Liverpool

Understand

Liverpool is a city with great cultural heritage and was awarded the title of European Capital of Culture 2008, with the famous Pier Head Waterfront being a UNESCO World Heritage site between 2004 and 2021. Liverpool is home to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and is also renowned for nurturing the talents of a wide range of musicians and band such as The Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Echo and the Bunnymen, and Elvis Costello. The city possesses the largest national museum collection outside of London and has a fascinating and turbulent history as a great world maritime centre. Liverpool is home to Europe's oldest Chinatown. The famous Grand National Horse Race takes place in the outskirts of the city (Aintree). It is also home to two very successful Premier League football clubs, Liverpool and Everton. People from Liverpool are called Liverpudlians, or more popularly, Scousers. The latter name comes from the local lamb stew recipe, scouse. The word "Liverpudlian" can also refer to supporters of Liverpool FC, while "Scouser" is seen as more inclusive of Evertonians. Although historically part of Lancashire, in contrast to natives of neighbouring Manchester, most Scousers have a strong local identity and do not identify as Lancastrians.

Visitor information 1 Liverpool Tourist Information Liverpool ONE, ONE, 5 Wall St, ☏ +44 151 233-2008, [email protected]. M-Sa 9:30AM-5:30PM, Su 10:30AM-5PM (April-September) or 10AM-5PM (October-March). (updated Sep 2023) Visit Liverpool tourist information.

Climate

Liverpool has a temperate maritime climate with mild summers, cool winters, and evenly spread rainfall throughout the year. The summer months have daytime highs averaging around 20 °C (68 °F) and overnight lows around 14 °C (57 °F). At its hottest, the temperature can climb towards and exceed 25 °C (77 °F) and not go below 16 °C (61 °F) at night, though these instances are uncommon. Daylight hours range between 4:45AM - 9:30PM in the summer months to 8:15AM - 4PM in the winter months.

Getting there

By plane

1 Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL IATA) (about 12 km (7.5 mi) to the south of the city centre). The airport serves 68 destinations, mainly for leisure purposes. It is well-served by low-cost airlines including easyJet, Ryanair, and Jet2. For a complete listing of airlines and destinations, please see thedestination list. (updated May 2025) Immediately outside the arrivals area, you will find a taxi rank and bus stops. Taxis to the city centre cost around £20-25 for the 25-minute journey. There is a £6 additional fee for taxis hailed at the airport. The airport is served by several bus routes, all costing £2 per single adult journey, which can be paid using contactless. Cash is accepted but you should ideally have the correct change or a small note (£5).

Bus 500 - This is the most important bus for tourists as it serves the city centre with limited stops. It operates every 30 minutes and takes roughly 30 minutes to reach the city centre. Note - Other buses such as the 86A will have Liverpool One as their destination. While more frequent than the 500, the journey time is significantly longer. It would typically be better to wait for the 500 bus if your hotel is in the city centre.

The No. 80A, run by Arriva, runs every 15 minutes and takes 45 minutes to the city centre. The No. 82A, also run by Arriva, runs every 30 minutes and takes around 40 minutes to the city centre. This runs directly to Paradise Street interchange without stopping elsewhere in the city centre. The No. 86A (Arriva) runs every 15 minutes during the day and now runs through the night, every half hour. This takes a little less time than the 80A as it is a more direct route down Smithdown Road. The journey time is 40 minutes but may be longer at peak traffic times. The No. 81A also serves the airport but does not go into the city centre. It may prove useful if you want to visit Woolton or the north of the city, as the route goes around the city ring road, Queens Drive, and terminates in Bootle. 2 Liverpool South Parkway station. The 80A and 86A buses also stop here. It's a 10-minute journey from where a frequent train service runs to the city centre in about 15 minutes. This may be a better option at times of peak road traffic (8AM-9AM, 5PM-6PM). (updated Jun 2022) The airport has two onsite car parks and Skypark is nearby. The airport offers a Fast Track service, which for a charge, means you can bypass the queue at security, but this tends to be worthwhile only for first flights of the day or if you risk missing your flight. Manchester Airport (MAN IATA) can also be us

Getting around

Bus providers strongly encourage contactless payment, but will take exact fares at a pinch.

