Grand National Festival in short

When

8 to 10 April 2027 (expected, not yet confirmed by the organiser)

Where

Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, United Kingdom, about 8 km from the centre

Free time

Gaps of two to four hours between screenings or shows, and whole days for companions.

Best base

Albert Dock and Baltic Triangle: Waterfront and food halls.

Getting there

Liverpool John Lennon (LPL) is 30 minutes by bus; Manchester (MAN) has direct trains in 1 hour.

Weather

In April, Liverpool averages highs of about 11°C and lows of 5°C, with roughly 56 mm of rain in the month. Expect about 13 h 25 min of daylight.

Top things to do

The Beatles Story; Magical Mystery Tour bus; Anfield stadium tour

Know before you go

• Ladies Day is on Friday; the Grand National itself is on Saturday afternoon.

Weather during Grand National Festival

In April, Liverpool averages highs of about 11°C and lows of 5°C, with roughly 56 mm of rain in the month. Expect about 13 h 25 min of daylight.

What to pack

• A warm layer for the evenings.
• A light rain jacket, just in case.
• Comfortable walking shoes and a small day bag.

Monthly averages for 2001 to 2025 from NASA POWER. Check the forecast a few days before you travel.

Airport to Aintree Racecourse

Liverpool John Lennon (LPL) is 30 minutes by bus; Manchester (MAN) has direct trains in 1 hour.

Merseyrail to Aintree station.

Public transport directions to Aintree Racecourse

Where to stay by budget

Three hotels we would book

• Budget: Premier Inn Liverpool City Centre (Lime Street)
• Mid-range: Titanic Hotel Liverpool
• Splurge: The Shankly Hotel

Links search the nights from 7 April to 11 April. Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Day plans for the free hours

Built around the usual festival stay schedule for 8 to 10 April 2027. Session times change: check the official timetable and move the blocks around.

Family-friendly picks

• World Museum.
• Museum of Liverpool.

Evening and day-trip tours

After dark

• Mathew Street and the Cavern Club.

5 tours worth booking for Grand National Festival

Event weeks sell out. Book tours with free cancellation as soon as the session times are published.

Where to eat

• Baltic Market Street food in an old warehouse
• Maray Small plates on Bold Street
• Bold Street cafés Brunch street

Reserve dinner for the nights around the event: restaurants near the venue fill up days ahead.

Rainy-day backups

• Merseyside Maritime Museum.
• Walker Art Gallery.

Getting around on event days

• Merseyrail trains; buses to Anfield and the new Everton stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
• Tap in with a contactless card on buses, trams and most urban trains.
• Book long-distance trains early on the operator app or Trainline: walk-up fares are expensive.
• Uber works in most UK cities; local black cabs are metered.

Day trips from Liverpool

• Manchester: 35 minutes
• Chester: 45 minutes

Organiser of Grand National Festival? Add this guide to your website.

Questions people ask

How we put this guide together: dates come from the organiser's published calendar or, when not yet announced, from the event's usual pattern; weather from NASA POWER monthly averages 2001 to 2025; venue access and city tips from our own research. Last checked 2 November 2026. How we research.

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