Vacation in Liverpool – A City Guide

Introduction

Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in the North West of

England. Liverpool is one of England’s core cities, situated along the

eastern side of the Mersey Estuary, with the city centre located about

5 miles inland from the Irish Sea. Liverpool has a varied topography

being built across a ridge of hills rising up to a height of around 70

metres above sea-level at Everton Hill.

History

In 1190 the place was known as ‘Liuerpul’, meaning a pool or creek with

muddy water. Other origins of the name have been suggested, including

‘elverpool’, a reference to the large number of eels in the Mersey. The

origins of the city date back from August 1207 when patent letters were

issued by King John advertising the establishment of a the new borough

of Liverpool, and inviting settlers to come and take up holdings. In

the 18th century, as trade from the West Indies grew on top of that

from Ireland and Europe, Liverpool began to grow.

The first wet dock in Britain was built in Liverpool in 1715. Liverpool

expanded significantly in the 19th century and a number of major

buildings were constructed. In the 1960s Liverpool became a centre of

youth culture. The city produced the distinctive Merseybeat sound, and,

most famously, The Beatles. In recent years, the city has emphasised

its cultural attractions, winning the accolade of European City of

Culture for 2008.

Place of interest

The infrastructure of Liverpool contains over 2,500 listed buildings.

It is the inheritance of high-minded public spirit since the later 18th

century, largely with Dissenter impetus, that has resulted in more

public sculptures created than in any UK city besides Westminster in

London.

The Anglican Cathedral has the longest nave, largest organ and heaviest

and highest peal of bells in the world.

Architects well represented in Liverpool:

o Giles Gilbert Scott,

o Peter Ellis,

o Harvey Lonsdale Elmes, and

o John Foster

Sir Edwin Lutyens is represented by the completed crypt of his

projected Metropolitan Cathedral, which was built to a simpler design

by Frederick Gibberd.

Some of the famous places to visit are:

o Albert Dock

o Bluecoat Arts Centre

o Cast Iron Shore

o Cunard Building

o Lime Street Station

o Royal Liver Building

o Oriel Chambers design by Peter Ellis.

o The Philharmonic Dining Rooms

o Pier Head

o Quiggins

o St George’s Hall

o The Beatles Story

o Town-Hall

o Williamson’s tunnels

Museums & Art Galleries

Liverpool has some greatest museum and art galleries. Bluecoat

Arts Centre, Merseyside Maritime Museum, Museum of Liverpool Life, the

Beatles Story, and Walker Art Gallery are some of them. Besides museum

and art galleries Liverpool possesses some famous theatres. They

represent Liverpool and its culture, and also a good tourist attraction

in Liverpool. Among all the theaters Empire, Everyman, Neptune,

Philharmonic Hall, The Playhouse, Royal Court, Unity are big names to

mention about.

Shopping

Pedestrian shopping areas with boutiques, specialty shops, and

department stores include Church Street, Lord Street, Bold Street,

Whitechapel, and Paradise Street. On the river, Albert Dock also houses

a collection of small shops. For shopping centers Cavern Walks on

Mathew Street, the heart of Beatleland, or Quiggins Centre.

To buy that special piece of Beatles memorabilia, wander through the

Beatles Shop, or the Heritage Shop.

For a huge selection of British crafts, famous places are Bluecoat

Display Centre, with its gallery of metal, ceramics, glass, jewelry,

and wood pieces by some 350 British craftspeople.

Frank Green’s is where one can find prints by this famous local artist

who has been capturing the Liverpool scene on canvas since the 1960s.

These art works includes city secular buildings, churches, and street

life.

Food & Drink

For such a world-famous city, Liverpool has yet to host a world-class

restaurant. Listed are the best non-hotel restaurants it has to offer:

60 Hope St., Bar Italia, Far East, Shangri-La, Simply Heathcote’s, Tate

Café.

Education

Primary education is available in various forms supported by the state

including Secular, Church of England, Islamic, Jewish and Roman

Catholic. Currently no specific Islamic secondary education is provided.

Liverpool has three universities:

o The University of Liverpool

o Liverpool John Moores University

o Liverpool Hope University

It also has a university college, Edge Hill College of Higher

Education. Liverpool John Moores University is one of the polytechnics

given university status in 1992 and is named after the owner of the

Littlewoods retail group. The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine was

founded to address some of the problems created by trade; today it

continues as a post graduate school and is one of only two institutions

on world that house the de facto standard anti-venom repository.

The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, which was set up by Sir

Paul McCartney in 1996, is famous for training the artistes and

technicians.

Sports

In sporting terms, it boasts two internationally known football clubs,

Everton F.C. and Liverpool FC. Liverpool Football Club (often known

simply as Liverpool), an English football club based in the North-West

of England, are the current champions of Europe (2004-2005) and the

most successful English football team.

Liverpool has won five European Cups, and 18 Football League titles on

top of being the English club to have won the most number of UEFA Cups,

European Supercups and English League Cups.

Liverpool Football Club is not to be confused with Liverpool (Rugby)

Football Club, which was formed in 1858 and is now known as Liverpool

St. Helens.

Hotels & Accommodation

The dedicated team at SleepUK can assist and advise on all your

Liverpool hotel requirements. Online and offline access to Liverpool’s

accommodation network ensures travelers will be offered the best

possible deal at the time of your visit whether you require luxury

hotels in Liverpool or budget hotels in Liverpool.

Hotels in all categories are opening in Liverpool all the time,

reflecting the city’s renewed prosperity and popularity as a

short-break destination.

Or travelers may choose one of the fine hotels in Wirral, the

attractive peninsula between the River Mersey and the River Dee. As

well as some fine hotels, Wirral also boast large areas of National

Trust land, country parks and spectacular coastal scenery. To the north

of Liverpool, in the graceful resort of Southport, famed for the

splendour of its Victorian shopping arcades and promenade, there’s a

great choice of hotels to suit every visitor.

Accommodation in the area frequently sells out so be sure to guarantee

your stay by booking online today. Some other hotels, listed here, vary

from affordable to luxury hotels -Hanover Hotel, Park Lodge, The Suites

Hotel, Regent Maritime Hotel,

The Dolby Hotel,

Radisson SAS

Liverpool, Hope

Street Hotel,Aachen

Hotel, Campanile

Hotel Liverpool, The

Feathers Hotel, Thistle

Liverpool, Days

Serviced Apartments Liverpool, Liverpool City Centre

Premier Travel Inn, The Sir Thomas Hotel,

Throstles Nest Hotel.

Tours and Sightseeing

Organised tours in Liverpool have variety in their theme and according

to the theme the contents also changes. The most widely chosen tours

are based on Sports or on The Beatles. These tours contains place of

interests, famous buildings, museums etc. Cavern City Tours
is

the most comprehensive tour operator in the city.

Transport

There are three tunnels under the River Mersey: one railway tunnel, the

Mersey Railway Tunnel, and two road tunnels, Queensway Tunnel and

Kingsway Tunnel. There is also the Mersey Ferry, made famous by the

song Ferry Cross the Mersey by Gerry and the Pacemakers. In fact the

song is now played on the ferryboats themselves every time they prepare

to dock at Liverpool.

Speke Airport was renamed Liverpool

John Lennon Airport, in honour of the late Beatle John Lennon.

Liverpool has a train system called Merseyrail, the sections in the

city centre are mostly underground. The lines terminate at Southport,

Ormskirk, Kirkby, Hunts Cross, Ellesmere Port, West Kirby, New Brighton

and Chester.