Places To Visit In Liverpool

Best Places to visit in Liverpool

After living in Liverpool for three years now, I have come to find some of the best places to eat and drink in Liverpool, whilst also being able to provide some of the best sights to see.

Liverpool has a rich history that I think everyone must be aware of before travelling there. Before moving to the city, I never really knew just how steepened their history was and just how much had happened over the centuries.

So, before visiting LJMU’s open day, I decided to do some research into the city and see what I would possibly be moving into and what I would be able to do and see whilst studying there.

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Liverpool waterfront

Let’s just say that the list was endless. There are so many things to do and see whilst travelling around the scouse land of Liverpool and they are not just all based within the city centre. There are many explorations that can be undertaken when travelling a little further afield, which will not leave you disappointed.

Museums

Liverpool has many museums on offer, all in various locations dotted around the city centre, which makes for a nice walk to get to and from each destination. I have compiled a list of some of the best museums that Liverpool has to offer and why you should visit.

• The World Museum – Probably the most central museum in Liverpool. This museum has a lot on offer, and if you visit before the end of October, you will be able to view the amazing exhibition that is the Terracotta Warriors, who were shipped over from China, to be put on display in Liverpool’s museum. For over 2, 000 years these warriors guarded the tomb of China’s First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang but were uncovered in 1974 by chance. The Terracotta Warriors make up just some of the plethora of amazing exhibitions at the World Museum, with artefacts from Ancient Egypt, the Natural Word, the Jurassic period among many more on offer. The museum has a ‘What’s On Page’ which gives details of the events and exhibitions that will be on over the next coming months, which I would really recommend for visitors to check out before heading to the museum, as you may be travelling at a time where this is something great on offer.
• The Walker Art Gallery – Located near to the World Museum is the Walker Art Gallery. The building that this gallery is situated in is magnificent to look at just from the outside. There are exhibitions and pieces from throughout history that one can see, that cover all areas of the art world. There really is something for everyone at this art gallery. Just like the World Museum, there is also a ‘What’s On’ page where you can see what tours and exhibitions are available at the period of time that you are travelling.
• Sudley House – This beautiful Victorian house is situated in Aigburth, just a bus ride away from the city centre. So, if like me, you want to explore all areas of a city, then this trip would be something I would highly recommend. This beautiful house is now home to an art gallery and exhibition of all things from the Victorian period. There are two childhood rooms, where one can learn about how Victorian children learned and played. The exhibits within these rooms include a huge Victorian dolls' house, educational toys, fashion dolls and pots used by the lower and upper-class families of the period. There is also a costume room which frequently change its displays of the typical Victorian attire, from the lower, middle and upper-class families. One such exhibition showed a small part from a collection of Emily Tinne and her children.
• Museum of Liverpool – This is one of the more modern looking museums that is located on the Albert Docks, which means that you will get some great views when visiting this museum. The Museum of Liverpool houses some great tours and exhibits such as; the black community trail, the Jewish community trail, the Irish community trail and liver bird trail. The Museum of Liverpool reflects the city's global significance through the city’s heritage, culture and history. When visiting the museum, you can explore how the port itself and the local people have shaped its history and culture over the years.
• Merseyside Maritime Museum - Located again on the Albert Docks, the museum houses exhibits and artefacts that depict the social and commercial background of Liverpool and its thriving port. The museum is also home to the International Slavery Museum which is definitely a must see whilst in Liverpool. The slave trade has moulded Liverpool’s history greatly and there are many exhibits and tours that one can undertake that truly detail the extent of Liverpool’s history during the slave trade period.

Buildings

• Liver Building – The Liver Building on the Albert Dock is a magnificent piece of architecture. Although it is not open to the public for viewing on the inside, one can explore the outside of such building and witness the history behind it.



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• St George’s Hall – If travelling by train to Liverpool then you will be greeted with the sight of this wonderful building when exiting the Liverpool Lime Street Station. The building contains concert halls and law courts and has even be used as the set for some recent Hollywood blockbuster films. St George’s Hall frequently has many events on offer for its visitors, so check the calendar before you arrive there!
• Liverpool Cathedral – This cathedral is the largest of its kind in Britain and it really is a spectacle. The cathedral has also been the home of LJMU graduation ceremonies, which I am very excited to experience myself next year!

Arts

Liverpool is also home to many great art facilities and residencies which one can explore. The history of some of the buildings is remarkable and all have a great story to tell.

