From Wikitravel

Liverpool [1] is a city in Merseyside, England, famed for its music, sport and nightlife.

[edit] Understand

Liverpool is a city with a great cultural heritage and was awarded the title of European Capital of Culture 2008. Liverpool is home to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and is also renowned for being the birthplace of a wide range of popular musicians including The Beatles, Gerry & the Pacemakers, Frankie goes to Hollywood, Echo & the Bunnymen and many more. 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). As well as that Scousers are famed the world over for their generosity, wit, sense of humour and accent. People in the city will welcome you with open arms, only too pleased to show off their city to a visitor.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Liverpool John Lennon Airport (IATA: LPL) (ICAO: EGGP), [2]. Around one hundred flights arrive daily from within the U.K. as well as mainland Europe and North America. The airport is particularly well-served by low-cost airlines including Easyjet and Ryanair. For a complete listing of airlines and destinations, see the Summer and Winter timetables. The airport has a unique security charge. In short you have to pay up again at a turnstile or risk missing your flight in huge queues. A ripoff airport.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport is located in the suburb of Speke around 11.5km to the south of the city centre. Immediately outside the arrivals area you will find a taxi rank and bus stops. Taxis to the city centre cost around £12 (Approx. €16, US$24) for the 20-minute journey.

Several bus routes go directly to the city centre from the airport:

• The No. 500 Airport Express runs every 30 minutes and takes around 45 minutes to reach the city centre. Cost is £2/€4 Adults, £1/€2 Children and £5/€10 Families.

The following local buses cost around £1.50 to get into the city centre (£1 for students) and although they take a little longer, you'll see a lot of the south of the city and maybe meet some Scousers.

• 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 direct to Paradise Street interchange without stopping elsewhere in the city centre.

• The No. 86A, Arriva again, 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 goes a more direct route down Smithdown Road. 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 round the city ring road, Queens Drive, and terminates in Bootle.

The 80A and 86A also stop at Liverpool South Parkway station, 10 minutes journey, from where a frequent train service runs to the city centre in about 15 minutes. This may be a better option at times of peak road traffic (8-9AM, 5-6PM).

Manchester Airport (IATA: MAN) (ICAO: EGCC) 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 shorthaul services throughout Europe.

[edit] By train

Liverpool is served by Liverpool Lime Street station which is located in the heart of the city centre. Trains arrive frequently from all parts of the U.K.

Liverpool is only about two-and-a-half hours from London by train - there's a train about every hour - and it's not so expensive to get there. You can get a saver ticket for £52.10 on the day of travel or for as little as £12.50 if you book a couple of weeks 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 by changing at Manchester Piccadilly or Manchester Oxford Road.

Other main services

Birmingham, 1 hr 45 minutes, hourly Manchester, 50 minutes, frequent Leeds, 2 hours, hourly

[edit] By bus

• National Express, the U.K.'s largest scheduled coach company has a bus station a short walk from Liverpool City Centre. London is 4-5 hours away by coach, served by 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 1 hour, 6 coaches run per day.

• Megabus operates a fleet of ex-Hong Kong buses on its network across the U.K. There is one bus daily from London to Liverpool, journey time 4-5 hours. Prices range from £1 (€1.46) to £11 (€16) depending on how far in advance you book.

Over the next 10 years a Park and Ride scheme will be developed, with easy access to the city centre, for more information see National Park and Ride Directory.

[edit] Get around

Liverpool City Centre is small enough to walk around, but black cabs are plentiful if you are feeling lazy. Buses run out from the centre regularly from Paradise Street Interchange (mainly to the south) and Queen Square (mainly north/east). Both bus stations have travel centres with sometimes helpful staff who will assist with which bus to get and from which stand. At these, Saveaway, Solo and Trio travel passes can be purchased. The Saveaway presents good value for the visitor, at £3.20 for unlimited off-peak travel for 1 day in 'Area C' (includes city centre, west out to Huyton, north to Crosby and south to Speke), including trains. All-zones saveaways can be obtained for about a pound more, and take you through the whole of the Merseytravel area, perfect for visiting the Wirral ,and as far as Chester, or Southport, these include train and ferry services as well as buses. Trio (train, bus and ferry) and Solo (bus only) tickets require a photo, but have no peak-time limitations and can be bought for a week, month or year, ideal for visitors staying longer or working and therefore requiring more flexible travel. A Trio for one week costs about £12 for one zone, a Solo about the same for one area.