Liverpool City Centre is walkable, but those with mobility impairments or who are feeling lazy may prefer buses, Merseyrail, or taxis (including Uber, Ola, and local Delta as well as well as plentiful black cabs).

By public transport

By bus Buses run out from the centre regularly from Liverpool One Bus Station in Canning Place (mainly to the south) and Queen Square Bus Station in Roe and Hood St. (mainly north/east). Both bus stations have travel centres with staff who will assist with which bus to get and from where. These travel centres also stock free transport guides and detailed timetable leaflets for each bus and train service. Highly recommended are the free 'map and guide' leaflets of the four main transport subdivisions of the Liverpool metropolitan area: Liverpool, Wirral (west), Southport (north) and St. Helens (east); these giant fold-out street maps show at a glance the route of every bus service (individual service leaflets are required for timetable information).

By Merseyrail (underground / metro) Liverpool and the surrounding region is served by an excellent mass-transit system, which is indispensable for the visitor who wishes to explore outside the city centre. Destinations such as Chester, the Anthony Gormley sculpture "Another Place" (in Crosby), and the seaside town of Southport are popular tourist destinations on the network. Due to the short distances involved, and the few central stations, the Merseyrail network is of limited value for money getting around the City Centre as the stations can usually be walked between in the time it takes to descend, travel, and ascend, with the possible exception of James Street to Lime Street. The network has several gaps in coverage as the latest expansions of the City Centre (such as the Baltic Triangle and North Docks), and Anfield Stadium do not have nearby stations. The Knowledge Quarter university district also suffers from poor Merseyrail connectivity, with the nearest station down a steep hill. The local government is seeking to amend some of these deficits - for example, funding has been approved to re-open a defunct station in the Baltic Triangle.

The Merseyrail lines are:

Northern Line (blue): This runs south-north from Hunts Cross to Southport, with branches to Ormskirk and Kirkby. Each branch runs at least twice an hour from 6AM (8AM on Sunday) to midnight, as does the main line, & the Ormskirk and Kirkby branches run along the main line as far as Liverpool Central. Wirral Line (g

See

Liverpool is particularly famous for its architecture, to the point where English Heritage consider it England's finest Victorian city. Once dilapidated and dirty during the dark times of the 1980s, modern Liverpool presents its architecture with full civic pride.

Pier Head

The harbour of Liverpool has played a very important role in the modern history of the city. The wharf area drained by the Mersey River gives to the city an air of antiquity, which is quite strange and interesting because of the contrast between modern and conventional buildings. The Pier Head was recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO between 2004 and 2021, when it was controversially delisted due to modern development.

1 Museum of Liverpool, Pier Head, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool L3 1DG (on the riverside, get off at James St station), ☏ +44 151 478-4545. 10AM-5PM. A large museum all about the city of Liverpool and its history from ancient inhabitants of the area to its modern revival. Not to be confused with the World Museum, which is more "general" in scope. Free. (updated Jul 2022) 2 Royal Liver Building (on the riverside). Iconic symbol of Liverpool waterfront. This 1911 skyscraper still dominates the distinctive Liverpool skyline. It is the home of the legendary Liver Birds that sit on top of the building looking out across to the Wirral. The river-facing face of the clock is six feet larger in diameter than that of the clock tower at Westminster. Titanic Memorial is north side of the Royal Liver Building, a sober granite monument to the 244 engineers lost with the ship. 3 The Beatles Story (Fab4D Cinema), Pier Head. A film telling a story using The Beatles as a theme. 4 Canada Boulevard, The Pierhead. Runs the entire length of the Three Graces frontage and consists of a boulevard of maple trees with plaques laid into the pavement listing the Canadian ships lost during the Second World War. (updated May 2026) 5 British Music Experience, Cunard Building, L3 1DS, ☏ +44 151 519-0915. 10AM-5PM. An exhibition telling the history of British rock and pop music since 1945. £20. (updated May 2026) 6 Open Eye Gallery, 19 Mann Island, L3 1BP, ☏ +44 151 236-6768. 10AM-5PM. (updated Aug 2019)

Albert Dock 7 Albert Dock (on the riverside). This is one of the more sophisticated places in Liverpool and is situated in the largest collection of Grade I listed buildings in the UK. Old warehouses have been converted into shops, apartments, restaurants, pubs, hotels, galleries and museums. For fans of the old This Morning with Richard and Judy TV programme, this is also where th

Do

Note that many museums and galleries (including the Liverpool Museums ones) are closed Mondays. 1 The Bluecoat, School Lane, L1 3BX (Merseyrail: Liverpool Central Northern Wirral ), ☏ +44 151 702-5324, [email protected]. The Bluecoat (not to be confused with The Bluecoat School, which is a grammar school in Wavertree) is a world-famous prestigious school dating back to the 18th century, and is one of the oldest arts schools in Europe. It hosts arts exhibitions as well as music and literary events, but also offers tuition in fine art, music and literature. 2 Liverpool Arena (M&S Bank Arena), Kings Dock, Liverpool Waterfront, L3 4FP (Merseyrail: James Street Wirral ), ☏ +44 844 800 0400. 11,000-capacity arena for music, comedy and theatre performances. (updated Nov 2022)

3 Mersey Ferries, Gerry Marsden (former Pier Head) Ferry Terminal, George Parade, L3 1DP (Merseyrail: James Street Wirral in front of the Cunard Building), ☏ +44 151 330-1003. Departures hourly M-F 10AM-4PM Sa Su 10AM-6PM. Immortalised by the hit song "Ferry Cross the Mersey" by Gerry & the Pacemakers, the ferries offer a fun 50-minute cruise with commentary up and down the river and across to Birkenhead, where you may disembark. There's no better way to see Liverpool's skyline. No matter the time of year or the weather conditions on land, bring warm clothing. See Mersey Ferry for more. River explorer: adult £11.50, child (aged 5-15) £7.50, under 5 free, concession £10.

Music 4 Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (Liverpool Phil), 36 Hope Street, L1 9BP (Merseyrail: Liverpool Central Northern Wirral ), ☏ +44 151 709-3789. Home to one of the world's great orchestras. Go for a pre-concert drink in the Philharmonic pub over the road then sit back and let the music carry you away. 5 Music Room (Liverpool Phil), 36 Hope Street, L1 9BP (Merseyrail: Liverpool Central Northern Wirral ), ☏ +44 151 709-3789. Small space (190-250 capacity) adjunct to the Phil. Opened 2015. 6 The Tung Auditorium (Yoko Ono Lennon Centre), 60 Oxford Street, L7 3NY, ☏ +44 151 794-1500. World class dedicated concert hall with 400 seated capacity opened in 2022. 7 Arts Club, 90 Seel St, L1 4BH (Merseyrail: Liverpool Central Northern Wirral ), ☏ +44 151 559-3773. A venue which hosts rock, jazz and reggae concerts with well-known artists. Accommodates up to 1,300 people and there are no seats. Much of the venue is wheelchair accessible. Tickets in the range of £20–30. 8 The Dome at Grand Central Hall, 35 Renshaw Street, L1 2SF (Merseyrail: Liverpool Central Northern Wirral ). Art Nouveau former Wesleyan

Buy

Although the main shopping street in Liverpool is dominated by the same chain stores you'll find in any other large UK city, Liverpool has many distinctive shops of its own, including:

1 Liverpool One, Liverpool One, Paradise St. Landmark development opened in 2008, redefining the city with three levels of shopping and entertainment and even a park. Offers a mixture of familiar highstreet chains and fashionable boutique stores 2 MetQuarter, 35 Whitechapel, L1 6DA. This shopping centre focuses on designer-label fashion and has more than 40 stores. 3 The Bluecoat. Located in the heart of Liverpool's shopping district, the Bluecoat houses a number of specialist independent retailers offering an eclectic range of products. Stocking the best in contemporary craft, design, fashion and homewares, the shops at the Bluecoat should be your first destination in the city for the unique and the unusual: Display Centre, Drum, Landbaby, Purlesque, Robert Porter. 4 St John's Shopping Centre, 125 St Georges Way, L1 1LY, ☏ +44 151 709-0916. 5 Clayton Square Shopping Centre, Great Charlotte St, L1 1QR, ☏ +44 151 709-4560. 6 Petticoat Lane Arcade, Petticoat Lane Arcade, 102 Bold Street, L1 4HY. Bold St has a number of independent shops. There are also many nice cafes and restaurants. 7 Brewery Village, Stanhope St, L8 5XJ, [email protected]. 8 News from Nowhere, 96 Bold Street, L1 4HY, ☏ +44 151 708-7270. A left-leaning bookshop which is impressively stocked on political topics (even as regards journals and newspapers), but has an interesting choice of books on other topics, too. 9 Cavern Walks, Mathew St, Liverpool L2 6RE (in Liverpool city centre, in the Cavern Quarter: on Mathew street there is also have an entrance off Lord Street on Doran's Lane, you can see the sign, which takes you to the entrance on Harrington Street), ☏ +44 151 236-9082, [email protected]. The famous Cavern Club is part of the shopping centre (updated Feb 2017)

Eat

There are various pubs serving food across the city centre and its suburbs, of course. The two main areas are the City Centre and Lark Lane about three miles from the city centre in Aigburth. There are various restaurants on Allerton Road (near Liverpool South Parkway) as well. Expect to spend £20 for a meal for two. Check with your hotel first if they allow food delivery. There is also quite a number of places to eat in Liverpool One.

City Centre 1 Upstairs Restaurant Bar (Bluecoats), School Ln, ☏ +44 151 702-7783. Su M 11:30AM-6PM; Tu-Sa lunch 11:30AM-3PM, afternoon tea 3PM-5:30PM, dinner 6PM-11PM. Offering seasonal food and a great wine list in a creative setting. Also offers a special children's menu (under 12s). 2 Espresso Bluecoat (Bluecoats), School Ln. 8AM-6PM daily (later when there is an event on). Offering Illy coffee, Jing leaf teas, Monbana hot chocolate and a range of soft drinks together with a selection of sandwiches, salads, homemade cakes and biscuits that are freshly made on the premises and able to be eaten on site or taken away. Also available, is a fine selection of alcoholic beverages ranging from locally produced bottled lager to wines by the glass or by the bottle. Rococo, 61 Lord St, L2 6PB, ☏ +44 151 227-4822. (updated Aug 2019)

Student District, Georgian Quarter, and Hope Street 3 The Art School Restaurant, 1 Sugnall Street, L7 7DX, ☏ +44 151 230-8600, [email protected]. Fine dining. 4 Fredericks, 32 Hope St, L1 9BX, ☏ +44 151 708-9574. Daily 10AM-11PM. £5-10.. 5 Everyman Theatre Basement Bistro, 13 Hope St, L1 9BH, ☏ +44 151 709-4776. Daily 10AM-11PM. £5-10. 6 Free State Kitchen, 1 Maryland St, L1 9DE, ☏ +44 151 708-5005. Daily 10AM-11PM. £5-10. 7 Kimo's, 38-44 Mt Pleasant, L3 5SD, ☏ +44 151 707-8288. Daily 10AM-11PM. Look for the entrance opposite the NCP Car Park on Mount Pleasant for one of Liverpool's favourite student cafes. It has a fine selection of western foods (a superb Club Sandwich) and Arabic foods (cous cous and kebabs). There is also a smaller branch nearby the University of Liverpool. £5-10. 8 Quick Chef, 49 Hardman St, L1 9AS, ☏ +44 151 708-8525. Middle Eastern cuisine. 9 92 Degrees Coffee, 24 Hardman St, L1 9AX. Combined coffee shop and micro roastery. One of the better places to drink coffee. Nice toasted bagels for breakfast. 10 U-N-I, Renshaw St. Indian restaurant. Delicious Indian food all served in your own private booth with a curtain, to get the waiters attention press the button in your booth. Zaza(?) Grocery. Just a block or two east up from Monument Place. Good,

Drink & nightlife

Liverpool's nightlife is both famous and infamous, with Rough Guides placing a night out in the city at number three on their list of fifty things to do before you die. There's a huge selection of pubs, clubs and bars to suit a variety of music and atmospheric tastes. Friday and especially Saturday nights are the busiest nights, although a few bars are busy with students throughout the week. The areas around Mathew Street and Concert Square with nearby Wood Street are the main two nocturnal focal points. There is a good mix of locals and students. It is best to dress smart for the majority of bars and clubs (such as "Society" and "Garlands"). Notable exceptions are places like Le Bateau, the Krazy house, the Caledonia, and other places of a similar alternative style. Like any major UK city, it is pretty safe out at night. The local police have had a heavy presence on a Friday and Saturday night to combat any problems and are largely succeeding. It is pretty busy getting out of the city centre at the end of a weekend (especially at the start of university term time - Sep/Oct). There are plenty of black hackney cabs which congregate at various taxi ranks. The Merseyrail system works until about midnight, whilst there are a series of dedicated night buses which run from the main bus stations, usually for a flat fare. All modes of transport tend to become very busy from around midnight. Liverpool is home to the Cains brewery which produces a large selection of cask beers.

Dr Duncan's, St John's Lane – This is the premier pub for the local Cains brewery. It has a fine reputation and consequently is full of middle-aged professional drinkers. The pub has the full range of Cains beers, including Dr Duncan's IPA. Rudimentary bar menu, but good busy atmosphere on the weekend. The Dispensary, Intersection of Renshaw and Leece Streets – Another of the local Cains brewery houses. Charming Victorian bar area. Usually has two rotating guest beers, plus a large selection of bottled beers and ciders. The Globe, 17 Cases St (tucked away, adjacent to Clayton Square shopping centre, opposite the Ranelagh Street entrance of Central Station). A small, often cramped. This is a traditional Liverpool pub, with no-nonsense barmaids. Usually busy after 5PM and during the weekend, acting as a refuge for husbands abandoned by, or having escaped from, their shopping-mad spouses. Always a good variety of guests. The Richard John Blacker (JD Wetherspoons), Charlotte Row, Unit 1/3, 53 Great Charlotte St, L1 1HU, ☏ +44 151 709-4802. The Crown, 43 Lime St. Next to the station. Most

Sleep

There are a number of hotels in the city, ranging from budget guesthouses and lodges to 4-star international properties. Liverpool has no 5-star hotels but two in grade I listed buildings (Premier Inn and Holiday Inn Express), three in grade II* listed buildings (30 James St, Titanic Hotel, and Marriott Aloft) and a further eight hotels in grade II listed buildings (Doubletree Hilton, Crowne Plaza Liverpool Airport, Hard Days Night Hotel, Racquet Club, the Richmond Aparthotel, Adagio Aparthotel, Britannia Adelphi, and Radisson Red).

