Liverpool

Liverpool is a big city in Merseyside, England, within the historic county boundaries of Lancashire, famed for its football teams, the Grand National horse race, music (including The Beatles), vibrant nightlife and its links with the arts and culture.

The city served as one of the leading ports linking Europe to the Americas, expanding to become England's second most populated city by the census of 1861, before slowly declining after 1921 as levels of transatlantic shipping dropped. Before airline travel, many Europeans migrating to the New World passed through the city, particularly the Italians and Irish; to this day the city enjoys a large Irish community, with impressive cathedrals for the Anglican and Roman Catholic faiths. In the 18th and early 19th century the port also acted as a gateway for the slave trade, with echoes of this period still evident in places around the city.

A comprehensive regeneration of the city centre has caused an influx of new shops, boutiques, and large performance/conference arenas near the waterfront; this has resulted in an upturn in population figures. The regenerated city now plays regular host to national and international conference, media and music events; examples include major political party conferences, the BBC Worldwide Showcase, the MTV Europe Awards, and the Global Entrepreneurship Congress.

Understand
Liverpool is a city with great cultural heritage and was awarded the title of European Capital of Culture 2008, with the famous Pier Head Waterfront being a UNESCO World Heritage site between 2004 and 2021. Liverpool is home to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and is also renowned for nurturing the talents of a wide range of musicians and band such as The Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Echo and the Bunnymen, and Elvis Costello. The city possesses the largest national museum collection outside of London and has a fascinating and turbulent history as a great world maritime centre. Liverpool is home to Europe's oldest Chinatown. The famous Grand National Horse Race takes place in the outskirts of the city (Aintree). It is also home to two very successful Premier League football clubs, Liverpool and Everton. People from Liverpool are called Liverpudlians, or more popularly, Scousers. The latter name comes from the local lamb stew recipe, scouse. The word "Liverpudlian" can also refer to supporters of Liverpool FC, while "Scouser" is seen as more inclusive of Evertonians.

Although historically part of Lancashire, in contrast to natives of neighbouring Manchester, most Scousers have a strong local identity and do not identify as Lancastrians.

Visitor information

 * Visit Liverpool tourist information.
 * Visit Liverpool tourist information.

Talk
English is the main language, but it is spoken with a very distinctive Scouse accent that has strong Irish and Welsh influences, and differs greatly even from that of the surrounding areas. There was historically a large Welsh-speaking population in Liverpool, to the extent that the National Eisteddfod was held in the city three times between 1884 and 1929. While there is still a Welsh-speaking minority, most Welsh-descended people adopted English as their sole native language over the course of the 20th century. Due to the city's status as a port city and waves of immigration over the centuries, Chinese, Italian, French, and Spanish are spoken by some. Indeed, Liverpool is home to Europe's oldest permanent Chinese community. In some parts, South American Spanish is spoken due to immigration from Latin America. Creole languages can be heard occasionally due to the large Afro-Caribbean community.

By plane


Immediately outside the arrivals area, you will find a taxi rank and bus stops. Taxis to the city centre cost around £20-25 for the 25-minute journey. There is £5 additional fee for taxis hailed at the airport.

The airport is served by several bus routes, all costing £2 per single adult journey, which can be paid using contactless. Cash is accepted but you should ideally have the correct change or a small note (£5).


 * Bus 500 - This is the most important bus for tourists as it serves the city centre with limited stops. It operates every 30 minutes and takes roughly 30 minutes to reach the city centre.

Note - Other buses such as the 86A will have Liverpool One as their destination. While more frequent than the 500, the journey time is significantly longer. It would typically be better to wait for the 500 bus if your hotel is in the city centre.


 * The No. 80A, run by Arriva, runs every 15 minutes and takes 45 minutes to the city centre.
 * The No. 82A, also run by Arriva, runs every 30 minutes and takes around 40 minutes to the city centre. This runs directly to Paradise Street interchange without stopping elsewhere in the city centre.
 * The No. 86A (Arriva) runs every 15 minutes during the day and now runs through the night, every half hour. This takes a little less time than the 80A as it is a more direct route down Smithdown Road. The journey time is 40 minutes but may be longer at peak traffic times.
 * The No. 81A also serves the airport but does not go into the city centre. It may prove useful if you want to visit Woolton or the north of the city, as the route goes around the city ring road, Queens Drive, and terminates in Bootle.

The airport has two onsite car parks and Skypark is nearby.

The airport offers a Fast Track service, which for a charge, means you can bypass the queue at security, but this tends to be worthwhile only for first flights of the day or if you risk missing your flight.

Manchester Airport can also be used and may be a better option. It is about a 45-60 minute drive away from Liverpool. Direct train services also run between Liverpool Lime Street Station and Manchester Airport operated by Northern Rail. Manchester Airport serves a variety of long haul destinations in North America and Asia, as well as short haul services throughout Europe.

By train
Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain.

Liverpool is served by which is in the heart of the city centre. Trains arrive frequently from many parts of England. Trains from London Euston arrive on the south side (right when viewed from the main entrance), while those from Manchester arrive on the north side. The Wirral Line of the city's underground network (detailed in the Merseyrail section below) stops in a tube tunnel under the station.

