Things to do in  Liverpool

Discover the home of the world-famous Grand National steeplechase on a trip to Liverpool’s Aintree Racecourse. Dating back to 1829, the main site offers the opportunity to see traditional horse racing on scheduled race days, while its Equestrian Centre, Motor Racing Circuit, and Golf Centre provide alternatives for off-season visits.

Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock, formerly an important industrial center, is now home to popular attractions including Tate Liverpool, Merseyside Maritime Museum, and The Beatles Story. Explore its cobbled paths to gain insight into the city’s heritage, marvel at its architecture, or simply unwind in one of the dock’s many bars or restaurants.

Anfield Stadium, the Liverpool Football Club's home turf, is hallowed ground for Liverpool fans. The 54,000-capacity venue not only hosts matches, but also contains the Liverpool FC Story, a museum chronicling the club's history, and the Steven Gerrard Collection, comprising memorabilia relating to the former captain.

This Beatles-centric museum is stuffed full of Fab Four memorabilia, from George Harrison’s first guitar to John Lennon’s orange-tinted glasses. Exhibits trace the journey of Liverpool’s hometown heroes and the rise of Beatlemania, and include a full-scale replica of the famous Cavern Club and a walk-in yellow submarine.

Famous as the stage where the Beatles made their debut in 1961, Liverpool’s Cavern Club has become a place of legend, hosting not only the Fab Four, but the Who, the Kinks, the Rolling Stones, Queen, Elton John, and many more household names. The influential club remains one of Liverpool’s top live music venues to this day.

Discover a symbol of Liverpool and gain insight into the city’s history with a visit to the National Heritage-listed Liverpool Cathedral. As the largest religious building in Britain, the Anglican cathedral boasts neo-Gothic architecture, distinctive artwork, and a 328-feet (100-meter) tower that provides sweeping views across River Mersey.

Running right through the heart of the city, the Mersey River is the lifeblood of Liverpool, and the city’s iconic ferries have sailed its shores for more than 800 years. Today, the Mersey Ferries remain a must-see attraction for visitors to Liverpool.

Visit the modernist Metropolitan Cathedral and gain insight into Liverpool’s religious history as you explore its crypts, treasury, and unique structure. As you take in its unusual circular design, learn about the Catholic cathedral’s close relationship with its Anglican sister on the other end of Hope Street, or attend a service or concert for an immersive experience.

Made famous by the Beatles song, Penny Lane is lined with shops and small businesses. Before the Beatles hit the big time, John Lennon and Paul McCartney used to catch the bus from here. Some of the places name-checked in the lyrics—such as the shelter in the middle of the roundabout and the barbershop—can still be seen today.

Pier Head serves as the ferry departure point on the River Mersey and as a Liverpool symbol, marked by buildings known as the Three Graces, the most famous of which is the Liver Building, with its Liver Birds. Pier Head, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also home to memorials, the Museum of Liverpool, and Mersey Ferries landing stage.

Inspiring the 1967 Beatles’ song Strawberry Fields Forever, Strawberry Field in the Liverpool suburb of Woolton functioned as a Salvation Army children’s home from 1936 to 2005. As a boy, Lennon would sneak in to play, and enjoyed watching the band at the annual garden party. These experiences would go on to inform his later songwriting.

Take time out from the bustling city streets with a visit to the Walker Art Gallery, home to a diverse collection of artwork that spans eight centuries. Peruse masterpieces by artists, such as Monet, Rembrandt, and David Hockney, and enjoy an experience in the Big Art for Little Artists gallery, a hands-on space designed for young children.

Take a trip back in time and across the river from Liverpool to see the U-Boat Story. As you explore an authentic WWII German submarine recovered in 1993—now a museum boasting interactive displays, accessible viewing windows, and wartime artifacts, including an Enigma machine—gain insight into onboard life and discover the crew’s fate.

Enjoy a break from the bustling city center and discover the historic grounds of Sefton Park, a 200-acre (81-hectare) green getaway that hosts nature trails, children’s play areas, and a boating lake teeming with wildlife. Stroll leafy avenues, explore a Victorian conservatory, or relax in one of the park cafes to absorb the atmosphere of the Grade I English Heritage site.

The Palm House, a Victorian glass conservatory dating back to 1896, stands at the center of Liverpool’s Sefton Park. The octagonal dome houses the Liverpool Botanical Collection, with flora from five continents, and regularly hosts events such as concerts and film screenings.