Merseyside day ticket options (including Merseyrail & ferry)

[rmt4ever]

Hi All

Im going up to Liverpool with the Mrs next month and wanted some advice on travelcards.

We are staying at the MalMaison hotel I think near the river and getting the train from Euston. Just there one night.

We wondered if there is a travelcard we can buy to use the underground system and also take in a river journey on the ferry across to the other side and get us back?

I see on the river ferry there are tourist tickets but they seem a rip off we just want to get it over there maybe go for a walk / few drinks then take it back to the Liverpool side of the Mersey river.

Any advice helpfully received, and also is it easier to take the Metro from the main station to nearby our hotel? Or should we get a sherbet? We are only staying one night so won't have loads of luggage.

Thanks as always, in advance.

 

[Bletchleyite]

What you want is an All Area Saveaway:

https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/Tickets/compare-tickets/Pages/Saveaway.aspx

Buy it from a Merseyrail station (or Lime St) to avoid faffing around with smartcards.

Note that you cannot do a river cruise (round trip) on these. You have to get off and "drop back" a boat.

Liverpool city centre is quite compact and it would be quite viable to walk to your hotel from Lime St. Very few people use Merseyrail for journeys within Liverpool city centre, though you can do so if you wish. If you do want to use Merseyrail, the nearest station appears to be Moorfields. An Anytime Day Single is £1.95 - given that, if there is more than one of you a taxi might well be a cost effective option.

(I made a single journey like that in the late 1990s and it was 15p with Y/P Railcard - quite an increase! )

 

[rmt4ever]

What you want is an All Area Saveaway:

https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/Tickets/compare-tickets/Pages/Saveaway.aspx

Buy it from a Merseyrail station (or Lime St) to avoid faffing around with smartcards.

Note that you cannot do a river cruise (round trip) on these. You have to get off and "drop back" a boat.

Liverpool city centre is quite compact and it would be quite viable to walk to your hotel from Lime St. Very few people use Merseyrail for journeys within Liverpool city centre, though you can do so if you wish. If you do want to use Merseyrail, the nearest station appears to be Moorfields. An Anytime Day Single is £1.95 - given that, if there is more than one of you a taxi might well be a cost effective option.

(I made a single journey like that in the late 1990s and it was 15p with Y/P Railcard - quite an increase! )

Great thanks ! How much is the day travel card (Saveaway- who thinks of these stupid names??) tha includes Ferry travel? And any RC discount like you can get with PlusBus?

 

[Bletchleyite]

No Railcard discount as it's a PTE product. Yes, it includes the ferry, but a break of journey on the other side (i.e. get off and wait for the next boat) is mandatory (this is so Mersey Ferries can continue selling the overpriced tourist tickets). It's £5.30.

The name Saveaway has been around almost as long as the PTE has - early 1980s at least. It's very well known locally.

 

[Merseysider]

The requirement to interrupt one’s journey on the Ferry whilst using a Saveaway is completely unenforced.

 

[rmt4ever]

Thanks so much! Thats fine, we don't mind the no round-trips rule, as we will have a little walk around on the other side and have a drink or two before getting the ferry back to the mainland.

£5.30 is decent and a lot cheaper than a rip off London travelcard these days!

If we decided we didn't need to use any other transport that day, how much is it for a single / return ticket on the ferry (not the rip off tourist option) ?

PS we wont be going far from the city centre during the trip. My Mrs wants to see the Beatles stuff I just wanna check out the pubs & bars !

Haven't been to Liverpool for ages and back then when I visited it was for a Trade Union conference and was in the Adelphi hotel (they booked it for conference venue and rooms), an absolute dive of a place I wouldn't kennel my dog in!

 

[lyndhurst25]

"back to the mainland" from Wirral Island?

£2.70 single and £3.40 return for the cross-river ferry only.

 

[rmt4ever]

"back to the mainland" from Wirral Island?

£2.70 single and £3.40 return for the cross-river ferry only.

GREAT thanks

I will see when we arrive if we think we need a Travelcard or just the boat return ferry ticket only. I want to goto Evensong at the Cathedral too, I am thinking we can prob walk there.

And also Beatles experience thingy which seems to be close from our hotel- so may not need the Travelcard option.

 

[Bletchleyite]

"back to the mainland" from Wirral Island?

£2.70 single and £3.40 return for the cross-river ferry only.

According to their website, these are ONLY valid during the peak-time commuter shuttle service (which takes a more direct and quicker route over the river), though you can use the return ticket to return during the day.

