England is known for many things, some of which that come to mind instantly are: football, traditions, brick houses, crazy nightlife and the royal family. And although you can find all of these in London, you can’t really say you’ve explored the country, unless you go beyond its capital. A perfect travel destination for those, who wish to avoid enormous crowds of tourists, but still have a lot to see, is Liverpool. It has all of the above and more. Well, okay, technically Liverpool doesn’t host any of the operational residences of the royal family, but the city of the Beatles has its own type of noblemen- musical and football royalties.
Without bombarding you with tons of tedious facts, below I have listed a few bite-sized paragraphs, explaining what makes the city worthy of a visit and what to expect from it. And for those of you struggling with coming up with a solid itinerary for your visit, I’ll include a map, pinning the locations, which you can cover for a day.
A Big City with a Relaxed Atmosphere
Situated in North-West England, on the Eastern shore of the Mersey River, with a population of a little below half a million people, Liverpool is the 5th most visited city in the UK. Don’t let that scare you- it doesn’t mean you’ll have to wait on lines for everything and sacrifice your personal space for the chance of catching a glimpse of a famous spot. Actually the city is quite calm. It doesn’t have the annoying big city vibes. You can walk around without rushing, and exploring it on foot really feels like a cool way to wind down.
In the evening after working hours, it starts to liven up and the restaurants and pubs around the Albert Dock and in the centre close to the Cavern Club fill up with people even on work days. The city gradually fills with a pleasant buzz and music. No traffic, no sirens blaring- you can safely walk on the streets. Liverpool indeed has a unique atmosphere, combining the vibrancy of a big city, with the peaceful calmness and sense of security of small towns.
The Birthplace of Musical Legends-The Beatles
If you are a fan of anything BEATLES, this is the place to go. Liverpool is the birth place of all 4 members of the iconic band and a perfect destination for those who want to experience their path to glory. You can either sign up for the bus, Beatles Walk or Fab 4 cab tours, or you can explore on your own.
A great place to start is at the Albert Dock, where you can take a photo with the Beatles statue, and then walk your way towards the Beatles Story exhibition and the Fab4 café and shop. If you feel adventurous, from there you can even join a river cruise on one of the thematically painted Mersey Ferries.
From Albert Dock, I’d recommend to take a 15-min walk towards Cavern Club- a pub, where the Beatles would often perform in their early years, between 1961 and 1963. In fact, the club hosts live performances on a regular bases and is often used as a tour warm-up venue with secret concerts announced at the last moment. So if you are in luck, you might happen to watch live a big name in the music industry. Through the years performers like The Rolling Stones, The Who, Black Sabbath, Elton John and in modern times- Jessie J, Arctic Monkeys and Oasis did life gigs there. Numerous famous artists signed their names on the brick wall at the back of the Cavern Club’s stage. So there is really a little something for all music lovers.
If that was enough Beatles for you, you can stop here, calm that you have covered all the important places. But if you want more, you can always add Penny Lane and Strawberry Field to your list. Just keep in mind that it will take you a bit more time to get there, so you might call the whole day “A Beatles Day” and leave the exploration of the rest of the city for another day.
A Budget Friendly Destination
Not only can you find really affordable hotels and public transportation, but the main museums around the port can also be entered free of charge. I myself got a Walrus card for a day, which was valid for the trains, busses and ferries, and I paid around 5£. Taxi services also won’t break the bank, with fares of up to 1£ per km. Plus if you’d like, you can walk around the city centre, as the main points of interest are within a walking distance from one another.
I’d recommend a visit at the Museum of Liverpool or the World Museum.The first one is dedicated to the history of the city and has four main areas, as follows: Regional archaeology collection, The King’s Regiment Collection, Land Transport and Social and community history. The second one opened in 1853, which makes it the oldest museum in Liverpool. The city’s significance as one of England’s biggest ports makes it a door to the rest of the world and the World museum is dedicated on this. It also holds valuable exhibits from Egypt, Ancient Greek and Rome, as well as an Anglo-Saxon collection. The main areas are Antiquities, World Cultures, National History and Physical Sciences.
Don’t miss the chance to take a pic with the Superlambanana outside the Museum of Liverpool. It is a cross between a banana and a lamb, created by Japanese contemporary artist Taro Chiezo.
And for all the foodies out there, try the Baltic Street Food Market. It is an indoors market, which makes it the perfect place for a quick bite in bad weather. Plus, it has everything your heart (or stomach) might desire, vegan and gluten-free included.
A Sanctum for Football Fans
Okay, I must admit, I am a little bit biased here and I realise how not everyone might share my opinion. One of the main reasons for me personally to go to Liverpool, was to pay a visit of Anfield- the stadium of the greatest football team in history. I personally paid for the Liverpool FC Stadium Tour+ Museum Entry, which costs 20£, but there is a variety of tours, which you can choose from. It’s best to book in advance, in order to ensure your entry. You’ll need to be at the Stadium Tours reception desk at least 10min before the tour starts, so you can get your reservation checked and receive your audio guide. Then you only have to wait for the guide for your group to come and enjoy the next 90min as you go through Anfield (including the changing rooms and The Kop). On weekends and national holidays, however, the tour is usually self-guided and available in 9 languages.
True fans shouldn’t forget to stop by at the Anfield megastore. If you have the time, why not take a walk at the Anfield park afterwards and maybe pay a visit to Goodison Park, the stadium of the city’s other big team, Everton FC?!
Shopping at Liverpool ONE
And finally, for those of you who must always buy something for themselves to help them memorize a trip, Liverpool One has everything to cover your needs. And I am not talking necessarily about souvenirs- sometimes a piece of clothing or jewellery, which you can use in your everyday life, can bring more happiness than a fridge magnet for your collection. Liverpool ONE is more of a shopping district, rather than a mall and due to its many bars and restaurants, it is also worthy of a visit in the evenings as well.
A Realistic Day Plan
As promised, I am sharing the one-day exploration itinerary, which I followed during my first day in Liverpool. I arrived at the John Lennon airport at noon, so my tour started in the early afternoon. I got a taxi from my hotel to Albert Dock (at the price of 4-5£ with a tip included), where there was a cluster of sights to see. And from there I made my way through the city on foot.
In the Area of the Albert Dock, on the North, are the Beatles Pier Head and the Royal Liver Building- an emblem of the city and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Maritime Mercantile City. Right there at the Pier Head is also where the cruises with Mersey Ferries start. Next stop was the Museum of Liverpool. I then headed through the Canning Dock towards the Royal Albert Dock, where you can have a nice meal in one of the pleasant restaurants by the water. There you can also find the Beatles Story exhibition and the Fab4 Café. I also passed by the Dukes Dock, where the Liverpool Wheel is to be found, and through the Liverpool One, headed towards the Cavern Club, where my tour ended. Anfield and some other sights were left for the next day.
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