You can get to Liverpool easily from London, Manchester, and the major cities of northern England by high-speed rail (by British standards - 125 mph) without changing trains. These services are provided by Avanti for London and the west coast and Transpennine Express for the north. These destinations are served by other companies, including Northern, EMR, and LNWR, which offer regional stopping services calling smaller destinations on the route. Birmingham and Norwich are the odd-ones-out, and are only connected by stopping services provided by LNWR and EMR respectively. Like all rail travel in the UK, there is no cost premium for using a high-speed service over a stopping one, and high-speed trains are often more modern and comfortable than stopping ones.

Liverpool is only about 2½ hours from London by train. There's a train about every hour, with extra weekday evening peak services from London, and it's not too expensive to get there. You can get a saver ticket for £100 on the day of travel, or for as little as £21 if you book a couple of weeks in advance (Feb 2024). Tickets are released three months in advance.

There is a direct train from Manchester Airport to Liverpool every hour at peak times (around 6:30AM–7:30PM). In addition, it is possible to reach Liverpool from Manchester Airport by changing at Manchester Piccadilly or Manchester Oxford Road.

Other main services:


 * Birmingham, 1 hr 30 min – 1 hr 45 min, half hourly
 * Manchester, 50 min – 1 hr 10 min, 5 trains an hour (3 fast to Piccadilly and Oxford Road, of which 1 via Earlestown and 2 via Warrington, 1 slow to Oxford Road (extra services in peak times) and 1 slow to Victoria)
 * Leeds, 2 hours, hourly. These trains continue to York (2 hr 15 min) and Newcastle upon Tyne (3 hr 15 mins).
 * Sheffield and Nottingham, 1 hr 30 min and 3 hours respectively, hourly

By bus

 * National Express, the UK's largest scheduled coach company, uses Liverpool One Bus Station. London is 4-5 hours away by coach and is served by a half a dozen services per day. Manchester is served by an hourly service taking a similar time to the train (except at rush hour). Manchester Airport can be reached by coach in under one hour, six coaches run per day.
 * Megabus operates a network across the UK. There is one bus daily from London to Liverpool. Journey time 4–5 hours. Prices also start at £1 and then increase depending on how far in advance you book. Megabus use the Liverpool One Coach Station.

A Park and Ride scheme aims to provide easy access to the city centre, for more information see National Park and Ride Directory.

By car
Liverpool has good motorway connections, being served by the M62 (from the M6), M53, M57 and M58.

If you are travelling from the south, your journey may take you across the River Mersey through one of the two road tunnels from Birkenhead or Wallasey, or across the Mersey Gateway or Silver Jubilee bridges from Runcorn to Widnes. Each of these crossings are tolled. At the tunnels, payment can be made in cash at the toll booth, but the bridges have only e-tolls. You must pay online at Merseyflow by midnight the following day or face a penalty charge through the post.

By boat
is on Triskelion Way off Waterloo Rd. This has ferries from Douglas operated by IOM Steam Packet, with two sailings a day taking three hours. The usual ferry is the fast cat Manannan, which carries vehicles. The terminal opened in June 2024 and road signage has not yet caught up - don't go the former terminal half a mile south on on Crowne Plaza. A bus plies from city centre to meet the ferries.

Cruise ships land at Crowne Plaza beneath the Liver building, next to the former IOM terminal.

From Birkenhead, pedestrians and cyclists can catch the Mersey Ferries commuter service every 20 minutes between 7:20AM and 9:40AM, with a journey time of 10 minutes to Liverpool's Pier Head. The evening return service operates every 20 min between 5PM and 6:40PM. An adult ticket costs £3/£3.80 single/return, and a child ticket costs £1.45/£2 single/return. You can also bring your bicycle for free. Between rush hours, the ferries operate a river cruise service which provides an hourly link from Birkenhead to Liverpool. However, this is aimed at tourists so the crossing is much more leisurely and the tickets cost three times as much.

Get around
Bus providers strongly encourage contactless payment, but will take exact fares at a pinch.

Liverpool City Centre is walkable, but those with mobility impairments or who are feeling lazy may prefer buses, Merseyrail, or taxis (including Uber, Ola, and local Delta as well as well as plentiful black cabs).

By bus
Buses run out from the centre regularly from Liverpool One Bus Station in Canning Place (mainly to the south) and Queen Square Bus Station in Roe and Hood Sts. (mainly north/east). Both bus stations have travel centres with staff who will assist with which bus to get and from where. These travel centres also stock free transport guides and detailed timetable leaflets for each bus and train service. Highly recommended are the free 'map and guide' leaflets of the four main transport subdivisions of the Liverpool metropolitan area: Liverpool, Wirral (west), Southport (north) and St. Helens (east); these giant fold-out street maps show at a glance the route of every bus service (individual service leaflets are required for timetable information).

By Merseyrail (underground / metro)
Liverpool and the surrounding region is served by an excellent mass-transit system, which is indispensable for the visitor who wishes to explore outside the city centre. Destinations such as Chester, the Anthony Gormley sculpture "Another Place" (in Crosby), and the seaside town of Southport are popular tourist destinations on the network.

Due to the short distances involved, and the few central stations, the Merseyrail network is of limited value for money getting around the City Centre as the stations can be usually be walked between in the time it takes to descend, travel, and ascend, with the possible exception of James Street to Lime Street. The network has several gaps in coverage as the latest expansions of the City Centre (such as the Baltic Triangle and North Docks), and Anfield Stadium do not have nearby stations. The Knowledge Quarter university district also suffers from poor Merseyrail connectivity, with the nearest station down a steep hill. The local government is seeking to amend some of these deficits - for example, funding has been approved to re-open a defunct station in the Baltic Triangle.



