The Liverpool FC Forum > Liverpool Life
Guide to Liverpool for visitors
Rushian:
Here is a resource thread for visitors coming to Liverpool, whether it be for the first time or returning, with details of hotels, transport, restaurants, pubs and clubs, attractions, events, gigs etc.
City Centre Hotels
Hotels just outside city centre
Arriving by air
Arriving by train
Arriving by coach
Arriving by sea
Getting around the city
Getting to the ground
Anfield Tour and museum
Pubs around the ground
Things to do & see
Eating Out
Festivals and events
Music - Gig Guide
Comedy Guide
Theatre stage, musicals and shows
City Centre Hotels: (poshest first)
Prices are a rough guide only. Appearance here does not mean
recommendation and quite frankly some of the cheaper ones may not be
up to much, but you pays your money ...
Radisson Hotel **** In Beetham Tower
Hope Street Hotel ****
First in the country of the new chain of "Design" Hotels
Crowne Plaza ****
situated in the city centre at the Pier Head next to the Seacat terminus
for boats to Ireland. Tel number 0151 243 8000 Building work going on
near hotel for Princes Dock development
Holiday Inn City Centre ****
situated in the City Centre convenient for Lime Street Station.
Tel number 0151709 7090
Marriott Hotel ****
Situated in the heart of the city convenient for Lime Street Station, Buses and shopping area.
Tel 0151 476 8000.
Not to be confused with :
Marriott Hotel Liverpool South ****
which is actually very nice and is the old Liverpool Airport terminal building
- very art deco - handy for the airport but a bit of a trek to the city centre.
Tel 0151 494 5000
Gladstone Hotel ****
Next to Lime Street Station.
Tel 0151709 7050
Thistle Hotel (Atlantic Tower) ***
Situated Next to Liverpool Parish Church at the Pier Head opposite the Liver Buildings
Tel 0151 227 4444
Britannia Adelphi Hotel ****
You will have seen this on tele no doubt. Faded grandeur. Situated on Lime Street a short walk away from the Station. There's been some horror stories in the press recently with regards to thefts and poor customer service ...
Tel 0151 709 7200
Hotel Campanile **
Situated at Wapping dock - convenient for the Albert Dock. Short walk to the City Centre
Tel 0151 709 8104
Ibis Hotel **
Situated on Wapping a short walk from the Albert Dock and City Centre
Tel 0151 706 9800
Dolby Hotel **
Budget Hotel on Wapping a short walk from Albert Dock and City Centre
Tel 0151 708 7272
Feathers Hotel ***
On Mount Pleasant convenient for the RC Cathedral.
15 minute walk to the city centre (downhill)
Tel 0151 709 9655
Sir Thomas Hotel
On the corner of Sir Thomas Street and Victoria street - the old Premier Lodge and has been smartened up a bit too. Parking in open air NCP next door.
Tel 0151 236 1366
Premier Lodge Albert Dock
Budget hotel chain located at the Albert Dock
Tel 0870 990 6432
Trials Hotel ****
Hotel above a lively pub in the City Centre near the Victoria monument
Tel 0151 227 1021
Formule 1 Hotel
Budget Hotel on Wapping - short walk to Albert Dock and City Centre
Tel 0151 709 2040
Holiday Inn Express
At the Albert Dock
Tel 0151 709 1133
Travelodge City Centre
Indeed it is. Convenient for everything really. Next to the entrance to the Birkenhead Tunnel
Tel 0870 191 1656
Travelodge City South.
Situated "next to Harry Ramsdens" (everyone will know where you mean) Near Brunswick station About a 30 minute walk or short bus ride to the city centre
Tel 0870 191 1530
Travel Inn City Centre
Located right in the city centre. Parking in NCP.
Tel 0870 238 3323
Travel Inn West Derby
Nowhere near the city centre but a regular bus route in. At the Stag & Rainbow pub on the Ring Road (Queens Drive) opposite the Jolly Miller. Could be handy if you're coming by car - at the end of the M62 turn right following signs for Football Stadia and Ring Road - Hotel is on your left about a mile along the dual carriageway
Devonshire House Hotel
On Edge lane a mile or so out of city centre - handy if you have a car.
