After a recent visit, I've found myself feeling inspired to recommend some of the fab things Matt and I did while in Liverpool. If you're planning a trip there anytime soon, definitely keep reading, because I have lots to suggest!
1. VISIT THE ROYAL ALBERT DOCK
The Royal Albert Dock is comprised of old grade 1 listed warehouses and dock-houses situated at the very edge of the city on the waterfront. Though once misted by fog from all of the heavy cargo ships passing through it, nowadays the dock is vibrant and welcoming, and plays host to shops, museums, restaurants and hotels. During our recent visit, Matt and I sat out in the sunshine and enjoyed a couple of drinks here at Revolution. We both said that it felt like we were on holiday abroad somewhere! Liverpool has a sort of "seaside" vibe, I think because of the waterfront and the seagulls, so on a warm day you feel as if you could be at the beach!
It's very pleasant at the dock, whether you just want to spend half an hour wandering round and bobbing in the odd shop, or if you'd like spend a little longer there and check out a couple of the museums.
Matt confused the title of this museum with Marmite... so we thought we were going to be educated about the love it or hate it yeast extract, but instead arrived at a museum about boats and life on the sea! The building also contains the Slavery Museum, and though we didn't spend much time in either, I have been in both before and would recommend - especially because they're free!
The Royal Albert Dock is iconic and has so much to do and see, so you should definitely spend a portion of your trip here. There's actually a Premier Inn and a Holiday Inn situated within the dock, so you can even stay here (and at a very affordable price) - I have stayed in the Premier Inn before and loved it.
For any additional information, follow the link - https://albertdock.com
2. GO TO THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF LIVERPOOL
While you're by the Albert Dock, it would be well worth paying a visit to the nearby National Museum of Liverpool. I've been to lots of the museums in the city, most are free and well worth a look in, but this one is particularly brilliant. The museum hosts the new John & Yoko exhibition on it's third floor, which combines music, photographs, artifacts and information about their lives through each decade - focusing in on each year and it's highlights for the couple. The exhibition is spacious and has a very calm atmosphere, with people strolling at their leisure and looking at all on display.
There are also two other floors with lots of other interesting things to see, with displays on the railway, Liverpool through the years, the city's most iconic buildings and people, and much more. They even have a full-size replica of the Liver bird - Liverpool's iconic mythical creature that keep watch over the city and all who inhabit it. This is conveniently placed beside a huge glass window that lets you look out at the real deal, as the museum is situated over the road from The Liver Building, giving the statue some context and making the experience that bit cooler.
Suitable for adults and children, there are lots of interactive activities that are good fun and keep everybody entertained, including the Chinese dress up box!
Matt and I spent over an hour in here and were engaged the entire time, we recommend the visit, especially for families and couples who are looking to learn a little more about the city.
3. HAVE A GAME OF JUNKYARD GOLF
We popped into here on a bit of a whim, we had a spare couple of hours one afternoon and needed something to fill in the time! That sometimes happen when you're visiting somewhere new, you might just leave a little too much time for an activity and find yourself with some free time - if you do that here, check out Junkyard Golf. Another attraction we visited that's suitable for adults and children, this is an indoor, LED mini-golf centre and bar, with three mini-golf courses to choose from. Student admission is just £4.00, which is definitely what enticed us! Pick your course and go round as a pair or group, you get up to eight shots on each hole, which are realistic (even for amateurs like me) but not require you to stay focused! We went as a couple, we saw groups of lads, full families spanning three generations, and everything in between. If you are looking for something to do with the kids, I'd definitely recommend you go in the daytime, because this place is open right through until the evening, serving lots of cool cocktails and shots for those of us that are 18+.
Our round of mini-golf lasted about half an hour. Sight-seeing in Liverpool is a must, but if you're wanting something fun to do for a short amount of time, this is a great option.
