Discover the most exciting and engaging things to do in Liverpool. Immerse yourself in the rich culture, vibrant history, and lively atmosphere of this iconic city. From exploring historic landmarks to enjoying modern entertainment, Liverpool has something for everyone. Liverpool, a city synonymous with the Beatles and its rich maritime history, offers a plethora of activities for visitors.
Things to Do in Liverpool
In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the best things to do in Liverpool, ensuring an unforgettable experience for every traveler. Explore Liverpool's maritime legacy at the Maritime Museum. Immerse yourself in the city's seafaring history, from the Titanic to the merchant ships that once graced the bustling docks.
1 – See The Beatles statue at the Pier Head
Why not take a walking tour of the city and see the famous Beatles Statue at the Pier Head? The statue was donated by the Cavern Club in 2015 on the 50th anniversary of the group’s last gig in the city.
Hit up other famous sights like the legendary Cavern Club, Casbah Coffee Club and the Eleanor Rigby statue. Learn about famous sites linked to the band from a knowledgeable guide in these fun informative tours.
2 – Visit the historic Royal Albert Dock Liverpool
Liverpool’s iconic Royal Albert Dock is one of the most popular free attractions in the North West of England. Formerly central to the city’s industry, the docks were the first building in the UK to be constructed entirely from cast iron, stone and brick with no wood structure.
In 1846, the dock was a major port with 40 percent of all global trade passing through it. It is now home to a host of museums, restaurants, bars and shops and was until recently a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
3 – Climb the Royal Liver Building
The Royal Liver Building is located on the Pier Head and is one of the city’s well-known Three Graces. The Liver Building was built in the early 1900s and was the tallest in Europe at the time of construction. It contains two fabled Liver birds on the roof that are said to watch over the city.
Visitors can climb the building’s towers and get impressive 360-degree views from the 10th and 15th floors of the building. Take a tour to learn about the history of this much-loved local landmark.
4 – See the sights on a hop on hop off bus tour
A hop-on-hop-off bus tour is one of the best ways to see a new city. Explore the streets on these guided tours and learn about the history of the area. See a wide variety of landmarks including museums and galleries, cathedrals and cultural highlights.
Visit popular places made famous by The Beatles, as well as the new Liverpool One Shopping center. Get on and off as many times as you like on this fun great value tour of the city.
5 – Learn the city’s history at the Museum of Liverpool
Dedicated to the history of the city, the Museum of Liverpool has been of global significance as a trading hub and the achievements of its people. The huge purpose-built museum has a collection that covers a 10,000-year history of life on the River Mersey banks.
Find photographs and portraits of local heroes and legends, and original items from around the city, including historic shopfronts and discover the seedier side of life in Victorian Liverpool. This is a must-see for local history fans.
6 – Walk along the Pier Head and see the Three Graces
At the center of Liverpool’s waterfront in the Pier Head, visitors can find the trio of beautiful buildings known as the Three Graces — The Port of Liverpool Building, the Cunard Building and the Royal Liver Building were once central to the city’s shipping industry.
Now visitors can walk along the pierhead to see these local landmarks and others, including famous statues to local heroes. The Pier Head should not be missed on a trip to Liverpool.
7 – Take a ride on the Wheel of Liverpool
Looking for an exhilarating way to grab the best views of the city? The Liverpool Wheel is a great option! This huge Ferris wheel stands 196 feet tall and offers a stunning lookout over the surrounding area.
Listen to the audio commentary as you take in the panoramic views of the city skyline. For a truly unforgettable experience, the wheel has a VIP capsule where guests can drink champagne while they enjoy the sights through the glass floor.
8 – Experience The Beatles Story
Everybody knows of Liverpool’s favorite sons — John, Paul, George and Ringo. Considered to be the most influential band of all time, The Beatles revolutionized pop music in their short 10-year career.
The Beatles Story is a museum dedicated to the Fab Four with memorabilia and recreations of key locations from the group’s history. Visit the Casbah and Cavern clubs, and Abbey Road Studios in the 1960s. See items owned by the group, including clothing, instruments and handwritten lyrics. Visiting the museum is by far one of the most fun things to do in Liverpool!
9 – Discover the World Museum
Liverpool’s World Museum takes visitors on a trip around the globe and even into outer space. The museum houses a huge range of artifacts and exhibitions, including a natural history collection with over a million specimens of animals, plants, fungi and rocks.
It has an extensive collection of ancient artifacts from the Egyptian, Greek and Roman eras, as well as historic items from Asia, Africa and the Americas. The museum also has a fascinating collection of scientific instruments. Don’t miss out on the World Museum during your trip to Liverpool.
