All my life I have lived right in the middle of Manchester and Liverpool, and so taking a trip to each city has been a common day out for me. Whilst I absolutely adore both Northern cities, Liverpool just manages to take the top spot as my favourite! Here are some of my favourite things to do in Liverpool. Why not make a note and plan a trip away from studying?
Getting there
Heading to Liverpool is the perfect trip to take if you’re wanting to travel on a budget. Trains run from Manchester Oxford Road to Liverpool Lime Street very frequently for as little as a fiver, and buses also run from Manchester Coach Station (Chorlton Street) to Liverpool One Bus Station (Canning Place) every 15 minutes for as little as £2.50.
A Day on the Docks
Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock has so much to offer, so much so you could easily spend a full day in that part of Liverpool, especially if museums and galleries are your thing.
Opening times: 10am-5pm
Free to enter
This museum is dedicated to maritime and covers a range of topics from Lusitania, to Black history, to Liverpool’s maritime influence and what I find the most interesting part of the museum – the Titanic.
Note that the second floor of the museum, which is home to the Titanic displays and the Archive Centre, is closed from 6th January until 28th March 2020 as a new gallery whilst a new gallery is created.
Opening times: 10am-5pm
Free to enter
This museum captures the history of slavery and also touches on Liverpool’s Black social history. The museum also actively campaigns and engages with human rights issues, and so modern slavery is also discussed in the museum’s displays and exhibitions.
Opening times: 10am-5pm
Free to enter
This is one of my favourite museums! If you’re looking to learn more about the history of Liverpool and life in the city, this is the place to go. There are displays on Liverpool’s social history and growing up in the city, the First World War, the LGBT community, Black history, and of course The Beatles!
Opening times: 10am-5pm (opens at 10.30pm on every first Wednesday of the month)
Free to enter but you will need to pay for admission to special exhibitions
Situated on Albert Dock is also the Tate Liverpool, home to an array of art and different workshops. I always find that whenever I visit the Tate, the displays and exhibitions always vary and so there’s something to suit everybody’s taste. The exhibitions and displays change regularly, so check their website for what’s on.
Opening times: 10am-4.30pm
Free to enter
The house on Albert Dock aims to show what life during the Second World War would have been like. It’s a relatively small attraction and a look round doesn’t take long at all. But if you’re at Albert Dock, there’s no reason as to why you couldn’t pop in and take a quick look!
Food in Liverpool
There are so many great places to eat in Liverpool that vary from chain restaurants to little independent quirky cafés. It was hard to narrow it down, but I’ve picked out my favourite chain and independent restaurants.
My favourite chain restaurant: Revolución de Cuba, Royal Albert Dock
Nearly every time I go to Liverpool, my go to for food is Revolución de Cuba. Whilst there are many other cafes and restaurants on Albert Dock that all offer something unique, as a Mexican food and tapas lover I am always drawn to this place. The cheeseburger tacos, jerk fried chicken and and jamón croquettas are all tapas must-haves!
My favourite independent restaurant: Casa Italia, Stanley Street
Recommended to me by best friend from Liverpool, Casa Italia was sold to me as the best Italian in Liverpool and it did not disappoint. It won the Best Restaurant in Liverpool Award at the 2019 British Restaurant Awards, and it’s not hard to see why. However, Casa Italia does not take bookings other than for groups of 6 or more and it’s not unusual for people to queue down the street at a weekend for a table. If you want great hearty Italian food at an affordable price, it’s best to head here on a weekday, especially at lunchtime. The carbonara here was the best I’ve ever had!
If time permits…
There is so much to do in Liverpool that if possible, you should definitely consider booking a hotel and staying for a night. If your university schedule permits, you can find a cheap hotel on a weekday night to make the most of your trip. Whilst local to Manchester, I think the city offers a completely different vibe. You could genuinely consider your stay as a mini city break from studying!
Liverpool ONE
If I spend two days in Liverpool, I always make sure I save a day to shop! If you have money to spend, Liverpool ONE is a great shopping destination with so many amazing shops in one area. You don’t even have to spend a full day here, an afternoon of shopping in Liverpool will also leave you satisfied!
The Liverpool F.C Tour
I did this tour myself a couple of weeks ago and had such a good time! I am a Liverpool fan, but I’ve heard from so many people that don’t particularly follow football who still really enjoyed the tour. I did the Stadium Tour & LFC Story which gives you access to the full stadium, the dressing rooms, press room, pitch side and the dug out as well as the museum. The tour is self-guided with an audio headset, and so you can go at your own pace. You can get to Anfield Stadium by selecting a Liverpool FC Explorer Ticket when you book your tour tickets. This allows you to take an open top bus from Albert Dock to the stadium. More details are on the website.
Just a 15-minute walk or £3 taxi ride from Liverpool ONE is the Baltic Triangle for a taste of Independent Liverpool. There’s plenty here including many quirky music venues for live entertainment, bars and street food. Perhaps one of the most popular places here is Camp and Furnace, which was ranked second in The Times’ 20 Coolest Restaurants in Britain. Not only does it serve great street food, but it provides a unique setting with vintage caravans and log fires!
Cavern Club for live music
Not only is the Cavern Club an importance place in Liverpool’s history, it’s now also a great live music venue. There’s live music in there every day from 11.15am, which you can pay on the door to listen to. There’s also the Cavern Pub, opposite the Cavern Club on Mathew Street, that offers live music every night with free admission. It’s a great place to head to if you want a taste of the Liverpool music scene.
This costs £13.00 for students, but if you’re a fan of the Fab Four or even just a fan of music, this is well worth the money – it’s the world’s largest exhibition devoted to The Beatles. The exhibition takes you on a journey from their childhoods, to the height of their fame looking at key moments in the band’s success.