• The Bluecoat- Located in the city centre the Bluecoat gallery is situated inside the oldest building within the city centre and it has a remarkable aesthetic. This art gallery is always busy with tourists but still remains peaceful enough to absorb and take in the beautiful art around you.
• FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology) – This art gallery is also situated in the city centre but is hidden away behind Bold Street, one of Liverpool’s busiest streets. This gallery spans over three floors and I would highly recommend this for anyone who likes Film, as this exhibition space has some great information and tours to do with that industry.
• Tate Modern Liverpool – Located on the Docks this wonderful contemporary art space is great for those with curious minds who seek to look at art that is a little bit more out there. The exhibitions on offer rotate frequently so you will always see something a little bit different each time you visit. The space can also be used for events and lectures, which makes it a great venue for all to use and see.

Albert Dock at night

• Victoria Gallery and Museum – The sister venue to the National History Museum in London, this venue is truly remarkable when in awe of its grandeur. The venue houses contemporary art residencies, a fossil museum and a special collections gallery.
• Liverpool Empire Theatre – This is one of my favourite theatres in the UK as it is truly remarkable to sit inside this wonderful building and view the artistic flair that was involved with the creation and design of this building. The theatre has the largest two-tier auditorium in Britain, which can seat 2, 348 people.
• Everyman Theatre – This theatre stands at the top end of the city centre, meaning that it is another hidden away gem, that you probably would not see or go to, if you had not heard about it previously. It quickly built a very strong reputation for the ground-breaking work that is shown here and has housed some great theatrical and cinematic productions. This is one of the more modern venues in Liverpool, so if you like a venue with a more bohemian style, then the Everyman is the place to visit.
• Liverpool Echo Arena – I have seen many artists, comedians and other productions at the Liverpool Echo Arena. It is a very modern arena which can hold up to 11, 000 visitors. It is situated along the Dock and behind the Liverpool wheel. (Another great attraction).

The Beatles

• Cavern Club – Although this is not the original venue of the famous bar where the Beatles were seen to play in Liverpool, along with many other famous acts, it still stands as a great tourist attraction for those visiting Liverpool. Situated in Matthew Street just out of the city centre itself, there is something beautifully historic about this venue. As you travel down the dank winding stairs, you are brought into a booming atmosphere of music lovers and Beatles memorabilia. The venue nearly always has live music of those doing renditions of the Beatles among many other artists who have also performed there. The club is a lot larger than you realise and has many winding areas for you to explore that are filled with artefacts and merchandise from the swinging sixties period and onwards.
• Cavern Pub – This venue is slightly different to the Cavern Club but offers a very similar experience and atmosphere to that of the Cavern Club. It is located just opposite the Cavern Club meaning you can hop in and out of the venues and experience all sides of the Liverpool music scene.

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The Beatles statue at the Albert Docks

• The Beatles Story – This tour and exhibit is a must-see for all those visiting Liverpool. It gives you a tour of all things Beatles and you really get to immerse yourself into the swinging sixties.

Shopping

• Liverpool One Shopping Centre – As I work in Liverpool One, I can honestly say it is one of the best shopping destinations in Britain. The 2008 project has really revived Liverpool’s shopping scene and it attracts thousands of visitors every week. The design of this area means that one has to travel outside and around the area to visit their shops, which means that it is a nice refreshing break from the busy shop that you have been in. Liverpool One also has an ODEON cinema on its top floor, along with a restaurant area. It is also the home to some of the Christmas markets later in the year, which is always something I would recommend visiting if you are in the city during the November and December months.
• Church Street – This street is one of the busiest shopping streets that I have seen outside of London, personally. It is always bustling with shoppers and buskers which makes it a lively place to visit.
• Bold Street ˗ This is one of the quicker streets of Liverpool and houses a lot of unique independent shops. When walking to the top of Church street, the bottom of Bold street will face you, meaning that you do not have to travel far to see some of the best shops.
• St John’s shopping centre – This is one of the cheaper places to shop and houses a wide variety of shops for you to look at. There is a downstairs dining hall with some small supermarkets if you needed to do any food shopping for yourself.

Tours

• Open top bus tour – There are a few companies that have this service on offer and I utilised this service when I came for my university open day in Liverpool. It is a great way to see all of the great areas of Liverpool, without all the trekking and walking round.
• Mersey River Explorer – You can choose either a full round-trip service or a hop-on-and-off tour of some of Liverpool’s best sights and scenery. This beautiful boat trip overlooks the Wirral, another must-see place when visiting Liverpool.
• Evening Cruise on the Mersey – This is a romantic choice for those looking to see Liverpool at night, and it is something that I would highly recommend for people to do. Liverpool looks amazing during the night and what better way to view it, than from a boat! The ticket prices are very reasonable and it is great for those on a budget as the tour itself lasts two hours.

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Liverpool waterfront at night

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