Liverpool Travel Guide

Liverpool is one of the UK cities I love the most. If I lived up north in the UK, there’s no doubt that Liverpool is where I’d want to be. This northern city is a favourite of mine and Luke’s for its gorgeous Royal Albert Dock, eclectic mix of old industrial buildings and modern architecture, great coffee shops and cheap pints.

Best Things To Do in Liverpool

City breakers will love Liverpool – the birthplace of the Beatles, home to some of the UK’s best music and culture, and the renowned Liverpool FC. In this Liverpool travel guide, we go through the best things to do in Liverpool.

Royal Albert Dock

Liverpool’s old Victorian docks and warehouses have been converted into a complex of museums and coffee shops. Here you’ll find the Merseyside Maritime Museum, the Beatles Story and the Tate Liverpool. Interesting fact: the dock was the first structure in Britain to be built from cast iron, brick and stone, with no structural wood.

Tate Liverpool

The Tate Liverpool has regularly changing contemporary art exhibitions, featuring some of the best artists from across the world. The gallery is situated inside one of the warehouses in the Royal Albert Dock and is a personal favourite place to visit of ours. 

The Cavern Club

Where better to indulge in some Beatles classics than the Cavern Club, where the Beatles regularly played. British pop music booms loudly from this cellar club that has also been graced by the presence of The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Elton John, Black Sabbath, Queen and The Who. Expect live music and a varied crowd.

Liverpool Cathedral

Liverpool Cathedral is the largest cathedral in the UK and is the seat of the Bishop of Liverpool. At 101 metres high, it is also one of the world’s tallest non-spired church buildings.

Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

Another of Liverpool’s grade listed buildings, the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Liverpool. The cathedral is locally nicknamed “Paddy’s Wigwam” because of the large number of Roman Catholics of Irish descent who live in Liverpool and the Cathedral’s conical shape and tower which resemble a large tipi.

St Luke’s Bombed-Out Church

This beautiful church lost its roof after being damaged by bombs during the Liverpool Blitz in 1941. It has been left roofless ever since and is designated as a Grade II listed building by the National Heritage List for England. The gardens around the building can be visited and often host local fares and music events.

The Beatles’ Childhood Homes

Outside the city, take a visit to the humble childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The childhood homes of the Beatles are National Trusted owned properties which are open to the public to visit.

Best Places To Eat in Liverpool

Best Restaurants in Liverpool

Maray – Brick walls, jazzy music and tasty tapas. Maray serves delightful small plates and has a full vegan menu. Expect to see fun veg plates with names like torched broccoli, disco cauliflower, and chickpea and barberry stew.

Little Furnace – Hands down the best pizza in Liverpool. This hole-in-the-wall pizza place only has five tables so it’s worth getting in early. Serves a good selection of vegan pizzas.

Abyssinia Kitchen – This unassuming Ethiopian restaurant has to be one of the best restaurants we’ve ever eaten at. Set in the suburbs of the Wirral, the restaurant is outside of the city centre but well-worth the journey. I highly recommend the  injera bread with a selection of vegetarian curries.

Best Cafes in Liverpool

Bold Street Coffee – Smooth lattes (with almond or oat milk if you prefer) and cooked breakfasts hit the tables at Bold Street Coffee. This simple, wooden floored cafe is a good option for a nice coffee and a bite to eat.

Mother Espresso – The place to go for a quick and strong espresso. More trendy than some of the other coffee shops in the area, it attracts a young and hipster crowd. Generous breakfast plates include vegan cooked breakfasts and granola with poached fruit.

The Egg – This vegetarian breakfast and lunch restaurant is a top pick for brunch in the city. You’ll be able to get veggie fry-ups and lunch plates like cauliflower curry and moussaka.

The Wild Loaf – One of the best bakeries in Liverpool, the Wild Loaf is where you’ll round boules, sourdoughs and donuts. Stop by for a take-out loaf or a hearty sandwich.

Getting In and Out of Liverpool

By Plane – Liverpool John Lennon Airport is an international airport with regular flights to major European cities. If you’re in London, it’s more common to travel to Liverpool by train.

By Train – Liverpool is accessible by train routes from London and all major UK cities. The train journey from London to Liverpool takes approximately 3 hours. There are direct trains which run from London Euston Station but connecting trains can be taken. 

Know Before You Go

Climate — The best time to visit Liverpool is in the summer, between late June to late August, when temperatures average 19°C. In the winter, between December and February, expect average temperatures of roughly 5°C. Rain is common during the autumn and winter, so bring your raincoat and brolly. 

Currency — The UK uses the British pound. Credit and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere.

ATMs — There are ATMs on almost all street corners both inside and outside of banks across the city.