Aintree Hurdle and the Randox Foxhunters’ Chase. Festival Zone tickets (from £30 for adults) are still available online for the Opening Day of The Grand National and various hospitality packages. Gates open at 11 am, with the first race at 1:45 pm.

Next up is Ladies Day. This #FabulousFriday is all about dressing to impress and going all out to win the prestigious Style Award and grand prize, which this year is a car! But, of course, it’s not all about the fashion - it’s also an excellent day for racing, with The Marsh Melling Chase and Randox Topham Chase among two of the most popular races.

And finally, Saturday marks the day racing fans wait for all year, Grand National Day! This sold-out event starts at 10 am, with the first of seven races at 1:45 pm. The day and event wrap up with the final Grand National Race at 5:15 pm. Unsurprisingly online tickets for The Grand National Day have sold out online. However, the Jockey Club still has Aintree Hospitality Packages.

Where to stay for The Grand National

Left booking your accommodation for The Grand National until the very last minute? Don’t worry - we’ve got you covered! Use our search bar to find hotels in Liverpool, close to Aintree Racecourse. At the time of writing this post, we can still see available at top Liverpool hotels, including:

• Liverpool Marriott Hotel (City Centre)
• DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Spa Liverpool
• Selina Liverpool
• Stanley Street Studios
• Travelodge Liverpool Edge Lane
• Premier Suites Liverpool
• Aparthotel Adagio Liverpool City Centre

It’s also worth checking out our Resale Deals page to see if anyone is re-selling their Grand National hotel room last minute.

Sell your Grand National hotel room with PlansChange

Were you supposed to be attending The Grand National, but something has come up? Plans change, we get it. The good news is if you’ve booked a hotel room in Liverpool for The Grand National, you can always re-sell it via our hotel marketplace and recover some of your costs. There’s guaranteed to be someone attending the races at Aintree who needs a cheap hotel room in Liverpool for the night and will snap your resale deal up!

Things to do in Liverpool

Liverpool is arguably one of the best cities in the UK, home to The Beatles, Liverpool FC and of course, The Grand National, just outside the city, in Aintree. Whether you’re visiting this cosmopolitan city for a weekend away or an Aintree race day, you won’t be short of things to keep you entertained. Here’s our pick of some of the best things to do in Liverpool…

Explore Liverpool City Centre

If you’re visiting Liverpool for the first time, we highly recommend a walking tour of the city centre. But you won’t need an expensive guide! The area is relatively compact, making it easy to find your way around.

Architecture in Liverpool

If you’re into architecture, Liverpool is guaranteed to impress. Did you know it has the most listed buildings outside London, including the Liver Building, the Town Hall, St George’s Hall, the Central Library and Liverpool Cathedral?

Liverpool Docks

We also recommend taking a trip to the Albert Dock, where you’ll find modern art galleries, including Tate Liverpool, concert halls and an eclectic range of bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

Culture in Liverpool

We’ve already mentioned Tate Liverpool, but the city is also home to several other museums and galleries, including the Maritime Museum, World Museum, FACT, Lady Lever Art Gallery and the Museum of Liverpool. And the best bit? Many are free to enter!

Shopping in Liverpool

If you fancy doing a spot of shopping, Liverpool ticks the boxes with everything from your favourite high street names to haute couture under one roof at Liverpool ONE. Or, if you’re looking for something a little more unusual, head to Bold Street, known for its vintage boutiques and upmarket charity shops.

Beatlemania in Liverpool

Whether you’re a diehard fan of The Beatles or not, you can’t go to Liverpool without indulging in a little Beatlemania! Book tickets for The Beatles Story - the world’s largest permanent exhibition devoted to telling the story of the lives and times of the Fab Four. 

During your stay in Liverpool, be sure to pay a visit to the infamous Cavern Club, where the band played hundreds of times. There’s live music to be enjoyed every night from both resident and tribute bands.

Did you know Liverpool holds the title of UNESCO City of Music and the World Capital of Pop? Take a trip to the British Music Experience, and you’ll see why, with an interactive and immersive look at how British music has changed the world. Enjoy browsing memorabilia from global stars including the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Dusty Springfield, Oasis and the Spice Girls. You’ll also have the opportunity to try out lots of different instruments - an exciting experience for adults and kids alike.

Parks and open spaces in Liverpool

Need some time away from the bustling crowds at Aintree? With more parks than Paris, you’ll find it easy to locate a peaceful outdoor spot in Liverpool. Sefton Park is the largest Grade I listed park in the UK, with a lake and over 200 acres of green space to explore. We also recommend visiting the Botanic Gardens in Southport and Wirral, and taking a trip to the nearby Red Squirrel Reserve in Formby.

Hop on the Mersey Ferry

For fantastic views of the city, take a cruise along the River Mersey on the famous Mersey Ferry. Book a standard hop-on-hop-off ticket or combine it with entrance to other top Liverpool attractions to experience the city from both water and land. If you’re lucky, you might even get a go on the beautifully painted riverboat by pop artist Sir Peter Blake, commemorating the cemetery of the First World War Armistice. 

Discover the Baltic Triangle

Explore Liverpool’s creative and digital district, which goes by the name of the Baltic Triangle. This industrial area of the city is home to Liverpool’s innovators, entrepreneurs and hipsters, with cool bars, restaurants and coffee roasteries around every corner. If you’re visiting Liverpool with children, book a table at Sugar and Dice (the board-game cafe), get a round of mini-golf at Ghetto Golf and burn off some energy at the New Bird skate park.

As you can see, there are plenty of things to see and do in Liverpool. So whether you’re visiting for The Grand National or a city break weekend, you’re guaranteed to have a great time!