Liverpool

Liverpool is a city and seaport of northwestern England, where the Mersey River meets the Irish Sea. The city's history has been shaped by its maritime industry, renowned music scene and sports.

On Ferryhopper, you can find the best vacation tips for Liverpool, what to do and see, and how to get there by ferry! Find the crossing that suits you best and book ferry tickets to Liverpool online with no additional fees!

Read our suggestions for your stay in Liverpool and find useful information about its port:

• Holidays in Liverpool
• Liverpool ferry port

The distinctive architecture of Liverpool's Albert Dock

Holidays in Liverpool

For over 800 years, the city's fortunes have been linked to the sea, so if you want to get a true sense of Liverpool, start your tour at the waterfront. Explore the city's stunning architecture, soak up its vibrant atmosphere and wander along the banks of the River Mersey, which is a favorite of the locals.

No trip to Liverpool is complete without taking a museum-hopping tour, as it has one of the most impressive collections of museums in all of Europe. Liverpool is also the birthplace of the Beatles, so if you are a music fan, explore the city and discover the places that inspired their music, or simply visit the Beatles Story Museum for a complete history of the band.

For a 360-degree view of the city, climb to the roof of the Liverpool Cathedral, one of the world's longest cathedrals. If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, visit one of Liverpool's lovely parks or take a boat tour on the River Mersey to see the city from a different perspective. Liverpool is also a great destination for sports fans, as it is home to 2 professional soccer teams, so you can enjoy a game or simply visit the stadiums.

How to get to Liverpool

You can travel to Liverpool by car, train, plane, or ferry. If you want to arrive in Liverpool by car, the drive from London to Liverpool takes approximately 4 hours.

Several English cities, including London, have frequent train connections to Liverpool. You can also fly directly to Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which serves both domestic and international flights. There are frequent bus connections from the airport to the city center of Liverpool.

Alternatively, you can reach Liverpool by ferry, as there are regular ferry crossings that connect England with Ireland and the Isle of Man. For a more comfortable trip, we recommend that you book a cabin and enjoy the fascinating crossing and breathtaking views. Discover more about ferries to Liverpool below!

What to do in Liverpool

One of Liverpool's top tourist destinations is without a doubt the waterfront. The iconic buildings known as "The Three Graces", which stand at the center of Liverpool's Pier Head and symbolize the city's long maritime history, are a sight to behold. Just 10 minutes away, you can visit the famous Royal Albert Dock, which is now a multi-purpose entertainment hub with many art galleries, including the Tate Liverpool, a gallery with amazing contemporary and modern art exhibitions.

Visit the Beatles Museum to learn about the history of one of the world's most influential music bands. Discover Liverpool Cathedral, the biggest cathedral in Britain, known for its gothic design and breathtaking views of the city. In the afternoon, take a stroll through one of the city's most beautiful spots, Sefton Park, and be surrounded by stunning plant life.

If you want a taste of history, you can explore the stories of the transatlantic crossings at the Merseyside Maritime Museum. Your trip to Liverpool wouldn't be complete without a stop at Liverpool ONE, the largest indoor shopping complex in the UK, which has six districts with street markets, fashion department stores, restaurants, and more. Of course, you should also visit some of Liverpool's fancy neighborhoods: from Chinatown, Europe's oldest Chinese community, to the upcoming Baltic Triangle, get ready to hang out where the locals do.

Beautiful sunset colors at Pier Head

Sightseeing in Liverpool

With numerous art galleries, museums, and historical sites, Liverpool is regarded as England's cultural capital.

Among the most beautiful attractions to discover in Liverpool, we recommend:

• The Royal Albert Dock, with its Victorian buildings
• The Beatles Story, the music mecca for the fans of the Fab Four
• The World Museum, for a complete history of the human kind
• The Tate Liverpool, with international modern and contemporary art exhibitions
• The Liverpool Cathedral, the biggest cathedral in Britain
• The Museum of Liverpool, which houses a unique collection of the city's history and culture
• The Walker Art Gallery, with masterpieces by Rubens, Rembrandt and Rodin
• The Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, known also as “Paddy's Wigwam” due to its unique circular shape
• The Saint George's Hall, with its impressive façade
• The Merseyside Maritime Museum, with a collection of artifacts related to seafaring in Liverpool
• The Victoria Gallery and Museum, includes large collections of sculptures, ceramics and paintings
• The Radio City Tower, an observation point with amazing city views

Interesting fact: the Liverpool Cathedral was designed by the same architect who created the country's iconic red telephone boxes.

Stunning aerial view of Liverpool and the Liverpool Cathedral

Nightlife in Liverpool

Liverpool is one of the most vibrant cities in the United Kingdom, with a thriving nightlife scene. Liverpool's nightlife is diverse, with everything from big clubs to historic live music scenes and bars.

The best place to start your night out is without a doubt the Cavern Club. The Beatles performed here before they got their big break, making this thriving underground live music venue famous. Following a few drinks in the Cavern Club, you can check out the other bars in the Cavern Quarter.

Another place to visit is the trendy Baltic Triangle. Originally an industrial factory in the 1800s, this upcoming neighborhood is now crowded with bars and music venues. One of the best places to go out is around Ropewalks and on Seel Street. With its bohemian vibes and variety of options, from cocktail bars to themed clubs, it's unlikely that you won't find the ideal venue for your Liverpool night out here.