The Merseyrail lines are:


 * Northern Line (blue): This runs south-north from Hunts Cross to Southport, with branches to Ormskirk and Kirkby. Each branch runs at least twice an hour from 6AM (8AM on Sunday) to midnight, as does the main line, & the Ormskirk and Kirkby branches run along the main line as far as Liverpool Central.
 * Wirral Line (green): Trains on this line serve the city centre in a loop (James Street > Moorfields > Lime Street > Central > James Street), before running through a tunnel under the Mersey to Birkenhead. There, they branch out to West Kirby and Chester, with further branches to New Brighton and Ellesmere Port. Each branch runs at least twice an hour from 6AM (8AM on Sundays) to midnight, and all 4 branches run onto the loop.

Merseytravel also manages:


 * City Line (red): Not really a Merseyrail line, but a collective name encompassing all mainline local services from Lime Street. It has 4 branches, unusually named "books" after the booklets the timetables are distributed in:
 * Book 1 serves the Liverpool to Manchester route via Warrington.
 * Book 2 serves Liverpool South Parkway, branching out there to Runcorn and Crewe (local half-hourly; expresses to London and Birmingham also use this line), and to Warrington Central and Manchester Oxford Road & Piccadilly (local half-hourly, express half-hourly).
 * Book 3 services, along the world's first mainline railway, run to Manchester (hourly stopping trains to Victoria, hourly expresses to Oxford Road and Piccadilly (local services half-hourly, expresses half-hourly).
 * Book 4 connects Liverpool with St Helens and Wigan North Western, and Blackpool. Local services at least twice an hour run 6AM (9AM on Sundays) to midnight. Hourly express services continue to Preston. On their previous journey into Lime Street, many of these expresses came via South Parkway, which may be beneficial to passengers bearing luggage.

The City Centre is served by four stations. The Wirral Line serves all in a clockwise loop, while the Northern Line runs both ways north-south and serves Liverpool Central and Moorfields. City Line trains use ground-level platforms at Lime Street.

Liverpool South Parkway, on the City and Northern Lines. It is the closest station to John Lennon Airport, to which it has a shuttle bus. It also provides a direct interchange from regional and long-distance services to the Northern Line, should your train stop there.
 * is located on a small one-way street between Dale and Tithebarn Sts. in the business district.
 * is in a prominent position in the north-east of the city centre. It is closest to the museums on William Brown St.
 * is in a shopping centre accessed from Ranelagh and Bold Sts. It is most convenient for the shopping area & cathedrals.
 * is accessed by lifts on James St. or a steep ramp (limited access, rush hours only) on Water St. Nearby sights include the Liver Building on Pier Head.

If you are switching from Merseyrail to the National Rail network, use Lime Street, which is Liverpool's main station; Liverpool Central is only the central station of the Merseyrail network. In addition, some locals may refer to services on the City Line as the Northern, named after the regional train operating company, which should not be confused with the Northern Line run by Merseyrail.

A common mistake made by visitors is to think of the Wirral Line's city-centre loop as a circular line - implying that if one misses their stop, they may wait for it to come around again. In reality the loop is shaped like a lasso; if you stay on a train after passing through James Street a second time you will unexpectedly find yourself in Birkenhead.

Ticketing
Although an urban system, Merseyrail is a National Rail operator, meaning that ticketing is seamless between it and mainline rail services. A ticket can be bought from anywhere in the country to a Merseyrail station, and vice-versa, with no need to purchase a separate ticket for the Merseyrail network. This saves money and is very useful if you wish to travel directly to a part of the Liverpool City Region with no mainline rail service. Buying a simple single or return ticket from a ticket office or machine is the same as buying any other National Rail ticket.



Saveaway, Solo and Trio travel passes can be purchased from travel centres or Merseyrail stations. Liverpool and its surrounding areas are divided up into areas, each sub-divided into zones: the cost of each ticket typically depends upon how many zones/areas you want to travel in. If a journey takes you outside the boundary allowed by your ticket, you can typically purchase a regular ticket on the bus or train to cover just the extra required.
 * Solo and Trio passes are weekly, monthly or annual travel passes, usable at any time of the day. Solo tickets may be used only on buses; Trio tickets may be used on buses, ferries or Merseyrail trains. The pass may only be purchased from Merseytravel centres, but it can be renewed (up to three days before expiry) at any travel or train station in Merseyside.
 * A Merseyrail Only Railpass is a cheaper alternative, but is not valid on the City Line (despite stations carrying Merseyrail branding, the train service is provided by regional operator Northern).
 * Metro Cards are smart travel cards that are ideal for the majority of short term visitors. They are cheap, off-peak (after 9:30AM M-F, all day Sa & Su) single-day tickets that cover buses, ferries and Merseyrail trains. They may also be used by more than one person (although not at the same time). They are £3.90 for unlimited off-peak travel in 'Area C' (covering the city centre, west out to Huyton, north to Crosby and south to Speke), and £5.20 for an 'All-Zone' ticket covering the whole of the Merseytravel area (perfect for visiting the Wirral, Chester or Southport). Cards are available from all stations, Travelcentres, and shops displaying the yellow 'PayPoint' sign. The card allows including online ticket purchasing and tap-in-tap-out ticketing.

