Best Things To Do in Liverpool

Liverpool is set to become one of your favourite cities in the UK. Situated on the north-east coast, it has a magical atmosphere that invites you to immerse yourself in its Victorian streets and 20th century buildings. You'll love it because it' s a land and sea attraction, as it's possible to sail the calm waters of the River Mersey.

This is where some unforgettable scenes from Peaky Blinders were filmed and it's the birthplace of The Beatles. There's something for all the family and you shouldn't miss a sightseeing bus tour, a Liverpool FC match or a ghost tour. An old WWII submarine also awaits you, but if you're still not sure how to organise your trip, read on to find out more about the entertainment on offer.

To start your trip off on the right foot you could head to the Three Graces architectural complex. You'll love it because it's a window into the 20th century through three of Liverpool's skyscrapers. Before you include it in your itinerary, you should consider that you are not allowed to enter all the buildings, although I promise they will take your breath away. I'll tell you a little bit about each building!

• Royal Liver Building: it is a building from 1911 that has two Liver Birds in charge of watching over the city. According to legend, the day these mythological creatures decide to fly, Liverpool could disappear. No one knows if this prophecy will come true, so if I were you I would take advantage of the fact that it is the only one of the buildings that can still be seen from the inside. I'll tell you more about it later.
• Cunard Building: welcome to the former headquarters of the Cunard Shipping Company, famous for its ocean liners. This building was completed in 1916 and must be impressive inside, but unfortunately it cannot be visited since it houses offices. Its spectacular neoclassical façade is testament to Liverpool's commercial and economic boom during this century.
• Port of Liverpool Building: this skyscraper stands out among other buildings and can be seen from the River Mersey. It was built in 1907 and was the former headquarters of the Port of Liverpool Commission.

If this is your first contact with the city or you want to walk around without worrying about the logistics, you can book a guided tour of Liverpool. Without a guide or audio guide, you 'll just be standing in front of beautiful buildings whose significance will be completely unknown.

On foot it is easier to create a dynamic itinerary and discover the stories of the city while taking advantage of fascinating stops.

To see the city from end to end, I invite you to hop on the Liverpool sightseeing bus. It's the best way to get in touch with the main sights and familiarise yourself with the streets. It has around 14 free stops so you can hop on, hop off and explore at your own pace.

Liverpool is known for its wet and rainy weather, so it's a good idea to take advantage of the lower level to travel without the weather holding you back. But you can always hop on and have fun on the open-top upper deck.

You also have the option of doing the full 50-minute tour, but if you opt to hop on and off, consider that the bus frequency is between 15 and 30 minutes. Don't worry about time! When you buy tickets for the Liverpool sightseeing bus you will have 24 hours to use the service from activation and you are free to create your own itinerary. Here's a hint of the stops that might be included so that you have time to organise yourself better.

Liverpool Anglican Cathedral

Liverpool Anglican Cathedral is a magnificent place that you should visit at least once. It is one of the largest and most imposing in the UK and houses stained glass windows that contrast with its neo-Gothic architecture, creating a solemn atmosphere. Its main attraction is the viewing tower, and before you visit be mentally prepared to take two lifts and climb 108 steps- I assure you the 360 degree views are worth it!

Many people often confuse it with Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral, a more modern religious monument without an observation tower.

Chinatown

The Chinese community has its own settlement in Liverpool. In fact, this Chinatown is one of the oldest cultural neighbourhoods in Europe. It's not worth going early as most shops and restaurants open quite late. The first thing you'll notice is the famous Ceremonial Arch and the streets full of colour, flavours and aromas that seduce the palate. If you're travelling to the city in February, try your luck and get lost in its alleyways, where you might stumble across some Chinese New Year traditions and rituals.

St George's Hall

If you want to explore Liverpool's artistic and cultural life, head to St George's Hall, whose rich history will capture your attention. If you have enough time, don't hesitate to enjoy a show inside. The programme varies, but most often features immersive light shows, flamenco evenings and plays.

Gower Street

Travel back in time and lose yourself in the Victorian architecture of Gower Street. This street is often infused with the aroma of baking bread and freshly brewed coffee, as it's home to the city's cosiest coffee shops.

Cains Brewery Village

The tour bus also takes you to Cains Brewery Village, a former brewery that has become a cultural and gastronomic landmark. It is now a complex with hotels, restaurants and traditional markets with a few stops to sample beers made from the original brewery recipe.

As I mentioned, the Royal Liver Building is one of the Three Graces buildings, and the most interesting due to its legends and the possibility to visit its interior in a 360-degree experience. It was the tallest building in Europe and its architecture is an example of its evolution during the 20th century.

It has an audiovisual exhibition that immerses you in the history of the building, for which you will use an interactive audio guide. You can then enjoy a guided tour with an expert on the 10th and 15th floors to enjoy panoramic views of Liverpool and see inside the clock tower.

Buying tickets for the Royal Liver Building 360 in advance saves you time at the ticket office and secures the experience, as it's one of the most highly rated.

If you're planning your next Liverpool holiday, be sure to include a variety of experiences. Booking a cruise on the River Mersey can be quite enjoyable and a way to get to the main tourist attractions from a different perspective. As you cruise you can relax and listen to the audio commentary.

The best thing is that you'll have free stops to hop on and off at the places that interest you. Alternatively, you can take the full 50-minute tour and marvel at Liverpool from the water.

