Liverpool Things to Do Tips by scouseneil

The Liverpool Duck!

For a novel way to tour the city and the docks, you should definitely grab a ride on one of the two Liverpool Ducks.

These two bright yellow amphibious vehicles can be seen touring the city streets throughout the day. After a half-hour tour around the city, during which your guide will provide live commentary that points out some well-known and less well-known places of interest around the city, you will head for the Albert Dock and plunge straight in. A half hour tour of the docks helps to make this one of the most interesting tours available.

Your guide will tell you about the history of the DUKWS, explaining how these restored vehicles saw action in the D-Day landings in the second world war.

Prices are 9.95 for an adult and 7.95 for a child under 16. A family ticket (2 adults and 2 kids) will set you back 29.00. Discounts are available for OAPs and bulk bookings.

I took my kids on this tour last summer and they thought it was fabulous. Check out the website below for more info.

Address: Brittania Pavillion, Albert Dock

Directions: TheYellowDuckmarine
Anchor Courtyard
Britannia Pavillion
Albert Dock

Other Contact: enquiries@theyellowduckmarine.co

Phone: 0151 708 7799

St John's Beacon (Radio City Tower) City Centre Buildiings Review

Wherever you are in the city and the surrounding areas, this impressive structure is certain to feature somewhere in the skyline.

The 335 foot high St Johns Beacon started its life as a very posh restaurant. The whole of the top section used to rotate, offering diners an ever-changing view of the city.

Following a fire in the area, the building was declared unsafe, and as has happened with so many of Liverpool's treasues in the past, it was allowed to run down over a period of several years.

Fortunately for the Beacon, and for Liverpool's residents and visitors, Radio City (the North West's top radio station) renovated the building before moving in themselves.

Now the distinctive building is once again a prestigious asset to the city. At night it is lit up from below and can even be seen from miles away across on the Wirral peninsula. The top no longer rotates, but it is still a great building.

On Saturdays and Sundays visitors are granted the opportunity to tour the station and to benefit from the fantastic views offered from this fantastic vantage point.

Prices are very reasonable at just 4.00 per adult and 2.50 per child. Definitely worth a visit.

Address: St John's Shopping Centre

Directions: From Queen Square bus terminal, walk to the left of the information centre, past the Liverpool FC shop into Williamson square. Take 1st left and you'll see George Henry Lees on your right, Radio City is 2nd set of doors on your left (up a few stairs).

Phone: 0151 472 6800

Never Miss Another TV Programme!

One of the latest additions to Liverpool shoppers' attractions is the huge television screen just outside Clayton Square. This screen is on 24 hours a day, and shows all the latest news and sporting events.

You think it's big?... you should see the remote control!!!

Address: In Clayton Square, outside the Tesco Metro

Superlambanana Public Art Review

Okay, this has to be one of the most bizarre pieces of "art" ever to grace our streets. I have included this as a "Must See", not because it is such a fantastic piece of art, but more because you have to see it to believe it.

I find it incredible to believe that we paid japanese artist Taro Chiezo £35,000 for this. On the plus side, I suppose it is something that you are certain to remember about Liverpool.

And yes, it is an extremely popular attraction. So much so that you can buy miniature replicas in the gift shops around the city, the Albert Dock in particular.

The idea behind this bright yellow sculpture is to warn of the dangers of meddling with genetics, it being the front end of a sheep (allegedly) and the rear end of a banana.

Superlambanana was painted pink for a while to commemorate breast cancer month, but is once again it's usual shade of yellow.

Address: Wapping, just a few hundred yards Albert Dock

Directions: If you stand opposite the Albert Dock at the end of Chevasse Park, and look along the road away from town, you can't miss it! (Really!)

Top Secret WWII Headquarters Museums Review

Around the vicinity of Liverpool's Town Hall, you will see a number of signs directing you to "TOP SECRET UNDERGROUND WARTIME HQ". I think the signs must have been a bit of a giveaway myself!

The Western Approaches Museum is 50,000 square feet of original underground rooms and connecting tunnels which housed Britain's command headquarters for the Battle of The Atlantic.

Visit here to get a feel for what it was like in wartime Liverpool, with the original Operations Room and Admiral's Office.

There is also an Educational Centre kitted out with genuine second world war items, such as gas masks and ration books. There is also a genuine Anderson Shelter, and a reconstruction of a bombed-out room to give a real feel for what wartime life was really like. If your kids think they have a hard time, bring them here and open their eyes to what some kids have had to live through.

The museum is open every day except Fridays and Sundays, from 10:30am until 4:30pm.

Prices are 4.75 per adult, 3.45 per child and concessions are available.

Address: 1 Rumford Street, just behind the Town Hall.

Directions: If you stand behind Liverpool Town Hall, with the Town Hall at your back, take the pathway to the left of you. At the end of the pathway turn right and you will see the entrance ahead of you.

Phone: 0151-227 2008

Website: http://www.chavasse-park.com/warroom/

Yellow Submarine Public Art Review

No Beatles fan should leave Liverpool without checking out this 51 foot long work of art inspired by the hit Beatles record and film.

This 20 tonne sculpture was built by apprentices at Cammell Laird Shipyard in Birkenhead, just across the River Mersey from where it now stands.

The sculpture was designed by Graham Burgess for the International Garden Festival in 1984.

It can now be found at the entrance to Chevasse Park, just across the road from the Albert Dock. Chevasse Park is a large grassy area sometimes used for summer events, and not a bad place to sit down with a picnic on a nice day.

Address: The Strand Street entrance to Chevasse Park

Directions: Across Strand Street from the Albert Dock

Ferry Across The Mersey Ferry Cross the Mersey Review

No trip to Liverpool would be complete without a trip on the most famous ferry in the world, immortalised by Gerry and the Pacemakers.

The ferry leaves the Pier Head every hour and heads downriver with a recorded commentary pointing out many of the relevant places of interest along the way from 850 years of Merseyside history..

The ferry crosses the river to Seacombe Ferry (where there is an aquarium and kids play area), and then carries on upriver to Woodside Ferry before crossing the river once more and returning to Liverpool's Pier Head, overlooked by the spectacular Three graces of the Royal Liver Building, The Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building.

The ferry company also runs a whole range of themed trips including a journey up the Manchester Ship Canal. Contact them at the address below for more information.

Address: Ferry Terminal, Pier Head, Liverpool

Directions: From Liverpool Town Hall at the top of Dale Street will see the river.

Head down Water Street towards the river and you can't miss it!

Other Contact: info@merseyferries.co.uk

Phone: +(44) 0151 330 1444

Website: http://www.merseyferries.co.uk/