Liverpool Things to Do Tips by King_Golo

The Albert Dock is one of Liverpool's main sights and half a day is easily spent there - there's the Maritime Museum, the Slavery Museum, the TATE Gallery of Liverpool, souvenir shops, restaurants, the Beatles Story and much more. For those who do not want to become too active the nice promenade behind the dock guarantees a great view on the Mersey.
Opened in 1846 by Prince Albert (hence the name!), the dock has served as an important point in Liverpool's history ever since. In the second half of the 19th century it was a highly profitable place for the maritime business, while later, from 1920 on, the dockhouses were used mostly for storing goods brought there by rail and on roads. After 1960, the dock's history seemed to turn to a bad ending: In order to create more space for building a "mini city", the demolition of the dock area was planned. Fortunately, the mood changed again in the late 1970s and eventually plans to restore the dock were successful. Nowadays, it's a vibrant part of Liverpool which is a must-visit - not only due to the UNESCO world heritage status!

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Address: Albert Dock
Directions: From central Liverpool, you can walk down nearly every street towards the Mersey. The Albert Dock is signposted.
Website: http://www.albertdock.com/index.php

First, take a look at the picture of Liverpool Cathedral next to the tip. Second, guess how old it is. Third, shake your head astonished when you find out that Queen Elizabeth II opened it only in 1978!
Well, this makes Liverpool Cathedral only one year older than me!
The massive building that looks more like a castle than a cathedral from the outside is the largest cathedral of England, despite its young age. Inside, your view immediately wanders towards the dome ceiling that is incredibly high above you. You could probably fly a small plane inside the church, but I guess they wouldn't allow it... Looking around, you recognize that it is a sort of neo-gothic building with quite many small details. If you are interested in learning more, check out the Liverpool Cathedral official website.
The cathedral staff is very helpful and nice as well and they will try to answer all of your questions. There's also a cafe and a souvenir shop inside the cathedral.

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Phone: 0151 709 6271
Address: St James Street
Directions: St James Mount - the cathedral is visible from nearly all places in Liverpool, but in case you don't know how to get there, walk up Hardman Street from the bombed-out church and turn right some time.
Website: www.liverpoolcathedral.co.uk
Other Contact: dianne.rothwell@liverpoolcathedr

While the above mentioned cathedral truly is impressive, the view from its tower is even better! Get a ticket for the tower in the souvenir shop inside Liverpool Cathedral, walk across the room, take the lifts, walk up 108 steps and be prepared for the most marvellous views on Liverpool. The spacious tower top allows views in all directions - towards the city centre, towards the Mersey and in the distance the sea, towards the Welsh mountains and much more. It's really stunning to see giant Albert Dock in the distance, looking like a toy model of the original, or to watch the roofs of typical English houses or to follow the moves of tiny little dots in the streets that are actually cars...
One warning should not be forgotten here: It is terribly windy up there! Keep a firm grip on your cameras, hats or scarfs!

PS: More photos available in my travelogue!

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Phone: 0151 709 6271
Address: St James Street
Directions: see Liverpool Cathedral tip
Website: www.liverpoolcathedral.co.uk

If you've been walking through Liverpool for hours soaking in the great atmosphere of the city you might want to take a break and relax a little. St. John's Garden, opened in 1904, is a very good place for doing so. Located conveniently in the middle of the city (just behind St. George's Hall, to be exact), the garden is an oasis of silence amidst the traffic and noise of Liverpool. St. John's Garden is the only major park in central Liverpool. Moreover, it's beautifully designed with flower beds and well-kept lawns. Several monuments commemorate famous persons of English history. Benches are scattered all over the park so you won't have trouble to find a place to sit.

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Directions: between William Brown Street and St. John's Lane - just behind St. George's Hall

The Liver Buildings (also nicknamed the Three Graces) down at the Mersey River are also a UNESCO world heritage site. Looking rather unspectacular from the outside, you might even miss them when walking past.
I don't know what's inside today, but in earlier years, the buildings played an important role in Liverpool's past as a port of world-wide reputation.
Take a look up to the top of the Liver Building on the very left (when looking towards the centre): You'll discover two birds sitting on top of the roof. According to my boss, these are a mixture between an eagle and a cormorant. While I'm not sure about this, I can tell you their symbolic meaning: One is looking towards the docks, the other towards the centre - and both are keeping a wary eye on what they see and watch over the city, for when the bird falls, Liverpool will fall as well!