Adult bus fares on the main operators are: Arriva flat fare of £2.30 throughout the Liverpool area, £3.70 for Liverpool area Day Ticket, £4.40 for Northwest area. Stagecoach flat fare of £2.00 throughout the Liverpool area, £3.30 for Liverpool area Day Ticket, £3.60 for Northwest area. Arriva and Stagecoach Day and Weekly tickets may be used on either companies buses on new Quality Partnership Routes 10/10A/10B/10C (Huyton,St Helens), 86/86A/86D/86E (Speke,Airport,South Parkway), 53/53A (Crosby,Aintree), 14/14X (Croxteth,Kirkby). Similar flat fares are available from the other operators as well. There are a few night bus services on a Saturday night costing £3.00. (All prices correct as of April 2017.)

Some buses, such as early morning and hospital services, have a fixed fare of £1.10. This includes the City Centre Circular buses C1 to C5.

If you plan to travel a lot, a pass presents much better value. Generally speaking, you save money with two or more train trips or three or more bus journeys.

Both major bus companies accept contactless payment (including Apple Pay and Google Pay, although unlike London you still have to buy a ticket from the driver). Having spare cash is recommended as some buses on minor routes may not yet be equipped.

By bike
National Cycle Route 56, National Cycle Route 62 and 810 run into Liverpool.

A useful cycle map of Liverpool called 'Liverpool Cycle Map' is apparently jointly issued by Merseytravel, the Liverpool City Council, and Travelwise Merseyside. It is free and can be ordered at 0151 330 1253, or http://www.letstravelwise.org/content227_Cycling.html. You might be lucky to be given one at a store, such as GIANT.



See
Liverpool is particularly famous for its architecture, to the point where English Heritage consider it England's finest Victorian city. Once dilapidated and dirty during the dark times of the 1980s, modern Liverpool presents its architecture with full civic pride.

Pier Head
The harbour of Liverpool has played a very important role in modern history of the city. The wharf area drained by the Mersey River gives to the city an air of antiquity, which is quite strange and interesting because of the contrast between modern buildings and conventional buildings. The Pier Head was recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO between 2004 and 2021, when it was controversially delisted due to modern development.
 * Titanic Memorial is north side of the Royal Liver Building, a sober granite monument to the 244 engineers lost with the ship.
 * Titanic Memorial is north side of the Royal Liver Building, a sober granite monument to the 244 engineers lost with the ship.
 * Titanic Memorial is north side of the Royal Liver Building, a sober granite monument to the 244 engineers lost with the ship.

Guided tours
For those in a hurry there are a number of operators offering guided tours, either using their own transportation or offering their services as "hop-on, hop-off Guides" on your coach or offering guided walks. The best way of getting an overview of the city, is by taking the City Explorer open-top bus run by Maghull Coaches. With 12 stops you can hop on and off all day. Qualified local guides provide the commentary and can answer your questions about the city. For Beatles fans, there is the Magical Mystery Tour which will take you around the places associated with the Beatles both in the city centre and in the suburbs. For a more tailored tour, there's Liverpool Entente Cordiale Tours. Their Liverpool tour guides can plan a walk for you or hop on your coach and guide you around the city. They offer tours in English or French.



Do

 * Note that many museums and galleries (including the Liverpool Museums ones) are closed Mondays.



Music



 * Africa Oye celebrates African music and culture. It's held in Sefton Park, with the next probably on 15 / 16 June 2024, TBC.
 * International Beatle Week is in August, multiple venues. A vast list of gigs performed by bands from all over the world, the annual Beatles Convention, plus screenings and other events looking back on the Beatles' career and their relationship with their home city. The next is 23-29 Aug 2023.

Comedy
which takes place in venues across the city. One event not to be missed is the now legendary Drink up Stand up pub crawls which includes four pubs, four comedians, one compere (host) and a megaphone!
 * Comedy nights are featured on Friday and Saturday at Baby Blue, a nice club on the exclusive Albert Dock. Check online for more info and tickets.
 * Also for laughs, try Rawhide at the Royal Court Theatre, which showcases some of the best in regional and national comedy talent.
 * Every June or July there is a fortnight-long Liverpool Comedy Festival

Sports

 * Go to the races at
 * Go to the races at
 * Go to the races at

Learn
Liverpool is home to three universities:



Although not strictly in Liverpool, two more are within its sphere of influence:


 * Edge Hill University (Ormskirk), a former teacher training college and now full university in a somewhat rural location.
 * University Centre St. Helens (St. Helens), the newest university centre in the region offering courses in business, social sciences, art, and STEM subjects.

Buy
Although the main shopping street in Liverpool is dominated by the same chain stores you'll find in any other large UK city, Liverpool has many distinctive shops of its own, including:



The upper part of Bold St (where it is not pedestrianised) has a number of independent dealers. There are also many nice cafes and restaurants in between.



Eat
There are various pubs serving food across the city centre and its suburbs, of course. The two main areas are the City Centre and Lark Lane about three miles from the city centre in Aigburth. There are various restaurants on Allerton Road (near Liverpool South Parkway) as well. Expect to spend £20 for a meal for two. Check with your hotel first if they allow food delivery. There is also quite a number of places to eat in Liverpool One.

