A Guide for Travellers to Liverpool

Renowned for its music, sport, and nightlife, Liverpool has a wonderful cultural heritage. It plays host to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and has been the birthplace of numerous popular musicians, the most notable being The Beatles.

Liverpool houses the largest national museum collection outside of London. It also has Europe's oldest Chinatown.

When to Go

June - The Mersey River Festival is an awesome maritime festival that has spectacular activities. You can go see tall ships and navy vessels. Also, you can go on raft races and enjoy canoe polo. There are many free walks and lectures courtesy of the Blue Badge Guides. They also have Britain's fourth biggest hot air balloon festival and a grad finale of fireworks that are launched from a barge in Mersey River.

August - International Beatles Week is a major event that is now more than 20 years old. Fans arrive from all over the world to celebrate the world-famous band. More than 50 venues are home to live music and visitors come back year on year to enjoy the festival's vast range of Beatles-themed attractions.

Where to Eat

Damons is an American-style diner and bar. It is located in Speke and considered to be one of Liverpool's most popular family restaurants, offering an extensive range of American fare including their famous BBQ ribs, steak, burgers, and fajitas.

Where to Shop

Walking around Liverpool, you will find lots of antique and collectibles shops. If you are a collector - particularly of Beatles or sporting memorabilia, then this will be your dream shopping trip.

Cricket is the most famous of the area's designer boutiques, notorious for its celebrity clientele that includes many local footballers' wives. It may be a small shop, but it packs a lot of quality in such a small space. And if you're lucky, you might bump into a star while you're there!

What to See

You don't want to pass up a chance to see St. George's Hall. This Greco-Roman building houses one of the best church organs in Europe. It also has some extraordinary murals on the outside that were once considered to be shocking due to the shameless nude women depicted in them.

A visit to the Liverpool Cathedral should be experienced during the sunlight. The beautiful stained glass on the ceiling can only be appreciated during the daylight hours.

If you love modern art, a visit to Tate Liverpool is essential. This relatively new addition to the Tate family is home to an impressive collection of modern art.

The Liverpool Museum, meanwhile, boasts a fascinating collection of British rocketry and the best Egyptological collection outside of London.