The train service in the Liverpool is quite reliable and efficient these days (having once been nicknamed 'Miseryrail' by commuters). The main stations in the city centre are Central, Lime Street, Moorfields and James Street. Lime Street is the terminus for many national lines and the local City line to Manchester. Moorfields is just off Dale Street, ideal for the business centre of Liverpool and Central is usually used by shoppers and visitors. Local trains run very frequently between Hunts Cross, Kirkby, Ormskirk and Southport on the Northern line, every 15 minutes during the day and 30 minutes in the evening. Central station is the main station for the Northern line, although the 'loop' links the three main city centre stations. The Wirral line forms the link between the Lime Street, Moorfields and Central, so all of these stations act as an interchange between the City, Northern and Wirral lines.

A new station in the south of Liverpool replaced the old Garston and Allerton stations in June 2006. This links the Northern and City lines and is ideal for the airport. It also acts as an interchange for a number of local buses. Bus fares on the main operator Arriva are a flat £1.40 throughout the Merseyside area, with similar flat fares available from the other operators as well. There are also limited night bus services on a Friday and Saturday night costing £3.00. Some buses are subsidised by Merseytravel, such as early morning and hospital services, and there is a maximum fare of around 80p. If you plan to travel a lot, a pre-paid pass presents much better value. Generally speaking, you save money with 2 or more train trips or 3 or more bus journeys.

[edit][add listing] See

A great thing about Liverpool is the architecture - for so long it was neglected and run down, but these days most of the city centre is quite splendid.

• St. George's Hall, Lime Street (near railway station), [3]. A mammoth of a Greco-Roman-style building which was built by wealthy merchants for the people of the city. Inside it has one of the best church organs in Europe, while on the outside it has a selection of classical murals which were thought quite shocking in their day (due to the shameful female nudity). edit

• World Museum Liverpool (near St. George's Hall), [4]. Fine building and well worth a visit. Contains an excellent collection of British rocketry exhibits as well as the best Egyptological collection outside London. edit

• Liverpool Central Library (near St. George's Hall). A fine building. edit

• Walker Art Gallery (near St. George's Hall), [5]. Daily 10AM-5PM. One of the finest collections of fine and decorative art in Europe, inspiring and delighting visitors for over 120 years. New galleries mean even more fantastic items are on display from Renaissance masters to contemporary innovators. Free.  edit

• Royal Liver Building (on the riverside). The home of the legendary Liver Birds that sit atop the building looking out across to the Wirral. The river-facing face of the clock is 6 feet larger in diameter than that of the clock tower at Westminster. edit

• St. Nicholas and Our Lady Church (just off the riverside). Is the city's parish church and home to the third Liver Bird (there are in fact three of them, not two). edit

• Albert Dock (on the riverside). One of the more sophisticated places in Liverpool - old warehouses converted into shops, apartments, restaurants and pubs. Also home to the Merseyside Maritime Museum. edit

• Merseyside Maritime Museum, Albert Dock, [6]. Dedicated to the maritime history of the city, complete with galleries on customs and excise and emigration to the New World. There are also a number of vessels to see, such as the Mersey river tug Brocklebank and the river cargo carrier Wyncham. edit

• Tate Liverpool, Albert Dock, [7]. A fine modern art gallery. A definite visit for arty folk. The Turner Art Prize was hosted here from 19 October 2007 until 13 January 2008. This was the first time the award was held outside of London. edit

• Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, [8]. Catholic. Affectionately known by the locals as Paddy's Wigwam. Visit on a sunny day - the stained glass ceiling looks fantastic! edit

• Liverpool Cathedral, [9]. Anglican. Which, though it doesn't look like a wigwam, is so imposing that the architect of Lord Derby's tomb claimed that no self-respecting church mouse would live there. As a result, he incorporated a mouse into the design of the tomb - it's just under Lord Derby's pillow. Liverpool Cathedral is one of the finest examples in the world of Gothic revival architecture. On a clear day, the tower affords breathtaking views over Liverpool, Merseyside and beyond. edit

• Princes Road Synagogue, [10]. Impressive combination of Gothic and Moorish architecture by the Audsley brothers. The colourful interior has to be seen to be believed. Tours can be arranged through their web site. edit