Tel 0151 264 6600
Belvedere Hotel
Mount Pleasant
Tel 0151 709 2356
Lord Nelson Hotel
Lord Nelson Street - near Lime Street Station
Tel 0151 709 4362
Aachen Hotel
Mount Pleasant near cathedrals
Cavendish B&B
Rumney Road, Liverpool 4
Tel 0151 922 6489
Hostels
International Inn
South Hunter Street - off Hardman Street
YHA Liverpool
On Wapping close to Albert Dock
Embassie Hostel
Cheap hostel in the Georgian district near to Liverpool Cathedral (streetwalkers area by the way)
Tel 0151 707 1089
Hotels a little bit out from the centre.....
Best Western Alicia Hotel
Aigburth Drive (Sefton Park)
Tel 0151 727 4411
Blenheim Lodge
Sefton Park
Tel 0151 727 7380
Royal Hotel, Waterloo
Marine Terrace, Waterloo
Tel 0151 928 2332
Woolton Redbourne Hotel
Never know who you might bump into there ;)
Tel 0151 428 2152
Solna Hotel
Sefton Park
Tel 0151 734 3398
Childwall Abbey Hotel
Childwall Abbey Road
Tel 0151 722 5293
Gateacre Hall Hotel
Tel 0151 428 6322
Derby Lodge
Roby Road, Huyton near M62
Tel 0151 480 4440
Park Lane Hotel
Sefton Park
Tel 0151 727 4754.
Village Hotel - Whiston
just off M62
Tel 0151 449 2341
This is by no means an exhaustive list. Details of other hotels as well as
B&Bs can be found here:
http://www.liverpool-wirral.co.uk/
http://www.visitliverpool.com
Right by the ground, by the way is the small guest house
- Epstein's guest house on Anfield Road - the family home of Beatles manager Brian Epstein.
The Tourist Information centres at Queens Square and the Albert Dock can
help with finding accommodation.
Tel 0906 680 6886 and 0845 601 1125
Arriving by air
Liverpool John Lennon Airport has regular scheduled services with the following airlines:
Easyjet
from Alicante, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Basle, Belfast Intnl, Berlin, Cologne/Bonn ,Geneva, Ibiza,
Madrid, Malaga, Nice, Parma, and Paris (CDG)
Ryanair
from Bergerac, Carcassonne, Cork, Dublin, Girona (Barcelona), Granada, Limoges, Milan (Orio al Serio),
Murcia (Alicante), Nimes, Oslo, Pisa, Reus (Barcelona), Riga, Rome, (Ciampino), Shannon and Venice.
British Airways
from Isle of Man
Euromanx
from Isle of Man
VLM
from London City
Aer Lingus
from Dublin (connecting with flights to New York)
Aer Arran
from Knock
Emerald Airways
from Isle of Man
Wizz Air
from Budapest, Warsaw and Katowice
Air Wales
from Aberdeen, Cardiff and Plymouth
Flybe
from Belfast City, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Jersey, Southampton
Airport information can be found here: Liverpool John Lennon Airport
It is situated a few miles outside the city and is served by regular bus
links to the city centre. Numbers 500, 80A, 180 Regular bus services also
go to Hunts Cross, Garston and Runcorn stations. The Number 500 Airport
Express costs £2 or 4 euros and connects the airport with the Estuary
business park, Paradise Street Bus Station, Lime Street Station, Thistle
Hotel, Marriott Hotel, Crowne Plaza and Queens Square.
Other flights arrive at Manchester Airport. There are regular rail services from
Manchester Airport to Liverpool Lime Street. National rail timetables are available from
thetrainline.com
Arriving by Train
Mainline Rail Services arrive at Liverpool Lime Street Station which is situated
in the heart of the city. It is well served by taxis and bus routes.
Arriving by coach
National Express Coach services arrive at Norton Street bus station.
To see a map of the location click here
From there it is a short walk down to Lime Street and Queens Square
Gyratory where you can catch a bus to the ground.
Arriving by Sea
Seacat
services from Dublin and Douglas arrive at the Pier Head - right in the
middle of town. Handy for buses and taxis. Nearest station is James
Street.
NorseMerchant services
from Belfast arrive at the Twelve Keys Terminal in Birkenhead - yep you're
on the wrong side of the river but there is a bus service to Hamilton
Square where you can catch a bus, train or ferry to Liverpool itself.
