World City Guide

Mini Guide of Liverpool

City Overview

Situated on the north bank of the River Mersey, Liverpool began its development from a small riverside village in 1700 and became one of the UK’s major trading cities that rose to prominence during the 17th and 18th centuries. Built on the back of a booming economy, Liverpool boasts many impressive sites including the Albert Dock, the Liver Building, the Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building; the latter was built with ostentatious displays of wealth as a sign to those entering the city via the Mersey that Liverpool was a magnificent city and a great place to do business. But what makes Liverpool so unique is its people: Liverpudlians, like the city itself, are a bold and brash bunch that are fiercely proud of their regional identity. Typified by an instantly recognisable accent, true Liverpudlians speak ‘Scouse’, a dialect distinct from its North Yorkshire neighbours that’s recognised and imitated the world over. The city’s most famous sons are undoubtedly The Beatles and the city attracts many visitors who come to follow the trail of the Fab Four from their humble beginnings to international stardom as the world’s first super band. And it’s impossible to talk about Liverpool without talking about football; divided in to two camps – either the blue of Everton or the red of Liverpool, both teams play in England’s top Premiership league and, male or female, young or old, it seems like the entire city is passionate about the sport. The red half of the city had extra reason to celebrate in 2005 when Liverpool were crowned champions of Europe after overturning a 3-0 deficit to beat AC Milan on penalties in the Champions League Final in a spectacular game that’s still fondly talked about around the city’s bars. This incredible melting pot has earned Liverpool the accolade of being crowned Europe’s capital of culture for 2008, an event for which the city is already planning its celebrations.

Getting There By Air

Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Tel: 0870 750 8484.
Website: www.liverpooljohnlennonairport.com

Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport is located 13km (8 miles) southeast of the city centre. Facilities at the airport include disabled access, car rental, currency exchange offices, ATMs, bars, restaurants, shops, prayer room and baby care facilities. Passengers can take advantage of the Halewood Executive Lounge with complimentary newspapers and refreshments as well as desks and Internet access. There’s a tourist information centre in the main concourse where staff can assist with booking accommodation as well as provide information on the city’s attractions. There are also cycle lockers which are free of charge and allocated on a first come first served basis and are securable with a returnable deposit.

Located off the A561 on Speke Hall Avenue, the airport is easily accessible by car and is signposted from the M6. There is no railway station actually at the airport but Garston and Hunts Cross stations are nearby and easily reached by taxi. A regular express bus service runs between the city centre and the airport and there is also a service with a drop off/collection at Garston railway station. Mersey Cabs (tel: (0151) 733 3393; website: www.merseycabs.co.uk) is located directly outside the passenger terminal at the airport.

Getting There By Water

Getting There By Road

Liverpool is easily accessible via road and is signposted from the M6 and the M62 if travelling from the south and the M58 if travelling from the north.

Breakdown emergency services:
AA (tel: 0800 887766 or 08457 887766 from mobile phones; website: www.theaa.com)
RAC (tel: 0800 828282; website: www.rac.co.uk)

National Express (tel: 08705 808080; website: www.nationalexpress.com) operates regular coach services connecting Liverpool with various destinations in the UK including Victoria Coach Station in London. The National Express terminal is located in the centre of the city on Norton Street within easy walking distance of Lime Street railway station in the north of the city.

Getting There By Rail

Lime Street station is the city’s main railway station located in the northeast of the city centre. Virgin Trains (tel: 08457 222 333; website: www.virgintrains.co.uk) operate numerous services to Liverpool including a fast service from London using the new tilting Pendolino trains capable of speeds of up to 125mph. Other rail operators running services to Liverpool include Arriva Trains (tel: 08709 000 773; website: www.arriva.co.uk), Central Trains (tel: (0121) 634 2040; website: www.centraltrains.co.uk) and First Great Western (tel: 0845 7000 125; website: www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk). For all train information contact National Rail Enquiries (tel: 08457 484 950; website: www.nationalrail.co.uk).

Getting Around

Public Transport
Most of the city’s main sites are within easy walking distance so many visitors to Liverpool opt to arm themselves with a comfy pair of shoes and a good map and take to the streets on foot. But the public transport is excellent and is run by Mersey Travel (tel: 0870 608 2608; website: www.merseytravel.gov.uk) who operate a comprehensive range of bus, train and ferry services throughout the city. Public transport runs frequently throughout the day and a number of bus services operate at night. The city’s two bus stations are on Roe Street and Paradise Street, closer to the centre of the city. There’s also an underground system that operates between the city’s four main train stations (Lime Street, Central Station, James Street and Moorfields). In 2005 the city introduced a Live Smart (website: www.livesmart.tv) pass for tourists offering unlimited travel on some of the city’s transport systems including a circular sightseeing bus tour and Mersey Ferries. The card also entitles the bearer to free or discounted entry to a number of the city’s main attractions (see Sightseeing Overview for more details).