Is this the only example of cheaper prices in the peak than off-peak?

But generally...Liverpool is very walkable and compact and you don't need to use public transport to get around the city centre. Almost nobody does.

 

[rmt4ever]

According to their website, these are ONLY valid during the peak-time commuter shuttle service (which takes a more direct and quicker route over the river), though you can use the return ticket to return during the day.

Is this the only example of cheaper prices in the peak than off-peak?

But generally...Liverpool is very walkable and compact and you don't need to use public transport to get around the city centre. Almost nobody does.

Hmmm ok... confusing....

The official website ( https://www.merseyferries.co.uk/Pages/default.aspx ) is useless and confusing! It doesn't give any access to information re general ticket sales..... Hence why I came here to ask you fine people I couldn't find anything re regular ticket prices or travelcard validity.

I find it astonishing that they only let you buy a ticket at peak times! What do they define peak times? It seems we may have no choice but to buy the Travelcard even if we don't use any other public transport.... Do they sell the Travelcard safeway thing at the Ferry terminal? What do locals do who just need to cross the river by the ferry? Surely they don't pay the rip off £10 tourist price?!?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Hmmm ok... confusing....

The official website ( https://www.merseyferries.co.uk/Pages/default.aspx ) is useless and confusing! It doesn't give any access to information re general ticket sales..... Hence why I came here to ask you fine people I couldn't find anything re regular ticket prices or travelcard validity.

https://www.merseyferries.co.uk/commuters/Pages/Commuter-Timetable.aspx

is the commuter (peak) service which has single/return fares. At other times there are fares but the Saveaway is cheaper, unless I am very much mistaken. This has been the case for years.

Do they sell the Travelcard safeway thing at the Ferry terminal?

Not sure. Best buy it at a railway station.

What do locals do who just need to cross the river by the ferry? Surely they don't pay the rip off £10 tourist price?!?

Nobody "needs to cross the river by the ferry". Most people *needing* to cross the river do so by car, bus or train, as all three are quicker than the ferry.

 

[johnmoly]

Remember the ferry is an hourly service, so if you do get off you will have approx 50 minutes hanging around until the ferry returns.

As somebody else has commented, I've never known the staff to come round checking to see if you have got off, just stay on board if that's what you want. I do.

 

[185143]

What you want is an All Area Saveaway:

https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/Tickets/compare-tickets/Pages/Saveaway.aspx

Buy it from a Merseyrail station (or Lime St) to avoid faffing around with smartcards.

Note that you cannot do a river cruise (round trip) on these. You have to get off and "drop back" a boat.

Liverpool city centre is quite compact and it would be quite viable to walk to your hotel from Lime St. Very few people use Merseyrail for journeys within Liverpool city centre, though you can do so if you wish. If you do want to use Merseyrail, the nearest station appears to be Moorfields. An Anytime Day Single is £1.95 - given that, if there is more than one of you a taxi might well be a cost effective option.

(I made a single journey like that in the late 1990s and it was 15p with Y/P Railcard - quite an increase! )

Wrong way round! Buy it from a NORTHERN (including Lime Street mainline) to avoid having to get a smartcard.

The Walrus cards cost £1 and you have to keep the receipt with you when you travel. And it's no cheaper than a paper saveaway.

 

[rmt4ever]

Walrus? Equivalent of Oyster?

Obviously ideally we would avoid that as only there overnight.... but if we did end up having to buy one of these cards, could we get a refund on the £1 card cost when we get to the station to return to London ?

 

[30907]

I want to goto Evensong at the Cathedral too, I am thinking we can prob walk there.

It's a mile and a half from your hotel and an uphill drag too!

I'm sure you don't need to be reminded to check whether the choir are actually singing - I'd guess the first 2 weeks of April are school holidays.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Wrong way round! Buy it from a NORTHERN (including Lime Street mainline) to avoid having to get a smartcard.

The Walrus cards cost £1 and you have to keep the receipt with you when you travel. And it's no cheaper than a paper saveaway.

Do Merseyrail stations now sell Walrus only? They never used to.

 

[185143]

Do Merseyrail stations now sell Walrus only? They never used to.

It's Walrus only for Saveaways since about November. I was told the other day that the option to sell a paper saveaway has been taken off the computer. AFAIK, the Merseyrail daysavers are only on paper still.

 

[supervalkoinen]

Thanks so much! Thats fine, we don't mind the no round-trips rule, as we will have a little walk around on the other side and have a drink or two before getting the ferry back to the mainland.

