Everyone has heard about of the band The Beatles, right? Liverpool is one of my favourite cities to visit in England, and I really think you will love it too.
Liverpool may well not be on everyone’s list of European cities to visit, but you’d be missing a trick. The history of the city is checkered to put it mildly. The Mersey river is a good example. What was once a major global port is now more or less a just a strip of water that separates Merseyside. And the first thing that strikes you is your ability to get a sense of how the city has significantly evolved from stark contrasts in the styles of the architecture.
Check out my travel tips for visiting Liverpool, and get really to be enchanted by one of the best cities to visit in the UK.
Getting to Liverpool
Liverpool has excellent transport connections to the rest of the UK and Europe. Low cost airlines fly to the city from major cities and also holiday hotspots, whilst from other places in England you can reach the city by car, bus or train.
Where to Stay
Liverpool isn’t a huge city compared to London for example, and I recommend staying centrally. There are lots of budget, midrange and luxury hotel options available all year round. Book in-advance for the best prices.
City Centre
The city centre itself benefitted substantially from a City of Culture award in 2008.
If you walk down to the quay and take the ferry trip, you can cast your eye along the water edge either side and see some of the most contemporary buildings in the country sitting comfortably alongside such elderly survivors as the Grade 1 listed Liver Building, complete with it’s iconic Liver Birds looking over Merseyside. If you believe local legend, if the birds ever leave, the city will turn to dust.
The quay itself is now a great destination for visitors, with an eclectic mix of places to go and things to do. Once well known for hosting the ‘This Morning’ TV studios, the various ex bonded warehouses are now occupied by Tate Liverpool, an array of independent boutiques, upmarket coffee shops, bars and restaurants. If you fancy a contrast to these 21st century pleasures, then the quayside Slavery Museum is fascinating and moving option.
Liverpool appears to be bucking a national trend, and the retail and leisure offer is one of the strongest in the UK. Liverpool One and the surrounding area is crammed with all the usual retailer suspects, plus a strong representation of the ‘blue chip’ brands. Where once the city may have suffered a somewhat down at heel image, things have changed dramatically. These days you’re more likely to see a Vivienne Westwood bag on coffee shop table than a copy of the Socialist worker.
The Beatles cannot go without mention, of course. The original Cavan Club is now joined by numerous themed bars and gift and record shops. Strains of Lennon & McCartney tunes are in the air courtesy of buskers, seemingly 24hrs a day, 7 days a week.
To the modern day, and you’ll discover that Liverpool boasts some amazing theaters and live music venues, you can buy and sell tickets to the best events and see the biggest names touring the country.
Eating Out
Independent Restaurants + Cafes
For those looking for something a little different Liverpool has a large selection of independent restaurants, cafes and coffee shops. It seems that a new place appears every ek so there’s always something new to try.
From little French bistros to award-winning Indian street food and pop-up Mexican food vans to upmarket Italian restaurants, eating out in Liverpool is like a culinary trip around the world. There is even a local independent discount card which is accepted in over 100 locations around the city to help you make the most of these fantastic eateries.
Liverpool One
Not only is Liverpool One a fantastic shopping destination it also has a wide range of restaurants and cafes. There’s a great choice of fine and casual dining, so whether it’s a celebration meal or a quick catch up with friends over lunch there is something to suit.
You can choose your favourite cuisine or try something new with restaurants serving food from America, France, Italy, Mexico, Thailand, Japan and much more. Chavasse Park in Liverpool One hosts events throughout the year so you can have an ice-cream on their pop-up sandy beach in the summer or a bratwurst and pretzel at Christmastime.
Events
Liverpool hosts an exciting diary of culinary events throughout the year. There are two massive Food and Drink Festivals which promote local produce from around Liverpool and Merseyside. They’re a great way to spend a weekend trying the best artisan food, craft beers and local drinks.
