Liverpool Attractions You Seriously Shouldn’t Miss

Liverpool was surprising to me. Of course I always associated Liverpool with the Beatles but other attractions? I don’t think I ever really thought much them. Other than when I’d sit with Roydio to watch their futbol club on TV occasionally (and right now they’re doing pretty well!). It wasn’t until we set foot in the home of the Scousers that I realized exactly how fabulous a city it is! And I didn’t really do much research before I arrived. Shame on me.

We spent three days in Liverpool in a pretty awesome AirBnb so that was definitely a good start. It was fairly near to all the attractions we wanted to see in Liverpool with easy access to public transportation.

HOHO Bus

The best way I’ve found to see an entire town no matter where you find yourself in the world is on the HOHO bus. Hop On Hop Off. It has a silly name but it describes exactly what it is :: you have the option of getting on and off whenever and wherever you want. Well, at each of the stops on their route, that is. And depending on the city you’re in they may have several routes.

What I did when I first arrived in Liverpool to make sure I’d see all the attractions I was interested in seeing was to take the HOHO around the entire route. I made a mental note (or took a picture) of what I wanted to see more in detail and then, on the second time around, I got off there. After I’d seen what I wanted I then hopped back on or walked to the next spot. For one affordable fare you can see many of the popular sites to see. Surprising to me was the fact that Liverpool really does have a LOT to offer!

Cost :: 14.59USD for 24-hr ticket (i.e., buy it at 2pm Monday and it’s good until 2pm Tuesday). Click here for tickets.
DEAL :: Click here to get tickets for river cruise and HOHO bus combo.
Hours :: The first tour leaves the Royal Albert Dock at 10 am and runs every 30 minutes from each stop until the last tour leaves the dock at 4:30 pm.
Location :: Click here for stops.

Liverpool Cathedral

Liverpool Anglican Cathedral is Britain’s largest Cathedral and the 5th largest in Europe. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II attended the grand opening in 1978 as “a triumphant proclamation of hope” and it was named “one of the great buildings of the world” and “a city site of world importance.”

The site was originally that of St. Peter’s Church but was over the years reconstructed as LAC is now. If you’re interested in reading about its entire history click here.

Cost :: Entrance is free; donations are accepted. The “Tower Experience” will cost 5.50EU or 14.50EU per family. Click here for more details.
Hours :: 8am to 6pm
Location :: St James Mount, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 7AZ

Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King is Britain’s largest Catholic Cathedral, opened in 1967 and man is it impressive! The cathedral’s architect, Frederick Gibberd, was the winner of a worldwide design competition held by the Union of International Architects. MCCL is the seat of the Archbishop of Liverpool and the mother church of the Archdiocese of Liverpool.

Cost :: Entrance is free; donations are accepted.
Guided tours are also free but suggested donation is 3EU per person. Click here for more information.
Hours :: 7:30am to 6pm
Location :: Cathedral House, Mount Pleasant, Liverpool L3 5TQ

Walker Art Gallery

The Walker Art Gallery located side-by-side to the World Museum and Central Library holds a stunning collection of paintings, sculpture and decorative arts spanning over six hundred years.

Cost :: Free general entry – Special Exhibitions vary between 2 to 9EU. Check with WAG for details.
Hours :: 10am to 5pm
Located :: William Brown Street, Liverpool, L3 8EL

Central Library

The largest of the 22 libraries in Liverpool is situated beside the World Museum and the Walker Art Gallery in the center of the city. What a gorgeous building! The 72-foot walk up contains engravings of famous titles of books, movies and music. From what I’ve heard therein also lies a riddle or a secret code if you will :: look for the letters in RED. If you’re aware of the riddle, let me know!

The library collection holds tomes dating back 800 years, including handwritten letters by Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and Florence Nightingale and even a childhood essay by Paul McCartney.

Cost :: Entrance is free and open to the public
Hours :: Mon-Fri 9am to 8pm, Sat 9am to 5pm, Sun 10am to 5pm
Location :: William Brown St, Liverpool L3 8EW

St. John’s Gardens

Such a peaceful and serene park named after John the Baptist. The gardens are part of the William Brown Street conservation area and comprises one of the two open spaces within Liverpool’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cost :: Free and open to the public
Hours :: Open 24 hours
Location :: St George’s Pl, William Brown St, Liverpool L1 1JJ

World Museum

The World Museum has really cool exhibits, revealing millions of years of the Earth’s history through thousands of exhibits and hands-on activities.

Cost :: Entrance is free; donations are welcome.
Hours :: 10am to 5pm, except on December 24, 25, 26, 31 and January 1 when it is closed all day.
Location :: William Brown St, Liverpool L3 8EN

Aquarium

The Aquarium at World Museum has a wonderful variety of fish – one of the most popular attractions at the museum for sure.

Cost :: Free and open to the public
Hours :: 10am to 5pm, except on December 24, 25, 26, 31 and January 1 when it is closed all day.
Location :: inside World Museum at William Brown St, Liverpool L3 8EN

Radio City Tower

View the fantastic skyline of Liverpool and beyond from the very top of St. John’s Beacon, home to Radio City.

Cost :: 4.50 to 6.50EU
Click here for combo tour including Mersey Ferry, Beatles Story, Radio City Tower and Cavern Club.
Location :: 1 Houghton St, Liverpool L1 1RL, UK

Epstein Theatre

Epstein Theatre re-named in memory of Liverpool’s most successful music entrepreneur and Beatles manager Brian Epstein, whose portrait hangs pertinently in Brians Bar. Brian was renowned for his contributions to the city’s cultural and music scene. Brian once also worked there when it was called Crane’s Music Hall. The theatre has featured a wide range of live entertainment for over 100 years.

