We are going to be at a conference in Liverpool May 13th-15th and only have commitments from about 4:00pm on each of those evenings.
What would you suggest seeing in Liverpool or surrounding areas during the day? We have booked a Magical Mystery Tour, but that's it. (We're not HUGE Beatles fans. They're fine, but not our favorite thing ever.)
Check FabFourTaxi tours and the National Trust's tours of John's and Paul's homes. Both get outstanding reviews.
The Beatles add 82 million GBP to the Liverpool economy annually.
The various free museums - the Museum of Liverpool plus the Maritime Museum (with its thought-provoking slavery section).
The two cathedrals - both are absolutely stunning in very different ways.
Don't miss the statue of Doddy - the late great Sir Ken Dodd - in Liverpool Lime Street Station, assuming it has returned by now.
If you don't know Doddy, see if you can find a youtube of him and his tickler.
The National Trust tour of John and Paul's boyhood homes was amazing.
We also liked the Tate.
I’m not sure the National Trust tour is a great idea for a non Beatles fanatic. I love it, but I’m a huge fan and know their early years.
A day trip to Chester might be an idea, it’s a medieval town easily reached by train.
As mentioned above, the museums are world class. You can also tour either of the football stadiums if you have any interest.
Bold Street is great for independent shopping. Liverpool One will have every UK chain store.
Dale Street is great for real ale pubs.
I’ve been six times and I’m writing this on a train to Liverpool! Ask away, I know the city very well!
I should flag up that there is a small but reasonable chance that Liverpool FC might be crowned Football Premier League champions on the final day of the season on Sunday 12th, in which case one of the days you are there could involve an open top bus parade through the city. Something to be aware of!
From what I've read of reviews the National Trust tour is as much about history, life, and culture during the early 1960s as it is about the Fab Four. I'm looking forward to how the Average Bloke lived in the good old days. But yes, I do want to see the room where John and Paul wrote, "She Loves You" and the chair where Jim McCartney suggested, "Yes, Yes, Yes," instead of "Yeah!, Yeah, Yeah!" as to sing more proper English. Like Cliff Richard, who was such a nice boy.
I do agree that the National Trust tour covers a lot of post World War II history. Liverpool was bombed heavily in World War II and that time wasn’t Leave It To Beaver idyllic life such as in the United States.
Full disclosure: I did the National Trust tour of the Beatles' childhood homes, but did not do the Magical Mystery Tour.
However, I think if you're not Beatles fans, you may prefer the childhood homes to the MMT. The childhood homes tour, as said above, is very much about the way people lived in that time and place (postwar suburban Liverpool), and there is a lot of material about the contrast in the differing financial and parental circumstances of John and Paul. It goes way beyond music; music isn't even the main focus. In fact, in my group, I can't recall any of the participants mentioning songs at all. In other words, we weren't superfans, asking "was Please Please Me written in the kitchen or the bedroom?" or the like. The docents mentioned such things in passing, but gave much more detail about the houses, families, etc, and that's what we were asking questions about.
Again, I haven't taken the MMT, but from what I understand there's a heavy focus on locations mentioned in song lyrics and the like. It may be like someone who's never seen The Sopranos taking a Sopranos tour in New York (yes, they have these), or me, who's never read the Harry Potter books, taking a Harry Potter tour.
If you just want an overview of Liverpool by bus, take a Hop On Hop Off bus (HOHO). There are two; at least in 2016 when I did this, the City Explorer had live guides and was £1 cheaper than the Liverpool City Tours, which had recorded commentary.
Should you wish to avoid Beatles sights altogether, you could easily fill two days with some of the following:
The Museum of Liverpool (although I found this a bit of a jumble, it is free)
The Merseyside Maritime Museum and International Slavery Museum (free, very worthwhile - I saw it over two visits)
Tate Gallery (parts are free, parts will have admission)
Liverpool Cathedral (Anglican) and Metropolitan Cathedral (Catholic) - these two are a nice walk apart on Hope Street, and couldn't be more different.
World Museum
Walker Art Gallery
I had four nights in Liverpool, and didn't even get to the last two (I did the Beatles Story, which took time).
I also agree with a day trip to Chester. This is easy to do on MerseyRail, with trains every 15 minutes Monday through Saturday and every 30 minutes on Sundays. These local trains leave from four downtown stations (Moorfields, Lime Street, Central, and James Street), so it's easy to find one near your hotel.
Perhaps at a minimum do photo op near the Beatles statue at the Albert Dock
"Four men who shook the world."
The percentage of Americans (and those from other immigrant countries) that had ancestors who passed through Liverpool is probably staggering, like half? Note that ancestry from any of the North Sea and Baltic countries has this possibility, including the German states and even Russian Empire Jews. Worth checking out in advance any personal Liverpool connection.
I just did the Magical Mystery Tour for the 4th time. I think it’s fine for casual fans. It’s a fun ride with banter from the guide and Beatles music playing. I’d had a couple of pints beforehand, so I just sang along.
There is a great bus tour from Liverpool into North Wales that is wonderful.
Thank you all! We had a wonderful time in Liverpool and our two day trips were (1) renting a car and visiting Snodonia National Park and (2) Highclere Castle (aka Downton Abbey, we're fans). :)
Just returned from Liverpool.
Hot wife loved the Fab Four taxi. The driver was personable and knowledgeable.
For me the most interesting part was English life in the 1950s and 1960s. The visits to John's and Paul's home was fascinating. I love the Scouser accent although it's hard to understand at times. Among my favorite people in all of my travels were those from Liverpool (although the Irish and Scots are still #1). Great sense of humor, snark, wit, and cynicism.
One of many examples: When the receptionist at the hotel learned I was from West "by God" Virginia, he started singing John Denver's "Country Roads." I've heard that song sung all over the world, most notably at Oktoberfest by a large, rowdy crowd of drunk Germans.