The annual Christmas markets in November and December bring European food stalls to all around the city. Throughout the year festivals such as Africa Oyé and Brazilica bring more celebrations and international food to the city.
Museums
Liverpool has more museums than any other city in the UK outside of London. The World Museum combines historic treasures from across the globe with the latest interactive technology. The permanent exhibition includes collections about ancient Egypt, space, dinosaurs and geology; it even has an aquarium and a planetarium.
The Museum of Liverpool specialises in the city’s social and cultural history whilst the Maritime Museum has exhibitions on maritime history, world trade and immigration. For music lovers there’s also the Beatles Story museum and the brand new British Music Experience museum.
Art Galleries
Liverpool has some of the best art galleries in Europe.
The Tate Art Gallery at the Albert Docks has one of Britain’s finest collections of modern art where everybody can find something they love. The Walker Art Gallery is known as the national gallery of the north. Here you can discover over six centuries of fine and decorative art.
The Bluecoat is Liverpool’s oldest surviving building and holds art exhibitions and events throughout the year. The Foundation for Art & Creative Technology (FACT) is a media arts centre which hosts art projects, exhibitions and also contains an art-house cinema where you can watch critically-acclaimed and foreign films.
Cathedrals
There’s an old Liverpool folk song with the lyrics “If you want a cathedral, we’ve got one to spare”. On each end of Liverpool’s famous Hope Street is a cathedral. Both are very different yet equally impressive.
The Metropolitan Cathedral was built in 1967 and is a modern and iconic structure and one of the first to challenge the typical cathedral design.
After a short walk down the street you come to the magnificent Anglican Cathedral. Built between 1904 and 1978 this is Britain’s largest cathedral and the fifth biggest in Europe.
Architecture
There is an impressive 2,500 listed buildings in Liverpool. Many of Liverpool’s grandest buildings were originally built as headquarters for shipping companies. Some of Liverpool’s most recognisable landmarks are the Three Graces on the riverside.
One of these three buildings is the Royal Liver Building which is topped by two Liver Birds, the symbol of Liverpool.
Another notable building is St Georges Hall which was built in 1854 and is one of the finest neo-classical buildings in the world. Walking around the different areas of the city is an architectural treat and there’s always something new to discover.
Live Music
Liverpool is known as one of the world’s greatest music cities and there’s always somewhere to see live music. There is a fantastic variety of venues to fit all musical tastes.
There is the 11,000 seater M&S; Bank Arena where world-famous acts perform such as Coldplay, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga. There are smaller venues where you can see new and exciting musicians and for those that prefer something more traditional, the Philharmonic Hall is home to the oldest professional symphony orchestra in the UK.
Mathew Street is the birthplace of the Beatles and the most famous street in Liverpool. It’s full of popular pubs and bars, statues and sculptures of the Beatles and other musicians. The Beatles performed 292 shows at the famous Cavern Club and you can visit it to watch live bands and see all of the Beatles memorabilia.
Entertainment
There are many musical themed attractions to visit to celebrate and learn about music in Liverpool.
The British Music Experience
The British Music Experience is dedicated to the history of music in the UK. Fans of the Beatles should visit the Beatles Story Museum, a journey into the life, times, culture and music of the Beatles. You can also take a specialised taxi or bus tour around the city to see the Beatles childhood homes and other famous sights.
Music Events
There are so many exciting events to join around the city all year round. There are festivals for all music tastes including Liverpool International Music Festival (LIMF), Liverpool International Jazz Festival and Creamfields for dance music fans. Liverpool has the UK’s largest celebration of African culture with the Africa Oye festival and a big Brazilian party with the Brazilica Festival.
Bars and Clubs
Liverpool’s nightlife is one of the best in the UK. Whether you’re into house music, heavy rock, eighties classics, techno, RnB, indie or pop music there’s always a venue where you can dance the night away. There’s a large choice of cocktail bars such as the Hawaiian-themed Aloha or the hidden prohibition bar Berry and Rye. You could go to Salt Dog Slims with hot dogs and steins on the menu, and student favourites like Heebie Jeebies and The Krazyhouse. Concert Square has some of the city’s biggest bars and clubs with well-known names such as Walkabout and Revolution.
Traditional Pubs
If you prefer a nice cosy pub then Liverpool has a great selection of traditional English pubs for you to visit. In the summer there are some great beer gardens where you can enjoy a refreshing cider in the sunshine and in the winter you can be nice and warm in front of an open fire. There is the Beatle’s favourite pubs like Ye Cracke and The Grapes, the grand Philharmonic with the magnificent dining room and The Baltic Fleet which has been serving beer for around 400 years. New microbreweries are appearing all around Merseyside and their craft beers can be sampled in many pubs around the city.
The Baltic Triangle
This recently developed neighbourhood has become the home of creativity in the city and has recently been voted as one of the ‘hippest areas in the UK’. The old factories and shipping warehouses of the 1800’s have been changed into some of the best bars, clubs, and restaurants in the city whilst keeping their old, raw charm. Just a short walk from the city centre you will find VW campervan food trucks, vintage clothing markets, art fairs, live music, pop-up street food stalls and summer gin gardens.
Theatres
The theatres in Liverpool provide the city with a great choice of entertainment. The Empire Theatre is the biggest with space for over 2300 people. It stages plays, musicals, ballets, comedy acts, and pantomimes.
Over the years it has hosted some of the most successful West End productions ever including Rent, Wicked, Cats, Grease and Ghost. The renowned Everyman and Playhouse theatres show ground-breaking shows and plays and are responsible for starting the careers of Bill Nighy, Julie Walters and Pete Postlethwaite.
If comedy shows are more your thing you can choose between a great collection of comedy clubs around the city to get you laughing.
Sport
Liverpool is of course, a football city.
Locals are very proud in Liverpool of having the title as the most successful footballing city in England. There are two Premiership football teams Liverpool F.C. and Everton F.C. who have been playing in the city since the late 1800’s.
Everton and Liverpool’s stadiums aren’t too far from each other and the fans themselves rub along well with each other. Football reveals how you can really benefit from the fact that Liverpool isn’t an unmanageably big city.
Football fans can do a tour of their stadiums Anfield and Goodison Park, get tickets for a match or enjoy the atmosphere watching a game in a local pub. Some of the greatest British players come from Liverpool including Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, proving that football really is part of the city heritage.
In Liverpool locals don’t just enjoy football, there’s a sport for everyone and an event to go with it. England’s ‘Golf Coast’ is in Merseyside where there is 12 of the best golf courses in the UK and players come from around the world to play. The St Helens rugby team the Saints is the most successful team in the Rugby League.
Horse racing is also very popular in Liverpool where has two traditional racecourses. Aintree hosts the world-famous Grand National where the world’s top jockeys race and the audience compete for the best-dressed award.
Anfield Stadium Tour
Liverpool Football Club has strong affiliations with overseas supporters and the mood in the city is fantastic with the streets lit up with shirts, scarves of worn by unfamiliar faces, all adding an extra buzz to the day. It is very common to find yourself in a bar or coffee shop filled with a gang of German, Korean, or South African Liverpool fans.
When you head off to Anfield to buy your Liverpool tickets you must do the tour of the stadium. The Anfield history and museum tour is inexpensive, and a really rewarding experience. The LFC guides are clearly die hard fans and the tour is anecdotal, a real must for fans. Tales of the the famous Boot Room are shared and the opportunity to ‘face the press’ in the media room is great fun.
The dressing rooms are a revelation. The home dressing room has been retained in the same style since the stadium was built. Some clubs’ dressing rooms looking 5 star hotel suites. The rectangular red and white tiled home locker room at Anfield leaves you in no doubt that you’re in a historic room. And a place of business, not a holiday resort.
