Liverpool is the home of The Beatles, the Grand National and two Premier League football clubs. But Andrew White finds it also has much to offer the Christmas shopper

I USUALLY hate shopping, but I make an exception for Christmas shopping – and I'm a sucker for a good Christmas market.

I like nothing better than browsing around a few festive stalls, enjoying a glass or two of mulled wine and spending money I don't really have on things I don't really need.

This year, my partner Frances and I jumped on a train to see what Liverpool had to offer in that department.

One word of warning though. Although the journey only took some two-and-a-half hours, the carriages were so packed it was standing room only for much of the time both ways, so I would advise booking ahead and reserving a seat.

If the train journey was a little fraught, our accommodation soon relaxed us. The trendy Beatles-themed Ibis Styles hotel near both the train station and city centre – a five minute walk from the Cavern Club and the world famous Mathew Street where John, Paul George and Ringo honed their sound.

Our room – on a Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds theme – was well furnished and clean and offered a wonderful view of the Liverpool skyline.

On venturing into the city, we soon discovered that Liverpool is well geared up for the festive season.

A highlight this year is DreamWorks Lights, a UK first in the breathtakingly beautiful St George’s Hall. This walkthrough lantern experience features scenes from from Shrek, Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar and is a delight for kids and kids at heart.

Liverpool’s Christmas market is just outside the entrance to the hall, with 40 stalls offering the usual mix of crafts, clothing, and all the festive frippery I so enjoy.

The city centre is just a short walk away, with the Livepool ONE shopping complex at its heart. It is dominated by one spectacular festive centrepiece, a 30 metre Christmas tree, below which is Bar Hütte – an Alpine-inspired bar which comes complete with a Christmas party atmosphere.

Perhaps the highlight of the trip for us was a walk around Albert Dock, a complex of revamped Grade I listed buildings and warehouses with a mix of museums and attractions, bars and restaurants and specialist retail outlets.

A short walk away is the Pier Head – set against the imposing and magnificent backdrop of the Royal Liver and Cunard Buildings – and which this year houses the city's Ice Festival, which includes an ice rink, ice slide and apres ski lodge.

As befitting a city of Liverpool's size and stature there is no shortage of restaurants, cafes and bars and I can heartily recommend an indulgent afternoon tea at the Shankly Hotel. What a feast it was! The classy Victoria Street premises itself is a homage to the late Liverpool manager Bill Shankly, housing a wide range of memorabilia relating to the great man.

We also enjoyed NYL on North John Street, a restaurant and bar in the stunning surroundings of the former Royal Insurance Building restored to its former glory, which served us up a superb lunch.

There are plenty of historic and interesting bars dotted around the city centre and to describe the nightlife around the Cavern Quarter as lively and vibrant would be a huge understatement.

Liverpool is a beautiful and energetic city and the one day we spent there was not enough to explore it properly and do its many attractions justice. We plan to return.

  • Andrew and Frances stayed at the Hotel Ibis Styles, 67 Dale Street, Liverpool L2 2HJ. Complimentary Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV, tea and coffee facilities, restaurant, bar lounge and kids’ play area. Children under 15 stay for free.
  • DreamWorks Lights is on at St Georges Hall until January 15. Film favourites from Shrek, Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar are transformed into huge illuminated figures in the Grand Hall of the building next to the Walker Art Gallery and World Museum Liverpool, which are free entry. Tickets cost from £8. http://dreamworkslights.com/
  • Liverpool’s Christmas Market runs until December 22 at St George’s Hall Plateau, with more than 40 stalls of arts, food and crafts from all over the world.
  • Until January 2, 2017, Albert Dock will be transformed during the hours of darkness into a canvas for a 4D projection mapping spectacular. Albert Dock is also home to the Maritime Museum, Tate Liverpool and a short walk from the Museum of Liverpool, which are free entry.
  • The Ice Festival, Pier Head, runs until January 3, 2017. Attractions include an ice rink, Apres Lodge and fairground rides. Adults £8 children aged 17 and under £6, visit http://www.icefestivalliverpool.co.uk/entertain/ice-bar/?gclid=CIqNl-bWqtACFe0K0wodp7sPAQ