£5.30 is decent and a lot cheaper than a rip off London travelcard these days!

If we decided we didn't need to use any other transport that day, how much is it for a single / return ticket on the ferry (not the rip off tourist option) ?

PS we wont be going far from the city centre during the trip. My Mrs wants to see the Beatles stuff I just wanna check out the pubs & bars !

Haven't been to Liverpool for ages and back then when I visited it was for a Trade Union conference and was in the Adelphi hotel (they booked it for conference venue and rooms), an absolute dive of a place I wouldn't kennel my dog in!

For your drink Gallaghers Pub is excellent and just 5 mins from Woodside Ferry and Hamilton Square Station, though I'm not clued up on the Woodside Ferry service these days.

 

[eastend43]

Some tips.

If your ticket to Liverpool is to Liverpool Stations (i.e not an Advance) then it can be used to get to/from James Street or Moorfields. I am not sure what happens since they installed the barriers at Lime Street. Due to the direction of the loop, it's probably easier going to James Street for the Malmaison. If using Moorfields, the Old Hall Street exit is much easier for Malmaison (open until 7pm). If using James Street there's an exit / entrance on Water Street which is also closer to hotel. It's only open in the morning / afternoon peak hours and is a long ramp so I would only use it when entering the station as the walk down is more interesting than the lifts at the main entrance.

If switching between Merseyrail and the main station at Lime Street it's usually easier / quicker using the lift.

Merseyrail stations only sell saveaways on Walrus so costs £1 for the card. I presume that the Northern Rail ticket office will still sell a paper one, but I'd be slightly worried that if you tried to buy one at the Lime St Northern ticket office they would tell you to buy at the Merseyrail ticket office. Like many people, I have quite a lot of spare Walrus cards as they used to be given out free.

If using the ferry you need to get a Saveaway from a station first as the ferry ticket offices don't sell them (or at least they didn't why I last tried to buy one).

The Saveaway allows you a cross-river journey. I have never been able to find out for sure but I think that means it can be used for Pier Head to Woodside in Birkenhead (i.e the cross-river journey doesn't end at Seacombe). Unless you have a specific reason for going to Seacombe (such as bus / walk along the waterfront to New Brighton and train back from there) then I wouldn't get off there.

They sometimes take your ticket when you get off the ferry, but not sure if they check them to see if you have done the full cruise in one go (and not sure what they would / could do if you had).

Both parts of the river crossing are good, but if you only want to do one-way then Hamilton Square Station is close to Woodside.

 

[Merseysider]

I am not sure what happens since they installed the barriers at Lime Street.

Liverpool Stations tickets are returned and not retained, thankfully.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The Saveaway allows you a cross-river journey. I have never been able to find out for sure but I think that means it can be used for Pier Head to Woodside in Birkenhead (i.e the cross-river journey doesn't end at Seacombe).

It means you can't cross the river in both directions in one go without getting off at one of the terminals and waiting for the next boat. It doesn't matter which terminal you do that at.

 

[fowler9]

Hi All

Im going up to Liverpool with the Mrs next month and wanted some advice on travelcards.

We are staying at the MalMaison hotel I think near the river and getting the train from Euston. Just there one night.

We wondered if there is a travelcard we can buy to use the underground system and also take in a river journey on the ferry across to the other side and get us back?

I see on the river ferry there are tourist tickets but they seem a rip off we just want to get it over there maybe go for a walk / few drinks then take it back to the Liverpool side of the Mersey river.

Any advice helpfully received, and also is it easier to take the Metro from the main station to nearby our hotel? Or should we get a sherbet? We are only staying one night so won't have loads of luggage.

Thanks as always, in advance.

I'm in Lime Street now so I just asked at a ticket window. The will sell you a Saveaway on a train style ticket so you don't have to pay the pound for a Walrus card. If you go to a Merseytravel office or Merseyrail station you will have to get a Walrus card, £1 none refundable. Ask for a Saveaway that covers the ferry, I'm not sure all do, I have sometimes at the back of my mind there is a cheaper Liverpool only one that won't get you across the river.

When you get to Lime Street you can drop down to the Wirral Line and get the train two stops to James Street, this is marginally closer to Malmaison than Moorfields, you would have to change trains to get to Moorfields anyway. When you are on your way home you can go James Street straight to Lime Street (It goes through Moorfields that way).

When you get to Woodside on the Ferry I would also recommend Gallagher's pub which is a short walk. Really nice pub.

