16 cheap date ideas for Valentine's in Liverpool

Liverpool is a fantastic place to be for Valentine’s Day – there's loads going on that isn’t crazy expensive and in some cases, even free. With that in mind, we've decided to sort you out (especially if you’re struggling for ideas), and have hand-picked the top cheap dates in Liverpool this Valentine’s Day.
Your idea not on our list? Then drop us a line or leave a comment.

Watch a movie under the stars

The famous St Luke’s Bombed Out Church situated at the top of Bold Street regularly puts on events such as food and drink festivals, live concerts and their popular outdoor cinema. Not only is the Bombed Out Church a great place for events, but the church itself is a spectacle and is packed with history. Their Valentine's outdoor cinema is a great alternative date idea that isn’t expensive (usually around £5 advanced tickets) and there will be a fully-licensed bar for all of your beverage needs. A great excuse to cosy up to your other half! This year's film showings are yet to be announced, but keep an eye on their website for updates. 

Price: TBC
Leece Street, Liverpool, L1 2TR

A night of musicals

This Valentine’s Day why not go for something totally different and head to the Philharmonic for a night of Broadway musical classics? As the Philharmonic themselves put it: “Treat yourself or give your special someone an unforgettable gift – a bouquet of the greatest theatrical love songs of all time, wrapped in the luxurious sound of our Orchestra.” This event will see the full Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in action and there will be a vocalist singing on the night too. Watching an orchestra might not be your thing, but you can’t deny that this sounds pretty amazing. Oh and one more thing – it's free for LJMU students.

Price: free for LJMU students and their plus ones
Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, L1 9BP

Have a good laugh

Admittedly there is a bit of a cost with this one, but when you consider what you get for your money it's definitely worth the investment. Liverpool Hot Water Comedy Club is famous around the city and some big names have performed there, like John Bishop and Daliso Chaponda, so you can be sure that you'll be in for an evening of laughs if you go along. On Valentine’s night, there will be three triple headline shows at the Hardman Street venue starting at 5pm, 7pm and 9:30pm. A perfect way to spend the evening with your other half and with added side-splitting laughter you can’t really go wrong.

Price: from £14
45 Hardman Street, L1 9AS

Grab a cheap meal out

A meal on Valentine’s Day is more or less a must and luckily for you, Liverpool is a hotbed for great independent restaurants. There are loads to choose from, but a few of our price friendly favourites include Italian institution Casa Italia, who offer up ridiculously tasty pizza and pasta dishes for under a tenner, and Pan Am who are currently offering two courses for two people, with a welcome glass of fizz all for under £30! 

Price: varies
Casa Italia: 36-40 Stanley Street, L16AL
Pan Am: Albert Dock, L34AD

Take a romantic stroll

There are plenty of locations around Merseyside that are perfect for a romantic stroll. Not only is this activity free, but it is active and healthy as well. You could head down to the Royal Albert Dock and if you’re feeling romantic, you could find a spot to hang a padlock or “lovelock” with you and your other half’s initials to symbolise your unbreakable bond. Otherwise, you could stroll along Otterspool Promenade or visit the famous Antony Gormley figures at Crosby Beach.

Price: free
Royal Albert Dock – 3-4 The Colonnades, L3 4AA
Otterspool Promenade/Park – Otterspool Road, L17 5AN
Crosby Beach – Crosby

Visit a “secret” bar

Going out for a nice drink is a popular choice on Valentine’s Day, but this year you could go that extra mile and visit a “secret” bar for a low-key drink. These are the places that if you know, you know. Check out Berry and Rye, Some Place, or if you're feeling extra special, you could gain entry to Liverpool’s very own secret club, complete with secret entry, Ex-Directory.

Price: varies
We’re holding off on the location of these!

Go on a picnic

Liverpool is home to some of the most beautiful parks and green spaces in the North West. If you really want to impress your other half (and if the weather allows), you could put together a picnic and head to one of Liverpool’s parks. Find a quiet spot in Sefton Park or venture a little further out to Calderstones Park and roll out a blanket by the 1,000 year-old oak tree. Alternatively, if you want to enjoy a panoramic view of the city itself, you could walk to Everton Park and watch the sun set across Liverpool.

Price: free(ish), you need your picnic supplies
Sefton Park – Mossley Hill Drive, L17 1AJ
Calderstones Park – Calderstones Road, L18 3JD
Everton Park – Heyworth Street, L5 3PU

Play some crazy golf

If you and your other half are constantly competing, why not play a couple of rounds at Ghetto Golf? If you haven’t been before, it's basically a bar with an 18-hole mini golf course within it. It's a great spot for a bit of competitive fun and it isn’t too expensive either.