Taxis
There are many taxi ranks throughout the city including at all the major train and bus stations. They can also be hailed anywhere on the street. To pre-book a taxi try Mersey Cabs (tel: (0151) 733 3393; website: www.merseycabs.co.uk), Anfield Taxis (tel: (0151) 263 2222) or Central Taxis (tel: (0151) 261 0505).

Car Hire
There are numerous car hire companies operating in Liverpool. Avis (tel: 08700 100 287; website: www.avis.co.uk), Europcar (tel: (0151) 709 7563; website: www.europcar.co.uk) and Mersey Hire (tel: (01925) 243 636 or (0151) 709 3337; website: www.merseyhire.co.uk) all have offices either at the airport, in the city or both.

Bicycle Hire
There is currently nowhere in the city that hires out bicycles. The Merseyside Cycling Campaign (website: www.merseyworld.com/mcc) can offer information and advice for cycling routes in and around Liverpool.

Business

Sightseeing

Sightseeing Overview
Located on the northwest coast of England along the northern bank of the River Mersey, Liverpool is one of the UK’s major cities. It prospered during the 18th century on the triangular trade of slavery and grew to become an important mercantile port in the region. After 1807 when slavery was abolished and through to the 1930s, Liverpool developed as a major migration port from where millions of people looking for a new start set sail for Australia and the Americas. And many of the city’s sights reflect this incredible period in Liverpool’s history. The famous Albert Dock was built in 1846 and was the hub of the city’s prosperous port activities. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Dock has been extensively redeveloped and is now one of the city’s most cosmopolitan areas that’s home to numerous bars, restaurants and museums including the Tate Liverpool, The Beatles Story and the Maritime Museum. North of Albert Dock is a trio of spectacular buildings (the Royal Liver Building, the Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building) which were built in the early 20th century to impress upon visitors the importance of the city. Other principal attractions include the unusual Metropolitan RC Cathedral and the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, with its spectacular panoramic views across the city.

Tourist Information
Liverpool Tourist Office
Queen Square Centre, Queen Square
Tel: 0906 680 6886 or 0845 601 1125 (accommodation line).
Website: www.visitliverpool.com

There is also an office in the arrivals hall of Liverpool John Lennon Airport and another office at the Merseyside Maritime Museum at Albert Dock (same telephone numbers and website address). All offer advice on the city’s attractions and help with finding accommodation.

Passes
In 2005 the city introduced a Live Smart pass (website: www.livesmart.tv) for tourists offering free or discounted entry to many of the city’s top attractions as well as unlimited travel on some of the city’s transport systems, including a circular sightseeing bus tour and Mersey Ferries. The card also entitles the bearer to selected deals at discounts at a number of shops, bars and restaurants around the city. One- and three-day passes are available. Passes are available from the tourist offices or direct from the website.

Key Attractions

Albert Dock
When it was built in 1846, it was the first enclosed, non-combustible dock warehouse system in the world and the first structure in Britain to be built entirely of cast iron, brick and stone. It prospered for over a century before finally ceasing operating as a working dock in 1972 after which it was redeveloped into a thriving museum, bar and restaurant area. The Dock has the largest grouping of Grade I listed buildings in Britain and is home to many of the city’s top attractions.

The Colonades, Albert Dock
Tel: (0151) 708 7334.
Website: www.albertdock.com

Tate Liverpool
Part of the Tate family of museums, the Tate Liverpool is one of the largest galleries of modern and contemporary art outside of London. It displays works of art from the Tate collection as well as special exhibitions. Welcome talks can be arranged and there are family events each Sunday afternoon.

Albert Dock
Tel: (0151) 702 7400.
Website: www.tate.org.uk/liverpool

The Walker Museum
Opened in 1877, the Walker Museum was founded by local brewer and alderman Andrew Barclay Walker, and now houses a fine collection of sculptures and paintings dating back to 1300 through to the present day.

William Brown Street
Tel: (0151) 478 4199.
Website: www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker

Beatles Story
A multilingual audio tour guides visitors through The Beatles Story, charting the success of the band from their early days in Hamburg through to international superstardom and their eventual break-up and subsequent solo careers.

Britannia Vaults, Albert Dock
Tel: (0151) 709 1963.
Website: www.beatlesstory.com

Liverpool Cathedral
A visit to the largest Anglican Cathedral in Britain is worth it if only just for the stunning panoramic views available from the top the tower. Inside, visitors can marvel at the spectacular architecture which holds several records including the largest organ in the UK and heaviest bells in the world.