The away room is smaller and L shaped and doesn’t benefit from heating. Mind games in football are nothing new! Stepping out into the stadium itself is breathtaking experience. You can touch the ‘This Is Anfield’ sign, a few steps and suddenly the bright green of the pitch overwhelms you. The Kop to your right looks fierce, even unoccupied.
Shopping
Liverpool One
The largest open-air shopping centre in the United Kingdom is located in Liverpool city centre. With over 170 shops, bars and restaurants it contains all of the high street favourites like H&M; and Topshop and two large department stores Debenhams and John Lewis. After a successful shopping session, you can relax in the park, watch a film in the 18-screen IMAX Odeon cinema or even play some adventure golf.
Bold Street
Liverpool’s most bohemian street was called ‘one of the best shopping streets in the country’ in the Lonely Planet guide and you will find out why. Full of busy independent boutiques, bookshops, art galleries, world food stores and vintage shops. If you need some refreshments there are independent coffee houses, a speciality teashop, Mexican street food, Middle Eastern restaurants and the best vegetarian café in the city.
Designer
If designer clothes are more your thing then Liverpool is the place for you. There are a fabulous selection of designer boutiques all across around the city centre. You can visit two high-end shopping centres, The Metquarter and The Cavern Walks, where you can get your Gucci, Christian Louboutin and Hugo Boss and maybe even see a footballer or two!
Cheshire Oaks
Only half an hour’s drive from Liverpool is the UK’s largest Designer Outlet, Cheshire Oaks. There are over 145 stores where you can buy designer outfits, high street bargains, sportswear, beauty products and some of the best British brands including Jack Wills, Burberry, All Saints, Clarks and Mulberry. All stores have up to 60% off and tax-free shopping is available so it’s a great place for a bit of retail therapy with a discount.
Beaches
The North West has some of the most beautiful and unspoiled beaches in the UK. You can visit the classic English seaside resort of Southport, eat an ice-cream, stroll around the fantastic shops, and walk along Britain’s oldest iron pier.
There’s Crosby Beach, a traditional, quiet seaside town with an unexpected twist. Here you can explore a unique work of art from one of Britain’s most famous contemporary artists, Anthony Gormley.
Parks
Sefton Park
This is probably the most famous park in Liverpool. It’s Grade One listed by English Heritage and is over 200 acres. Follow the different winding paths around the park to see all the beautiful features including a boat lake, statues of Eros and Peter Pan and two cafes with delicious ice-cream. There’s even a magnificent Victorian Palm House which was built in 1896. It has over 200 species of plants from all around the world including some very rare and extinct species.
Calderstones Park
This park in South Liverpool has beautiful fields, woodlands, a lake, a mansion house and Japanese and traditional English gardens to explore. The park is famous for two things: the ancient Calderstones and The Allerton Oak. The Calderstones are six Neolithic* sandstone boulders. A lot of people believe that they are older than Stone Henge! The Allerton Oak is one of the oldest trees in the UK and is over 1000 years old! During the second world war soldiers from Liverpool were sent acorns and leaves from the tree for good luck.
Chavasse Park
Located in Liverpool One shopping centre this city centre park is a great place to have a rest and relax mid-shopping trip. The park is overlooked by the Terrace with lots of restaurants to choose from and plenty of outdoor space. Throughout the year the park has an exciting calendar of events and pop-up outdoor bars and restaurants and things to do.
Festival Gardens
This park was first created for The International Garden Festival in 1984. The festival ran for 5 months and had over 3 million visitors! Nowadays it’s a wonderful place to walk around and see pagodas*, lakes and waterfalls. Once you’ve finished exploring the park you can get onto the promenade and enjoy a walk along the river Mersey.
Speke and Garston Coastal Reserve
This is more of a walk than a park but it’s a beautiful outdoor space to explore. Start the trail behind the National Trust Speke Hall in South Liverpool. If you have time it’s certainly worth visiting this magnificent Tudor manor house first.