P&O Ferries from Dublin
arrive at Gladstone Dock within the Freeport - a short taxi or bus ride
from the city centre.
Getting around the city
The city is compact enough to be able to walk to most of the sights
however you may want to invest in a Saveaway ticket which gives you
unlimited off-peak travel on all busses and trains in the Liverpool area.
They are available from stations merseytravel shops (paradise street and
queens square) tourist information shops and many newsagents. Details of
many local rail and bus serices can be found here: http://www.arriva.co.uk/
There is now a fleet of frequent reliable and modern buses making it
easier to get around the city and waterfront. Smart buses routes 1, 4/4A,
2 and 3 are circular routes.
There is also, of course, the Merseyrail Underground.Info and maps are
available here
Getting to the Ground.
Very regular bus services go from the city centre to Anfield and
thereabouts, in particular buses 26/27 (Sheil Road Circular)
and 17D (Fazakerley). A soccerbus runs on match days
from Sandhills Merseyrail station (Northern Line). For
travellers by car the stadium is well signposted, expect
however to be stuck in traffic. There are various schools,
garages, churches, pubs and rival football clubs offering parking
for around £6 a car, otherwise park on the side of the road
and pay a couple of quid to one of the Rooneys to mind your car.
Anfield Tour and Museum
Is well worth doing if you've never done it before. Learn loads more about
the clubs history and view tons of memorabilia including the four European
Cup replicas and the real one that we've kept.
Visit the changing rooms, touch the "This is Anfield" sign etc. During busy
times (like when we've just won the European Cup) you may need to book
your tour. Tel 0151 260 6677. The museum sometimes does a combined
ticket that gets you into the Liverpool FC Museum and the Beatles
Museum at the Albert Dock. More details are on the club's official site
liverpoolfc.tv
Admission to the museum alone (where the cup is) is £5
On match days please make an effort to pop into the Hillsborough Justice Campaign
shop situated opposite the Albert pub. All are welcome.
Pubs around the ground
The Albert - Right next to the Kop - famous for its atmosphere/singing.
Bedecked in football memorabilia from past teams and past visitors. Quite
good for a sing song (especially post a great victory). Full of memorabilia
and scarves from around the world. Footy on show. Juke Box never really
recovered from Mushy's attention.
The Sandon - Birthplace of Everton and Liverpool. Bit further down
Walton Breck Road on the left just past the garage. Huge pub with many
large rooms and big screen in the back room for live footy. Fave haunt of
many a RAWKite spilling out onto the "sun terrace". If you can't be arsed
waiting at the bar you can buy bottled beer from the bottle bar at the foot
of the staircase.
Sam Dodd's Wine Bar - little further still down Walton Breck Road
- obviously they sell wine too ::) er not much else to say really but
owned by the same people as the Sandon and home to some of the staunchest home and away regulars following LFC.
The Park - packed, sweaty, loud and probably best avoided. Right
opposite the Kop and Albert. Not one of our favourites. Bob K thinks it's
shite too
The Arkles - usually the pub for away support because of its
proximity to the Annie Road End but has a loyal Red following as well who
enjoy the banter - might see a few famous faces in there after the game
getting a quick bevvy.
The Salisbury (Little Solly) - handy stop between the Albert and
Stanley. Front and back bars, barely 5 minutes from the Kop.
The Stanley (Hotel) - by the traffic lights on the junction of
Walton Breck Road and Sleepers Hill. Top pub with a great vocal tradition
after the game. Serves highly recommended bowls of scouse pre-game.
The Flat Iron (Breckside) - very distinctively shaped pub, always
busy.
The Cabbage Hall - big pub at the top of Breck Road. Popular with
big screen. Good for a relaxed pre-match beer.
Other Stuff to do in the City:
Albert Dock and Waterfront Complete with Maritime Museum, Tate Gallery,
Fred's Weather Map, Museum of Liverpool Life, Mersey Ferries, Waterfront
Buildings, Beatle Museum
Williamson Tunnels
Tour and find out about the weird and seemingly pointless maze of 19th
century tunnels underneath the city
Theatres
Empire Theatre,
Playhouse, Everyman,
Royal Court
Unity theatre
as well as other smaller venues
Music Venues
Philharmonic Hall
Liverpool Academy - Mount Pleasant (Student's Union)
Carling Academy
The Olympia, West Derby Road
Kings Dock Arena
The Cavern, Mathew Street
Barfly
Pacific Road, Birkenhead
The Zanzibar Club - Seel Street
Central Docks Summer Pops info
Cinema
Odeon London Road
picturehouse at FACT
(which has the advantage of sofa seating and a bar that allows to to take
drinks into the cinema.