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Address: Liverpool waterfront

Not only a pub but a piece of art, The Philharmonic (or The Phil as it is generally called) is known to be Britain's most ornate pub. In the incredibly stylish atmosphere of a 19th century gentleman's club you can enjoy your pint of beer or cider sitting in convenient armchairs next to the fire place taking a look at the ceiling which is held by stucco figures. The Phil was built from 1898-1900 and you immediately recognize that not much has changed since then.
One thing that must not be missed is the gents' toilet: It is listed because of its marble utilities. While usually only open to men, there is an informal policy in the pub that women accompanied by a man may take a look at the splendor of the men's toilet.

PS: Here you can get a 360° view on the interior of the pub.

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Address: Hardman Street / Hope Street
Directions: 7 minutes away from the bombed-out church, just walking up Hardman Street

FACT is a very modern building on Wood Street which houses an arts and culture centre. There are exhibitions as well as several cinemas that show all kinds of movies. A small souvenir shop and a cafe care for your more touristy needs. What is interesting about FACT is that it aims to show mainstream art as well as avantgarde. You will find works of very popular artists next to independent artists whose name you've probably never heard. When I went there, FACT exhibited very strange stuff in the context of an exhibition called "SK-Interface". It was about how humans and machines or biological materials are combined. One artist had put her cells together with BSE cells in an incubator and combined this experiment with a video performance. Another one showed a video of himself while a third ear is implanted into his arm! I found it rather irritating, but apparently this is art as well - so check out FACT!

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Phone: 0151 707 4450
Address: 88 Wood Street
Directions: From the centre walk up Bold Street and turn right as soon as you see the second square. FACT is just a few metres away. Alternatively, walk up Wood Street immediately - but as it's a rather ugly street, the other one might be more interesting.
Website: http://www.fact.co.uk/
Other Contact: info@fact.co.uk

The building that looks like a rocket which is ready to take off is Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral. Located on a hill, similar to Liverpool Cathedral, it is also visible from most parts of the city. Built from 1962 to 1967, the cathedral serves as the mother church for Liverpool's Catholic population. There's a large Catholic community due to Irish immigration in the last two centuries. Almost 2/3 of Liverpudlians are said to have an Irish background.
Well, back to the Cathedral. As the building looks like a rocket from the outside, I was curious what would await me inside. It's a large circular room with coloured windows that scarcely light the church. There's space for 2300 worshipers who sit on chairs in the middle of the room, surrounding the altar. Everything looks rather cold and functional, an impression that is underlined by the giant dimensions of the cathedral. I didn't really like the church - but others from our group were quite impressed.
Open from 8am to 6pm.

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Phone: +44 151 709 9222
Address: Mount Pleasant
Directions: visible from nearly everywhere
Website: liverpoolmetrocathedral.org.uk
Other Contact: met.cathedral@boltblue.com

TATE Liverpool came up with a quite interesting exhibition about the works of Niki de Saint-Phalle when I was there (until May 5th 2008). Among the items shown were several of her early works in which she tried some kind of destructive art - meaning, she shot bullets through aerosol cans filled with paint and let them blot colour all over the rest of the painting.
Apart from this exhibition there is an exhibition about the twentieth century (DLA Piper Series) which goes on until spring 2009.
TATE Liverpool is located in the premises of Albert Dock and can therefore be combined with a visit to the Maritime Museum and the International Slavery Museum which are just around the corner.

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Phone: +44 151 702 7400
Address: Albert Dock
Directions: Albert Dock
Website: www.tate.org.uk/liverpool
Other Contact: visiting.liverpool@tate.org.uk

Liverpool has a quite large Asian community, many of it settling around the spectacular Chinese Arch in Chinatown. The area along Nelson Street does look English - however, with a Chinese touch: The street signs are in two languages, many of the shops and restaurants bear Chinese names, the parking ticket machines are designed to look somewhat Asian and much more. The main hint that you are in a Chinese neigbourhood, however, is the spectacular Arch. Opened only in 2000 during the Chinese New Year celebrations, it has become one of the most interesting sights of the city. Moreover, it is the largest arch of its kind outside China!
Take a look at the fine carvings which shimmer in the sunlight. All of them were made in Shanghai and then transported to England.
For some more impressions of Liverpool's Chinatown check out my travelogue!

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Address: Nelson Street and around
Directions: central Liverpool, only a stone's throw away from the bombed-out church