• Williamson's Tunnels, [11]. Heritage Centre T-Su. In the early 1800s, a Liverpool tobacco merchant, Joseph Williamson, funded the construction of an enormous labyrinth of tunnels under the Edge Hill area of Liverpool. To this day, nobody knows his reasons for doing so though many guess it as an act of philanthropy, using his wealth to provide jobs and training for thousands of Liverpool workers. There is a Williamson's Tunnels Heritage Centre. edit

• Speke Hall, [12]. A half-timbered Tudor house, with parts dating back to the 1530s, set in large grounds. edit

• Croxteth Hall and Country Park, [13].  edit

• The Beatles Story, Albert Dock, [14]. The Beatles originated in Liverpool. The Beatles Story is the only museum in the world that is entirely Beatles-themed, with exhibitions such as their instruments and other artifacts. Other attractions based on The Beatles include their homes, Penny Lane, commemorative statues, Strawberry Fields, and more. edit

• Liverpool Town Hall. Built 1754. edit

• Sudley House, Mossley Hill Road, Aigburth.  edit

[edit] Guided Tours

For those in a hurry there are a number of operators offering guided tours, either on 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 [15] 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 [16] 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[17]. Their Liverpool tour guides can plan a walk for you or hop on your coach and guide you around the city. They offer guiding in English or French and can call on tourist guides with Spanish, German, Chinese and Russian if necessary.

[edit][add listing] Do

Trivia Liverpool's Kop End at Anfield was named after Spioenkop (Spy Hill) in KwaZulu-Natal. The Lancashire Brigade comprised the largest part of the British Forces during the Battle of Spioenkop and when they returned to Britain the earth mound at Anfield (used by spectators to get a clear view of the game, before any of the stands were build) reminded them of Spioenkop

• Liverpool Football Club, [18]. Five times Champions of Europe and the most successful football (soccer) club in England. edit

• Everton Football Club, [19]. The self-styled "Peoples Club" of the city Everton are one of the founder members of the Football League. edit

• Mathew Street Festival, [20]. Every year over the August Bank Holiday weekend, Liverpool plays host to Europe's largest free city centre music festival. Many city centre roads are closed to traffic and have large stages erected so that the several hundred thousand people who attend each year can watch a large selection of international pop/rock acts, completely free of charge. edit

• Liverpool Theatre. The Empire plays host to a wide range of shows, including many UK tours of large-scale musicals. The Everyman and Playhouse theatres host a mix of locally produced and mid-scale touring theatre. The Unity Theatre produces a diverse range of work. There's also the Neptune and Royal Court theatres. For tomorrow's performers, see if anything is happening at LIPA (www.lipa.ac.uk), their student shows are always well worth seeing. edit

• The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, [21]. One of the world's great Orchestras and are well worth listening to. Go for a pre-concert G&T in the Philharmonic Pub over the road then sit back and let the music carry you away. edit

• The Mersey Ferries, [22]. Immortalised by the hit song Ferry 'cross the Mersey by Gerry & the Pacemakers, the Mersey Ferries offer a fun day out and a great way to see Liverpool from afar. edit

• TheYellowDuckmarine (duck bus), [23]. A guided tour with offering a different view of Liverpool. You get driven round the city in a bright yellow WWII landing craft. This has become a bit of a sight in itself as it splases into the water in the Albert Docks.  edit

• The Liverpool Playhouse, Williamson Square, [24]. A theatre which dates back to 1844. Over the years, the theatre has presented many famous actors including Michael Redgrave, Anthony Hopkins and Noel Coward. edit

• Western Approaches. A museum in the once top-secret nerve centre of World War Two Britain. edit

• Space Port, [25]. Interactive science museum aimed at kids and young adults but with enough to keep adults entertained too. Located across the River Mersey in the Seacombe Ferry Terminal, most visitors incorporate a Mersey Ferry Tour into their itinerary. edit

• Shiverpool Tours, [26]. Offer three different tours around Liverpool. "The Hope Street Shivers" is based around the cathedrals, "Auld City Shivers" starting from the Slaughterhouse Pub on Fenwick Street and "Shiver Me Timbers" based around the Albert Docks. All fun but wrap up warm. Prior booking required. edit

[edit] Learn

Liverpool is home to four Universities:

• The University of Liverpool, [27]. Liverpool's oldest University, and generally outranks the other two in national league tables both for teaching and research. edit

• Liverpool John Moores University, [28]. Has only relatively recently become a University, is Liverpool's up-and-coming University which boasts modern facilities and improving teaching. edit