10 – Grab a drink at St. Luke’s Bombed Out Church
The Bombed Out Church as it’s known locally is an arts and community space in the city center. The former St. Luke’s parish church was mostly destroyed during the blitz in 1941, leaving just the stone walls standing. It remained in ruins until recently as a monument to the victims of the war.
It now hosts a variety of cultural events, including film and beer festivals, as well as live theater and concerts. There is a garden bar and cafe that opens Friday to Sunday. Check out the website for further details of what’s on.
11 – Visit the magnificent Liverpool Cathedral
More than just a church, Liverpool Cathedral is the largest religious building in the whole of Britain and one of the largest in the world. It was constructed between 1904 and 1978, with progress being hindered by the First and Second World Wars where the city was a major target for bombing raids.
See the cathedral’s beautiful architecture such as its grand “Well” and smaller ornate chapels. The Cathedral also has a cafe and shop and entry is free of charge.
12 – Savor the Candlelight Concerts
There’s no shortage of great music in Liverpool, and Candlelight Concerts make an excellent addition to the lineup!
Held in an assortment of venues around town, the series focuses on both quality music and a wonderful atmosphere, with a roomful of flickering candles providing a romantic backdrop to the performance.
And the concerts themselves offer a little bit of everything; you can enjoy symphonies, film soundtracks, and the works of modern pop stars… and, of course, the Beatles!
13 – See the historic Liverpool Central Library
Visit Liverpool’s Central Library even for the architecture alone which features a large glass-domed atrium in the center and a roof terrace. The beautiful Picton Reading Room which was built in the 1870s is particularly worth a visit.
The historic Oak Room and Hornby Library contain an extensive collection of rare books, including local historical writings. The Central Library is a great place to visit for a closer look at the city and its history.
14 – Picnic in Sefton Park
A great place to take a walk or picnic in the city, Sefton Park has lots of space to roam around or play games and has a number of attractions too. The Victorian-era Palm House is home to a large collection of exotic plants and also hosts regular concerts and events.
There’s also a children’s playground, cafes, small caves and waterfalls and a bandstand that supposedly inspired The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s album concept. Don’t miss out on a trip to one of the nicest parks in the city.
15 – See sharks at Blue Planet Aquarium
Take a walk through the Underwater Shark Tunnel and see brightly colored fish in the Coral Cave of the largest aquarium in the North West of England. See South American freshwater fish in the Flooded Forest exhibit or meet enormous Dalmatian Pelicans.
Blue Planet Aquarium has one of the largest collections of sharks in Europe, as well as exhibits featuring frogs, spiders, crocodiles and rays.
16 – Take an Anfield Museum & Stadium tour
Liverpool Football Club’s stadium at Anfield has been the team’s home since its formation in 1892. Visit the team’s iconic grounds and relive the past glories in the interactive museum.
See the club’s six European trophies and touch the This is Anfield sign before heading down the player’s tunnel to the pitch. Learn about the team’s history on a friendly guided tour through the stadium. This is a great day out for all sports fans.
17 – Discover the collection at Walker Art Gallery
The Walker Art Gallery has one of the most important collections of art in the country with pieces from the 13th-century to the present day. The gallery has paintings by Rubens, Rembrandt and Turner as well as Rosetti, Degas and Monet.
It also has a huge collection of sculptures and decorative arts to explore including clothing, jewelry, furniture, musical instruments and ceramics. Take a trip to the Walker Art
19 – Visit the top-secret bunker at Western Approaches Museum
Western Approaches Museum is a preserved World War II bunker hidden deep beneath the streets of the city. This huge underground complex was once the workplace of 300 staff and was used to track the movements of enemy forces.
Visit the Operation’s Room which remains unchanged since the bunker was closed in 1945. See the headquarters where military personnel guided Royal Navy forces in the Battle of the Atlantic. The Western Approaches Museum is a time capsule from the WWII era.
20 – See the city from St. John’s Beacon
Also known as Radio City Tower, St. John’s Beacon is the tallest building in the city at 138 meters in height. The tower was built in the 1960s and has a distinct space-age look to it. It is home to the Radio City radio studios and offices.
Visitors can take the elevator up to the observation deck for impressive 360-degree views across the city. The tower is a working radio station too so keep an eye out for local celebrities!
21 – Visit the Eleanor Rigby Statue
Eleanor Rigby was a fictitious character invented by Paul McCartney for the Beatles song of the same name. The story behind the character though feels very real and has made the Eleanor Rigby Statue a popular tourist spot in the city.
The statue sits on a bench looking at a sparrow on a copy of the Liverpool Echo newspaper. It was created by artist, musician and actor Tommy Steele in 1982 and was originally dedicated to “all the lonely people.”