If you want any advice on pubs in Liverpool then shout up. I am in them far to often. I generally like the Real Ale pubs but of course I know about the other bars to. Also I live a stone's throw from Paul McCartney's house where he grew up, not that far from Penny Lane, John Lennon's House and Strawberry fields as well. If I can give any advice let me know.

 

[lyndhurst25]

The Saveaway that covers the ferry is the "all zones" Saveaway i.e. all Merseyside. Cheaper single zone Saveaways are available for Liverpool/Wirral/St Helens/Southport but these don't include the ferry. Years ago there used to be a "cross river" Saveaway that covered Liverpool, the ferries and a small part to the Wirral; but they don't sell this one any more.

(Edit - it was all the Wirral and just central Liverpool for the now withdrawn cross river ticket).

 

[fowler9]

The Saveaway that covers the ferry is the "all zones" Saveaway i.e. all Merseyside. Cheaper single zone Saveaways are available for Liverpool/Wirral/St Helens/Southport but these don't include the ferry. Years ago there used to be a "cross river" Saveaway that covered Liverpool, the ferries and a small part to the Wirral; but they don't sell this one any more.

(Edit - it was all the Wirral and just central Liverpool for the now withdrawn cross river ticket).

Nice one. I have a Trio so I very rarely buy a Saveaway. Was just hoping the OP wouldn't end up with a ticket that wouldn't get them over the river. Ha ha.

 

[M28361M]

The £5.30 all area Saveaway is the only one accepted on the ferry. Note that to use one on the ferry you will need to show your ticket/Walrus at the ferry terminal ticket counter, you will be issued a paper boarding pass free of charge. The boarding pass shows where you boarded so in theory could be used to enforce the "no round trip" rule, but I have never been checked when alighting from a ferry, only when boarding. Note that the Saveaway ticket itself is not sold at ferry terminals.

Be aware that the Saveaway is not valid during the morning peak (Mon-Fri 0631-0929 inclusive). For Walrus cards, the £1 "activation fee" is non-refundable. The advantage of Walrus is that, once a card is obtained, it can be loaded at any Paypoint retailer, but this is probably not really a consideration for the OP staying in Liverpool for one night.

The train ticket style Saveaway is in the National Rail ticketing system as a Day Ranger so in theory any ticket office in the UK can sell it (although, as previous posters have said, Merseyrail stations will insist on issuing a Walrus instead). As an aside, I have heard stories of some bus drivers being wary of the paper tickets as they helpfully have RAIL RANGER printed on it in big letters, which causes them to think it is some rail-only product.

If using the ferry, you might want to alight at Birkenhead Woodside (these days served only by the off-peak Explorer cruises) and go for a ride on the Heritage Tramway which departs from outside the ferry terminal. Check the opening times beforehand, though, as I believe it is currently on restricted operating hours while the associated transport museum is renovated. Then either get a later ferry back to Liverpool or take the train from Hamilton Square.

The OP mentioned Beatles sights: there is an (expensive) Magical Mystery Tour bus, but an alternative is to take a service bus out to Penny Lane where you can see the "shelter on the roundabout" (sadly disused at the moment after a plan to turn it into a restaurant fell through) that inspired Lennon and McCartney. There is also a small visitor centre. Bus routes 75, 76, 80 and 86 will all take you there from the city centre.

 

[185143]

Only times I've had issue with a saveaway on a bus is when it's been printed on the bog paper ticket stock that Northern use. On a proper ticket I've never had an issue, and I use them far too often!

 

[fowler9]

The £5.30 all area Saveaway is the only one accepted on the ferry. Note that to use one on the ferry you will need to show your ticket/Walrus at the ferry terminal ticket counter, you will be issued a paper boarding pass free of charge. The boarding pass shows where you boarded so in theory could be used to enforce the "no round trip" rule, but I have never been checked when alighting from a ferry, only when boarding. Note that the Saveaway ticket itself is not sold at ferry terminals.

Be aware that the Saveaway is not valid during the morning peak (Mon-Fri 0631-0929 inclusive). For Walrus cards, the £1 "activation fee" is non-refundable. The advantage of Walrus is that, once a card is obtained, it can be loaded at any Paypoint retailer, but this is probably not really a consideration for the OP staying in Liverpool for one night.

The train ticket style Saveaway is in the National Rail ticketing system as a Day Ranger so in theory any ticket office in the UK can sell it (although, as previous posters have said, Merseyrail stations will insist on issuing a Walrus instead). As an aside, I have heard stories of some bus drivers being wary of the paper tickets as they helpfully have RAIL RANGER printed on it in big letters, which causes them to think it is some rail-only product.