• Liverpool Hope University. Established 1844, is located in Childwall and Everton. Hope attracts students from some 65 countries worldwide and has enjoyed many successes as of late. edit

• Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, [29].  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

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

• Grand Central. An alternative shopping centre which is definitely worth a look. The 40 small shops inside sell goods ranging from alternative clothing to used furniture. edit

• MetQuarter. A recently built shopping center, containing more than 40 stores. edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit] City Centre

• Quynny's Quisine, Bold Street. Easy to miss as the entrance is a yellow door with stairs leading down. Caribbean food. Well kept secret until now ;) edit

• Kimos, Mount Pleasant. Look for the entrance under a Green hoarding opposite the NCP Car Park on Mount Pleasant for one of Liverpool's favourite student eateries. It boasts a fine selection of western (a superb Club Sandwich) and Arabic foods (Cous Cous, Kebabs). There is also a smaller branch near to the University of Liverpool. edit

• The Tea House, Bold Street and University of Liverpool. This modern Hong Kong-style Tea House is a great place to visit for some cheap but tasty Chinese meals, snacks and drinks. edit

• The Monro, Duke Street. Popular gastro-pub serving good British food from rabbit and boar right through to local delicacy : Scouse. All washed down with a pint of real ale. edit

• Everman Bistro, Hope Street, [30]. Offering fresh made food where the menu changes all the time. Not super cheap but you get what you pay for in good portions and real food. Also offers a good range of gluten free dishes clearly marked. Mains £7-10..  edit

• Piccolino's, Cook Street, ☎ +44 151 236 2555, [31]. Good Italian food and wines. All served in a friendly warm restaurant, try to get one of the plush red booths. Booking recommended. Mains £8-15.  edit

• Thomas Rigby's, Dale Street. One of the finest pubs in the city offering a selection of local and world beers plus a fantastic food menu. The "proper chips" offered with the battered fish are to die for! edit

[edit] Lark Lane

Lark Lane, around 2.5 miles to the south of the city centre 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. Among the better ones are:

• Green Days Cafe, [32]. Bills itself as The first choice cafe for Veggies. It's true, there's little sign of meat in any of their wonderful snacks, but it's a great place to catch lunch with a friendly atmosphere, for Veggies and non-Veggies alike! edit

• Negresco Sud Situated in the heart of Liverpool’s bohemian district, Negresco brings the soul of the stylish Cote d’azur to South Liverpool. Residing in the former public house, the Masonic, the Franco-Italian restaurant pays homage to Nice’s widely celebrated Negresco hotel. Offering French classic cuisine and a range of tapas, along with Moules Negresco and a sumptuous brunch menu, Negresco proffers gastronomic delights which work in harmony with its theatrical interior, featuring gilt chandeliers to black crows.

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit] For a good night out

There's a good selection of pubs, clubs and bars to suit a variety of music and atmospheric tastes. Friday and Saturday nights are the busiest nights, although many bars are busy with students throughout the week! Mathew Street and Concert Square with nearby Wood St are the main two nocturnal focal points. There is a good mix with the locals and rather large student population. It is better to dress smart for the majority of bars and clubs, e.g. for the clubs "Society" and "Garlands". Notable exceptions are places like Le Bateau, the Krazy house, the Caledonian 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 Saturday and Friday night over the last few years to combat this and are largely succeeding. It is pretty busy getting out of the city centre at the end of a weekend night (especially at the start of university term time - September/October) but 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.

• The Vines, Lime Street. A great pub to go to in terms of style.

• The Cavern Club, Mathew Street. Famous home of the Beatles.

• Rubber Soul, Mathew Street. A Beatles-inspired bar.

• Abbey Road, Mathew Street. A Beatles-inspired pub.

• Flanagan's Apple, Mathew Street. One of the original Irish pubs. Before Irish pubs started popping up all over the country - and now all over the world - Flannagan's was there with beer, whiskey, barrels and great live music.

• Concert square, situated behind Bold Street, you'll find around here a range of the trendier bars, most of which are open till 2am Mon-Sat. They include Lloyd's, Walkabout, Modo and a minute away near Slater Street is Baa-Bar.

