Ever heard of a band called The Beatles? Ringo any bells? Unless you’ve been living under a rock – for the past half-century – you’ll know this legendary band hails from Liverpool, England. From the gravestone of Eleanor Rigby to Penny Lane to the Cavern Club where the band played their first hits, Liverpool is chock full of Beatles references and memories. Today, we look at exactly what to do in Liverpool, England.
But Liverpool is more than its most famous sons. During the height of Britain’s power, it was one of the major docks; today, it is a thriving cultural hub full of this Victorian splendor, whether it’s Sefton Parks’ Palm House or The Bluecoat: Liverpool’s oldest building.
We’re exploring the top sights and sounds Liverpool has to offer. If you’re wondering what to do in Liverpool, England, or you’re planning a trip, here’s everything you need to see.
What To Do in Liverpool, England
- Get a Drink at The Cavern Club
There’s no getting away from the Fab Four. Their mark is forever stamped on the city. Nowhere is that truer than the cellar of The Cavern Club. As you descend the endless stairs, you pass back to the birth of rock and roll’s greatest band. In 1957, Lennon and McCartney played here as the Quarrymen. But they’re not alone – epic British bands like the Rolling Stones and the Kinks have rocked out on the stage.
Best of all, it doesn’t feel like a tribute act – it’s a living, breathing bar to this day. Get yourself a drink and enjoy the live music.
- Enjoy The Royal Liver Building Clocktower Tour
Down in the regenerated dockyards is Liverpool’s most famous building. The Grade I-listed Royal Liver Building (rhymes with “diver”) was built between 1908 and 1911. It’s famous for being one of the first structures in the world to be built using reinforced concrete.
You can take a tour inside the clock tower and marvel at the fabulous views across the city and the Mersey.
- Visit Tate Liverpool
Tate Liverpool is part of the Tate collection of art galleries dotted throughout the UK. While the most famous is in London, the Tate Liverpool – a converted warehouse in Albert Docks – hosts some of the world’s most engaging and exciting art.
From provocative political statements to the work of masters like JM Turner, it’s a must-see museum for art lovers – and it’s a chance to venture down to the famous docklands.
- Journey Through The Beatles Story
This award-winning homage to the Fab Four is the ultimate Beatles experience. From their humble beginnings in the backstreets of Liverpool to the dizzy heights of mega-stardom, this is the story of how the Beatles came to be. Experience stunning replicas of the Casbah, Matthew Street, and Abbey Road studios as you capture the essence of the early ’60s.
Plus, you can pick up some incredible Beatles memorabilia in the Fab4 Store.
- Wander Around Sefton Park
Sefton Park is a magnificent 235-acre green space in the center of Liverpool. While the park contains some stunning monuments and gardens, including the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain and the Samuel Smith Obelisk, the centerpiece of the park is the giant Victorian palm house. This Grade II three-tier dome conservatory was built in 1896 to house a rich collection of exotic plants.
After being bombed during World War II, it stood derelict for many years. By the 1980s, it was a wreck. However, restoration was completed in the 1990s, restoring this palm house to its former glory. As Liverpool jazz singer George Melly remarked, it is “a magical palace … a fairy castle.”
- See a Football Match
No trip to Liverpool is complete without catching a football match at one of Liverpool’s two iconic clubs: Liverpool FC and Everton. The rivalry between these two historic, legendary clubs is a fun source of banter among locals – indeed, the clubs meet annually for the Merseyside Derby.
Whether you choose Anfield or Goodison Park, you’re sure to see the beautiful game played at the highest level – it doesn’t get better than this.
- Tour Liverpool’s Historic Buildings
Liverpool and architecture probably aren’t two things you associate together. However, its wealth of gothic and neoclassical buildings saw the city chosen as the backdrop for Matt Reeves’ The Batman. It’s not hard to see why. Fabulous Georgian townhouses, grand town halls and museums, and the monolithic Liverpool Cathedral mark the city as one of the architectural jewels of Britain.
The Three Graces – the Royal Liver Building, Cunard Building, and Port of Liverpool Building – hark back to the city’s maritime mercantile history. They sit as a testament to the power and wealth the port commanded during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These are just some of attractions that answer the question – what to do in Liverpool, England.
