Royal Albert Dock welcomes the return of The Great British Seaside

The Great British Seaside returns to Royal Albert Dock Liverpool for the summer.

Savour the classic flavours of the seaside, pick-up a dockside souvenir and enjoy fun-filled days taking part in a variety of family events.

Welcoming back shoreline staples, visitors to Anchor Courtyard and Mermaid Courtyard can snap a keepsake selfie on two giant deckchairs to capture the day’s fun. Plus, those wanting to stretch their legs can take a walk along the bunting-lined waterfront while tucking into seaside treats served in chip cones and ice cream tubs.

New for this year, keep children entertained with events through August alongside three multicolour beach huts in Mermaid Courtyard. Bringing Punch and Judy shows back to Liverpool, where it first arrived in the 1860s, watch a modernised puppet performance inspired by pantomime and adapted to suit the whole family.

Every Wednesday between 11am-2pm, get your portrait drawn by a caricature artist, perfect for capturing the day’s memories. Then, become the canvas every Thursday with face and hand painting between 11pm-2pm.

Fresh from visiting Glastonbury Festival, vintage-style theatre Sol Cinema is joining the dock for August bank holiday weekend. With a chance to attend a screening in the world’s smallest picture house, there’s plenty to keep boredom at bay. 

A trip to the waterfront wouldn’t be complete without refreshments to tantalise your tastebuds from the dock’s selection of restaurants, bars and food trucks. Satisfy seafood cravings with fresh fish and chips at PANAM and Docklands Fish & Chips or crispy scampi and fries from So Greek Full. Those with a sweet tooth can also tuck into churros drizzled with chocolate at Revolucion de Cuba, sea salt fudge at Roly’s Fudge and ice cream at Tate Cafe, Porters and Rubens. 

For sundowner cocktails, stop by Turncoat Bar and Pizza for a Tidal Gin and tonic, encapsulating the flavours of the coast, or sip on a watermelon Midsummer Melon-choly cocktail at the One O’Clock Gun. For a non-alcoholic alternative, taste a newly launched Bubble Tea at Rosa’s Thai Cafe, including a tropical lychee and jasmine flavour.

Take home a souvenir from the dock’s range of retailers including postcards capturing the city from Liverpool Pictures, carved driftwood sculptures at Nature’s Treasure and marine life garlands from The Nest. Visitors can also cool off with expertly designed t-shirts and shorts from Lost Soles and Red Run Activewear, or choose from a variety of summer essentials at Harbour Accessories.  

With six weeks to fill with family fun, visit Tate Liverpool for free, drop-in Create Your Tate sessions to reimagine the art gallery with slides, play areas or whatever the heart desires. Take to the seven seas at Maritime Museum and learn about Liverpool’s seafaring past with Life on Board. 

Enjoy the most-loved elements of the Great British Seaside available on Liverpool’s waterfront all summer long — oh, we do like to be beside the seaside.

READ MORE: Wirral’s Woodside Ferry Village named in the Top 12 city-based food markets in the UK by Visit Britain