Philharmonic Hall - also shows a lot of film on the world's only surviving
Walterdaw cinema screen, and with an organist in a kilt rising out of the stage
with the screen : classic.
Museums and Galleries:
Liverpool Museum
Merseyside Maritime Museum
The Beatles Story
The Conservation Centre
Customs & Excise Museum
Museum of Liverpool Life
Western Approaches Museum
Tate, Liverpool
Walker Art Gallery
The FACT Centre (film, art, creative technology)
Bluecoat Chambers
Open Eye Gallery
Matthew Street Gallery
Comedy
Apart from Goodison Park Rawhide is the big comedy venue/ organisation 0870 787 1866 now moved and based at The Royal Court.
Comedy Kitchen @ Citadel
Laughterhouse @ Slaughterhouse
Philharmonic Hall has plenty of comedy too.
Cathedrals
Both are magnificent pieces of modern architecture in contrasting styles
at either end of Hope Street. Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King
Completed in 1967 is now open to visitors after refurbishment.
Liverpool Cathedral was completed in 1978 and is the largest anglican
cathedral in Britain.
St Georges Hall
confronts you as you exit Lime Street Station and is one of the finest
neo-classical buildings in the world. Now open again after a facelift.
Aintree Racecourse
Plays host to a number of meetings throughout the year including the most
famous steelplechase in the world - the John Smiths Grand National. Easiest
way to get there from the city centre is on the Merseyrail Northern Line to
Aintree station.
Other Landmarks
St John's Beacon
Every city that was half decent had a revolving restaurant in the 60s. This
was Liverpools. For years after the revolving gear mechanism broke down
it lay derelict before Radio City stuck a transmitter on the top and moved in.
Super Lamb Banana
half lamb, half banana sculpture currently situated on Wapping Dock.
Frequently gets painted different colours in the night by pranksters. Originally
cost £35,000 when created in 1998 - so spare change for Stevie G then.
Pubs
Evo has made a few suggestions in a thread of his own here
but then he's an arl arse ;) Liverpool city centre is brimming with bars
and pubs - it's impossible to keep up with them all. You may find a few
RAWKites lurking in Dr Duncans by Queens Square on a match day.
Nightlife - Centred around Matthew Street area, Albert Dock and Concert
Square/Ropewalks . Night time brings the revellers out in force wandering
between the areas. For those of you wanting Nightlife without any clothes
on, Liverpool has a number of lap dancing bars dotted around the city
centre. Aphrodites, Angels, X in the City , Sugar Fantasy Bar, and
Phantasy Club are longest established
Eating Out
Liverpool city centre is packed full of coffee shops, sandwich bars and
fast food eateries, too many to mention. If you're after posh nosh for a
sit down meal and fancy splashing the cash around - here's a guide to
the best restaurants in the city centre:
60 Hope Street
At the Anglican Cathedral end of Hope Street. Posh British nosh with a
lean towards seafood. Reservations essential most times really.
Underneath is the more informal 60 Cafe bar (same food - different price)
Anderson's Bar 243 1330 Exchange Street East - Choice of food,
drinks and tapas throughout the day
Ask
Italian / Mediterranean cuisine in the Queens Square complex
Azzurro
Small but pleasant Italian restaurant on Berry Street. House Wines
available and a BYO policy.
Baby Cream
Part of the lyceum group of bar/restaurants. On the site of the old
"Beige" bar at the albert dock.
Tear & share menu and cocktails and a facility to burn your own
compilation cd's too. Very swanky.
The Bar and Grill Formerly Prohibition and before that - Life cafe.
Situated in the old Lyceum club at the bottom of Bold Street.
- Swankily refurbished.
Bistro Pierre 0151 227 2577
formerly Pierre Vittoire on Button Street in the Cavern Quarter -
charming relaxed French bistro
Blue
Modern Bar/restaurant that forms part of the lyceum group of Albert Dock
venues.
