Liverpool travel guide
Tours, attractions, events and places to stay, picked by people who know the city.
A Victorian port city on the River Mersey, with a waterfront of dock warehouses and the Three Graces at one end and two very different cathedrals on the ridge at the other. The centre is compact and mostly flat between the river and Lime Street, so walk it, and save a ferry crossing for the best view of the skyline.
- Currency
- Pound sterling (£)
- Main airport
- Liverpool John Lennon (LPL)
- Time zone
- GMT, BST in summer
- Paying for transport
- £2 bus singles, cash or contactless
Most-booked tours
Ratings and prices from verified bookings.
ViatorBeatles Magical Mystery Tour
2 hoursFrom £21.95
ViatorA Walk Through Time: History of Liverpool Walking Tour
1.8 hoursFrom £20
ViatorNorth Wales Adventure Sightseeing Day Trip from Liverpool
9.5 hoursFrom £59
ViatorAlcotraz Prison Cocktail Experience in Liverpool
1.8 hoursFrom £51
ViatorLiverpool Ghost Walking Tour
1.5 hoursFrom £20
ViatorPeaky Blinders Tour by Taxi with Private Guide
4 hoursFrom £590
ViatorLiverpool City Sights Hop On Hop Off City Tour - 24hr Ticket
50 minutesFrom £15
ViatorLiverpool: "Blue Route" - City & Beatles Tour
1.5 hoursFrom £22
Day trips from LiverpoolChester, Port Sunlight and the Lady Lever Art Gallery, Crosby Beach and Another Place and moreTop attractions
The sights most visitors build a trip around.
Royal Albert DockFree
Free: Grade I listed docks, The Beatles Story and the river
The Beatles Story
The band's story from Hamburg to Abbey Road, at the Albert Dock
Tickets from £20Anfield Stadium Tour
Dressing room, tunnel, the Kop and six European Cups
Tickets from £26Liverpool CathedralFree
Free: Britain's biggest cathedral and a tower with city views
Museum of LiverpoolFree
Free: the city's story, from trains and docks to music and football
Mersey Ferries River Cruise
A 50-minute river cruise with the classic skyline view
Tickets from £14
More attraction tickets
Tickets via Tiqets. Prices checked at each build.
What's on
Tickets via Ticketmaster and Tiqets. Updated nightly.
Where to stay
Pick a neighbourhood first. Each one suits a different kind of trip.
Waterfront and Albert Dock
River views, the Pier Head and the dock museums on your doorstep · 11 places we rate
Ropewalks and Bold Street
Independent restaurants, bars and an easy walk to Central station · 12 places we rate
Baltic Triangle
Warehouse bars, street food and late nights south of the centre · 7 places we rate
Georgian Quarter
Quiet terraces near both cathedrals, Hope Street and the Philharmonic · 9 places we rate
Lime Street and Cultural Quarter
Arriving by train, St George's Hall and the free museums on William Brown Street · 9 places we rate
Local guides
Plans and tips for getting the most out of Liverpool.
The Beatles in Liverpool: where to go and how to see it
The Beatles Story, the Cavern, Strawberry Field and inside John’s and Paul’s childhood homes: how to plan a Beatles day or two in 2026.
Read the guide · 6 minChristmas in Liverpool 2026: ice rink, markets and light shows
Skate St George’s runs 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with a Christmas market and big wheel. Here are the dates, hours and the best festive events.
Read the guide · 5 minFirst time in Liverpool: a three-day plan
Three days, the waterfront, the Beatles and both cathedrals in a sensible order, with time for a gig at the Cavern.
Read the guide · 5 minFree things to do in Liverpool
Free national museums, two cathedrals, the Albert Dock and a Victorian palm house: Liverpool is one of Britain’s best cities for a day out without tickets.
Read the guide · 5 minDay trips from Liverpool
Easy days out by train or coach.
Getting around
Buses
An adult single bus fare is capped at £2 on every bus service in the Liverpool City Region, all day, every day. Pay the driver in cash or by contactless card or phone. There is no daily contactless cap on buses yet: Merseytravel says capped tap-and-go will launch across the network in autumn 2027, so for now each journey is a separate £2 fare.
Saveaway day ticket
If you will make several journeys, the off-peak Saveaway covers buses, Merseyrail trains and direct Mersey Ferries crossings for a day. It is valid after 9.30am on weekdays and all day at weekends and on bank holidays, and costs £5.10 for one area or £6.80 for all areas. It loads onto a MetroCard, which costs £1 from a Merseyrail station, a Merseytravel Centre or a PayPoint shop. It does not cover the 50-minute sightseeing cruise.
Merseyrail and walking
The underground Loop links Lime Street, Central, Moorfields and James Street stations; James Street is about five minutes on foot from the Royal Albert Dock. In practice most visitors walk: the dock is 15 to 20 minutes from Lime Street through Liverpool ONE, and the waterfront, Mathew Street and the shopping streets sit close together.
Airport transfers
Liverpool John Lennon Airport is about 7km south of the centre. The 500 bus runs to Liverpool ONE Bus Station every 30 minutes from early morning to around midnight, taking about 40 minutes, and the standard £2 single fare applies. The 86A is slower, at about 56 minutes, but runs every 7 or 8 minutes for most of the weekday, via Liverpool South Parkway station.
Compare Liverpool airport transfers and book ahead →
Trains
Liverpool Lime Street is the main station for London, Manchester and the rest of the country, and sits opposite St George's Hall at the top of the city centre.