Old Moaner Travel
I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list
Liverpool
Getting There.
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John Lennon Airport, seven miles outside the city, serves Liverpool although, unsurprisingly, it is only served by budget or charter airlines with the scheduled carriers preferring to use Manchester Airport instead.
Getting from the airport to the city isn't that easy with the only direct public transport link being a bus service. The nearest railway station is LIverpool Parkway, some three miles away served by bus or taxi.
Liverpool Lime Street is the main railway station for the city with services to many parts of the country, although the station is being renovated in the summer of 2018, resulting in station closures. On a more positive Merseyrail operates a comprehensive local network throughout the city and surrounding area.
Attractions
Liverpool has a massive seafaring heritage although the port is now very much a shadow of its former self. A large are of old Docklands has been converted into ubiquitous Dockland developments, the most well known being Albert Docks. I have to say Albert Docks is one of the better dockland developments in the country and it forms a centre for performing arts, shopping and water festivals.
The Waterfront area is a deserved World Heritage site. The Beatles Story tells the story of the Fab 4 from humble beginnings through to international super stardom. Also Beatles related is the Magical Mystery Tour, a two hour city tour visiting Beatles related sites. The Beatles Story is open every day apart from Christmas Day, with times varying by day and season. Admission is adults £16.95, concessions £12.50 and children £10. The Magical Mystery Tour has regular daily departures from 10:00 each day, with tickets costing £18.95 a head, no concessions or child reductions and advanced booking is recommended.
For culture vultures Albert Docks is home to the Liverpool branch of Tate Modern, known as Tate Liverpool, free admission with charges for special special exhibitions.
Unsurprisingly the docks are home to a Maritime Museum and an interesting Museum of Slavery.
The immodestly named World Museum is exactly that, a museum telling the history of the world, indeed not content with the world it also has a Planetarium venturing out into deepest space. Open daily from 10:00 - 17:00 admission is free.
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Moving away from the docks it's possible to explore behind the scenes of the Mersey Tunnel. the tour includes a visit to the control room, a chance to visit the service tunnels and escape routes and to see the giant extraction fans which remove exhaust fumes. the tours take 2-3 hours and take place Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 17:00 and Saturday morning at 10:00. Advanced booking is required and the charge is £6. be warned, however, there are many steps to negotiate and it can be cold and wet, so you need to be fit and bring along appropriate clothing.
The British Music Experience tells the broader story of British popular music. It includes costumes and instruments from the biggest names in British music including Freddie Mercury, Dusty Springfield, David Bowie and many more. There is a chance to play an instrument or display your vocal talents in the sound booth. Summer hours are 09:00 - 18:00 daily and winter hours, 10:00 - 17:00 Wednesday to Sunday. Adults £16, concessions £14.50 and children £11.

If you fancy life on the wild side then Knowsley Safari Park could be the place to visit, cheaper than most similar sites in the country admission is £17.50 for adults, £13.50 for concessions and children. As a nice touch serving members of the armed forces get in free. Opening times are seasonal with the opening time being 10:00 and the closing time depending on the time of year.
Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral is the 5th largest in Europe and one of the newest. Admission to the building is free but it's well worth splashing out a fiver have an audio guide and the opportunity to limb the tower for some spectacular views over the city.
The Mersey Ferry is as ubiquitous as San Fransisco's cable cars or New York's yellow cabs and as well as being the best way to cross the Mersey it's a great way to view the city from the perspective of the water. there are plenty of options from a simple ferry crossing, through to a 50 minute tour, as well as a hop-on hop-off service. It's odds-on you'll also hear the song Ferry Cross The Mersey played over the boats speakers at some point on your journey. Prices range from £10 to £21.50
The Museum Of Liverpool, open daily 10:00 - 17:00 (closed over the Christmas and New Year period) tells the story of the city in a single location, covering everything from football to music, docks to overhead railways.
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Liverpool is home to two great football teams, well the respective supporters think they're great anyway, with Liverpool in the red corner and Everton in the blue corner.
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Liverpool is also home to horse racings greatest jump race, The Grand National, held at Aintree racecourse every April.
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Return to Coast - Siloth to Hoylake
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