Liverpool hotels
Liverpool is one of the most famous cities in the world, largely down to the success of The Beatles who became global superstars in the 60s, and the rich history of both Liverpool and Everton Football Clubs.
| Hotels in the city centre provide a base with a lively atmosphere... |
There are plenty of hotels in Liverpool city centre, providing a central base for you to sit back and relax after a day of sightseeing and taking in the culture and history of Liverpool. If you don't fancy venturing further afield, there is still plenty to see and do around the town centre.
For the music fans, the Albert Dock is home to the Beatles story, a museum and tour through the history of the fab four, while there's the cavern club and pub on Mathew Street with live music on both during the day and at night on weekends, usually playing Beatles tracks. In August, check out the Mathew Street festival, where thousands of people line the streets to hear local bands performing on the outdoor stages. There's even the Hard Day's night Beatles themed hotel, decorated with memorabilia and rooms named after the band members.
The Albert Dock is also home to the Maritime Museum and the Tate gallery, along with the yellow 'duckmarine' tour; an amphibious vehicle that tours the city and finishes by driving straight into the water on the docks, which are in close proximity to the new Liverpool One shopping complex, where there are a couple of luxury hotels such as the Hilton and the Radisson, helping to make your stay in Liverpool that extra bit special.
Hotels in the city centre provide a base with a lively atmosphere and easy access to Liverpool's fantastic shopping. Approximately 4 miles from the city, the Sefton Park and Lark Lane areas also offer a range of decent hotels within a locale oozing with character. Access to the M62 motorway is also very easy from this location.
Liverpool hotels are best sourced using our price comparison tool before booking in advance to reserve your rooms. Unless you particularly want to be in town for the Grand National, avoid the days surrounding this event as prices rise steeply and availability is scarce.
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After more than a decade of regeneration, Liverpool’s continuing renaissance and a transformed economy have given the city and its people a new confidence. Football-crazy and with a rich musical heritage, the city’s European Capital of Culture year in 2008 further enhanced its reputation.
From the Mersey Ferry, views of Liverpool’s magnificent waterfront are dominated by the Royal Liver Building, topped by the city’s iconic “Liver Birds”. Just to the south, the Tate Liverpool and Merseyside Maritime Museum are both housed in the revitalised Albert Dock, while Liverpool Cathedral, one of two in the city, is a neo-Gothic masterpiece.
Well-established department store John Lewis has relocated, moving from pedestrianised Church Street to Liverpool One. Browse at designer label stores in the Met Quarter on Whitechapel or take a stroll up Bold Street to check out quality one-off fashion boutiques, vintage clothes shops and good international food stores. Head to Mathew Street for the excellent Beatles Shop.
Head to the waterfront to relax in the open space of the Pier Head Piazza. The so-called Three Graces - the Royal Liver, the Cunard and the Port of Liverpool Buildings - give the area historic character and there are lawns and statues along the river front. Chavasse Park provides a large area of greenery in the heart of the city.
The Playhouse and Everyman lead a thriving theatre scene, while the Walker Art Gallery and Tate Liverpool present major exhibitions. Go back to the Sixties at the Beatles Story museum in Albert Dock and the Cavern Club in Mathew Street. Top bands play at the Academy and the new Echo Arena, while the Korova hosts up-and-coming acts. The Liverpool Philharmonic Hall is home to the long-established Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
The city centre offers a variety of culinary treats. Concert Square has a mix of relaxed restaurants and bistros, while Bold Street offers European eateries and café bars. Chinatown, around Berry Street, draws diners into its fragrant restaurants, and the East Village has an exciting new restaurant quarter.
Richard Wilson’s public artwork, Turning the Place Over, at Cross Keys House in Moorfields, demands a double take: a huge circular section of a building pops out and rotates every few seconds. A few miles up the coast, Anthony Gormley has put Crosby beach on the map with his installation, Another Place, peppering the sands with 100 cast-iron figures.
Bring an open mind and a sense of humour. The locals like a laugh and are more than willing to turn visitors on to the charms of their beloved city.
Have a flutter in April at the Grand National, the world’s greatest steeplechase. In May, find your inner bookworm at the acclaimed Writing on the Wall literary festival. Surrender to the rhythm during the UK’s leading African music festival, Africa Oyé, in June. In August the Mathew Street Festival transforms the city centre into a huge street party with outdoor stages.
New Year's Day, Good Friday (Mar/Apr), Easter Monday (Mar/Apr), Early May Bank Holiday, Spring Bank Holiday (May), Summer Bank Holiday (Aug), Christmas Day (25 Dec), Boxing Day (26 Dec).
The months from November to February are the coldest, but the temperature rarely dips below freezing even in January. April is known for its showers, while May to August is the warmest period (up to 27°C). Unless Liverpool is experiencing a heatwave, there is no need for air-conditioning in your hotel room.
240V AC, 50 Hz, three-pin plugs are standard
+44 (national), (0) 151 + seven-figure number (Liverpool)
Pound sterling (£) is the local currency
GMT precisely (+1 in British summertime)
Choose casual wear with designer labels on the street by day. When night falls, think smart, glitzy and most definitely dressed to kill.
Enjoy the warm welcome and buzz of a revitalised city and its people. Don’t forget to look up - from the UNESCO World Heritage-listed waterfront to its two cathedrals, the city’s architecture is as diverse as it is stunning.
The Albert Dock is Liverpool’s showcase redeveloped urban heritage site, with shops, restaurants and attractions including Tate Liverpool and the Merseyside Maritime Museum. Fab Four fanatics make a beeline for The Beatles Story or take the Magical Mystery Tour, visiting Penny Lane, Strawberry Field and the group’s childhood homes.
Discover centuries-worth of painting and decorative art across town at the Walker Art Gallery, and historic treasures from around the globe at the World Museum Liverpool. Check out the latest in film and new media at the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology (FACT). The beautiful, multicoloured stained glass crown of the Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral rises up just half a mile away from the towering edifice of the Anglican Liverpool Cathedral, at the other end of Hope Street.
Entry to all the National Museums Liverpool, including the World Museum, Walker Art Gallery, Merseyside Maritime Museum and International Slavery Museum, is free. Tate Liverpool is also free, but there are admission charges for selected exhibitions. Try and catch Tate Until Late, with special events until 9pm on the last Thursday of the month.
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