Student District, Georgian Quarter and Hope Street

 * Zaza(?) Grocery. Just a block or two east up from Monument Place. Good, mostly Middle Eastern food at good prices for the area. Most of the staff with whom you'll interact are miserable but don't take it personally.
 * Zaza(?) Grocery. Just a block or two east up from Monument Place. Good, mostly Middle Eastern food at good prices for the area. Most of the staff with whom you'll interact are miserable but don't take it personally.
 * Zaza(?) Grocery. Just a block or two east up from Monument Place. Good, mostly Middle Eastern food at good prices for the area. Most of the staff with whom you'll interact are miserable but don't take it personally.
 * Zaza(?) Grocery. Just a block or two east up from Monument Place. Good, mostly Middle Eastern food at good prices for the area. Most of the staff with whom you'll interact are miserable but don't take it personally.
 * Zaza(?) Grocery. Just a block or two east up from Monument Place. Good, mostly Middle Eastern food at good prices for the area. Most of the staff with whom you'll interact are miserable but don't take it personally.
 * Zaza(?) Grocery. Just a block or two east up from Monument Place. Good, mostly Middle Eastern food at good prices for the area. Most of the staff with whom you'll interact are miserable but don't take it personally.
 * Zaza(?) Grocery. Just a block or two east up from Monument Place. Good, mostly Middle Eastern food at good prices for the area. Most of the staff with whom you'll interact are miserable but don't take it personally.
 * Zaza(?) Grocery. Just a block or two east up from Monument Place. Good, mostly Middle Eastern food at good prices for the area. Most of the staff with whom you'll interact are miserable but don't take it personally.
 * Zaza(?) Grocery. Just a block or two east up from Monument Place. Good, mostly Middle Eastern food at good prices for the area. Most of the staff with whom you'll interact are miserable but don't take it personally.

Bold Street (upper part)
Bold St has a nice mixture of independent shops and interesting places to eat.



Chinatown, Ropewalks and East Village
Chinatown is Berry Street, Duke Street, Roscoe Lane, Parr Street and Seel Street.
 * Bon Bon Bakery. Sometimes inconsistent hours but quality, seeming authentic products made on-site.
 * Bon Bon Bakery. Sometimes inconsistent hours but quality, seeming authentic products made on-site.
 * Bon Bon Bakery. Sometimes inconsistent hours but quality, seeming authentic products made on-site.
 * Bon Bon Bakery. Sometimes inconsistent hours but quality, seeming authentic products made on-site.
 * Bon Bon Bakery. Sometimes inconsistent hours but quality, seeming authentic products made on-site.
 * Bon Bon Bakery. Sometimes inconsistent hours but quality, seeming authentic products made on-site.
 * Bon Bon Bakery. Sometimes inconsistent hours but quality, seeming authentic products made on-site.
 * Bon Bon Bakery. Sometimes inconsistent hours but quality, seeming authentic products made on-site.
 * Bon Bon Bakery. Sometimes inconsistent hours but quality, seeming authentic products made on-site.
 * Bon Bon Bakery. Sometimes inconsistent hours but quality, seeming authentic products made on-site.
 * Bon Bon Bakery. Sometimes inconsistent hours but quality, seeming authentic products made on-site.

Liverpool One

 * Chain.
 * Chain.

Lark Lane
Lark Lane is about 2.5 miles to the south of the city centre, a very pleasant (and less stressful than the city) place and is one of the better places to eat out. The road, which connects Aigburth Road with Sefton Park, is home to many unique restaurants, cafés and other shops. It is quite isolated, i.e. you will only find residential areas around it, but the street itself is worth the trip. Most pubs and bars serve real ales. Some choice picks include:

Drink
Liverpool's nightlife is both famous and infamous, with Rough Guides placing a night out in the city at number three on their list of fifty things to do before you die. There's a huge selection of pubs, clubs and bars to suit a variety of music and atmospheric tastes. Friday and especially Saturday nights are the busiest nights, although a few bars are busy with students throughout the week. The areas around Mathew Street and Concert Square with nearby Wood Street are the main two nocturnal focal points. There is a good mix of locals and students. It is best to dress smart for the majority of bars and clubs (such as "Society" and "Garlands"). Notable exceptions are places like Le Bateau, the Krazy house, the Caledonia and other places of a similar alternative style. Like any major UK city, it is pretty safe out at night. The local police have had a heavy presence on a Friday and Saturday night to combat any problems and are largely succeeding. It is pretty busy getting out of the city centre at the end of a weekend (especially at the start of university term time - Sep/Oct). There are plenty of black hackney cabs which congregate at various taxi ranks. The Merseyrail system works until about midnight, whilst there are a series of dedicated night buses which run from the main bus stations, usually for a flat fare. All modes of transport tend to become very busy from around midnight.

Liverpool is home to the Cains brewery which produces a large selection of cask beers.


