Modern Liverpool pulsates with cultural vitality and global influences as a port city, party town, and cultural phenomenon. Since the Tate Liverpool opened a few years ago, the city has become the second most important art hub in England, and sporting events like the Grand National and Liverpool FC draw in the tens of thousands. Evenings in Liverpool’s downtown area are a hive of activity, with bars, clubs, and venues hosting everything from intimate performances to large-scale festivals.
The Five Best Excuses to Go to Liverpool
A Remarkable History of Music
In the 1960s, Liverpool’s “sound” dominated international pop more than any other city’s. The pioneering Fab Four’s stomping grounds include visits to their respective boyhood residences, alma maters, and performance spaces. Great events, such as the Liverpool Psych Fest in September, feature the Fab Four’s forebears.
Exquisite Art Museums and Galleries
Liverpool’s visual arts scene has become as well-known as its musical one. The excellent Tate Liverpool, which has been showcasing the works of internationally renowned artists since 1988, is largely responsible for this. However, the Walker Art Gallery is not to be missed for its equally impressive collection.
Stunning Examples of Georgian and Contemporary Design
Liverpool used to be one of the most prosperous cities in the world (partly due to its place in the international slave trade). The beautiful Georgian Quarter is a reflection of that history. But that’s just one of many impressive buildings in Liverpool; others include the revitalized Albert Dock and the Gothic splendor of the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.
Exciting Events in the World of Sports
For football fans, Liverpool is practically a verb. Liverpool FC has ruled European football for decades, and now they’re back on top. Every few weeks, Anfield is packed with England’s most devoted football fans. However, if you’re not into that, the Open Championship of golf is held annually in the Liverpool area, and the Grand National horse race is held at Aintree Racecourse every April.
Incomparable Party Scene
Many young people from the northwest of England travel to the city on the weekends (and most weeknights) to enjoy the city’s extensive bar and club scene. Clubs like Mansion play music nonstop, and the annual Creamfields Festival in August is the largest outdoor dance music festival in the United Kingdom.
In Liverpool, What Should I Do?
The Beatles’ True Story: A Surefire Way to Make You Laugh
Even though John Lennon and Paul McCartney were not convinced by George Harrison’s audition on the top deck of a Liverpool bus, they were impressed enough to ask Harrison to join the band. Of course, with the addition of Ringo Starr, the group would go on to become a worldwide phenomenon, selling over 800 million records.
That’s just a taste of the fantastic journey through time provided by the Beatles Story, the largest permanent exhibition dedicated to the Fab Four in the world and winner of numerous awards. Some of the highlights include George’s first guitar (a $3 Egmond now worth $800,000), John’s iconic granny glasses, the band’s groundbreaking suits from the Sgt. Further, Pepper photo shoot, the gates to the Strawberry Fields children’s home in Liverpool, and miniature versions of the Cavern Club and Abbey Road studios.
The Law and the Orchestra at St. George’s Hall
St. George’s Hall, a magnificent example of neoclassical architecture in the heart of Liverpool, opened in 1854 for the curious purpose of housing both the courts and the cultural arts. This massively ornate hall is drenched in Liverpudlian history, from its mazelike nooks and crannies to its cavernous basement that once served as a jail for the condemned to the concert halls where Charles Dickens once read from his latest work. St. George’s is a popular film location that welcomes the public for events and exhibitions due to its vaulted ceilings, Minton-tiled floors, and massive pipe organ.
The Cathedral of Liverpool Is a Goldmine of Superlatives
Its Cathedral is the most photographed church in Britain and the largest church in the city of Liverpool. The largest Anglican cathedral in the world also has the largest and heaviest set of bells. Its Gothic arches are the highest and widest in the world, and its massive organ, with 10,267 pipes spread across two chambers, is the largest in the United Kingdom. Five works by Royal Academicians adorn the walls, the stained glass covers almost 20,000 square feet, and the church tower rises 500 feet above sea level for breathtaking views.
The Walker Art Gallery Has the Finest Collection of Old Master Paintings Outside of London. Featuring Pre-Raphaelite works by Rossetti and Millais, Impressionist works by Monet and Degas, and Baroque period masterpieces by Rubens, Poussin, and Rembrandt, the Walker Art Gallery has displayed one of the largest art collections in England for nearly 150 years. The gallery moreover welcomes families and provides an introduction to the collection for children under the age of eight through its Big Art for Little Artists program.
Tate Liverpool: The Maritime Warehouse for Modern Art
Further, Tate Liverpool, on the historic Albert Dock, houses the largest collection of modern art in England outside of London. Although the Tate Collection primarily focuses on British modern and contemporary art, it has recently hosted retrospectives of the work of Jackson Pollock, Pablo Picasso, and Andy Warhol.
Restaurants & Food
In recent years, Liverpool’s restaurant scene has flourished alongside the city’s cultural landmarks, making it one of the best in the northwest of England. The Art School Restaurant and the London Carriage Works, which serve excellent French and traditional British cuisine respectively but have confusing names, are two excellent options.
Miller & Carter is the best option for waterfront dining, while Rumi by Bukhara serves up some of the city’s best curries alongside healthy Indian fare and homemade ice cream. Pricing varies. A curry will run you about £15 per person, while a fancy dinner in the Georgian Quarter will set you back at least £30.
Route Instructions to Liverpool
Plane
Although John Lennon Airport in Liverpool bears his name, most North American tourists will fly into Manchester instead. Northern Rail services to Liverpool Lime Street take less than 30 minutes from there to the city centre. Taxis will likely cost you £50.
Train
At least two trains an hour between London and Manchester stop at Liverpool Lime Street during the day. Travel time from London varies depending on the type of ticket you purchase, so plan ahead if you’re in a rush. Hotels and the docks can both be reached on foot from Lime Street, making it a convenient location.
Car
To get to Manchester from London, drivers should take the M1 to Rugby (Junction 19), then the M6, exit at Warrington (Junction 21A), and then take the M62. The M62 is a direct route from the city’s centre, but getting there from Manchester Airport requires taking the M56 and then the M6 (Junction 9) to Liverpool.
Bus
The cities of London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, and Glasgow are all easily accessible from Liverpool via the cheap and convenient bus services provided by Megabus and National Express. The Liverpool ONE Bus Station is the terminal for buses, and it’s located right next to the Albert Dock.
Accommodation options in Liverpool
The Liverpool Docks and the City Center – it has further been an important port for centuries, and the city would be unrecognizable without them. Tate Liverpool, the Beatles Experience, the Merseyside Maritime Museum, and the International Slavery Museum are just some of the cultural institutions that have helped transform the city into what it is today.
Liverpool’s Most Desirable Neighborhoods
Beautiful houses and churches can be found in the Georgian Quarter, a district of Liverpool that benefited greatly from the city’s global trade. The London Carriage further Works and other fine dining establishments and the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra call this area home. Located north of the docks and the city center, Northern Liverpool is home to Everton and Liverpool FC, as well as cultural treasures like the stunning Antony Gormley statues on Waterloo beach.