The first thing that springs to mind when you think of Liverpool is undoubtedly The Beatles, or if you’re a fan of English soccer, the Liverpool Football Club. While a lot of the city’s tourist attractions do revolve around The Beatles, Liverpool offers so much more. It’s a perfect blend of old and new with a world-famous music scene, an abundance of art and culture and warm and friendly locals.
No trip to Liverpool is complete without taking part in the Magical Mystery Tour, where you’ll visit all the major landmarks of the Fab Four such as Strawberry Fields, Penny Lane, the band member’s homes and birthplaces and the place where John and Paul first met. The tour concludes at The Cavern Club which has been meticulously rebuilt to resemble the former venue where The Beatles career essentially began. Another must-see is The Beatles Story at Albert Dock – the world’s largest permanent exhibition dedicated to the famous foursome.
After you’ve been there, there’s plenty more to see at Albert Dock. Thoroughly revitalised, the once obsolete docklands on the banks of the River Mersey was a fully working dock until 1972. It was only in 1988 that it was reopened as a visitor attraction. It’s now home to an interesting blend of museums such as the International Slavery Museum, Merseyside Maritime Museum and Tate Liverpool. There’s also a mouth-watering selection of bars, cafes and restaurants that you can enjoy, all while admiring the carefully restored iconic Grade I listed buildings.
Visit the hauntingly beautiful Church of St Luke, also known as "Bombed Out Church" after it was hit and burned-out in the Liverpool Blitz in 1941, leaving just the shell of the church. Roofless and windowless, the church’s floor is now covered in grass and a lovingly maintained garden. In contrast, Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral is a perfectly intact church and is one of England’s most atmospheric cathedrals where organ recitals are often held.
Stroll along Crosby Beach, a lovely stretch of coastline just outside of the city centre and home to a work of public art called Another Place – 100 cast-iron, life-size male figures (made from casts of the artist’s own body) spread out three kilometres along the beach and up to one kilometre out, all of them gazing towards the horizon.
See the Walker Art Gallery for one of the biggest art collections in England outside of London. For fans of English football there are not one but two stadiums to visit and take in a game – Goodison Park, home of the Everton Football Club and the first major football stadium built in England, and Anfield which has been home to the Liverpool Football Club since they formed in 1892. For racing enthusiasts, there’s Aintree Racecourse where the world-famous Grand National steeplechase is held. Once the sun has set on a day of sightseeing, there are plenty of options with a variety of theatre performances, comedy clubs, pubs, bars, clubs and plenty of live-music venues.