Blundell Street
Situated behind the McNasty's on Wapping. European Cuisine in a jazz-club
type venue with various live acts on throughout the night. Supper menu
too served from 11pm. Very handy for the Dolby Hotel! Now also branched
out to "The supper Club" catering for late munchies and big parties.
Bluu
Funky English restaurant in the Tea Factory development (next to FACT)
complete with VIP area and downstairs club too. 0151 709 8462
Caesar's Palace
708 7787 Renshaw Street - American style family restaurant
Christakis
Liverpool's latest Greek restaurant just off Duke Street (next to St
Petersburg) Belly dancing and plate smashing compulsory
708 7377
The Courtyard
Situated behind Rigby's on Dale Street. English / Fusion food. 0151 236 5556
Chung Ku
Chinese restaurant just slightly outside the city centre on Riverside Drive
however the setting with views over the Mersey is excellent.
Colin's Bridewell
Converted old police station just off Duke Street - complete with intimate
cells and a resident ghost.
Excellent food. Sunday roast very good too 707 8003
Don Pepe's
Amiable Spanish Restaurant on Victoria Street. Often having wine-tasting
evenings.
Ego
Mediterranean restaurant on Hope Street next to the Philharmonic Hall.
El Macho
Long established Mexican restaurant on Hope Street.
Est Est Est
Italian eatery in the Albert Dock. They have also recently opened a slightly
more upmarket "brassiere" on the site of the old What's Cooking.
Everyman Bistro 0151 708 9545
on Hope Street underneath Everyman theatre. Fresh food - favourite
haunt of students and arty types.
Filini
the restaurant in the new Radisson hotel. Posh Italian - rather nice.
Floor One - at The Baltic Fleet
Bistro serving English cuisine above one of the best known pubs in Liverpool
handy for the docks Great Sunday Lunch
Il Forno
new Italian on Duke Street (next to Soporro)
Golden Phoenix
Chinese on Hanover Street - been there since 1965
Ha Ha!
Recently opened Cafe bar in Albert Dock - Canteen, bar and restaurant
areas - weird!
Heart & Soul
Newish Cafe/ Restaurant / Bar on Mount pleasant in converted old
Victorian building.
Honey Harmony
Started out as a cocktail bar in Queens Square - now aiming a little more
downmarket it seems.
Italian Kitchen
in Queens square (where L'Allouette used to be) Very friendly Italian
restaurant serving quite late too.
La Cantina
Spanish tapas restaurant in Temple Court in the business district.
La Tasca
Part of the Spanish Tapas restaurant chain situated in Queen's Square.
Children Welcome. Pre-theatre menu available.
La Viña
Recently opened Tapas bar on North John Street. My favourite albondigas
in town already.
Late Lounge Victoria Street
Trendy but friendly they say. Food, bar, Djs. 0151 236 4832
The Lobby
Sandwiched between Mathew Street and Victoria Street - Cocktail bar with food
(looks like a bookmakers from the outside)
The Living Room
Bar Restaurant on Victoria Street with various levels of VIP room
depending on how famous you are, named Mosquito Bar and Vampire Suite.
The London Carriage Works
New swanky restaurant part of the Hope Street Hotel. Phenomenal wine
list and excellent food. Posh decor too. Wonderful piano bar underneath
usually frequented by pseudo celebs.
The
Lower Place
Situated underneath the Philharmonic Hall and also run by Paul Askew (see
London Carriage Works) Won Liverpool restaurant of the Year award for
2002. European Cuisine.
The Magnet
Hardman Street 0151 7091998
diner style restaurant. Quite relaxed for a city centre bar.
Maharajah
Very good new Indian restaurant on London Road next to the Odeon.
Marquee
Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine in the bar/restaurant/music venue in
Victoria Street
Metro
Basement bar/restaurant with European cuisine and regular live music in
Victoria Street.
Ming Sum
Large Chinese buffet restaurant in St John's Precinct (Opposite Lime
Street Station) Good value nosh popular with students, visitors and Roger
Mister M's
Seafood Restaurant in the corner of the Albert Dock. Pick your own lobster.
The Monroe
Situated on Duke Street amidst all the Ropewalks redevelopment.