St James Mount
Tel: (0151) 709 6271.
Website: www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk

Further Distractions

Liverpool Football Club
Winning the Champions League in 2005, Liverpool has once again ascended the ranks to reclaim their title as one of Europe’s great football clubs. Visitors can take a tour of the ground and the club museum, including the famous trophy room.

Anfield Road
Tel: (0151) 260 6677.
Website: www.liverpoolfc.tv

Everton Football Club
The blue side of the city have been overshadowed by the successes of their neighbours in recent years, but Everton is none-the-less one of the Premiership’s better teams and visitors can take a tour of the ground taking in the club’s rich history.

Goodison Park
Tel: 0870 442 1878.
Website: www.evertonfc.com

Croxteth Hall and Country Park
Once the ancestral home of the Molyneux family, the Earls of Sefton, Croxteth Hall and Country Park is one of the main heritage centres in the northwest. Visitors to the estate can tour the historic Hall, the Croxteth Home Farm and the Victorian Walled Garden. Access to the 202-hectare (500-acre) Country Park that surrounds the estate is free.

Muirhead Avenue East
Tel: (0151) 228 5311.
Website: www.croxteth.co.uk

Tours of the City

Because of its relatively compact size, Liverpool is a great city to explore on foot as there’s so much to see at ground level. There are several self-guided marked walks that take in the city’s sights including a Maritime Walk, a Music Walk and a Culture Walk. Guided walks can be arranged through the tourist information office and visitors can either join a group or arrange for a private guide.

Maghull Coaches (tel: (0151) 933 2324; website: www.maghullcoaches.co.uk) operate double-decker sightseeing buses on which tour guides give an audio commentary pointing out sights of interest and detailing their history along the way. Passengers can jump on and off at any of a number of stops.

A particular favourite with children are the Yellow Duckmarine (tel: (0151) 708 7799; website: www.theyellowduckmarine.co.uk) tours aboard an authentic World War II landing vehicle which begins on dry land at Albert Dock before entering the water and heading along Liverpool’s historic waterfront.

And no trip to Liverpool is complete without taking a ferry across the Mersey: in summer ferries travel out to the famous old fought at New Brighton. Ferries depart from the Pier Head ferry terminal close to Albert Dock and are operated by Mersey Ferries (tel: (0151) 330 1444; website: www.merseyferries.co.uk).

Excursions

There’s plenty to see and do beyond the city itself, including a visit to Knowsley Safari Park (tel: (0151) 430 9009; website: www.knowsley.com/safari) located just outside the city en route to St Helens. A short ferry ride across the Mersey takes visitors to the Wirral; characterised by miles of coastline, pristine beaches and unspoilt landscapes, it’s a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. The traditional seaside resort of Southport, with its long pier, traditional arcades and long sandy beaches backed by verdant dunes, can be found 32km (20 miles) north of Liverpool. Get in touch with the Southport Tourist Information Centre, 112 Lord Street for further information (tel: (01704) 533 333; website: www.visitsouthport.com). Also at Southport and another popular attraction for families is Pleasureland Theme Park on Marine Drive (tel: 08702 200 204; website: www.pleasureland.uk.com).

Sport

Shopping

Extremely style-conscious, Liverpudlians are big on their brand names and visitors will find most major high street shops having at least one outlet in the city. And whether out to flex the credit card or just to window shop, the wide, pedestrianised streets make shopping in Liverpool a great experience. Most of the shops are on or close to a few main streets in the city centre around Williamson Square, but it’s worth exploring down the side streets for some of the more unusual boutiques and shops unique to the city. Of particular note is the Cavern Designer Shopping Centre (website: www.cavernshopping.com) on Mathew Street in the Cavern Quarter where Vivienne Westwood has a boutique. And for something a little different, head to China Town where every other Sunday there’s a large Chinese Market that sells everything from freshly prepared food to traditional Chinese cooking pots.

Culture

Music, Dance and Theatre: The city has several top theatre venues in or close to Hope Street in the centre of town including the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (tel: (0151) 210 2895; website: www.liverpoolphil.com) and the Everyman and Playhouse theatres (tel: (0151) 708 3700; website: www.everymanplayhouse.com). Close to the main train station on Lime Street, Liverpool’s Empire Theatre (tel: 0870 606 3536; website: www.getlive.co.uk) is the largest two-tiered theatre in the UK. All have a packed year-round programme of theatre and dance productions. The Olympia (tel: (0151) 263 6633; website: www.liverpoololympia.com) on West Derby Road is one of the city’s largest concert venues with an interior modelled on the Moscow Kirov Ballet. For more music info, see ‘Nightlife’.