Budget Belvedere Hotel, 83 Mount Pleasant (City Centre), ☏ +44 151 709-2356. A B&B run by an old lady. Basic room. Shared toilet and shower. Price includes full English breakfast in the downstairs living room. 2 minutes from Lime St. station. £25 single room. Campanile, Chaloner St, ☏ +44 151 709-8104. £25+. Dolby Hotel, Queen's Dock, ☏ +44 151 708-7272. From £25. The Embassie Hostel, 1 Falkner Square, ☏ +44 151 707-1089. Check-in: 10AM, check-out: noon. This hostel features free coffee, tea, and toast (with jam and peanut butter). Very comfortable beds (dormitory style), and a great mix of international travellers to befriend. The hostel has friendly staff, led by their wonderful boss and hostel proprietor, Kevin who tells a Beatles story or two, and leads a free Beatles tour every Thursday night which ends up at The Cavern Club. Su-Th £16 pp, F Sa £21 pp. Bankhall Hotel, ☏ +44 7528190759. About 2 km from the city centre. All rooms are private. Free internet/Wi-Fi. From £11 per person per night incl breakfast, non-stop drinks. Ibis Liverpool, 27 Wapping, ☏ +44 151 603-2800. Hatters Hostel, 56-60 Mount Pleasant, ☏ +44 151 709-5570. Dormitories only. From £27. (updated May 2026) International Inn, ☏ +44 151 709-8135. Cheap hostel accommodation near to town. Dormitory from £15. 1 YHA Liverpool Albert Dock, 25 Tabley St, ☏ +44 151 709-8888, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 10AM. Breakfast from 7:30-9AM weekdays, 7:30-10AM weekends. Close to the convention centre and easy enough to walk to the city centre. Bar at the hostel, so cannot bring own alcohol back. From £21.95. (updated May 2026) 2 Cocoon International Inn, 4 South Hunter St (Off Hardman St), Liverpool, L1 9JG (about 15-min walk from Lime St). A hotel without breakfast. Staff is there 24 hrs and usually not very busy, very friendly and willing to help with minor quirks. Single room (2024) £90 (updated Aug 2015)

Mid-range 3 The Liner, Lord Nelson St (Just next to Lime Street station), ☏ +44 151 709-7050, fax: +44 151 707-0352, reser

Go next

Chester - A beautiful historical city on the River Dee, which is famous for its Roman ruins and city walls. It is also the Gateway to North Wales and the delights of Llandudno and Snowdonia National Park.At the end of a branch at the end of the Merseyrail (metro) Wirral Line, trains taking 41 minutes from Liverpool Central. Crosby - Just north of Liverpool with Anthony Gormley's Another Place famous sculptures on the beach.Merseyrail Northern Line takes 20 minutes from Liverpool Central to Blundellsands station. Manchester – Once the home of the industrial revolution, it has now swapped its chimneys for skyscrapers, and mill workers for urbanite accountants and designers. It is also the home of the biggest rival of Liverpool FC, the second most successful football club in England, Manchester United FC. Well worth a visit and is easy to get to; hourly local trains from Lime Street run to Manchester Victoria taking 56 minutes, expresses to Victoria or to Oxford Road and Piccadilly taking 41. Also accessible by coach/bus. Skelmersdale - A quaint town north of Liverpool, Many Scousers were moved to Skelmersdale during World War Two and other periods of time. The Concourse Shopping Centre and Skelmersdale United call this town home. It is accessible by the M58 road.

Wirral Birkenhead – Across the Mersey, Birkenhead has a football club called Tranmere Rovers. Although this club has always lived in the shadow of Everton and Liverpool, it has a long tradition and a great family atmosphere. Well worth a visit.Ferries ply across the Mersey from Pier Head to Birkenhead Woodside. It takes 3 minutes for a train to go from Liverpool James Street to Birkenhead Hamilton Square; Add 2 minutes for each additional stop if getting on earlier around the loop, & add 3 minutes for Birkenhead Central (shopping centre & Priory) or 7 for Tranmere Rovers' local station, Rock Ferry. Port Sunlight - It was built as a model village by Lord Lever and contains the Lady Lever Art Gallery, a marvelously eclectic collection of objects, similar to the Burrell Collection in Glasgow. Twenty minutes on the Wirral line. West Kirby - Boasts a superb beach. There is also a 52-acre marine lake which has sailing and windsurfing. 36 minutes by Wirral line.