 * Dr Duncan's, St John's Lane – This is the premier pub for the local Cains brewery. It has a fine reputation and consequently is full of middle-aged professional drinkers. The pub has the full range of Cains beers, including Dr Duncan's IPA. Rudimentary bar menu, but good busy atmosphere on the weekend.
 * The Dispensary, Intersection of Renshaw and Leece Streets – Another of the local Cains brewery houses. Charming Victorian bar area. Usually has two rotating guest beers, plus a large selection of bottled beers and ciders.
 * The Pilgrim, Pilgrim Street – Located off Hardman Street, this pub serves the best breakfast in town, £4 for a king size feast. You also get to share the pub with stag parties and students wondering what happened the night before.
 * Pig & Whistle, 12 Covent Garden. This pub has been refurbished and transformed into a rather fake-looking pub.
 * The Brookhouse Smithdown Rd. Used to be one of Liverpool's pubs was a hangout of bands of the late 1980s such as the La's. It's now most popular with students, and is known for its Liverpool games when locals lead the Liverpool chants and become the vocal cords of this old pub.
 * The Vines, Lime Street – A stylish club.
 * GBar, Eberle Street – Popular gay-friendly club with two floors. Upstairs, 'The Church' offers funky house music and campy classics in the 'Love Lounge'. Downstairs 'The Bass-ment' pumps out quality vocal house music. Open Th-M. Costs £5-7 for non-members.
 * Pig & Whistle, 12 Covent Garden. This pub has been refurbished and transformed into a rather fake-looking pub.
 * The Brookhouse Smithdown Rd. Used to be one of Liverpool's pubs was a hangout of bands of the late 1980s such as the La's. It's now most popular with students, and is known for its Liverpool games when locals lead the Liverpool chants and become the vocal cords of this old pub.
 * The Vines, Lime Street – A stylish club.
 * GBar, Eberle Street – Popular gay-friendly club with two floors. Upstairs, 'The Church' offers funky house music and campy classics in the 'Love Lounge'. Downstairs 'The Bass-ment' pumps out quality vocal house music. Open Th-M. Costs £5-7 for non-members.
 * The Vines, Lime Street – A stylish club.
 * GBar, Eberle Street – Popular gay-friendly club with two floors. Upstairs, 'The Church' offers funky house music and campy classics in the 'Love Lounge'. Downstairs 'The Bass-ment' pumps out quality vocal house music. Open Th-M. Costs £5-7 for non-members.
 * GBar, Eberle Street – Popular gay-friendly club with two floors. Upstairs, 'The Church' offers funky house music and campy classics in the 'Love Lounge'. Downstairs 'The Bass-ment' pumps out quality vocal house music. Open Th-M. Costs £5-7 for non-members.

Chinatown, Ropewalks and East Village
Chinatown is Berry Street, Duke Street, Roscoe Lane and Seel Street.

Seel Street

 * Alma de Cuba, Seel Street. Hispanic and Cuban themed bar and restaurant in a magnificently converted Roman Catholic church.
 * Alma de Cuba, Seel Street. Hispanic and Cuban themed bar and restaurant in a magnificently converted Roman Catholic church.
 * Alma de Cuba, Seel Street. Hispanic and Cuban themed bar and restaurant in a magnificently converted Roman Catholic church.
 * Alma de Cuba, Seel Street. Hispanic and Cuban themed bar and restaurant in a magnificently converted Roman Catholic church.

Concert Square, Fleet Street, Wood Street, Duke Street
Concert Square is situated behind Bold Street, where you'll find a range of the trendier bars. Most bars are open M-Sa until 2AM. They include Lloyd's, Walkabout, Modo and a minute away near Slater Street is Baa-Bar. This district usually has the youngest crowd drinking here.


 * Baa Bar, Fleet Street - The City’s leading shooter bar. This is the place to go if you like £1 shots, good music and a great atmosphere. Baa Bar Fleet Street has been rocking concert square for over 20 years, with the biggest DJs in Liverpool. Its extensive 32-strong shooter menu and newly refurbished upstairs terrace makes it stand out from the crowd, in an area where competition is fierce.
 * O'Neills, Wood Street – Part of the O'Neills chain but don't let that put you off. Its managed by two real Irish men who know what a real Irish bar means. Good beer, food and good music is always on hand here. You also might bump into a few Liverpool FC players drinking in the corner.
 * The Krazy House, Wood Street – The club provides three floors. K1 with rock and metal, K2 with indie and K3 with Punk/R&B/Dance, all combined with constant cheap drinks. It attracts a crowd of skate punks, students and metal heads. You'll hear R&B and dance music on Thursday, punk and new wave on Friday and new metal on Saturday night.
 * Le Bateau, Duke Street – The home of Liverpool's premier alternative club night, Liquidation every Saturday, which is also the city's longest running weekly club night spread across two floors. Plus Adult Books on Tuesdays, Shoot The Messenger on Wednesdays, Indication on Fridays. Cheap drinks every night, plus a Royal Rumble pinball table. Very friendly and popular with a mix of locals and students all year round.
 * The Swan Inn, Wood St – Liverpool's only rocker/metalhead pub, it actually has quite an eclectic mix of customers during the week, ranging from construction workers to businessmen, all side by side sharing pints. In the evenings and weekends, this gives way to the alternative/rocker scene. Pub quiz every Thursday evening and a legendary jukebox. Listed with the local CAMRA group.

Mathew Street, Temple Court and North John Street
An older crowd will drink in this district.