• Korova, next door to Baa-Bar and on Fleet street, Korova is part bar, part club, split between two floors. Upstairs there is the lush front area replete with orange leather booths and over-table televisions, usually streaming the live action from downstairs. At the back is the kitchen, which during the day serves a range of freshly cooked meals. Downstairs the intimate gig venue has hosted some of the biggest names in music, as-well as being an important venue for local musicians. Korova also has free wifi. The Korova website

• Geisha, Located on Myrtle street, opposite the side of the Philharmonic Hall, 'Geisha' bar and pan-asian restaurant is Liverpool's award winning Korova group's first foray into an eastern themed venue. With a wide range of eastern inspired cocktails, it comes highly recommended. Geisha website

• Babycream, A joint venue between Korova Corporation and Cream located on the Albert Dock. Babycream is perfect for couples who can recline against pillows on bench-style seating on the mezzanine level or, for the more socially adventurous, try the lower level. The bar showcases the concept of the DJ Restaurant, and is a meeting point for the Northwest's finest.

Babycream delivers on style and contemporary design, with an emphasis on quality eating, premium drinks and the cutting edge in music.

• Circo Yet another venue from Liverpool's Korova Corporation, Circo is also located on the Albert Dock. Circo is inspired by such bars as the '21 club' in New York and 'The Clown Bar' in Paris. The venue is a ‘multi-purpose’ one in that it provides a large stylish bar area, split into 2 rooms : one a dark ‘speakeasy’ like space, the other bright, airy and overlooking the Albert Dock quayside, serving a café bar menu daily. The large luxury ‘steakhouse’ restaurant also directly overlooks water, serving an international menu from sushi, oysters, and veal meatloaf to pizzas, pastas, and steaks. On the venue’s mezzanine level is a series of stylish private spaces for hire, including the Velvet Box Suite which can host the already popular private karaoke dinner parties. The venue hosts an array of VIP after shows parties and launches from the adjacent Liverpool Echo Arena. Circo Liverpool website

• GBar, Eberle Street. Popular gay-friendly club with two floors. Upstairs, 'The Church' offers funky house from legendary DJ John Cotton, Lady Sian plays camped up classics in the 'Love Lounge' opposite, whilst downstairs, 'The Bass-ment' pumps out quality vocal house music! Open Thursday-Monday. Costs between £5-£7 for non-members.

• 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 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 nu metal on Saturday night.

• Le Bateau, Duke Street. The home of Liverpools premier alternative club night, Liquidation every Saturday, which is also the city's longest running weekly club night spread across 2 floors. Plus Adult Books on Tuesdays, Shoot The Messenger on Wednesdays, Indiecation 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 Caledonian, Catharine Street. Underground, alternative music venue in a pub. DJs and live bands throughout the week. First Friday of every month is the infamous It's Not Bangin' with classic dub reggae, soul and disco playing. Well worth a visit.

• Doctor Duncan's,St Johns Lane. Large, friendly pub serving the locally brewed Cains beers.

• O'Neills,Wood Street Part of the O'Neils chain but dont 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.

[edit] Enjoy Comedy?

There's good comedy nights on a Friday and Saturday at *Baby Blue, which is a really nice club on the exclusive *Albert Dock, known as a celebrity hotspot. You can get a food ticket, and there's a bar, and afterwards you get access to the Baby blue bar,which is a great night out. Visit www.laughterhouse.com for more info and tickets.

Also for laughs, try Rawhide at the Royal Court Theatre which showcases the best in regional and national comedy talent.

Every June or July there is a fortnight long *Liverpool Comedy Festival which takes place in venues across the city. One event not to be missed are the now legendary Drink up Stand up pub crawls - four pubs, four comedians, one compere and a megaphone!

On the first Tuesday of the month the Fab Café on Hope Street hosts a comedy night with two or three local comics plus a compere.

Express Comedy, [33]. Based in Birkenhead across the river Mersey, Express Comedy has a stand-up comedy night called Laughter at the Lauries.

[edit] Real or Cask Ale

Cask conditioned ale is the traditional form of beer in the UK and is (with some modern microbrewery exceptions) unique internationally. In the 1970's, the larger brewers switched from cask ale to keg beer. Keg beer is essentially 'dead' beer with added CO₂ and NO₂ and is more economical as it lasts for years, rather than weeks in the case of cask. Unfortunately, its taste is often less complex and satisfying than the real ale counterparts. Thankfully, recent years have seen a revival in traditional cask ale, and the European Capital of Culture has been in the vanguard of its urban renaissance. So to help you sample some traditional British beer when in Liverpool, check the list below of a vast array of pubs, ranging from the traditional to the modern. Liverpool is home to the Cains brewery which produces a large selection of cask beers. For more information about cask ale, see the Wikipedia Article.