Liverpool's first Gastro-pub with fine quality British Food in a pub-type
environment.
The Office Concert Square - sharing platters etc. DJs take
over in the evening
The Olive Press
Paul Heathcote's little brother - Pizzeria and Itallian Bistro on Water street.
Popular at lunchtime with the city centre workers.
Orchid Spring
Thai restaurant on Paradise Street - Getting good reviews 0151 708 8400
Piccolino
New restaurant and bar on Cook Street - looks promising - from
the same people that brought us Est Est Est 0151 236 2555
Pacific Bar
Another of Liverpool's Bar/Restaurants - this one on Temple Street.
Pan American Bar
Part of the Lyceum group of bar/restaurants at the Albert Dock - situated
in the old This Morning studios.
The Place
John Aldridge's gaf of Victoria Street. Bar Restaurant with VIP area too
Puschka [/url]
Funky bistro on the edge of Liverpool's Georgian quarter - Rodney Street
The Quarter
The owners of 60 Hope Street recently opened this bistro / pizzeria style
restaurant round the corner on Faulkner Street. Seems to be doing quite
well.
Sapporo Teppanyaki
Japanese restaurant on Duke Street, East Village. Excellent fun as
cleaver-wielding chef's prepare your food at your table.
Shere Khan
Posh Indian situated on Berry Street - part of the chain of Rusholme based
restaurants.
St John's Restaurant & Bar
In Sir Thomas Hotel - A favourite haunt of Rafa so it's said.
St.Petersburg
Authentic Russian Restaurant just off Duke Street amidst the Ropewalks
redevelopment. Fine collection of vodkas, live music and a dance floor
too.
Shapla
Posh looking Bengali restaurant on Whitechapel.
Simply Heathcotes
In Beetham Plaza, Opposite the Liver Buildings. Branch of celebrated chef
Paul Heathcote's empire.
Modern European Cuisine.
Sultan's Palace 0151
227 9020
Excellent Indian Cuisine - NOT your average 2 pints of lager and a curry
place. Very unusual and varied menu - situated underneath The Mandarin
The Tavern Co
Mexican BBQ restaurant in Queens Square - branch of the Smithdown road
restaurant.
Tea House Cafe 0151 707 2088
Hong Kong style cafe in the Bohemian Bold Street area.
Tso's
0151 709 2811
Posh looking Chinese restaurant in the Queens Square complex facing St
George's Hall
Uncle Sam's
Large American - style diner on Renshaw street has the recommendation of
"Explicit" (think it used to be Cesar's Palace) - and he hasn't had the shits
yet either ;D
Valparaiso
Very good Chilean restaurant on Hardman Street
Villa Romana 0151 708 8004
Wood Street pizzeria.
Very reasonable
Vodka Kitchen
Cavern Quarter 0151 236 0905
11am - 7pm in the Revolution bar. Some interesting uses of vodka in the menu !
Vue bar
Campbell Square (opposite Colins Bridewell)
Trendy bar in the rapidly developing East Village. Tapas and an a la
carte menu. Tables outside
WHAT'S ON: Festivals and Events
To be updated
WHAT'S ON: Gig Guide
A separate Gig Guide has been launched in the Media and Arts section of the RAWK forum. You can find all the latest news on acts appearing in Liverpool by clicking on the link below:
RAWK Gig Guide
WHAT'S ON: Comedy
To be updated
WHAT'S ON: Theatre, Stage, Musical, Shows
To be updated
BSBW:
Outstanding bit of work, well done.
rocco:
Just booked into the *Radisson Hotel **** , anybody stay there before ? Hope the game isn't changed from a saturday ?
maccie:
hello,
Here from Anderlecht !
Nice topic, thx to terri to introduce me @ this forum
see you next week in Anfield ! :-*
Gina:
Hi,
Coming over from ireland on sunday for the anderlecht game (hopefully we'll have tickets). Staying in the Travel Inn City Centre. Anybody know if it's an ok hotel? Also, just tried to book the museum and stadium tour to be told it's all booked out.....is there any other way of getting tickets for it? Sorry for being a pest, thanks a mill....
Gina
P.S. Thanks for the guide Rushian, it's a great help
Me again.....had the best time ever, cant wait to go over again!! Thanks a million!
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