4. CHECK OUT THE LUSH STORE
Okay, so I'm not into retail therapy - we all know that. However, the new Lush Store in Liverpool is AMAZING. I found out that it's actually the biggest store that Lush have! They sell flowers, there's a beauty therapy and hair styling station, a conveyor belt of bath bombs... you have to look in if you're into pampering yourself! I'd recommend going early in the morning because it's so nice to look around when it's quieter, Matt and I spent a while browsing before I picked myself up a bath bomb. I get that this isn't everybody's idea of a good time, but for the right sort of person, this could right up their street.
5. GO TO THE CAVERN CLUB
This is an absolute must. Most commonly known as the venue played at by The Beatles in their early days, The Cavern Club is a timeless music venue offering live music from various artists that entertain many of us from all over the world every single day. Artists old and new come to play originals and covers, and tourists flood in and down the winding stairs to listen to the blaring music. It's loud. So, I wouldn't recommend taking children in. This one is much more suitable for teenagers and adults, and after a certain time entry is limited to 18 and above. The atmosphere is electric though and the acoustics are amazing, it's the perfect place for live music, lots of drinking, and a good boogie.
When I visited most recently I was so pleased to see it full of so many different types of people, from young adults up to those in their sixties/seventies, all of them having an amazing time. We walked in at 6:45pm and narrowly escaped the £4 entrance fee that begins at seven, then got to watch two different acts, covering records by The Beatles, Queen, The Rolling Stones, and the list goes on. Matt loves live music and is a regular at gigs/festivals/events, and he said that our visit here was the highlight of his trip! Drinks were affordable, you just have to be prepared to stand up and enjoy your pint, as it does get super busy. Luckily, as you can see from the above image, with my beady eyes it wasn't long before we snagged a seat! You have to go and pop in, just prepare yourself for the volume and relax into it.
6. GO SIGHT SEEING
There is so much to see in Liverpool and so many fantastic photo opportunities, we've already covered the Albert Dock and the Cavern, but I have failed to mention the many statues of Liverpool! Round almost every corner you will find a famous face if you look hard enough.
This Beatles statue is just in front of the Liver Buildings, so we saw it while leaving the National Museum of Liverpool and heading there.
Fun Fact - The clock here is actually bigger than the clock face of Big Ben.
There are more statues to spot in town, and particularly down Mathew Street, which is of course where The Cavern Club is! I've already recommended a visit there, and while you're en route you'll be able to look out for Cilla.
Matt had no idea who she was which was grossly disappointing, AND he wouldn't pose with her. Hopefully you have a more willing spouse who will stand in for a photograph, if so, you can find her just outside of the original entrance to The Cavern.
Mathew Street is literally just a street packed full of Beatles tributes. They have the Cavern Club, The Cavern Pub, The Rubber Soul Bar, not to mention so much cool artwork. It's great to walk down in the daytime to see everything in the light, but is so much better in the evening when you can have a proper drink and really experience these venues, not only as tourist attractions, but as pubs and bars in their own right! Matt and I went from The Cavern Club to McCooley's, an Irish Bar just next door, and had the best evening. I was a little skeptical at first and worried that the bar might be a little rowdy or even just full of older men, but actually it was full of friendly tourists just like us. We had a game of pool and took part in the quiz, and knocked back a couple of pints while we were at it! There's more to Mathew Street than drinking though, believe it or not, there's actually a little museum here dedicated to - you guessed it - The Beatles, of course!
There's something about the street that just gives off good vibes, and I was really pleased to go into the Irish Bar and find that my skepticism was all for nothing, because it was actually a super safe place to spend the evening.
So, there you have it, six things to do if you're visiting Liverpool anytime soon. Keep an eye out for my next post coming soon, where I'll be recommending some great places to dine while staying here - Matt and I pre-planned all of our meals out and had really positive experiences everywhere we ate, so I'm keen to get that written up soon to share with all of you.
For now though, I'm getting ready to embark on another adventure tomorrow, this time returning to the capital city with my two best gals for another fun filled mini-break!
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