Liverpool, England

With its musical heritage (The Beatles of course!), museums and galleries, cultural events, sporting events, pubs and dining establishments, Liverpool is a fun destination to visit!

Celebrity Silhouette will dock at the Liverpool Cruise Terminal in Liverpool, England. Nearly everything of interest is within a 10- to 30-minute walk or a short train or boat ride across the River Mersey. Just a bit of trivia – residents of Liverpool are referred to as Liverpudians.
The location is adjacent to the famous skyline trio of the Royal Liver Building, the former Cunard headquarters and the Port of Liverpool Building. These three buildings are called the “Three Graces”. Be sure to check out the Liver birds on top of the Liver building (pronounced Lie-ver); legend says that if they fly away then a great catastrophe will befall the city. For anyone with an interest in history, there’s an interesting plaque, built into a wall on the left of the Pier Head as you look toward the buildings. It commemorates more than a million American soldiers who passed through the port during World War II on their way to free Europe. We owe those men a multitude of thanks.. The plaque is relatively small and you may have to look for it; but stop by, take a photo and remember what we owe them.

It is only a ten minute walk to the Albert Dock for the Merseyside Maritime Museum, the Beatles Story and several good lunch time restaurants. Buses, including the hop-on-hop-off sightseeing tours, are a five-minute walk, while the ferries across the Mersey depart from an adjacent upriver landing stage. The historic center begins one block inland.

Click here for an informative website.
Although the Maritime Museum doesn’t open until 10am the buildings surrounding it are worth a visit themselves. This is the Albert Dock area. For anyone interested there is the Tate Art Gallery in the dock. This is touted to be one of the finest modern galleries outside London. Admission is free, but again it doesn’t open until 10am. After taking a look around the Pier Head and Albert Dock buildings, it should be time for the Maritime Museum to open at 10am. Again, admission is free, and inside you can find information and exhibits tracing the maritime history of this great city from its earliest beginnings right up to the present day. A favorite exhibit is the Titanic exhibition (Titanic was registered in Liverpool, the home of the White Star Line) or the ‘Liverpool in WW2’ area. You can spend up to two hours in here quite easily. There are also outside exhibits such as the Harbour Master’s house and many boats are open to the public. For those who like the Beatles there is a Beatles Museum (entry fee applies) at the Albert Dock. There are also tours which leave from around here. Be aware that this is a tourist area so it will get busy in August. You can get more info, and even book a tour online.

Anyone remember the song “Ferry Cross the Mersey” by Gerry and the Pacemakers? Click here for a YouTube video! After you have finished at the Maritime Museum, you should walk back to the Pier Head (you’ll only be a couple of hundred yards away) and take the Mersey Ferry tour; the first 50 minute tour begins at 10 am. Check out the timetable, so you’re not waiting too long. You can find this and even buy your (cheap) tickets online. The tour will take you about an hour. You can get a snack lunch onboard. After the tour you can then head up into Liverpool proper. Don’t forget you will still be right in front of your ship, so you can even go back on board, freshen up, have lunch and still have a full afternoon ahead.

A taxi up into the city centre will cost very little, as it’s only half a mile or so right up to say Lime Street Station. However, it’s much more interesting on foot. Remember that you are walking in the footsteps of your forefathers when you walk through Liverpool, as something like nine million people passed through the port en route to the new world.

If you're looking for a pub for lunch, try The Pump House. It's located on the dock and we loved it!

Of course, I ordered a pub specialty, beef and Abbott ale pie, and as you can see, I got quite a serving!

 

Those of you who are shoppers can head into the centre and visit the shopping centres in Church Street, Lord Street and the new ‘Liverpool One’ Centre.

Those of you still craving culture should jump a cab up to the Anglican Cathedral and visit the first of our two cathedrals. After visiting the Anglican Cathedral, take a walk back along Hope Street to see the magnificent Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ The King (Paddy’s wigwam to the locals). This was finished in 1967 and mass was said here by Pope John Paul II in 1982.