10 hidden gems to discover in Liverpool this summer

Tucked away behind a Primark on one of the city’s busiest shopping streets, there’s a stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site where an orphanage from 1717 is now an arts centre. The Bluecoat is hardly hidden to those in the know, but its events, exhibitions, shop, cafe and oasis-like garden are still far too much of a secret. It’s also home to the likes of the Arab Arts Festival and DaDaFest, a wonderful Deaf and Disability Arts organisation.

If you veer towards the eclectic, this monthly night out is like a beacon in the fog of tired mainstream clubbing. First, there’s the music. On any given set you’ll be bouncing along to Wendy and Lisa via Bowie, Goldfrapp and The Ting Tings. Then there’s the crowd, an extremely diverse and inclusive gaggle of people whose focus is just on having a ball. The feel of the night is frivolous fun but with a snob-free art school sensibility behind it all that just works.

Outside the city centre close to Stanley Park, a small café beloved by its customers offers some of the tastiest, most reasonably priced food in Liverpool. Kash’s Kitchen has a devoted following and it’s easy to see why when you consider the varied menu (which serves up everything from a breakfast fry up to a healthy halloumi protein box), the plentiful portions and the warm welcome. You’ll eat well, enjoy a drink and still get change from tenner.

To describe 69A as a vintage clothing and antique shop is both accurate and a bit lofty. It’s a mixture of astonishing items and gleeful junk that feels like something from a Dickens novel. Beware, the place is bigger than it looks, and being inside starts to feel like you’ve been sucked into some kind of black hole, as you browse clothes that might have been hanging there for a hundred years and objects that might cost a fiver or five thousand pounds. Yes, of course there’s a shop cat.

Fancy leaving the city behind and getting out to the sea? The Merseyside coastline offers a myriad of stunning views but none are more haunting than the wrecked boats at Formby Point and Southport. The region’s rich maritime history is laid out in jutting metal and the husks of ships once sailing the Irish Sea. Planning and wellies are essential and a guide is probably your best bet – you don’t want to get caught by the tides.

Back in the days before the internet and when sexism, racism and homophobia were culturally the norm, News From Nowhere’s books and magazines made it a holy grail for people seeking alternatives to the mainstream. Established in 1974, it retains its not-for-profit credentials and is still run by a women’s co-operative. The shop is a reflection of Liverpool’s character and heart – radical, caring, community-minded and a survivor.

The canny people behind A Tavola, tucked away in Madison Square, have found a way to get you to pay for a meal whilst making it yourself. Genius. Learn the best Italian cooking methods, including your own pasta and sauces, then eat it. This wonderful deli-cum-restaurant-cum-cookery school is the best that Italian food can be and if you just want to eat gorgeous meals and drink delicious wine without getting your hands dirty, that’s just benissimo too.

Gems don’t come much more hidden than what’s been called ‘the strangest little pub in Liverpool.’ Descend into Hobo Kiosk and find a space where live art events, a great choice of beers and spirits from local providers and a friendly crowd really puts the bohemia into the Baltic Triangle. Have a chat with owner Delia and sidekick Tristan. They believe that Liverpool is the UK's Berlin and after a few minutes in their company, you’ll agree.

Nip over to The Wirral (take the ferry, the underground or a drive through the Mersey tunnel) and this wonderful peninsula offers a feast for visitors, including Ness Gardens. This 64-acre site overlooking the Dee Estuary has been promoting the benefits of the great English garden since 1898. If it’s a sojourn with nature you’re after, come along and smell the roses. Don’t worry, there’s a visitor centre and cafe for when you need a nice sit down too.

For dining of the fine variety, The Art School Restaurant is a stunner. But did you know about the cellars? Beneath the restaurant is a Champagne and wine bar, a beautiful space where you can also enjoy British cheeses and Basque Country-inspired pintxos. And if you’re celebrating something special, the private Tasting Room for 10 people is a food and wine lover's heaven.