The experience usually includes entry to the U-Boat Story attraction at the Woodside Ferry Terminal. Here you can discover the story of a German submarine that sank during World War II. This jewel of the navy was recovered in 1993 and is displayed in sections for a better appreciation of the structure.

You may also be offered to add a visit to the Spaceport to learn about astronomy, see space and enter a space flight simulator. On a side note, please note that this cruise only departs from Pier Head Harbour, Seacombe Harbour or Woodside Harbour.

The history of The Beatles is closely linked to Liverpool, as the band's early days were spent on its streets. The artists who brought it to life for eight years were born here, so get ready to discover the adventures of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

Did you know that they began to gain popularity thanks to the shows they performed at The Cavern Club? That's why it's a hot spot where they still organise tribute concerts. What I think is wonderful is that if you go to Liverpool in August you can enjoy International Beatles Week, a festival that includes outdoor shows and indoor tributes, as well as exhibitions and musicals.

The rest of the year there are always guided tours of Beatles locations available, either on foot or by tour bus. And if you're a fan of museums, you're sure to have a great time at The Beatles Story Museum.

Liverpool Sightseeing Bus and Beatles Tour

Booking the Liverpool Sightseeing Bus and Beatles Tour is the best way to combine two wonderful experiences.

The pass is valid for 24 hours and has two lines offering completely different experiences. The red line allows you to enjoy a hop-on, hop-off tour of Liverpool's main attractions, in fact it's the same bus I told you about earlier.

Meanwhile, the blue line is a Beatles themed bus tour, where you'll enjoy an hour and a half of sightseeing and photo stops. A guide will tell you about the band's favourite locations so you can discover where they created music, shared with fans and made history.

Attention! You don't need to get two different tickets or pay extra fees, for the same price you'll enjoy both experiences, so you just need to organise your itinerary to make the most of your time.

The Beatles Story Museum

Buying tickets to The Beatles Story Museum in Liverpool is another way to connect with the history of the band. It has two exhibitions spread over two locations, the Albert Dock and the Pier Head, but don't worry, booking in advance allows you to enjoy transfers between the two locations.

During the tour you will be accompanied by a multimedia guide who will tell you about the band's history, from their early days to their break-up. In addition, you will be able to document yourself with unpublished photographs, musical instruments, elements of the sixties and 4D experiences. It's almost like experiencing the life of the band and its musicians up close.

Museums are a way to enrich and learn about a new city, and in Liverpool there are plenty of options to choose from. One of the most interesting is the Western Approaches Historical Museum. It's an experience that combines learning with fun, as you'll be immersed in a secret World War II bunker.

This experience feels like stepping into a time capsule, as you'll get to see old artefacts and familiarise yourself with the monitoring room. Take time to make the most of its themed spaces and discover the history of the Battle of the Atlantic in the Map Room.

To immerse yourself in the era, the museum offers drinks at wartime prices and some traditional games. Consider that buying tickets to the Western Approaches Museum can secure you a skip-the-line pass- all you need to do is show your ID. Plus, you'll have the option to return as many times as you like within 6 months of your visit.

If you're a fan of the Peaky Blinders series, get ready to go behind the scenes! The filming locations hide secrets that were never shown on screen, as well as amusing anecdotes.

Don't worry if you haven't seen it, you'll love it anyway because it's inspired by a true story and tells the story of the power of criminal gangs and organised crime in the UK a couple of years ago.

Booking a Peaky Blinders tour is the best way to discover its relationship with Liverpool and visit the most iconic locations. It's fully interactive and you'll feel like a member of the Shelby family as a local guide takes you around Port Sunlight, St George's Hall and Stanley Park.

You can also see how they used Powis Street and Admiral Grove to recreate Small Heath, the Peaky Blinders' neighbourhood. This tour allows you to discover the real-life stories that inspired the series and delve deeper into the plot.

Music is at the heart of what Liverpool is all about and you can make the most of it when you buy tickets for the British Music Experience. Here you'll be flooded with nostalgia as you get up close and personal to famous British artists, dance to their songs and even learn to play instruments.

You can immerse yourself in British music from different genres such as jazz, pop, rock and discover the influence of the famous Summer of Love. The facility offers interactive areas and many people come to enjoy the music and history of The Beatles, David Bowie, Adele, Oasis and more up close.

If you plan to buy the Liverpool Pass you will have access to this museum at no extra cost, as well as other fantastic attractions in the city.

Liverpool is famous for its legends and cold cases, which has fuelled the theory that it is full of ghosts and haunted places. Of course it's frightening to do this route on your own, especially without a specific direction, which is why many people prefer to book a ghost tour of the city.

As night falls, a local guide will escort you to locations that hide spooky happenings. For example, Rodney Street is said to be the home of ghosts and St Andrew's Cemetery is said to hide a mysterious pyramid. In the older neighbourhoods, some people claim to have heard unexplained noises or had the sensation of being watched. Would you dare?

During your trip there is bound to be time to catch a Liverpool FC football match. You should check the calendar as the team plays in different competitions including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League and League Cup. They usually do so at the Anfield Stadium which offers comfortable seating and a vibrant atmosphere.

From the moment you arrive, you will be enveloped by the energy of the fans and you can sing along to the famous You'll Never Walk Alone, the FC anthem that opens every home game. There are no bad seats in this stadium, but the most sought after are the Main Stand and Kop sections.