Comedy: Comedy is another important part of the Liverpudlian identity and the city has produced famous comics as diverse as Jimmy Tarbuck and Paul O’Grady – otherwise known as Lilly Savage. Many of the bigger comedy acts perform in the large theatres but some of the city’s up and coming talent can be caught at the Rawhide Comedy Club (tel: 0870 787 1866; website: www.rawhidecomedy.com) located on Roe Street, close to Lime Street train station.

Film: For quieter nights, there is no shortage of cinemas in the city; for mainstream releases take your pick from the Odeon (tel: 0871 2244 007) on London Road, or Cineworld (UGC) (tel: 0871 200 2000; website: www.ugccinemas.co.uk) on Montrose Way on the Edge Lane Retail Park slightly out of town. For art house releases, try the Picturehouse inside the city’s excellent FACT (tel: (0151) 707 4450; website: www.fact.co.uk) multi-media arts centre that’s dedicated to film, art and creative technology.

Nightlife

Liverpool has a well-deserved reputation as a party city and there are numerous traditional pubs, trendy bars and clubs for visitors to choose from.

Bars: There’s a lively scene around Concert Square in the centre of town where a host of late bars and clubs offering loud music and plenty of cheap drinks promotions can be found. For those wanting to get dressed up in their finest glad rags and rub shoulders with the city’s elite, try Baby Blue or the Blue Bar & Grill, both on Edward Pavilion at Albert Dock (website: www.thebluebar.co.uk). Baa Bar (website: www.baabar.co.uk) on Fleet Street is another trendy place that has a laid back style and is popular with young urbanites.

Clubs: The city has a big clubbing scene and Liverpool’s most famous club night is Cream at Nation off Slater Street (website: www.cream.co.uk); the club no longer holds its monthly nights but it’s well worth trying to make it to one of the one-off events of which there are usually three or four a year. Cream has been so successful it’s spawned its own international brand with other Cream events taking place at clubs and venues all over the world. For something a little more laid back, try the Camel Club on Wood Street, which plays a good mix of urban music and is popular with the city’s large student population.

Live Music: The city is synonymous with live music acts and many visitors to Liverpool head to the famous Cavern Club (website: www.cavern-liverpool.co.uk) on Mathew Street in the heart of the Cavern Quarter where The Beatles first made their name – although the modern day Cavern Club is actually a replica built on the same site after the original closed down and was demolished in 1973. But it’s still a great place to hear live music with local bands often performing afternoon sets at the weekend. The Zanzibar Club (website: www.thezanzibarclub.co.uk) on Seel Street is another popular venue with an excellent reputation for its live music programme. There are plenty of other small- to mid-size venues that put on live acts dotted around the city. Bigger music acts can be seen at the Liverpool Carling Academy (tel: (0151) 707 3200; website: www.liverpool-academy.co.uk) on Hotham Street.

City Statistics

Location: Northwest England, United Kingdom.
Country dialling code: 44.
Time zone: GMT (GMT + 1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50Hz. Square, three-pin plugs are standard.
Average January temp: 4°C (39.2°F).
Average July temp: 16°C (61°F).
Annual rainfall: 1,050mm (41.3 inches).

Special Events

Chinese New Year, Jan or Feb, Liverpool’s large Chinese community welcome in the New Year with festivities and parties in Chinatown (website: www.liverpool.gov.uk)
The Grand National, Apr, one of the biggest and best-loved horse racing meetings in the UK attracting thousands of visitors from all over the world, Aintree racecourse (website: www.aintree.co.uk)
Mersey International Shanty Festival, Jun, a packed programme that includes musical performances and maritime displays of tall ships, yachts and military vessels, Albert Dock, Pier Head and across the Mersey and Birkenhead (website: www.merseyshanty.co.uk)
Liverpool Comedy Festival, Jul, brings together established acts and newcomers for a two-week comedy festival (website: www.liverpoolcomedyfestival.com)
International Beatles Week Festival, Aug, the city celebrates its most famous musical sons with a special programme of tribute bands, films and memorabilia sales all dedicated to the Fab Four (website: www.caverncitytours.com)
Creamfields, Aug Bank Holiday weekend, clubbers from up and down the country head to a disused airfield on the edge of the city for a weekend dance party (website: www.cream.co.uk/creamfields)

Cost of Living

1 British Pound Sterling (£1) = US$1.75; C$2.04; A$2.30; ¬1.47
Currency conversion rates as of October 2005