2 days in... Liverpool

With an abundance of culture, an impeccable sporting and musical pedigree, loads of shopping and a vast array of nightlife hot spots, Liverpool has plenty to keep you occupied during a mini break. We pick our must-dos for 48 hours in perhaps the UK’s friendliest city.

DAY ONE

9am: Cruise round the sights
The simplest way to get your bearings is with a hop-on, hop-off bus tour around the city centre. Have an entertaining history lesson while saving your feet, then select the stops where you’d like to disembark to explore further. Several tours also offer an option to take a ferry across the Mersey (with, or occasionally without, a Gerry and the Pacemakers soundtrack).

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Mersey Ferries (@mersey_ferries) on May 10, 2019 at 8:31am PDT

12pm: Battle of the cathedrals
Liverpool is home to two architecturally jaw-dropping cathedrals, and the good news is they live at opposite ends of the same street! Admire the Victorian Gothic splendour of the Anglican cathedral (be sure to climb the tower for impressive views of the city centre and the Mersey), then stroll down Hope Street to the Catholic cathedral to witness its modern light-filled atrium.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Liverpool Cathedral (@livcathedral) on May 28, 2019 at 11:30pm PDT

2pm: A special toilet stop
To rest your neck after gazing up at the pair of splendid cathedrals, settle in for a pie and a pint at the Philharmonic Dining Rooms. Originally a Victorian gentleman’s club, this is reputedly the most decorated pub in England. Be sure to visit the Grade I-listed gents' toilets, a masterpiece of mosaic tiles. After lunch, take a stroll around the corner to St Luke's, a bombed-out church that's now a peaceful, poignant local landmark.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by The Philharmonic Pub (@thephilharmonic) on May 26, 2016 at 3:23am PDT

5pm: Beatlemania
No visit to Liverpool is complete without a sprinkling of the Fab Four. The Magical Beatles Museum has over 400 rare pieces of memorabilia spread over five floors. You can also book in advance with the National Trust to take the Beatles' Childhood Homes tour to see where John Lennon and Paul McCartney grew up and wrote their first songs together.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Marcela Castellanos (@marcelacastellanossteffens) on Jul 10, 2019 at 6:48am PDT

8pm: The Cavern Quarter
Live music abounds in this lively district, with 1960s tunes pouring out of subterranean spaces. The Cavern Club on Mathew Street, where the Beatles played their early concerts, is an essential stop for a beer and a bop.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Saul (@saulvilla17) on Oct 28, 2018 at 8:48am PDT

DAY TWO

9am: Get your footie fix
Liverpool Football Club's Anfield stadium and Everton FC's Goodison Park, which are both open for tours, take about 15 minutes to reach by car from the city centre. See the turf where some of the best perms of the 1980s made footballing history.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Football Vintage (@football_vintage_classic) on Dec 16, 2018 at 12:02pm PST

12pm: Head down to the docks
Head to the river to see the Three Graces -- the Royal Liver Building, the Port of Liverpool Building and the Cunard Building -- and Royal Albert Dock. The dock's red-pillared warehouses are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and constitute the largest concentration of Grade I-listed buildings in the UK. While you’re down at the dock, immerse yourself in history and culture, too -- it's home to a plethora of museums and galleries, including The Beatles Story, the Merseyside Maritime Museum and Tate Liverpool.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Royal Albert Dock Liverpool (@thealbertdock) on Jul 14, 2019 at 9:44am PDT

2pm: 360-degree views
The observation platform at St Johns Beacon is a unique way to see the Liverpool landscape from a splendid vantage point. Ascend 400 feet to take in amazing views of Liverpool's Waterfront, the Wirral and North Wales.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Drew Heaslip (@drewheaslip) on Jul 17, 2019 at 9:10am PDT

5pm: Shop till you drop
With more than 170 stores, the Liverpool ONE shopping and leisure complex provides an excellent workout for your credit card. Fortunately, there’s also a multitude of bars and restaurants for a stiff drink after all that spending.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Liverpool ONE (@liverpool_oneofficial) on Jun 19, 2019 at 1:35am PDT

8pm: Fill your belly
Founded in 1858, Cains Brewery Village is a one-stop shop for a night out -- it's chock-full of independent bars, coffee shops and food stalls. If fine dining is more your thing, be sure to book a table at The Art School Restaurant, where chef Paul Askew showcases the best local produce and seasonal ingredients in a dazzling tasting menu.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Cains Brewery Village (@cainsbreweryvillage) on Jul 14, 2019 at 12:54am PDT