Liverpool

Liverpool is a year-round city. Clearly, it’s busier during school holidays with child-friendly activities staged at many of the galleries and museums. That makes early spring and autumn the optimum times to visit.

It’s busy when the city’s two Premiership teams are playing home games, and when headline acts are playing live events at the Echo Arena, so expect accommodation to come at a premium.

The excellent museums are ideal for rainy days, but the city really comes alive from spring, the perfect time for mooching around the street art of the Baltic Quarter or summer-evening strolls along the waterfront, marvelling at the architecture with drinks to follow.

Most international arrivals to the Merseyside region are coming via Liverpool John Lennon Airport (transfer: 45 mins by bus), or the Cruise Terminal (conveniently, located right on the waterfront). UK visitors transit through the busy Lime Street mainline rail hub and a small network of underground stations loops around four stations across the city.liv

Most of the main attractions are accessible on foot with the majority within the city centre and waterfront areas.

There are regular bus services, centred on the Liverpool ONE interchange, to attractions in the outlying areas, such as Woolton for the Beatles homes and Anfield for the stadium tour.

The Liverpool metro has four stations, including James St for the waterfront. Otherwise, pick up an Uber. Public parking is plentiful but only some hotels have private parking and city-centre traffic is busy.

Picking your district is key. The best is the architecturally interesting Georgian Quarter, which offers a classy counterpoint to the city-centre chain hotels. It’s quieter, away from the stag parties, and handy for performances at the Liverpool Everyman theatre and Liverpool Philharmonic concert hall. It’s also a short walk to attractions, such as the twin cathedrals.

The Moorfields business district is lesser-known but has some great hotels within easy walking distance of the waterfront area. Expect to pick up taxis to get you to dinner reservations and live events — unless you’re heading for the Albert Dock.

The Cavern Quarter is the hub for Beatles fans but expect hotel rates to target high-spending international guests. Avoid Lime Street. While it’s the main rail interchange, it’s not the best district to stay.

Bold Street, behind Central Station, is the foodie hub with al-fresco dining, world-food options, and prices for all budgets. The Ropewalks area a few streets across is lively for late-night action but beware the weekend stag parties.

The Albert Dock has a host of independents, plus outdoor dining, buzzy early-evening bars and sunset views with your cocktails. The London Carriage Works, located near the Philharmonic, remains the centrepoint of Hope’s Street understated yet solidly upmarket restaurant scene.

The behemoth Liverpool ONE shopping centre has all the big-name brands. Alternatively, head to Bold Street for vintage clothes, art supplies and a radical bookshop from the growing band of Liverpool indies.

The Baltic Quarter is also a good hunting ground with the Red Brick Vintage market open daily. Finally, the Albert Dock has some interesting boutiques and galleries for local crafts — plus the Tate Liverpool store.

Central Liverpool is generally safe and compact to explore on foot, although it’s wise to always take sensible precautions. There are generally plenty of people about after a performance at one of the theatres, for example, and train services run until after 11pm.

You may want to avoid the streets around Ropewalks and Bold Street, however, at kicking-out time when the stag and hen parties are at their well-oiled worst.