Liverpool Travel Guide

About Liverpool

It might be most famous for The Beatles, and its two high-flying football clubs but scratch the surface and you'll swiftly realise that there's more to Liverpool than sport and music. Its thriving cultural scene, historic architecture and irrepressible lust for life make this city an unforgettable travel destination.

Once hampered by a down-at-heel reputation, there's no doubt that Liverpool's industrial past is now part of its considerable charm. Thanks to decades of careful urban regeneration and its 2,500-plus listed buildings (that's more than any city outside London), the waterfront and other thoughtfully revitalised districts are packed with museums, galleries, bars and restaurants, some of the best shopping in Britain, and a host of gleaming – and interesting – hotels.

Liverpool has been recognised not once but twice by UNESCO. Its musical heritage and ongoing musical influence recently gained it the status of UNESCO City of Music, one of only 19 in the world. The waterfront area has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004, reflecting the city's global significance as a commercial port when Britain's empire was as its peak.

Albert Dock is at the heart of the heritage waterfront, closely followed by Stanley Dock, the historic commercial districts and the bustling cultural quarter around William Brown Street. Throw in some shiny new constructions and the iconic principal waterfront buildings of the Pier Head – the Cunard Building, the Port of Liverpool Building and the Royal Liver Building, together known as the Three Graces – and you get one of the world's most recognisable city skylines.

Nowadays, culture plays just as big a part in drawing in the punters as footie and the Fab Four. Liverpool holds more national museums and galleries than any other UK city outside of the capital. Its remarkable portfolio includes the award-winning Museum of Liverpool, the International Slavery Museum, Tate Liverpool and The Beatles Story, while the UK's museum of popular music, the British Music Experience (BME), is the latest arrival on the city's flourishing cultural scene.

As with music, sport continues to exert a hold on Liverpool, whether in the crowds that cram into the stands to watch Liverpool or Everton play, or the throngs of colourfully-dressed race-goers that turn out each year for the Grand National.

Key facts

Population:

466400

Latitude:

53.412763

Longitude:

-2.988439

A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

City Highlight: Liverpool

Handpicked from a wealth of historical and cultural landmarks, our Liverpool highlights include iconic attractions, heady club nights and buzzworthy dining.

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Featured Hotels

Dolby Hotel

Located in an unremarkable building close to the Albert Dock, this is one of Liverpool's best budget hotels and offers 64 comfortable rooms at reasonable prices. Although rooms are a smidgen small, all contain tea- and coffee-making facilities, satellite TV and ensuite shower facilities. Free Wi-FI.

The Nadler Liverpool

This contemporary hotel, decked out in a minimalist style, is housed in a large warehouse in the centre of Liverpool's vibrant nightlife action. Expect stylish black and white decor, classic design mid-century furniture, quirky artworks and superb facilities including HD TVs and a handy mini-kitchen in each of the 106 rooms.

Crowne Plaza Liverpool City Centre

This 4-star hotel enjoys a stunning location down on Princes Dock with fantastic views across the River Mersey. It has 159 contemporary rooms and is home to the Harbour Health Club gym, which has a swimming pool, whirlpool, sauna, steam room and beauty therapy suites. The Crowne Plaza has an award-winning restaurant and bar too.

Hope Street Hotel

Housed in a renovated 1860s warehouse, this boutique property is located in the Georgian Quarter. It manages to feel chic and contemporary without losing touch with its industrial past. The 48 individually designed rooms feature the softest white linen, exposed brickwork, and oak and walnut furniture. Book a table at the highly regarded hotel restaurant, The London Carriage Works, too.

Malmaison Liverpool

Seriously sharp and stylish, the Malmaison Liverpool is in a smart new building about a 15-minute walk from the city centre. The supremely comfortable rooms in deep plums, dark browns and dazzling white all come with flatscreen TVs, drench showers, and Wi-FI. Ask for a room with a river view.

Titanic Hotel Liverpool

What the Titanic might lack in location it more than makes up for in space and style. Set in a converted 19th-century warehouse in the Stanley Dock conservation area just under 2.5km (1.5 miles) from Albert Dock, it's utterly in keeping with its surroundings; the huge rooms have exposed brick and vaulted ceilings.

Introducing Liverpool

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