22 – Get inspired at Tate Liverpool
The artworks on display at Tate Liverpool span from the 1500s to the present day. They include modern and contemporary artworks from international artists as well as the national collection of British Art.
See sculptures, drawings, prints and paintings by some of the most renowned artists of the last half-century. Tate Liverpool is a must-see for lovers of art.
23 – Take a Peaky Blinders tour
Though the hit TV Series Peaky Blinders is set in early 1900s Birmingham, Liverpool is often used as a filming location for the show. The city’s industrial architecture and terraced streets offer the perfect backdrop for this gory period drama.
Visit filming locations around the city and hear real-life accounts of the people that inspired the characters. Take a full or half-day tour and immerse yourself in the world of the Peaky Blinders. This is an absolute must for fans of the show!
24 – See a concert at St. George’s Hall Liverpool
One of the finest halls in the North of England for chamber music concerts, the Concert Room at Liverpool’s St. George’s Hall has excellent acoustics and baroque decor that make for a truly unforgettable experience.
The hall is host to the Liverpool Philharmonic Chamber Music Series which sees performances by some of the most renowned performers in the world. It also hosts regular cultural events, award ceremonies and dinners.
25 – Experience the International Slavery Museum
As a major port, Liverpool was a hub of slave trading activity and the city grew very rich from it. The museum seeks to increase understanding by exploring the deep impact and global legacy of slavery, showing the city’s participation in the international slave trade.
Hear the untold stories of the victims of slavery and see the museum’s collection of memorabilia, which illustrates negative stereotypes which were once considered acceptable throughout western society.
26 – Watch an Everton match at Goodison Park
Home to Merseyside’s other top football club, Everton, within spitting distance of the Liverpool F.C grounds at Anfield, Goodison Park has been home to the team since 1892. The two teams have a long-standing but good-natured rivalry.
Why not visit the grounds to watch a match or take a tour of the stadium? Visit the Director’s Box and the home and away changing rooms, then emerge from the tunnel and visit the home team dugout to sit in the manager’s chair.
27 – Tour the Medieval city of Chester on a day trip
The historic walled city of Chester is a great place to visit for those interested in history. The city was founded 2000 years ago as a Roman fortress and its surrounding walls were extended by the Anglo-Saxons in the 7th-century.
The city has a unique two-tier covered shopping arcade, known as The Rows and a number of Tudor-style black and white timber buildings. It is also a bustling modern city that offers plenty of opportunities for shopping, entertainment and relaxation.
28 – Visit Speke Hall, Garden & Estate
Speke Hall has stunning gardens and an immaculately preserved Tudor house to explore. The house dates back to the 1530s and it was occupied by the Norris family for over 200 years. It contains a collection of antique furnishings including 200 carved oak pieces and original William Morris wallpapers.
The extensive grounds include woodlands, a hedge maze, play areas and manicured gardens. There is also a cafe serving a variety of hot foods and snacks.
29 – Tour the Casbah Coffee Club
The Beatles played some of their very first shows at the Casbah Coffee Club. It was in the cellar of the house of the parents of the band’s former drummer Pete Best
Featuring decorations by band members, the club now has Grade II Listed status and is considered a place of cultural importance due to its relationship with the band. Visitors can tour the Casbah Club and see the place where it really all began.
30 – Discover masterpieces at the Lady Lever Art Gallery
Lady Lever Art Gallery has one of the UK’s finest collections of decorative and fine art, including paintings, pottery and classical antiques from the Greek and Roman-eras.
The gallery has important works by Victorian artists including Lord Leighton and Pre-Raphaelite painters such as Dante Rosetti. It also houses one of the most important collections of Wedgewood Jasperware pottery in the world.
31 – Explore the Beatles Museum
Another fun Beatles attraction in the city, the Beatles Museum was once a warehouse that has five floors of memorabilia and photographs, as well as over 1,000 items related to the band.
See instruments owned by the band, clothing, early TV footage, film props and more. This is one for the die-hard Beatles fans and those who love 1960s pop music.
32 – Discover the mysterious Williamson’s Tunnels
The labyrinth of tunnels beneath the city’s Edge Hill district is something of a mystery. They were constructed by wealthy local businessman, Joseph Williamson, in the early 1800s but nobody is certain as to the purpose.
Today visitors can explore Williamson’s Tunnels and take a guided tour of the main sections including the cavernous Banqueting Hall and 12-meter high Paddington’s chamber. This has to be one of the most fun things to do on a trip to Liverpool.
33 – Learn about the Titanic at Merseyside Maritime Museum
Located on the Royal Albert Dock, the Maritime Museum covers the city’s rich ocean-faring history. As one of Britain’s major ports and a shipbuilding center, its fortunes were directly linked to the shipping industry.
