Football and The Beatles may have put Liverpool on the map for today’s tourists, but it’s been one of the most important cities in the UK throughout its history. Listed buildings – more than any city in the UK outside of London – line almost every street, and its world-class museums could keep you occupied for years.
Whether you want to broaden your cultural horizons or explore architectural masterpieces, you won’t be bored for a second in Liverpool. While you’re here, make sure you squeeze these activities and attractions into your itinerary.
At a glance:
- The Beatles Story
- The Cavern Club
- Liverpool FC Anfield
- Spaceport
- Western Approaches
- Radio City Tower
- Liverpool Cathedral
- Bold Street
- Museum of Liverpool
- Walker Art Gallery
- The Royal Liver Building
- Merseyside Maritime Museum
- Liverpool World Museum
The Beatles Story
As the entire world knows, Liverpool is the birthplace of the Fab Four. Want to learn about the band that put new meaning to pop? Our experience will teach you more than you could ever remember.
You’ll also get a sense of the swinging 60s after visiting recreations of venues, including The Cavern and The Casbah. When the journey comes to an end, you can browse the world’s largest collection of Beatles merchandise.
The Cavern Club
A journey to Liverpool wouldn’t be complete without a visit to one of the world’s most famous small music venues—The Cavern Club.
As one of the founding venues of the Mersey Beat music scene in the 1960s, this tiny venue saw some of The Beatles’ first public performances. It’s worth a visit just to say you’ve seen it in real life.
Liverpool FC Anfield
More interested in sports than music? Head over to Anfield Stadium to watch one of the world’s most successful football teams in action. The Reds (Liverpool Football Club) have hosted home matches at Anfield since 1892.
Embark on our stadium tour, and you can walk in the footsteps of your favourite sports personalities. During the tour, you’ll view the changing rooms, walk up the tunnel and step onto the pitch.
Spaceport
This fantastic exhibit is part science museum, part observatory, and part planetarium all rolled into one delightful space-themed experience. Explore the icons of sci-fi history alongside real, interactive learning displays. You’ll finally get to meet an Ewok in person!
Western Approaches
Hidden beneath the streets of Liverpool city centre is one of the most important buildings of the Second World War. Known locally as the ‘Fortress’, this little-known, top-secret bunker was the command centre for Navy & Air Force operations in the Atlantic.
From here, enemy U-boat ‘Wolfpacks’ – the scourge of Allied convoys in the Atlantic – were tracked, monitored, and, ultimately, destroyed.
Radio City Tower
Liverpool is full of architectural masterpieces. It has the highest number of listed buildings of any city in the UK besides London.
Since 1969, the city’s skyline has been dominated by the 138-metre-tall St John’s Beacon, known locally as Radio City Tower. And the panoramic views from the observation deck are unbeatable.
Liverpool Cathedral
Liverpool Cathedral was constructed between 1904 and 1978. But what it lacks in age, it more than makes up for in size and magnificence. It’s the largest religious monument in the UK and the fifth largest in the world.
Inside, you can view the nation’s largest organ and the world’s widest and highest Gothic arches. The cathedral is open to the public every day. Keep your eyes peeled for charity dinners and art exhibitions.
Bold Street
Sightseeing, sports, and music are just a few of Liverpool’s top draws. But thanks to independent shopping quarters like Bold Street, the city is also a paradise for shopaholics.
Long hailed as one of Liverpool’s ‘coolest areas’, Bold Street is the place to go for second-hand books, quirky homeware, vinyl, vintage pieces, and souvenirs. When your energy levels need replenishing, grab a drink and a bite at one of Bold Street’s bars or restaurants.
Museum of Liverpool
During your stay in Liverpool, you should make time to visit one of its world-class museums. If you can only go to one, we recommend the Museum of Liverpool.
You can learn about the city’s history, culture, geography, and archaeology here. And yes, there’s plenty of sports and music paraphernalia to browse.
Walker Art Gallery
If galleries are your thing, there are few more esteemed than the Walker Art Gallery. For over 120 years, it has held some of the country’s greatest works, from Rosetti to Hockney, including extensive collections from the Renaissance, the Victorian era, and the English pre-raphaelites.
The offering is not limited to paintings either, with over 10,000 fashion items and a stunning decorative art collection.
The Royal Liver Building
The Royal Liver Building is arguably Liverpool’s most famous landmark and part of the Maritime UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Eagle-eyed visitors will notice two giant Liver Bird statues perched atop its spires.
The Liver Bird is a mythical bird that has been associated with Liverpool for at least 650 years. Local legend tells us that the City of Liverpool would fall if the birds ever flew away from their perches.
Merseyside Maritime Museum
Before he penned Moby Dick, Herman Melville completed a lesser-known, semi-autobiographical work called Redburn. Through this novel, the docks of Liverpool achieved international renown and continue to be amongst the UK’s most essential heritage sites to this day.
The Merseyside Maritime Museum marks this extraordinary legacy and exhibits a fascinating celebration of seamanship throughout the ages. See real relics from the Titanic and the Lusitania, and explore the dockside as they stood in 1826 – the height of Britain’s maritime supremacy.
Liverpool World Museum
Dinosaurs, bugs, space rockets, and ancient Egyptian relics are just a fraction of what’s on offer at this wonderful life and earth sciences museum.
The collections will take you on an epic journey from the dawn of time to today, showing you some of the most colourful and fascinating artefacts of our history. This one is not to be missed for kids and adults alike.
If you’d like to visit Liverpool from London, make sure to take a look at our rail tour. It’s the best way to get a slice of the authentic Merseyside lifestyle! Here’s what you can expect from a day in Liverpool with Evan Evans:
