Further a field
A good way to see the city is to take the Duck Tour on the yellow duckmarine! This 30-seat amphibious vehicle takes you on an hour-long sightseeing tour of Liverpool's city centre, waterfront and docks, finishing with a “splashdown” in the Salt house Dock. For the best views of the Liverpool waterfront take the ‘Ferry cross the Mersey’ on the 50 minute heritage cruise.
For those looking to travel further a field, you can take the Manchester Ship Canal Cruise from the Albert Dock. For a more unusual visitor experience, go to the Williamson Tunnels. These are an underground maze of tunnels about a mile from the city centre. Build in the 1800s they have only recently been discovered and their purpose still remains a mystery.
People travel from all over the world to visit Liverpool – the home of the Beatles. Visit the Beatles Story to recreate the sights and sounds of the Beatles with music, memorabilia, and photographs in the walk-through Beatles experience. Alternatively, travel on the 2 hour Magical Mystery Tour. This coach tour travels around Liverpool landmarks associated with the Beatles lives including their homes, schools, birthplaces, Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields.
Escape the city with a visit to Knowsley Safari Park, and - while you're in Knowsley, drop in to the National Wildflower Centre. Both Croxteth Hall and Country Park, and Speke Hall boast stunning architecture and lovingly tended gardens, while the windswept beauty of Wirral Country Park is the ultimate escape.
Sefton Park and Palm House
The magnificent 200-acre Sefton Park looks like a natural landscape rather than a man-made park. In spring the sight of millions of golden daffodils around the lake draws residents from across the city and carpets of bluebells give an impression of rural permanence. The park is home to the famous Palm House,a listed victorian glasshouse has been restored to its former glory. Amongst the park's other features are a boating lake and café.
Albert Dock
The Albert Dock is a truly stunning architectural triumph. This 19th century warehouse buildings has been converted into an award winning attraction, housing cafe bars, restaurants, shops, The Beatles Story, Merseyside Maritime Museum, Museum of Liverpool Life, and Tate Liverpool.
Football
Take your pick of colour - Red or Blue - and take a tour around the football stadiums of Liverpool or Everton.
The Beatles
The Beatles Story at Albert Dock is always popular, as is the Magical Mystery Tour around the Beatles sites of Liverpool. If a formal tour is not so appealing, walk down to the Cavern Walks and maybe visit the re-built Cavern Club itself.
Cathederals
The Liverpool Metropolitan (Roman Catholic) Cathedral was designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd with impressive interior lantern tower of multi-coloured glass was opened in 1967. A visitors centre is now open incorporating, The Piazza cafe bar, gift shop and information.
The Liverpool Anglican Cathedral is the largest Anglican Cathedral in the world and one of the great buildings of the twentieth century. The tower offers the highest public viewing point in the City (worth the climb!) and offer a unique perspective on the city. The Cathedral abounds in superlatives: highest gothic arches, largest organ, heaviest ring of bells but the grandeur is balanced by a great sense of welcome and peace. The refectory is also a good place for lunch.
Pier Head and Mersey Ferries
For nearly a century the Three Graces - The Royal Liver Building, The Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building - have defined one of the world’s most recognised skylines. There's also no better way to experience Liverpool and Merseyside than from the deck of the Mersey Ferry. Take the Ferry Across the Mersey Experience to learn about the city region's fascinating history, see its spectacular sights and discover its unique character.
Another Place – Crosby Beach
A spectacular sculpture by Angel of the North artist Antony Gormley is on view on Crosby beach (c. 6miles but an easy drive). Another Place consists of 100 cast-iron, life-size figures spread out along 3km of the foreshore, stretching almost 1km out to sea. The figures - each one weighing 650Kg – are, all of them looking out to sea, staring at the horizon in silent expectation. We’d recommend this one!
Museums
The New World Museum This simply has thousands of fascinating exhibits including World Cultures, the Bug House, a new Aquarium, the Weston Discovery Centre, Clore Natural History Centre and Treasure House Theatre with their thrilling hands-on experiences.
Merseyside Maritime Museum is in a former bonded warehouse, part of the historic Albert Dock on the banks of the River Mersey. The museum, opened in 1980, tells the story of one of the world's greatest ports and the people who used it. The museum's collections reflect the international importance of Liverpool as a gateway to the world, including the city's role in the transatlantic slave trade and emigration.
The HM Customs & Excise National Museum tells the exciting story of smuggling and contraband from the 1700s to the present day. Other items look at the ingenious and often dangerous world of smuggling, prohibited goods and concealment. Discover just how far some people will go to try and avoid paying their duty!
National Conservation Centre - Visitors can now discover how everything in the collection of National Museums is cared for, from fine art and sculptures to space suits and ancient archaeological treasures, through interactive displays, demonstrations and live video links to conservators' studios.
Western Approaches Museum (1 Rumford Street) - Visit the underground labyrinth of rooms, once a top-secret nerve centre in 1940s wartime Britain including the decoding room, in which the ENIGMA decoding machine was kept. It’s a hidden treasure and open from March to October Monday - Thursday and Saturday 10.30 - 4.30. Last admission 3.30
Art Galleries
Walker Art Gallery - Internationally important collection of art from the 14th to the 20th century. Especially rich in European Old Masters, Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite pictures and modern British works.
Lady Lever Art Gallery - Set in the attractive garden village of Port Sunlight, the Lady Lever Art Gallery is famous for its collections of 18th and 19th century paintings, 18th century furniture and outstanding Wedgwood. It’s also an opportunity to visit the beautiful village built by Lord Lever to house his workers.
Tate Liverpool - Tate Liverpool is one of the largest galleries of modern and contemporary art outside London and is housed in a beautiful converted warehouse in the historic Albert Dock, Tate Liverpool is the home of the National Collection of Modern Art in the North.
Cains Brewery Tour
Gone are the days when Liverpool was home to many fine breweries but we’re extremely proud of the biggest one we still have - Cains. You can take a tour of the brewery to get a fascinating insight into Merseyside's rich brewing heritage includes two complimentary pints of Cains award winning ales plus a light buffet! (the buffet is not great!) Tours take place Monday through to Friday and begin at 6.30pm - Saturday & Sundays at 1.00PM . Tours must be pre-booked. Tours Cost £3.75 per person. (not suitable for the less agile due to being a Victorian Brewery and the number of stairs) Telephone Cains Sales office Mon - Fri 0151 709 8734 - or email: tours@cains.co.uk [PS. If you like your beer, one of the oldest pubs in Liverpool, the Baltic Fleet, is only down the road and this is the home of the Wapping Brewery - another local gem.]
Further a field
Liverpool is perfectly placed to explore the best of the Northwest either by car or train. Nearby there are historic houses, castles, beaches, safari adventure tours and aquariums all within easy reach. With Element 11 offering reduced midweek prices, why not extend your stay with us and discover what Merseyside and the surrounding areas have to offer?
Less than 10 miles from the City Centre
The Palm House is a Victorian botanical showpiece in Liverpool’s leafy Sefton Park and has free entry. Speke Hall, near to Liverpool Airport is owned by the National Trust. Visitors can take guided tours of the beautiful half-timbered (and allegedly haunted) Tudor mansion, wander round the gardens and woodlands or just take in the views of the Mersey basin and North Wales hills. For those seeking a wildlife adventure, head to Knowsley Safari Park where there are lions, tigers, elephants, antelope, deer, wallabies, baboons, buffalo, zebras and rhinos, plus many others animals.
Less than 30 miles from Liverpool
Chester Zoo has around 7,000 animals and is set in over 100 acres. Blue Planet Aquarium holds weird and wonderful aquatic life and sharks can be viewed from an aqua-tunnel. It is located near to Cheshire Oaks, the largest designer outlet in the UK, with 140 stores where prices are reduced by up to 50%. The Wirral has a number of villages and towns that make ideal day trip destinations, all accessible by Merseyrail’s train network. Visit Hoylake or West Kirby for sandy beaches, the nature reserve at Hilbre Islands to watch seals, wading and migratory birds, or call at Parkgate to try its famous home-made ice-creams. Southport is a coastal town, also accessible by train. Nearby is the National Trust’s red squirrel colony at Formby.
Over 30 miles
Liverpool is within easy reach of North Wales with a range of day attractions for all the family. The area is famous for its many castles, steam trains and seaside towns including Llandudno and Conwy. Many outdoor activities are offered in the area including white water rafting, quad biking, sea fishing and sailing.