Dale Street, Moorfields and Tithebarn Street
Sometimes considered the commercial district and is populated by office workers during the week.
 * Rigby's, Dale Street – This cask ale pub dates back to Lord Nelson and has been refurbished by the Isle of Mann Okell's Brewery (to become their first UK mainland pub). Good atmosphere. Busy on weekend nights and also does meals in the bar.
 * Rigby's, Dale Street – This cask ale pub dates back to Lord Nelson and has been refurbished by the Isle of Mann Okell's Brewery (to become their first UK mainland pub). Good atmosphere. Busy on weekend nights and also does meals in the bar.

Pier Head and Albert Dock
A favourite district for tourists.

Student district
Universities of Liverpool and John Moores students from the student residential areas descend here during term time.


 * The Philharmonic – Located on the corner of Hope Street and Hardman Street, this Tetley heritage pub is opposite the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. Formerly a gentleman's club, there are two small, snug rooms and a larger dining room to the back with leather sofas and an open fire. The gentlemen's toilets are grade 1 listed and ladies may ask permission to view them at the bar. Excellent food served both from the bar and in the dining rooms upstairs. Usual cask beers include Timothy Taylor's Landlord, Caledonian Deuchars IPA and Tetley's.
 * The Cambridge – Located at the corner of Cambridge Street and Mulberry Street. This pub is at the heart of the University of Liverpool and has a great atmosphere. It is very popular with both students and lecturers.
 * The Augustus John, Peach St. This is an obligatory hang out for Liverpool's students. Like most student pubs, the bar area gets packed during September and October.
 * Fly in the Loaf, Hardman Street, Today it arguably serves the finest quality and variety of cask ales in the city centre. The Fly in the Loaf has a good mix of students and local regulars. It includes bar meals and wide-screen televisions for football and is one of the few Liverpool pubs that regularly show rugby league.
 * Fly in the Loaf, Hardman Street, Today it arguably serves the finest quality and variety of cask ales in the city centre. The Fly in the Loaf has a good mix of students and local regulars. It includes bar meals and wide-screen televisions for football and is one of the few Liverpool pubs that regularly show rugby league.

Baltic Triangle and the Brewery Village
To the south of the city centre, the bohemian Baltic Triangle has transformed over the past few years from moribund industry to the coolest place in the UK according to The Times. At the heart of the district is the former Cains brewery, which is now a large and ultra-trendy collection of bars, pubs, clubs, markets, and food stalls.




 * Bongo's Bungalow, Brewery Village. Spin-off bar from Camp and Furnace.
 * Brewery Tap, Brewery Village. Classic pub that hasn't changed since the brewery was open.
 * Craft Minded, Brewery Village. Craft beer bar inside a steel-framed shed. Chimney visible from far around.
 * Dockleaf, Brewery Village. Bar with roof terrace.
 * Hippie Chic, Brewery Village. Burning Man-style tent with bar. Connected to the Yellow Submarine Bar next door.
 * Yellow Submarine Bar, Brewery Village. Former movie prop from Hunt for Red October turned floating hotel now turned Beatles-themed bar (on dry land). Connected to Hippie Chic next door.
 * Peaky Blinders, Brewery Village. Warehouse turned into bar themed around the hit TV show, parts of which were filmed in Liverpool.
 * Punch Tarmey's, Brewery Village. Subterranean Irish bar with fantastic interior and glass portholes in the floor to the aquifer far below, formerly used as a water source for the brewery.
 * Tank Room, Brewery Village. Craft beer bar.
 * Downtown, Brewery Village. Bazaar of food and drinks vendors with a New York City theme. Not as large as the Baltic Market but very close by.
 * On Air, Brewery Village. Movie studio themed nightclub set in a giant recreation of a village up the walls of a former industrial unit. Live music on-stage. Connected to Birdie's.

Sleep


There are a number of hotels in the city, ranging from budget guesthouses and lodges to 4-star international properties. Liverpool has no 5-star hotels but two in grade I listed buildings (Premier Inn and Holiday Inn Express), three in grade II* listed buildings (30 James St, Titanic Hotel and Marriott Aloft) and a further eight hotels in grade II listed buildings (Doubletree Hilton, Crowne Plaza Liverpool Airport, Hard Days Night Hotel, Racquet Club, the Richmond Aparthotel, Adagio Aparthotel, Britannia Adelphi and Radisson Red).

Mid-range

 * The Halyard on Duke St opens in March 2024.
 * The Halyard on Duke St opens in March 2024.
 * The Halyard on Duke St opens in March 2024.
 * The Halyard on Duke St opens in March 2024.
 * The Halyard on Duke St opens in March 2024.
 * The Halyard on Duke St opens in March 2024.
 * The Halyard on Duke St opens in March 2024.
 * The Halyard on Duke St opens in March 2024.
 * The Halyard on Duke St opens in March 2024.
 * The Halyard on Duke St opens in March 2024.
 * The Halyard on Duke St opens in March 2024.
 * The Halyard on Duke St opens in March 2024.
 * The Halyard on Duke St opens in March 2024.
 * The Halyard on Duke St opens in March 2024.
 * The Halyard on Duke St opens in March 2024.

Splurge






Stay safe
Liverpool is policed by Merseyside Police. If you need immediate assistance in an emergency, dial 999. For non-emergency assistance, either telephone 101 or visit one of two city centre Police stations open to the public:


 * St Anne's St Police Station, St Anne's St, Liverpool, L3 3HJ
 * Merseyside Police Headquarters, Canning Place, L1 8JX

Crime rates in Liverpool are low compared with most other large cities in the UK. You are no more likely to be a victim here than most other European cities. However, as in other cities, you should observe a few simple precautions. Don't leave valuables on display in an unattended car, for example. Even an empty car will get a smashed window from time to time, so try to park yours at private parks when the night comes. Try to stay aware of your surroundings and be discreet with cash, expensive camera equipment, etc.