If using the ferry, you might want to alight at Birkenhead Woodside (these days served only by the off-peak Explorer cruises) and go for a ride on the Heritage Tramway which departs from outside the ferry terminal. Check the opening times beforehand, though, as I believe it is currently on restricted operating hours while the associated transport museum is renovated. Then either get a later ferry back to Liverpool or take the train from Hamilton Square.

The OP mentioned Beatles sights: there is an (expensive) Magical Mystery Tour bus, but an alternative is to take a service bus out to Penny Lane where you can see the "shelter on the roundabout" (sadly disused at the moment after a plan to turn it into a restaurant fell through) that inspired Lennon and McCartney. There is also a small visitor centre. Bus routes 75, 76, 80 and 86 will all take you there from the city centre.

Blimey, I never knew that visitors centre was there and I live ten to fifteen minutes away. Ha ha. My school football team played some home games on those playing fields by the visitors centre (Looks like they aren't playing fields any more). Back when I was in 6th form we would sneak to the alleyways off Penny Lane for a lunch time ciggy. We once got nicked by the police after a resident reported people behaving suspiciously in the alley. We never got in trouble as we were in school uniform and not causing trouble and the head policeman in the group was a Bluecoat Old Boy. They just gave us a lift back to school, I think they were grateful they didn't have to do any paperwork. Ha ha.

 

[rmt4ever]

I'm in Lime Street now so I just asked at a ticket window. The will sell you a Saveaway on a train style ticket so you don't have to pay the pound for a Walrus card. If you go to a Merseytravel office or Merseyrail station you will have to get a Walrus card, £1 none refundable. Ask for a Saveaway that covers the ferry, I'm not sure all do, I have sometimes at the back of my mind there is a cheaper Liverpool only one that won't get you across the river.

When you get to Lime Street you can drop down to the Wirral Line and get the train two stops to James Street, this is marginally closer to Malmaison than Moorfields, you would have to change trains to get to Moorfields anyway. When you are on your way home you can go James Street straight to Lime Street (It goes through Moorfields that way).

When you get to Woodside on the Ferry I would also recommend Gallagher's pub which is a short walk. Really nice pub.

If you want any advice on pubs in Liverpool then shout up. I am in them far to often. I generally like the Real Ale pubs but of course I know about the other bars to. Also I live a stone's throw from Paul McCartney's house where he grew up, not that far from Penny Lane, John Lennon's House and Strawberry fields as well. If I can give any advice let me know.

You sir are a true Gent... and real ale, a man after my own heart (CAMRA member for just over ten years since I was about 20)!!

 

[fowler9]

You sir are a true Gent... and real ale, a man after my own heart (CAMRA member for just over ten years since I was about 20)!!

Ha ha. Mate if I can recommend any pubs just shout up. A few to Google, Rigbys, Dr Duncans, The Vernon Arms, The Dispensary, The Ship And Mitre, The Fly In The Loaf, Hard Times And Misery, The Roscoe Head. Loads more. If you are looking at going to evensong at one of the Cathedrals then Hard Times And Misery, The Dispensary, The Fly In The Loaf and The Roscoe Head aren't far away. To be honest no where in Liverpool is far away, it is quite a compact city centre as others have said. The Baltic Quarter has some really nice new bars and pubs (Including a nice but expensive Peaky Blinders themed bar) plus The Baltic Fleet pub right on the edge of it near the Albert Dock. When you get the ferry over the river Gallaghers near Woodside ferry terminal is very nice as others have said, you used to be able to get a haircut there to until recently (I believe the barbour service is no longer there). If you want to visit the suburbs then I can recommend a few others. Lots of up and coming real ale/craft beer places not far from the Penny Lane area, depends how much time you have. Plenty to keep you busy in town.

To be honest mate most of those pubs I listed you could visit easily walking from Malmaison up Dale Street, along Lime Street and Renshaw Street then up Hardman Street and Leece Street to the Anglican or Metropolitan Cathedrals. If you head down towards the river from the Anglican Cathedral (The big Sandstone one) you will end up in the Baltic Quarter. If you walk that route you will also see most of the best buildings in Liverpool (Slight diversions around Exchange Flags and William Brown Street plus St Johns Gardens).

 

[AntoniC]

If your into your real ale another great pub to go to is the Ship & Mitre : http://www.theshipandmitre.com/

Food wise there are loads of decent places to eat, one I can recommend is The Hub http://www.thehub-liverpool.com/

If you want anymore help let me know !