QUICK FACTS
- Located in Merseyside, England, with a population of ~500,000 people.
- Home of The Beatles, Billy Fury, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and Liverpool F.C.
- Inhabitants of Liverpool are called Liverpudlians, but are widely referred to as Scousers.
- Nicknames: The Pool of Life, The Center of the Creative Universe, World Capital of Pop
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
- Currency: British Pound (GBP).
- Spoken languages: primarily English.
- Best time to visit: from May to September.
- Arriving via airport: Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) is located ~6.5 miles (10.5 km) from the city centre. You can get a taxi or a bus to the centre of Liverpool. The Arriva airport bus gets you to the centre for £4 in about 30 minutes. A taxi ride from the airport takes 20 minutes, and costs about £15.
WHERE TO STAY
Hotels in Liverpool range from budget guesthouses to 4-star international chains. A great area to stay in is Albert Dock. A great budget hotel to stay is Bankhall Hotel, with private rooms and free WiFi, non-stop drinks and breakfast included for £11 per person. Belvedere Hotel, located two minutes from the center, is a charming bed & breakfast offering single rooms at £25/night.
GETTING AROUND
- Most attractions in the centre of Liverpool are within walking distance – try to explore as much of the city as you can on foot. You will get to see more of the city that way!
- There is a bus system that goes around the city centre as well as the outskirts.
- There are a few train stations located across Liverpool. If you are staying slightly out of the centre, hop on a train to get downtown.
- Tip: a cheap method to get around is to buy a Saveaway ticket, which gives you 24 hours of unlimited journeys on every train and bus.
LIVERPOOL NIGHTLIFE
- Drinking age is 18, last call is 3 AM (4 AM in some places).
- Main nightlife scene: check out the areas around Mathew St. and Concert Square. These areas are alive at night, and attract a good mix of students and locals.
- Tip: check out The Cavern while you’re in town. This is where The Beatles played back in the day, and hosts many live performances.
UNIQUE LANDMARKS TO VISIT
- Visit the Liverpool Town Hall, an elegant stone building built in 1754. On a clear day, the tower of the Liverpool Cathedral (one of the oldest churches in the world) offers breathtaking views of the city and beyond.
- The most important heritage sites are Croxteth Hall and Country Park, the home of the Molyneux family.
- Pier Head played an important role in the modern history of Liverpool, and is considered a UNESCO world heritage site.
- The Albert Dock area contains the UK’s largest collection of Grade 1 Listed buildings (structures of particular architectural or historical interest).
- Liverpool’s Three Graces are: The Royal Liver Building, Cunard Building, and Port of Liverpool Building.
INTERESTING WALKS
- Take a relaxing walk along the waterfront and the docks on a warm day.
- For first time visitors, the ideal walk would be a tour of historical Liverpool. Tip: you can catch walking tours from the centre, led by qualified official Liverpool Tour Guides.
LOCAL WISDOM
- Catch a ride on the Mersey Ferry, a service that has been operating since the 12th century. Popular with locals and visitors alike, the ferries run between Liverpool and the Wirral Peninsula.
- For those that are more active, Liverpool Cycle Tours offers tours around the most beautiful parks, sea fronts, and the Wirral Peninsula.
- Where to find good cheap food: various restaurants on Allerton Road offer great food for reasonable prices. Lark Lane, 1.5 miles south of the city center, has restaurants serving good food for just £4-7 a meal.
- Dangerous areas: crime rates in the city are very low. Use common sense and exercise caution when walking alone at night. Don’t leave valuables on display in a car, and avoid the homeless people around William Brown Street (near the museums). Call 999 or 112 for any emergency you may have.
RECOMMENDED LIVERPOOL GUIDE BOOKS
Recommended trip duration: 1-2 days