[edit] The best

• The Ship and Mitre, 138 Dale Street, Consistently voted as one of the top cask ales pubs in Liverpool by the Merseyside branch of CAMRA, this pub plays host to a wide, frequently changing variety of guest ales, plus a large selection of bottled foreign beers (though this selection pales slightly in comparison to that of other pubs in the area). Hot and cold food is served in the afternoons and evenings.

• Rigby's, Dale Street. This cask ale pub dates back to Lord Nelson and has recently been refurbished by the Isle of Mann Okell's Brewery; it being their first UK mainland pub. Usually three guest bitters, the full range of Okell's own brands and arguably the largest selection of bottled European and North American beers. Good atmosphere, busy on weekend nights and also does bar meals.

• Fly in the Loaf, Hardman St. Also owned by Okell's. This pub was until recently a topless bar although it originally housed the Kirklands bakery, and today it arguably serves the finest quality and array of cask ales in the city centre. A fast turn over of a large number of quality guests served to perfection by knowledgeable staff, whilst also offering a similar continental larger selection to Rigby's. Located near to part of the campus of Liverpool John Moores Polytechnic, the Fly in the Loaf has a good mix of students and local regulars. Bar meals and wide-screen televisions for football.

• The Philharmonic. Corner of Hope Street and Hardman Street. This Tetley heritage pub opposite to the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall is a tourist attraction in itself. 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.

• 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 which is harder to find amongst the Cains pubs. Rudimentary bar menu, but good busy atmosphere on the weekend.

• The Baltic Fleet [34], 33 Wapping, just over the road from the Albert Dock. This unique pub is a great place to escape from the glossy and expensive bars on the Albert Dock. Serving good food and real ale at great prices and with a friendly atmosphere. The basement houses a small brewery called Wapping Beers so take the chance to taste one of their own beers as fresh as it comes.

• The Swan Inn, Wood St, Liverpool's only rocker/ metalhead pub. Actually quite an eclectic mix of clientele during the week with construction workers and businessmen side by side sharing pints. Of an evening and weekends this gives way to the alternative/ rocker scene. Pub quiz every Thursday evening and a legendary jukebox. A pub which is consistently highly regarded by the local CAMRA group, due to its dedication to quality and variety of ale.

• The Dispensary, Intersection of Renshaw and Leece St. 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 Globe, 17 Cases Street (Tucked away, adjacent to Clayton Square shopping centre, opposite the Ranelagh Street entrance of Central Station) A small (often cramped) traditional Liverpool pub, with no-nonsense barmaids. Usually busy after 5pm and during the weekend, acting as a refuge for husbands abandoned by (or having escaped from) their shopping-mad spouses. Always a good variety of guests.

• Roscoe Head, 26 Roscoe Street

• The Lion Tavern, 67 Moorefields. Excellent - especially for cheeses!

• The Brewery Tap, attached to the Cains brewery itself, serving a large variety of ales plus traditional pub fayre.

[edit] The Rest

• Wetherspoons, 1-2 Charlotte Row

• The Welkin, Whitechapel

• The Crown, 43 Lime Street

• The Cambridge, Corner of Cambridge Street and Mulberry Street at the heart of the University of Liverpool is a pub with a great atmosphere and is very popular with students and lecturers alike. However its repertoire of cask is somewhat limited, with the last time I checked sticking to the rather bland Burtonwood Bitter.

• Ye Cracke, 13 Rice Street, was a favourite haunt of John Lennon's uncle.

• The Pilgrim,Pilgrim Street, off Hardman Street, serves the best breakfast in town, £4 for a king size feast, and you get to share the pub with stag parties and students wondering what happened the night before. Cracking jukebox as well. A classic!

• The White Star,

• The Railway Hotel, 18 Tithebarn Street

• The Canarvon Castle, 5 Tarleton Street

• The Augustus John, Peach Street, Obligatory hang out for Liverpool's students. Like most student pubs, the bar area is a scrum during September/October.

• Pig & Whistle, 12 Covent Garden. Has recently undergone a 'refurbishment' and been transformed into a rather ugly plastic looking pub. Allegedly often serves Timothy Taylors landlord but it sure doesn't taste like it.