Price: standard gold admission £10, tee off package (one round of golf and one drink) £15
Cains Brewery Village, Stanhope Street, L8 5XJ

Belt out your favourite Beyonce song 

Who doesn’t love a bit of karaoke? This Valentine's Constellations welcomes you to their Big Crowd Karaoke Valentine's special, where you and hundreds of others can sing along to some of your favourite soppy hits. Forget about waiting around for the mic – as lyrics are projected onto huge screens, meaning everyone can singalong together! Expect inflatable microphones, prize giveaways and love songs by the likes of Whitney Houston, Queen, The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Beyonce and many more. 

Price: £4.65 (general release ticket)
35-39 Greenland Street, L1 0BS

Take in the view from the top of Liverpool Cathedral

If you aren’t a fan of heights then keep scrolling, but if you fancy seeing Liverpool from 500 feet above sea level and from a place that is totally unique, read on. You can climb up Liverpool Cathedral Tower and enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of our beautiful city. Not only that, but as you travel up the tower, you'll get the chance to see the world’s highest (and heaviest) peal of bells, which at 15 tonnes, is bigger than Big Ben. A lovely, romantic spot and the best part is that as an LJMU student you can claim two free tickets.

Price: free for LJMU students and their plus ones
St James Mt, L1 7AZ

Go on a cruise

Imagine going on a cruise for Valentine’s Day. Okay, so it might not be the Caribbean cruise that you've had in mind, but did you know there is a daily River Explorer Cruise across the Mersey? You can see Liverpool’s most iconic sights from the water in this amazing 50-minute trip. There's a café on board and picnic areas both inside and out, so plenty of spots to take in that world-class view.

Price: £8
Victoria PI, Wallasey, CH44 6QY

Go see some live music

If you love watching a bit of live music, then Liverpool is a great spot. The city is famous for supporting local talent and there are plenty of venues offering live music nights. There will be gigs on Valentine’s Day at venues such as Jacaranda Phase One, EBGBs, On Air Liverpool and more. Check out who is playing.

Price: varies 
Phase One – 40 Seel Street, L1 4BE
EBGBs – Basement 80-82 Seel Street, L1 4BH
On Air Liverpool – Cains Brewery Village, Stanhope Street, L8 5XJ

Play board games

Playing a board game is the perfect break away from a phone or computer screen. This Valentine’s Day you could visit one of the many cafés and bars in Liverpool that offer a wide range of board games. Head to Sugar and Dice, not too far away from The Baltic Triangle, or enjoy a craft beer at Brewdog. Further away from the city centre, there is Craft Taproom and Tavern Co on Smithdown Road. Cheap, fun and addictive.

Price: varies
Sugar and Dice – 33 Cornhill, L1 8DP
Brewdog – Manolis Yard, 8 Colquitt Street, L1 4DE
Craft Taproom – 174 Smithdown Road, L15 3JR
Tavern Co – 621 Smithdown Road, L15 5AG

Listen to some vinyl

Mentioned above, Jacaranda Phase One is the newest addition to the Jacaranda family. Not only can you enjoy some live music, but you can also have a go at listening to some vinyl in their famous sheds within the venue. If you haven’t played vinyl on a turntable before, it's definitely worth a go.

Price: varies
40 Seel Street, L1 4BE

Visit a virtual reality arcade

If technology is your thing, then this is a really cool date idea for Valentine’s Day. As technology advances, virtual reality is becoming a lot more accessible to the public and Liverpool has two arcades (VR Arcade and VR Here). Why not try something a bit different for Valentine’s Day? You and your other half will be fighting off zombies or playing virtual table tennis. What’s not to love?

Price: under £10
VR Here – 31 Paul Street, L3 6DX
VR Arcade – 10-14 Jamaica Street, L1 0AF

Tuck in to Michelin star home cooking

If you're on a super tight budget and/or have missed out on booking anything, then you could always go fully DIY and make a nice meal at home. Yes, you might cook loads of meals at home normally, but this time, why not spend a little extra on some exciting ingredients and cook up a storm? Then you could follow up with a movie. There's a lot to be said for a relaxed night in.

Price: free (you might need to stock up on ingredients)
Home

Whatever you decide to do on Valentine’s Day, good luck with your plans and remember, love is for 365 days a year, not just for Valentine’s Day. Go forth, lovers.

Liverpool is a great place for single people too, so go explore what this fantastic city has to offer.