Severely damaged during ‘the Blitz’ in WW2 Liverpool has undergone years of redevelopment and was awarded joint European Capital of Culture in 2008. Visit the city to discover striking architecture, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and to soak up the multi-cultural vibe.
Why not start your Liverpool experience with a River Explorer Cruise? This 50 minute trip on the famous Mersey Ferry will let you take in the waterfront and admire Liverpool’s skyline. Audio commentary will explain the region’s fascinating history and give visitors an insight into the city (available in a variety of languages).
After seeing the Liverpool Waterfront from the Mersey take a close up look of this part of the designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Amazing architecture can be found at the Albert Docks, which contains the Tate Liverpool and the Merseyside Maritime Museum for the culture vultures among you. The Pier Head is home to Mersey Ferries and The Three Graces - The Royal Liver Building, The Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building.
If you ask anyone what they think of when they hear ‘Liverpool’ no doubt The Beatles will trip off most tongues. No visit would be complete without experiencing some of the history that changed music forever. A trip to the Beatles’ Story Museum will help you do just this. Open seven days a week this attraction will transport you into the life, times, and music of this iconic band. Check out the Beatles themed Starbucks, the new areas documenting the members’ solo careers and the interactive discovery zone where children can make their own newspaper or listen to 1950s music. Tickets include access to the sister site at the Mersey Ferry Terminal. Here you can explore the Fab4Store for all your souvenir needs and the Fab4D experience; where, through the wonder of 4D, the Beatles’ music is brought to life.
If all that Beatles memorabilia wasn’t enough then take a stroll to the Cavern Club one evening. Famous as the place where the Fab Four were discovered, it is a popular live music venue to this day. Visitors can enjoy a drink at the bar while listening to a range of live music on one of the two stages. Visit the website for listings and opening times.
Calderstones Park offers visitors a chance to relax among its ancient stone megaliths, after which the park was named. Purported to be older than Stonehenge, these monuments are one of the park’s many sights. Harthill Botanical Gardens are also incorporated into the grounds, almost 4000 species of plant can be found in these gardens, founded in 1802. The park contains a lake and a play-area for younger visitors.
Football is almost a religion in Liverpool. Home to two of the UKs biggest clubs, Liverpool FC and Everton, there is a strong rivalry between fans. Fanatical fan or otherwise, a Liverpool Football Club Tour will complete any trip to the city. The tour takes you behind the scenes at Anfield as you explore the changing rooms, hear about the pre-match rituals and then enter the stadium through the players’ entrance. The Liverpool Football Club Museum lets you explore the history of Britain’s most successful team, among the collections are the five European Cups that Liverpool has won.
The Museum of Liverpool, opened in 2011, is an eye-catching building on Liverpool’s famous waterfront. It houses archaeological collections, stories and displays about the King’s Regiment (Liverpool’s regiment) as well as the land transport collection; which documents the various forms of transport used throughout Liverpool’s history. The free entry and many interactive and varied displays make it an essential visit to learn about the essence of what makes Liverpool, Liverpool.
For those craving some retail therapy Liverpool offers a world-class array of shops, boutiques, arcades and markets. Liverpool ONE is a recently opened, modern shopping centre in the heart of the city. With everything you need under one roof, from high-street favourites to designer brands this is perfect place if you’re staying for a short time.Cavern Walks is conveniently situated in the centre of the lively Cavern Quarter. It’s the destination for premium shops and boutiques. Men, women and children alike will find shops to suit them. You can check out Cricket, Colleen Rooney’s favourite shopping haunt, which also offers fashion advice as well as all the top styles.
Getting to Liverpool:
Plane - Liverpool John Lennon Airport is seven miles from the city and provides links with many global destinations via Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.
Train - the mainline train station, Liverpool Lime Street, is located in the heart of the city centre. Virgin trains offer many cross-country services and a direct high-speed service to London which takes a little over two hours.
Boat - Arrive in style on one of the many cruise ships that dock at the City of Liverpool Cruise Terminal.
Car - The Liverpool region is easily accessible from the M6 motorway and the city can be reached via the M56, M58 or the M62 motorways.
Coach - National Express offers coach services to most major British cities. Services run every two hours to London and Birmingham and every half hour to Manchester. The coach station is located in Norton Street, in the city centre.