Cost :: Prices vary, based on show. Buy tickets online or call them at 0844 888 4411
Location :: Hanover House, 85 Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 3DZ

Liverpool City Center

With 5 shopping centres, 2 department stores and over 400 shops – you’ll find party wear, gifts and goodies for everyone and every budget in Liverpool city centre.

Cost :: Open to the public
Location :: Road access to Merseyside is excellent with the motorway network making access to central areas quick and easy. From the M6 follow the M56 or M62 to Liverpool.

Chinatown

You know by now that it is pretty inevitable that I have to find the Chinatown for Roydio wherever we go. And Liverpool was no different.

The food at New Capital on Nelson Street was delicious. England is known for having a wonderful assortment of international cuisine throughout and Liverpool certainly lived up to the reputation.

If you walk down Nelson Street at the right time, you can even hear the clatter of Mahjong tiles, with groups of people gathered round to play together. The area is also notable for its Chinese-style architecture; with the paifang (gateway structure) on Nelson Street being the largest, multiple-span arch of its kind outside of China.

Cost :: Free to enter and open to the public – restaurants and shops incur various prices

Location :: South of the City Center near Liverpool Cathedral on the following streets :: Bailey, Berry, Corwallis, Cummings, Duke, Griffiths, Knight, Nelson, Roscoe, Sankey, Seel, Upper Duke

Crown Hotel

The Crown Hotel is a public house (or pub) recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated World Heritage listed 3-story building built in 1905 in Art Nouveau style. It is constructed in brick with some stucco and has marble facing on the ground floor and much stained glass. It is definitely a sight to see if you are into architecture.

Cost :: Menu pricing
Location :: 43 Lime St, Liverpool L1 1JQ

The Pumphouse

You won’t have visited Liverpool without seeing one of the most distinctive buildings on the Albert Dock – The Pumphouse – with awesome views of the Mersey. A traditional cozy British pub with outside seating which is great place to sit on a sunny day.

Cost :: Menu pricing
Location :: The Colonnades, Albert Dock, Liverpool, Merseyside, L3 4AA

Liverpool Philharmonic Dining Room

Liverpool’s Philharmonic Dinging Rooms is an ornate Victorian pub with wood paneling, rich tiling, leather sofas, stained glass and chandeliers where John Lennon used to hang out when he lived in Liverpool.

Cost :: Menu pricing
Location :: 36 Hope St, Liverpool L1 9BX

The Wheel of Liverpool

The 196-foot observation wheel has 42 capsules (one is a luxury VIP pod with a glass floor and leather interior) designed to give a 360* panoramic view of Liverpool and the Mersey River has become a known landmark in Liverpool near the Echo Arena. It was struck by lightening in 2013 but sustained no damage.

Cost :: 6.50-10EU, VIP pod 70EU (max 4 people) includes champagne and chocolates
Location :: Keel Wharf, Liverpool L3 4FN

Pier Head and Waterfront

The Pier Head (properly, George’s Pier Head) is a riverside location in the city centre of Liverpool and part of the Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City UNESCO World Heritage Site as I mentioned earlier, which was inscribed in 2004. As well as a collection of landmark buildings, recreational open space and a number of memorials (such as the Beatles’ statue above) Pier Head was (and for some traffic still is) the landing site for passenger ships travelling to and from the city.

Cost: Free and open to the public
Location :: Pier Head, Liverpool L3 1BY

Mersey Ferries

If you’re an “oldie” like me you’ll fondly remember the song by Gerry and The Pacemakers called “Ferry Across the Mersey” and it will bring great memories of days gone by. It’s fun to hear the song being played while you’re on the ferry. Kind of surreal.

Cost: Various – click here for details and tickets
Location :: Pier Head, George Parade, Liverpool L3 1DP

Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City

LMMC is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the waterfront in Liverpool and is comprised of six locations throughout the centre of the city which relate to a different component and time in the Liverpool’s maritime history.

Cost :: Open to the public
Location :: The Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City UNESCO site includes The Pier Head known as the “three graces” buildings Liver, Port of Liverpool and Cunard, The Albert Dock, The Stanley Dock Conservation Area, Duke Street Conservation Area/Ropewalks, The Commercial Quarter/Castle Street Conservation Area and The Cultural Quarter/William Brown Street Conservation Area.

Architecture

I saved this subject for the end of this post because it just so happens to be my very favorite reason for visiting Liverpool. The architectural stylings throughout Liverpool represent that of the past 300 years, while next to nothing remains of its medieval structures which would have dated back as far as the 13th century.

Built in 1716-17 as a charity school, Bluecoat Chambers in School Lane is the oldest surviving building in central Liverpool.

There are over 2500 “listed” buildings in Liverpool. A listed building is one considered to be of special architectural, historical or cultural significance and which is protected from being demolished, extended or altered, unless special permission is granted by the relevant planning authorities.

Due to the city’s rich architectural history Liverpool has been described by English Heritage as England’s finest Victorian City. And OMG I can really see why! I so enjoyed this aspect of Liverpool!

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As I said before I was surprised at what a great city Liverpool is. I am completely smitten by Liverpool’s architecture! Along with the other amazing attractions in Liverpool (I only touched on a few of my faves but there are many, many more, including the Beatles’ attractions mentioned above) I think you will really enjoy it too!