What to do over the winter break? An international student perspective

Posted on: 22 December 2022 by Aditi Gupta in Hints, tips and advice

Are you an international student who is staying in Liverpool during the December holidays? If you are looking for things to do for staying occupied this holiday season, read on to find some interesting ways to spend your Christmas vacation in Liverpool.

Experience Christmas in Liverpool

Liverpool Christmas Market: The Liverpool Christmas Market has got something for everyone. If you are looking for trying out some festive food, head to one of the food stalls to try freshly roasted chestnuts, German Bratwurst, Yorkshire pudding wraps or mini Dutch pancakes. The Market has also got range of bars like the tipi bar, ski bar, windmill bar and the Bavarian bar where you can treat yourself to some festive drinks. Be sure to check out the rides and games available at the market, especially the big wheel!

Liverpool Alpine Village: Chavasse Park at Liverpool One has turned into a ski holiday-inspired wonderland this Christmas and proves to be a must visit. It has a range of activities for all which includes karaoke, curling, shuffleboard, prosecco pong, wreath making along with live music and food and drink stalls. At the centre of this attraction lies the unmissable Christmas tree which is one of the highest artificial trees in the UK!

Williamson Square Tree and the Albert Docks Light Trail: Step out for an evening walk to the Williamson Square and enjoy the sight of their 16-metre tall Christmas tree. This artificial Christmas tree is lit with LED lights and even allows you to walk through it! Don’t forget to get some bright and sparkly Christmas-y pictures clicked here for the gram! If you fancy long walks, take an evening stroll till the Albert Docks and follow their light trail to admire the docks lit as bright as ever!

Explore the best of Liverpool

If you haven’t yet had the chance to visit all the main attractions of Liverpool, this is the best time to become a tourist! Here is an insider guide of some of the most unmissable Liverpool attractions that deserve your attention.

Immerse yourself in Liverpool’s cultural heritage at the two Cathedrals: Liverpool boasts not one but two cathedrals. The Anglican Cathedral and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King (or simply the Metropolitan) are located on either ends of the Hope Street and gives the city a majestic landscape, making them a must visit. Both the cathedrals are located close to the university campus and are free to enter!

Discover the different museums of Liverpool: Liverpool has so many museums and galleries to offer that you would not know where to even begin! Visit the Walker Art Gallery to experience its stunning collection of sculptures and paintings or head towards the World Museum explore their Ancient Egypt gallery, planetarium or aquarium. Learn all about the history and culture of Liverpool at the Museum of Liverpool or look around some modern and contemporary art at the Tate Liverpool. Learn about the importance and legacy of slavery at the International Slavery Museum or immerse yourself in the maritime heritage of Liverpool at the Maritime Museum. If you are a fan of the Beatles, be sure to visit the Liverpool Beatles Museum and the Beatles Story to explore the band’s Liverpool legacy.

Watch a play at one of the theatres: If you are looking to experience live performance, then watch an exciting theatrical story at one of the Liverpool theatres. Liverpool has a number of theatres where you can watch plays that are both historic gems and award-winning contemporary performances. Be sure to check out what’s on at some of the most famous theatres in the city like the Everyman, the Playhouse and the Empire Theatre, as well as the Shakepeare North Theatre in nearby Prescot.

Make baby steps for your career

Take up seasonal work: During December, a lot of seasonal job vacancies start to get advertised. These seasonal jobs are temporary roles to fill the demand for additional labour during the busy holiday season. If you have not yet had an opportunity of taking up a part-time job, this can prove to be a great “try out” for you. Your seasonal role may also allow you to develop a set of skills that you can use to build your CV. Apart from that, this is a great way of staying engaged during the holidays and even making some extra money! If you are looking for these roles, Handshake and Indeed would provide you with a number of opportunities.

Volunteer your time at charities: Give back to the community this Christmas and volunteer your time at a local charity. Holidays can be a difficult time for some people and spreading the holiday cheer in the local community becomes even more important. Lending monetary help may understandably be difficult for students but lending your time during holidays might be a feasible option. Volunteering is a great way to enhance your CV, develop your skills and preparing yourself for graduate recruitment. You can find local volunteering opportunities here.

Upskill and get a head-start: If you are looking to build your CV and get some real-world experience then Forage is the best place to go! These Bite-sized 5-6 hour virtual work experience programmes will enable you to learn critical skills and get a genuine career advantage. Another online learning platform that you can use to learn business, software, technology and creative skills is LinkedIn Learning. This platform is a video library of engaging courses that are taught by recognised industry experts. As a University of Liverpool student, you will have free access to both the platforms.

Travel to cities around Liverpool

If you have exhausted all of the touristy places in Liverpool, then it might be time to travel to cities around Liverpool. A short train ride away from Liverpool is the city of Chester where you can explore the impressive Chester Cathedral, walk along the Chester Walls and visit the famous Chester Zoo. If you are looking for something which is more beachside, then Formby, Crosby and West Kirby are all a short distance away from Liverpool. You could also catch a coach to Manchester and experience the many attractions that the city has to offer. If you make the visit, be sure to use this opportunity to visit the Christmas Market at Manchester!

On a final note, be sure to take a break! After working so hard in the first semester, you deserve a restful Christmas break. Use this time to have multiple lie ins and late-night movie marathons to watch all your favourite Christmas films!

We will see you in the New Year when our Career Studio reopens on Monday 9 January.

Wishing you a restful Christmas break!