The trail is a 2 ½ mile walk with beautiful views of the Wirral peninsula* and North Wales. Keep looking up to see a range of birds and wildlife and a few planes from the nearby airport too!
Stanley Park
This is another English Heritage listed park in the city. It has a stunning Victorian Conservatory and a fishing lake to see. But the most exciting thing about this park is that it divides the two rival football teams! On one side is Everton’s Goodison Park and on the other is Liverpool FC’s Anfield Stadium.
Croxteth Hall & Park
Croxteth Hall is a beautiful patchwork of a stately home, set in Liverpool’s Croxteth Country Park, having been built in 1575 in a Tudor style but with additions in the Georgian and Queen Anne architectural traditions. Straddling the two districts of Croxteth and West Derby, for centuries it was the estate of the Molyneux family – pronounced by them as ‘mullinex’ – who were Earls of Sefton but it passed to ownership of the council in 1980.
The hall and many of the buildings on the estate and within the park are Grade II listed buildings and are maintained in pristine period condition and open to the public, within limits. On a tour of the hall, it is always possible to see some rooms preserved as tableaux from the Edwardian era, complete with dummies dressed in clothes that once belonged to the Molyneux family and their servants. At other times, re-enactments of scenes from Croxteth Hall’s history have taken place, featuring members of a local drama group or, occasionally, local schoolchildren.
A number of permanent attractions include the riding-stables, where a horse can be hired for a ‘hack’ around the grounds as well as being a centre for riding lessons. Near to the stables there is a charming tea-room that serves home-made cakes and pastries and a variety of simple meals. A large playground, including an enormous ‘jungle-gym’ is a popular draw for children of all ages and there are a large number of benches available so that parents can supervise the activities in comfort.
One of Croxteth Park’s most popular features is the ‘home farm’, which houses a number of impressive animals including goats, pigs, rare cattle, shire horses and various poultry. The Victorian walled-garden is another popular feature of the park, drawing visitors during the summer months, when the displays are radiant. At the front of the hall, there is a gift shop that sells a good variety of mementoes, gifts, farm produce and confectionery at reasonable prices.
For the active visitor, there is a high wire, ropewalk attraction called Jungle Parc, where people can climb and enjoy the view from far above the ground in the safety of a harness. There are different levels of difficulty, so it is suitable for children of ten or eleven as long as they are at least 1.35 metres tall. As well as these and other permanent installations, there are special events regularly, such as guided tours of the park in the company of a ranger.
A tour that is well worth taking is the Victorian Lamplight Tour in which visitors are guided around the hall by lamplight only, meeting actors dressed as historical characters from the hall’s past, who recount tales of their ‘lives’. In a similarly mysterious vein, there are regular ‘murder mystery’ nights with a meal and a simulated murder for the guests to solve; this is organised by a highly skilled West Derby theatre company.
For children, a perennial favourite is the Father Christmas Grotto, which is set out in the farm; the price of admission includes a gift and entrance to the farm itself. Continuing the Christmas spirit, on two successive Sundays prior to Christmas there is a large craft fair and market in the hall, with handmade and personalised gifts, decorations and food. Fun for all ages.
Croxteth is several miles from the city centre.
Best Places to Visit Near Liverpool
If you are keen to see more of the area check out my tips for getting around Liverpool by train. Here are some top locations to see on day trips.
Chester
Chester is a small historical city located very close to Liverpool, with beautiful architecture, swanky shops and lots of bars and cafes.
Manchester
The second greatest city of the North (or so I think) is just a short 40-minute train journey from Liverpool. View my Manchester travel tips.
Wales
North Wales has some of the best coastal areas for beaches and wildlife. Here you can see seals, puffins and even dolphins if you’re lucky. This region is only a short drive from Liverpool.
Plan Your Trip to Liverpool
Once you’ve experienced Liverpool, you’ll want to come back time and again. This really is one of the best cities to visit on any trip to the UK.