Scousers are mainly gregarious and friendly people, but there are still some who seek to take advantage. You will find, however, that Mancunians and Scousers get along much better than the stereotype suggests and you will very often come across each in each other's city. Be particularly aware of people who approach you in the street with stories of having lost their train fare home. These are typically begging techniques.

Stay on the beaten track at night and stick to the many themed pub and bars and avoid some of the larger dance clubs as these are more suited to streetwise locals or people who understand Liverpool culture well, although to be fair, most Scousers will welcome anyone to their city, and especially their clubs! Be prepared to wait for a taxi at night and don't be tempted to walk back to your hotel unless you are close by. Although Liverpool is a quite friendly place, a slightly sinister side appears after hours.

Some of the City's districts should be avoided by non-locals. Areas such as Croxteth, Dovecot, Everton, Huyton, Kensington, Kirkdale, Norris Green, Page Moss, Stockbridge Village and Toxteth are seeing some serious issues with gang related violence including increases in gun and knife crime and several murders have been recorded.

Around the city centre, be aware there are many homeless people, especially around William Brown Street near the museums. Unlike, in, say, the United States of America or other parts of the United Kingdom, these are less likely to pose a threat to you, and although they may beg for money, they tend to be friendly and often want to talk about their backstories openly with you. Give them money, but at your own risk, as long as it's small change.

Also, older women may (and often do) flirt with younger men, but accept this part of the Liverpool cultural milieu. This also applies to the homelessness situation mentioned above, which much the same situation tends to happen. This should not be confused with prostitution (mentioned below). It is explicitly not solicitation, and is just flirting.

Although prostitution is legal in the UK, solicitation is illegal and it is a fact of life in most cities, Liverpool being no exception. The "Red Light" areas are as follows: around Netherfield Road North and the Shiel Road area of Kensington. Although quiet during the day, there is a lot of business at night and particularly on weekends. Women walking by themselves have been known to be approached by men looking for prostitutes and people in vehicles have been known to be approached by prostitutes looking for business.

Avoid Manchester United shirts, which worn in the wrong place makes you an easy target for abuse or even assault, especially on match day.

A friendly manner, a polite smile, and a sense of humour go a long way in this city, but a sensible approach to travelling is, as always, advisable.

The 1989 Hillsborough Stadium Disaster, when 97 Liverpool FC fans were killed, is still a very sensitive subject that is best avoided. Carrying or reading The Sun newspaper, which lied about Liverpool fans' behaviour during the disaster, holding them culpable for the deaths, is practically guaranteed to attract negative attention. This is especially true around people who may have been drinking. Most local shops do not sell the paper and a strong boycotting movement exists in the city to this day. Similarly, "Hillsborough chants" and related slurs cause deep anger and hostility among Liverpool FC fans, and could result in a violent response.

Be aware that the streetlighting (Urbis Evolo 2, shown on the right-hand side of the picture) is brighter than you might expect, and drive more cautiously. These streetlights are common across the city centre and in Kensington. Drive much more cautiously if you see them. These are less common outside of Liverpool. Americans may be used to bright lights, but Evolos are really bright.



Go next
Chester - A beautiful historical city on the River Dee, which is famous for its Roman ruins and city walls. It is also the Gateway to North Wales and the delights of Llandudno and Snowdonia National Park. At the end of a branch at the end of the Merseyrail (metro) Wirral Line, trains taking 41 minutes from Liverpool Central.

Crosby - Just north of Liverpool with Anthony Gormley's Another Place famous sculptures on the beach. Merseyrail Northern Line takes 20 minutes from Liverpool Central to Blundellsands station.

Manchester – Once the home of the industrial revolution, it has now swapped its chimneys for skyscrapers, and mill workers for urbanite accountants and designers. It is also the home of the biggest rival of Liverpool FC, the second most successful football club in England, Manchester United FC. Well worth a visit and is easy to get to; hourly local trains from Lime Street run to Manchester Victoria taking 56 minutes, expresses to Victoria or to Oxford Road and Piccadilly taking 41. Also accessible by coach/bus.

Wirral
Birkenhead – Across the Mersey, Birkenhead has a football club called Tranmere Rovers. Although this club has always lived in the shadow of Everton and Liverpool, it has a long tradition and a great family atmosphere. Well worth a visit. Ferries ply across the Mersey from Pier Head to Birkenhead Woodside. It takes 3 minutes for a train to go from Liverpool James Street to Birkenhead Hamilton Square; Add 2 minutes for each additional stop if getting on earlier around the loop, & add 3 minutes for Birkenhead Central (shopping centre & Priory) or 7 for Tranmere Rovers' local station, Rock Ferry.

Port Sunlight - It was built as a model village by Lord Lever and contains the Lady Lever Art Gallery, a marvelously eclectic collection of objects, similar to the Burrell Collection in Glasgow. Twenty minutes on the Wirral line.

West Kirby - Boasts a superb beach. There is also a 52-acre marine lake which has sailing and windsurfing. 36 minutes by Wirral line.