Liverpool is one of the UK’s most important cultural destinations and a key tourist spot as a result. It has a supremely rich history and a unique identity that can be felt the moment you step off the plane. It is seeing national and international tourism steadily increase, and for good reasons – three of which are listed below.
A common mistake made by many enthusiastic tourists to the Waterfront City is to land at John Lennon airport, and subsequently, find out about the seven-mile trip to the city centre. If you are flying in, make sure you book an airline transfer in advance – don’t make the same mistake, and you’ll be far quicker to your enjoyment of the following three must-visit Liverpool attractions.
Royal Albert Dock
Liverpool is one of the most culturally important waterfront cities in the western hemisphere, with its pioneering dockland paving the way for maritime trade from the 1700s to the present day. It is home to the launching port of the RMS Titanic; it is uniquely responsible for the ingratiation of Asian immigrants to the UK in the mid-1800s, and its role in the Second World War was significant, to say the least.
At the centre of all this history is the Royal Albert Dock, a crowning achievement in maritime history and a profoundly beneficial installation on the North-West waterfront. Today, the Royal Albert dock is more of a cultural hub than a trade hub, boasting museums and restaurants. If you want to get the measure of Liverpool, here’s where you start – and the view isn’t bad, either.
St John’s Beacon
But there is a better view to be found: at the top of St. John’s Beacon. St John’s Beacon is a radio tower in Liverpool’s centre, near-equidistant from Liverpool’s two main train stations and a stone’s throw from the waterfront. It is home to Radio City, one of the UK’s more successful radio stations – and also boasts a 120m-high viewing gallery near its tip. There is no substitute for this view, and Liverpool’s landscape quite simply must be seen to be believed.
The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour
Perhaps Liverpool’s most famous cultural export is, of course, The Beatles. Even today, you would be hard-pressed to find someone that wouldn’t describe themselves as a Beatles fan, so complete is their impact on music. Naturally, Liverpool is chock-full of Beatles-related attractions, from museums to venues to shrines and beyond. Many of these attractions can vary in quality, but one of Liverpool’s more enduring Fab-Four draws is also one of its best – the Magical Mystery Tour.
The Magical Mystery Tour is a two-hour coach tour of Liverpool, taking in crucial landmarks from John, Paul, George and Ringo’s childhood and early days as a band. Such locations include Penny Lane itself and Strawberry Field, as well as the Cavern Club where early Beatles shows were played.
