3 Reasons To Visit… Liverpool

From The Blitz to The Beatles the Merseyside city of Liverpool has long played a part in Britain’s history. 

Known as the birthplace of The Beatles and home to the mighty Liverpool FC, there’s more to Liverpool than simply The Cavern Club and Anfield, and yet for many the Merseyside city becomes little more than a stopover on the way to the more scenic Lake District, an unfortunate side effect of geography. However, for those familiar with the Northern city, its charm comes as no surprise, but for those who have, on previous visits, always opted for more visually appealing destinations - here’s three reasons Liverpool needs to be added to your ‘must visit’ list. 

Originally a maritime city, Liverpool was home to the first ever commercial wet dock which opened in 1715 and from there, the city’s prowess as a trading and immigration grew until the opening of The Albert Dock in 1846. The first structure in Great Britain that was built from cast iron, brick and stone, Albert Dock was considered an architectural triumph. By the late 19th century, almost half of the world’s trade (40% to be exact) was passing through Liverpool’s docks.  

With the increase in maritime trading, it’s no surprise that by the time World War II came to the city, German interest in capturing it was second only to the interest in London. It was while experiencing The Blitz that the world famous Scouse charm came to be recognised the world over, as Liverpudlians refused to change their way of life, with pubs, cafes and cinemas all staying open. Bombing started in 1940 and continued through until 1941, while one sustained attack in May 1941, saw 681 German planes drop 870 tonnes of high explosives and more than 112,000 firebombs on Liverpool. When the war ended, the people of Liverpool started to rebuild their city, but to this day there are many buildings and areas of the city that still stand as they did after The Blitz, most notably St Luke’s, the ‘Bombed-Out Church’ on Berry Street.

With such an interesting history, it can be difficult to narrow Liverpool’s attractions down to just three, so please excuse the poetic license we used below as we attempt to do the city justice! 

Museums 

It should come as no surprise that Liverpool offers visitors a variety of museums and exhibitions to choose from, ranging from the history of Liverpool’s part in the slave trade (The International Slavery Musuem) to its brush with archeology (The World Musuem). There’s also museums dedicated to The Beatles (The Beatles Story Exhibition) as well as those exploring the maritime history of the city (The Merseyside Maritime Museum). However, our favorite is The Museum of Liverpool, one of the few museums in the world dedicated solely to the history of a single city, which traces and explores life through the ages for those who lived in the city. Permanent exhibitions include a look at Liverpool’s links to Titanic and RMS Lusitania as well as exhibits showcasing the experience of the city’s Black residents while an upcoming exhibition entitled Happiness! pays homage to famous Liverpool resident Ken Dodds and will run until 2024.

For more information on Liverpool’s museums, visit liverpoolmuseums.org.uk.

The Mersey  

From taking an iconic “ferry ‘cross the Mersey” to seeing for yourself the a famous Liver Bird, the Mersey river is one of Liverpool’s most enjoyable attractions and can be experienced in a number of different ways. 

Take the famous Mersey Ferry from the docks across the river to The Wirral (Liverpool’s seaside area) and enjoy the most breathtaking views of the city’s architecture. Watch out for the Royal Liver Building, one of the city’s most recognisable architectural gems, which houses clock faces larger than that of Big Ben! For those who want to spend a little more time experiencing the river, there are dozens of cruise options available, from daytime excursions that take in the city and its surroundings to romantic dinner cruises - just watch out for the liver birds!!

A symbol of the city since King John Kwas granted a Royal Charter to register Liverpool as a borough in 1229 and a recognisable city seal needed to be created, the Liver Bird itself is a fictitious creature synonymous with the city, but based on the very real bird population that still calls the Mersey and its surrounds home. Local legend has it that should Bella and Bertie, the two liver birds who currently reside on top of the Royal Liver Building, ever turn to face each other then the city call cease to be! There are also 100 liver birds to be found around the city - not all as easily visible as the most famous two - and visitors are encouraged to keep watch.

For more information visit merseyferries.co.uk.

Musical Heritage 

While The Beatles may be Liverpool’s most famous sons, they are far from the only worldwide stars to come from the city. In fact, The Cavern Club, where The Beatles played one of their first gigs, also hosted musicians such Gerry & the Pacemakers, Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas, the Searchers, Cilla Black, the Four Most, the Swinging Blue Genes and the Merseybeat. Today, The Cavern Club is a tourist hotspot that still showcases live music from Liverpool and beyond. Located on Matthew St, The Cavern Club gave its name to the entire area in which it’s located. The Cavern Quarter is home to dozens of live music venues, restaurants and pubs.

Slightly more sedate but equally as rich in musical folklore, a visit to Mendips and 20 Forthlin Road will see you enter the childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney - both of which are lovingly preserved as they were when the musicians lived there. Owned by The National Trust, both properties give great insight into not only how the stars grew up, but what life was like for Liverpool families in the 1950s. 

For more information visit nationaltrust.org.uk.