Police in Liverpool were clearly preparing for trouble - with the two sides of protesters and counter-protesters kept well apart by lines of officers carrying riot helmets.
For the most part though, things remained peaceful, apart from plenty of shouting exchanged between the sides.
On the anti-migrant side, we met plenty of women who said they are the new face of these protests - mothers and grandmothers concerned about the safety of their children.
One woman said it was "ridiculous" to label her far right, although as we were talking shouts of "Hey Tommy Tommy" went up from the crowd around us, an apparent reference to the far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
Some of the women came dressed in pink, wore Union Jack hair bands, or T-shirts with slogans pointing out they don't look like far-right supporters.
Although many were happy to talk to us, at one point we were pushed back from their side by men shouting at us, angry at traditional media being anywhere near the demonstration.
Walking across to the other side, people played drums, held signs welcoming refugees and occasionally yelled at the anti-migrant protesters, sometimes calling them "Nazis".
Read more:
Norwich protests were peaceful but anger is bubbling
First migrants detained under returns deal with France
They told me the other side had been fuelled by misinformation, and that this hotel was being used to house legitimate, documented refugees who were welcome to seek help in their city.
One man told me "people are turning up to kick people out of the housing they have been provided - this is not Liverpool".
Elsewhere, hundreds of protesters marched through in Nuneaton after two men, reported to be asylum seekers from Afghanistan, were charged over the rape of a 12-year-old girl.
That crowd significantly outnumbered counter-protesters outside Nuneaton's Town Hall on Saturday afternoon.
Video footage showed some minor scuffles broke out as police kept order.
Other protests took place in Bristol, Bournemouth and Birmingham.
(c) Sky News 2025: Migrant protesters face off in Liverpool amid concerns over women and girls' safety
Police arrest 474 people at protest in support of banned group Palestine Action
Major incident declared as crews battle Holt Heath fire near Wimborne
DWP handling of prosecutions of Post Office staff to be examined in independent review
Second arrest after man found dead on bench near Northampton canal