Food in Liverpool

Liverpool is a global dining destination, where you can experience a culinary diversity. From high-end eateries to pubs serving traditional Liverpudlian food, the city has something for every palate.

• scouse (meat and vegetable stew that is traditionally served with bread on the side)
• savoury pattie (deep-fried mashed potatoes pattie)
• tarts
• bubble and squeak (a dish of leftover boiled cabbage, potatoes fried together)
• toad in the hole (a Yorkshire pudding stuffed with sausages)
• wet Nelly (traditional sweet bread pudding spiced with mixed spice and served with custard)
• Everton mints (mint toffee sweet with black and white stripes)
• Liverpool bunloaf (cake with ginger, raisins, currants, and cherries)

Wet Nelly, the traditional Liverpool dessert

Tips

Here are 3 tips that we hope will be useful to you during your stay in Liverpool:

1. Avoid visiting Liverpool on game days if you don't like crowds. If you plan to attend a game, keep in mind that on these days the accommodation prices tend to rise, so it's always a good idea to make your reservations in advance.
2. Although the majority of Liverpool's museums are free to enter, you may encounter temporary exhibits that charge admission. Pre-booking is advised for these, especially on weekends.
3. Take a food tour and spend the day discovering the city's culinary traditions.

Useful information about Liverpool

Visitors to Liverpool can enjoy a variety of amenities and activities. If you want to experience Liverpool's multicultural food scene, Bold Street is a haven of eateries that will fulfill any foodie's dreams. Lark Lane, Castle Street, and Royal Albert Dock are great places to find more restaurants and bars.

Regarding accommodation, there are many different hotels available, as well as some more budget-friendly choices for students and backpackers. If you are traveling on a budget, there are more options outside of the center, but there are also some hostels in the center. The Albert Dock is also a good place to stay in Liverpool if you want to go sightseeing.

As for health care, there are several hospitals both in the city and in the metropolitan county of Merseyside. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the biggest and busiest hospital in Merseyside.

The popular statues of the Beatles in Liverpool

Important phone numbers for your stay in Liverpool

Here are some phone numbers that might prove useful during your stay in Liverpool:

• Liverpool City Council: +441512333000
• Merseyside Police: +441517096010
• Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service: +441512964000
• North West Ambulance Service: +441512605220
• 12 Quays Ferry Terminal: +443447707070
• Birkenhead Coast Guard: +441516323231
• Tourist Information Center: +441513510300
• European emergency number: 112

Transportation in Liverpool

Liverpool is a great city for walking and you can easily explore its parks and river banks on foot. Because Liverpool's city center is small, cycling around is a simple and convenient way to get more done in a day. You can also use the Liverpool cycle map, which shows where there is bike parking near the majority of venues.

Exploring Liverpool by bus is a green and cost-effective way to get around the city. Liverpool ONE and Queen Square are the two primary bus terminals that make up Merseytravel's bus network.

Merseyrail trains run frequently throughout the day across 68 stations in and around Liverpool. Liverpool's 4 underground stations, Liverpool Lime Street, Liverpool Central, Moorfields, and Liverpool James Street, make it simple to get around the city and give you more time to explore all that Liverpool has to offer.

Crossing the River Mersey on a ferry is without doubt an unforgettable experience. Go to Pier Head in Liverpool and take a cruise across the River Mersey to the Seacombe Ferry Terminal in the Wirral. Of course, if you want to take a taxi, Liverpool Lime Street Station has a taxi rank right outside the station.

Port in Liverpool

Serving both Mersey River banks, Liverpool ferry port offers sailings to the Isle of Man, Ireland and Northern Ireland. As one of the UK's busiest passenger ports, there are several crossings per day via all routes.

The departure point for the crossings between Liverpool and Belfast is the Stena Line Liverpool Port, which is situated at 12 Quays Terminal in Birkenhead. The terminal is approximately 10 minutes from the M53 motorway and 7 minutes from the Mersey tunnel leading to Liverpool city center. By taking the train to Birkenhead Hamilton Square Railway from Liverpool Central Railway Station, it is simple to get to the port.

Birkenhead's modern 12 Quays ferry terminal features a check-in hall, a cafeteria, a lounge, covered check-in areas for cars, and bus and taxi pick-up points. Long and short-term parking at the ferry port is limited.

Liverpool ferry: schedules and tickets

If you are leaving from Northern Ireland, you can easily travel to the port of Liverpool (Birkenhead) by ferry! The year-round ferry service between Belfast and Liverpool is usually run by Stena Line.

Belfast - Liverpool ferry: there are up to 2 daily crossings on the Belfast to Liverpool ferry route. Ferry frequency may vary depending on the season and the estimated travel time is around 8 hours.

Important: all ferry routes are operated by conventional ferries that have cabins and garage spaces, and offer pet tickets.

The port of Birkenhead on a sunny day

Where to book Liverpool ferry tickets online

Ready to travel to Liverpool by ferry? Check out all the available ferry connections to Liverpool on our Map of ferries, compare timetables and fares, and book your ferry tickets to Liverpool at the same prices as ferry companies!