Merchant Living

ALBERT DOCK & THE DUCK TOUR

Just a short stroll from Merchant Quarters, the Albert Dock is a truly stunning architectural triumph. This 19th century warehouse buildings has been converted into an award winning attraction, housing cafe bars, restaurants, shops, The Beatles Story, Merseyside Maritime Museum, Museum of Liverpool Life, and Tate Liverpool. Duck Tours, (aka The Yellow Duck Marine!) a land and river tour using an amphibian vehicle, also operate from here and are great fun for young & young-at-heart alike.

FOOTBALL CRAZY

Take your pick of colour - Red or Blue - and take a tour around the football stadiums of Liverpool or Everton.

BEATLE MANIA!

The Beatles Story at Albert Dock is always popular, as is the Magical Mystery Tour around the Beatles sites of Liverpool. If a formal tour is not so appealing, take a Fab Four taxi or walk down to the Cavern Walks and maybe visit the re-built Cavern Club itself.

CATHEDRALS - WE’VE GOT ONE TO SPARE!

The Liverpool Metropolitan (Roman Catholic) Cathedral was designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd with impressive interior lantern tower of multi-coloured glass was opened in 1967. A visitors centre is now open incorporating, The Piazza cafe bar, gift shop and information.

The Liverpool Anglican Cathedral is the largest Anglican Cathedral in the world and one of the great buildings of the twentieth century. The tower offers the highest public viewing point in the City (worth the climb!) and offer a unique perspective on the city. The Cathedral abounds in superlatives: highest gothic arches, largest organ, heaviest ring of bells but the grandeur is balanced by a great sense of welcome and peace. The refectory is also a good place for lunch.

PIER HEAD & MERSEY FERRY

For nearly a century the Three Graces - The Royal Liver Building, The Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building - have defined one of the world’s most recognised skylines. There's also no better way to experience Liverpool and Merseyside than from the deck of the Mersey Ferry. Take the Ferry Across the Mersey Experience to learn about the city region's fascinating history, see its spectacular sights and discover its unique character.

ANOTHER PLACE - CROSBY BEACH

A spectacular sculpture by Angel of the North artist Antony Gormley is on view on Crosby beach (c. 6miles but an easy drive). Another Place consists of 100 cast-iron, life-size figures spread out along 3km of the foreshore, stretching almost 1km out to sea. The figures - each one weighing 650Kg – are, all of them looking out to sea, staring at the horizon in silent expectation. We’d recommend this one!

MUSEUMS….HERE’S JUST A FEW!

The New World Museum: This simply has thousands of fascinating exhibits including World Cultures, the Bug House, a new Aquarium, the Weston Discovery Centre, Clore Natural History Centre and Treasure House Theatre with their thrilling hands-on experiences.

The Merseyside Maritime Museum is in a former bonded warehouse, part of the historic Albert Dock on the banks of the River Mersey. The museum, opened in 1980, tells the story of one of the world's greatest ports and the people who used it. The museum's collections reflect the international importance of Liverpool as a gateway to the world, including the city's role in the transatlantic slave trade and emigration.

The HM Customs & Excise National Museum tells the exciting story of smuggling and contraband from the 1700s to the present day. Other items look at the ingenious and often dangerous world of smuggling, prohibited goods and concealment. Discover just how far some people will go to try and avoid paying their duty!

National Conservation Centre - Visitors can now discover how everything in the collection of National Museums is cared for, from fine art and sculptures to space suits and ancient archaeological treasures, through interactive displays, demonstrations and live video links to conservators' studios.

Western Approaches Museum (1 Rumford Street) - Visit the underground labyrinth of rooms, once a top-secret nerve centre in 1940s wartime Britain including the decoding room, in which the ENIGMA decoding machine was kept. It’s a hidden treasure and open from March to October Monday - Thursday and Saturday 10.30 - 4.30. Last admission 3.30

ART GALLERIES

Walker Art Gallery - Internationally important collection of art from the 14th to the 20th century. Especially rich in European Old Masters, Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite pictures and modern British works.

Lady Lever Art Gallery - Set in the attractive garden village of Port Sunlight, the Lady Lever Art Gallery is famous for its collections of 18th and 19th century paintings, 18th century furniture and outstanding Wedgwood. It’s also an opportunity to visit the beautiful village built by Lord Lever to house his workers.

Tate Liverpool - Tate Liverpool is one of the largest galleries of modern and contemporary art outside London and is housed in a beautiful converted warehouse in the historic Albert Dock, Tate Liverpool is the home of the National Collection of Modern Art in the North.

CAINS BREWERY TOUR

Gone are the days when Liverpool was home to many fine breweries but we’re extremely proud of the biggest one we still have - Cains. You can take a tour of the brewery to get a fascinating insight into Merseyside's rich brewing heritage includes two complimentary pints of Cains award winning ales plus a light buffet! (the buffet is not great!) Tours take place Monday through to Friday and begin at 6.30pm - Saturday & Sundays at 1.00PM . Tours must be pre-booked and there is a small charge.  Tours Cost £3.75 per person. (not suitable for the less agile due to being a Victorian Brewery and the number of stairs) Telephone Cains Sales office Mon - Fri 0151 709 8734 - or email: tours@cains.co.uk
[PS. If you like your beer, one of the oldest pubs in Liverpool, the Baltic Fleet, is only down the road and this is the home of the Wapping Brewery - another local gem.]

SEFTON PARK & THE PALM HOUSE

The magnificent 200-acre Sefton Park looks like a natural landscape rather than a man-made park. In spring the sight of millions of golden daffodils around the lake draws residents from across the city and carpets of bluebells give an impression of rural permanence. The park is home to the famous Palm House, aII listed victorian glasshousehas been restored to its former glory. Amongst the park's other features are a boating lake and café.

…..and if none of this appeals to you, why not try our local Theatres or Cinemas?