See exhibits about two of the city’s most famous ships, the Titanic and the Lusitania. See objects and memorabilia from the vessels and learn what life was like at sea from the accounts of crew and passengers.
34 – See the weird and wonderful at Victoria Gallery & Museum
Run by the University of Liverpool, the Victoria Gallery and Museum aims for its exhibitions is to “amaze and amuse,” displaying a range of curiosities collected throughout the 127-year history of the University.
Expect fine art pieces sitting side-by-side with the “world’s most important display of false teeth”. The collection is housed in a Grade II listed building which is built upon the site of an old asylum. This has to be one of the most fun places to visit in Liverpool!
35 – See the iconic Liverpool Town Hall
One of the grandest in the country, Liverpool’s town hall plays host to a wide variety of functions and events. It has two ballrooms, the largest of which has three chandeliers each weighing a ton and measuring 28 feet in length.
The town hall often hosts council meetings and wedding ceremonies. Visitors can take a guided tour of the building on certain days only so plan ahead to avoid disappointment.
36 – Challenge yourself in some Escape Rooms
The room is sealed. The puzzles have been set. You and your friends have to find a way out… in less than an hour!
But don’t worry, it’s just a game… one of the most interesting games in town!
The city’s escape rooms combine cutting-edge technology and pop culture with some classic problem-solving and creativity skills, making them the perfect outing for your group.
Whether you’re outwitting the terrifying competition of Squid Game or pulling off a daring heist,, there’s no shortage of adventures to be had here… so grab some friends and take on the challenge!
37 – Take a day trip to Croxteth Hall & Country Park
Croxteth Country Park covers a huge 500 acres of sprawling woodland, pastures ponds and streams. At the center is Croxteth Hall, formerly the ancestral home of the Earls of Sefton. It was built in stages beginning in 1575 and undergoing many alterations since.
The hall has a Victorian walled garden to explore, a children’s play area, a green gym and plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife.
38 – Visit Mendips – John Lennon’s childhood home
Under the care of the British National Trust, John Lennon’s childhood house at 251 Menlove Avenue was the singer’s home from 1946 to 1963. It was purchased by Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, and donated to the trust in 2002 where it was restored to its 1950s appearance.
Visitors can take a guided tour of the house and see the place where the singer grew up and wrote early Beatles songs.
39 – See a show at M&S Bank Arena
To see some of the biggest shows in the city, the M&S Bank Arena is the place to be. The arena regularly hosts live music, comedy shows, pantomimes and sporting spectacles. The arena has seen performances from some of the biggest names in music including Paul McCartney, Beyonce and Bruno Mars.
Some of the sporting event highlights include Rugby League World Cup, British and World Championship gymnastics events and World Cup Judo competitions.
40 – Explore the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
The city’s main Roman Catholic church, Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King Liverpool is famous for its striking architecture and was constructed in the 1960s from designs by Sir Frederick Gibberd. The beautiful Lutyens Crypt harks back to a grand earlier design for the cathedral which was considered too expensive to build.
Visiting this cathedral is one of the intriguing things to do in Liverpool. Take a guided tour of this impressive modern cathedral and its classical crypt or explore at their own pace. The Cathedral also has a gift shop and cafe.
FAQ
Q1: What are some popular attractions to visit in Liverpool?
A1: Liverpool offers various popular attractions, including the iconic Beatles Story Museum, the historic Liverpool Cathedral, and the interactive World Museum.
Q2: Are there guided tours available for exploring Liverpool?
A2: Yes, you can explore Liverpool with guided tours such as the Magical Mystery Tour, taking you to significant Beatles-related sites, or the Liverpool City Explorer, providing a comprehensive overview of the city's landmarks.
Q3: What are the must-try local dishes in Liverpool?
A3: Indulge in local favorites like "Scouse," a hearty stew, or try the Liverpool dish "Lambanana," a quirky sculpture and symbol of the city, while enjoying the diverse culinary scene with various international cuisines.
Q4: How can I travel around Liverpool using public transportation?
A4: Liverpool has an efficient public transportation system, including buses and trains. You can use the Merseytravel website or the Merseyrail app for route planning and schedules.
Q5: Are there family-friendly activities in Liverpool?
A5: Absolutely! Enjoy family-friendly activities like a visit to the Merseyside Maritime Museum, the Liverpool ONE shopping complex with entertainment options, and explore the beautiful Sefton Park for outdoor recreation.
In Conclusion
Liverpool, with its captivating blend of history, culture, and modernity, guarantees an enriching experience for every visitor. From iconic landmarks to cultural gems, the city offers a diverse range of activities that cater to all interests. Embrace the spirit of Liverpool, and let its vibrant charm leave an indelible mark on your memories.
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