Think of Liverpool and The Beatles will likely spring to mind, but there’s more to this city than the famous 4. Its waterfront is a designated World Heritage Site, it has two Premier League football teams and there are enough restaurants and shops to keep you busy for ages. Plus, some trains to Liverpool from Manchester take less than 40 minutes and it’s an hour and a half from Leeds. Of course, if you are interested in finding out more about John, Paul, George and Ringo, there are plenty of ways to do that too.
Arriving into Liverpool Lime Street you’ll find plenty of connections for onward travel. Mersey Travel will keep you on the move by bus, local train or ferry and if you're travelling to Liverpool Airport, catch the airport bus from outside the train station.
For unlimited bus travel around the city, buy a Liverpool Plusbus ticket with your train ticket for £3.80 (£2.50 with a railcard). Taxis, short and long stay parking, plus an open-top bus tour provide other ways to get around Liverpool.
Tate Liverpool is the North's most prominent home of modern art and its 3 floors host a rolling schedule of celebrated exhibitions. For those who don’t know their Warhol from their El Greco, there are regular guided tours on offer. You could also nip over to the newly-built Museum of Liverpool too. Or why not discover the story of The Beatles with a Magical Mystery Tour? This fascinating and fun bus trip includes a visit to John and Paul’s old houses, and finishes up at the legendary Cavern Club. Liverpool Cathedral also impresses on an otherworldly scale and continues to be one of the most-popular things to do in Liverpool.
If you have a taste for the finer things in life, combined with a head for heights, then Panoramic 34 is a must-visit. Liverpool’s highest eatery serves food as spectacular as the views – and also hosts very popular children’s afternoon tea. For something equally stylish, minus towering heights, try Neighbourhood. It's come direct from Manchester and offers sushi, cocktails and great steak. Bluecoat at Liverpool’s Centre for Contemporary Arts, meanwhile, offers up simple fare in very creative surroundings. And if it’s true Italian hospitality you’re after, then Gusto at the Albert Dock is the place to go.
Of all the places to stay in Liverpool, the Hope Street Hotel with its pine beams, exposed brick walls and iron pillars is one of the coolest. The Shankly Hotel offers luxurious accommodation that’s almost as unique as its namesake. Memorabilia is displayed throughout the reception area including Bill Shankly’s original contract, hand-written notes and letters that were sent to the former Liverpool coaching great. The Nadler offers the chance to stay at a chic boutique hotel at a much lower price. It has no bar or restaurant but does include cooking facilities.
The beautiful Georgian Quarter is a wonder. Come here for local brews, irresistible cheap eats and frequent live music. Over in Seacombe, the Spaceport is a captivating day out for would-be astronauts of all ages. Part-science museum, part-interactive exhibition, there’s tons to do. To get to the Spaceport, you need to take the Mersey Ferry (which, in itself, is a must-do while you’re here). Close to the Cathedral you'll find Chinatown, whose Nelson Street entrance is marked by a Chinese Arch, the largest of its kind outside China. Early every year the Chinese New Year celebrations thrill participants and visitors, but the amazing food is on offer year round.
MetQuarter is home to a number of great brands – shop here for the perfect designer gear. Any Liverpool shopping excursion has to include a trip to Bold Street. Known locally as the coolest road in Liverpool, it’s vibrant and bohemian; take a break, grab a coffee and get people watching. The Beauty Bazaar by Harvey Nichols is the ultimate beauty destination. The store covers an impressive 22,000 square feet, leaving plenty of room for you to be pampered from head to toe. And don’t miss Liverpool ONE. It’s a one-stop-shop for your leisure needs, with restaurants, bars, boutiques and a multiplex cinema.
For more ideas on what to do in Liverpool, check out Visit Liverpool.