• Everyman, 5-9 Hope Street

• The Excelsior, 121-125 Dale Street

• Peter Kavanagh's, 2-6 Egerton Street

• Ma Boyles Oyster bar, 2 Tower Gardens

• Poste House, 23 Cumberland Street, Most nights has a gay friendly bar serving cheap cocktails upstairs from the main pub.

• The Brookhouse Smithdown road ...was one of liverpools finist pubs and was a hangout of Liverpool bands of the late 80s bands such as the La's but also Oasis where known to have drank here. Its now most popular with students and is famous for its Liverpool Games when Dom Dottin and Mr Constable lead the Liverpool cahnts and become the vocal cords of this old pub.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

There are a number of hotels in the city, ranging from budget guesthouses and lodges to 4 star international properties. Liverpool presently has no 5 star hotels although the Hope Street Hotel, a boutique hotel on Hope Street and easily Liverpool’s finest hotel, would certainly qualify if it wasn’t far too posh to bother with things like stars.

[edit] Budget

• International Inn, ☎ +44 151 709 8135, [35]. Cheap hostel accommodation near to town. Dormintory from £15..  edit

• The Embassie Hostel, ☎ +44 151 707 1089, [36]. This hostel features free coffee, tea, and toast (with jam and peanut butter), very comfortable beds (dormitory style), and a great mix of international travellers to befriend. The embassie is managed by a very friendly staff and led by their wonderful boss and hostel proprietor, Kevin (who tells a boss Beatles story or two). Prices vary by season. edit

[edit] Mid range

• Radisson SAS ****, [37]. Probably the best large hotel in the city. The Hotel is located on the old St Paul's Eye Hospital site in the business district of the city. A small part of the original building has been retained and incorporated into the hotel. edit

• Marriott Liverpool City Center ****, [38]. Claims to be a 4 star property but is now a little tired. Located in the heart of the city. The Marriot is surrounded by the Queen's Square complex with it's bars and restaurants. edit

• Marriott Liverpool Airport (Marriott Liverpool South), [39]. A short drive from Liverpool John Lennon Airport and makes fabulous use of its Grade II listed art deco building which was the old airport Terminal and control tower. If you are looking to eat out of the hotel then Damon's is a restaurant on the same site which you will enjoy if you like American kitsch and microwave food. Apart from that, there is a retail park with the usual fast food places just a short walk from the hotel. edit

[edit] Splurge

• Hope Street Hotel, Hope Street, ☎ +44 151 705 2222, [40]. Regarded by some to be the best hotel in Liverpool. US Secretary of State Condeleeza Rice was a famous recent guest. edit

• 62 Castle St (formerly the Trials Hotel), ☎ +44 151 702 7898, [41]. A stunning, modern and exclusive city centre boutique hotel. edit

[edit] Stay safe

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. Try to stay aware of your surroundings, and be discreet with cash, expensive camera equipment and so on.

Scousers are gregarious people, but there are still those who seek to take advantage. Beware especially of people who approach you in the street with stories of having lost their train fare home. These are typically just begging techniques.

Stay on the beaten track of a night time, stick to the many themed pub/bars and avoid some of the larger R&B and Dance clubs (these are more suited to streetwise locals or people who understand Liverpool culture well). Be prepared to wait for a taxi at night, don't be tempted to walk back to your hotel unless you are central. Although Liverpool is a wonderfully friendly place, as with most major cities a slightly sinister side appears after hours.

Some of the City's districts are best avoided by tourists who are not familiar with the area, this is due to a high rise in gang violence in areas such as; Croxteth, Kensington, Toxteth, Norris Green, Anfield, Langford place. Avoid large areas of social housing estates there.

Although prostitution is largely illegal in the UK it is a fact of life in all major 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 especially at the 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 football shirts, a Manchester United shirt worn in the wrong place has led to assault or murder, 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.

[edit] Get out

Manchester - Liverpool's great rival is well worth a visit too and easy to get to by train or coach/bus. All less than an hour away.

Birkenhead - across the Mersey, 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.

Port Sunlight - on the Wirral. It was built as a model village by Lord Lever and contains the Lady Lever Art Gallery, a marvellously eclectic collection of objects, similar to the Burrell Collection in Glasgow. 20 minutes by train.

West Kirby - on the Wirral boasts a superb beach. 30 minutes by train (from all four downtown Liverpool stations, Wirral line, every 15/30min).

Chester - beautiful historical city on the River Dee 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. 40 minutes by Merseyrail.

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