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Live it up in Liverpool

There’s something to be said for cities that boast just the right architectural mix.

Live it up in Liverpool

A panoramic view of the city and the landmark buildings, the Three Graces, Liverpool



Inder Raj Ahluwalia

There’s something to be said for cities that boast just the right architectural mix. Swanky new shopping malls and hotels aggressively edge old buildings, facades and streets, endowing it with a ‘big city that doesn’t want to be big’ kind of look.

And its legacy of being the home of Britain’s most famous rock band doesn’t do much harm to its status. Liverpool can be the city you want it to be. An image makeover has spruced up Liverpool city region, as they like to call it. And the fact that it is steeped in history and boasts a rich cultural heritage has combined to transform it into a vibrant tourist centre. A strong maritime history forms the backdrop for an urban centre with a passion for music, the arts, culture and sport.

It is easy to get upfront with an assortment of museums, galleries, theatres, and avant-garde architecture. Located in the city’s cultural quarter, the stunning St George’s Hall is regarded by many to be the finest example of neo-classical architecture in Europe. But perhaps, the finest site local centerpiece is the Unesco World Heritage Waterfront — a massive area with a distinct personality and ambience. The huge and formidable-looking Albert Dock is actually a busy, joyous place. Greeting you is The Pumphouse, an old pub that probably has plenty of stories to tell. Merseyside Maritime Museum hogs one side of the complex. At the water’s edge, along the Mersey River, you can take a long, pleasant walk and admire the waterfront skyline.

If you’re a museum buff, brace yourself for busy times. National Museums Liverpool operate seven venues across the region — open seven days a week with free admission. These are World Museum Liverpool, Walker Art Gallery, International Slavery Museum, Merseyside Maritime Museum, Lady Lever Art Gallery, National Conservation Centre and Sudley House. Further artistic joy is offered, courtesy institutions like Tate Liverpool, Liverpool Empire Theatre, Royal Court Liverpool, Everyman Theatre, Unity Theatre, Playhouse Theatre, The Bluecoat and Open Eye Gallery.

Priortise your dining and shopping chances in and around Liverpool One retail and leisure complex. Spanning 42 acres, it features some 160 new shops, bars and restaurants, and also the Chavasse Park, a green oasis in the heart of the city. Liverpool One’s extensive retail offer compliments the well-established diverse shopping choice at Cavern Walks, Metquarter, and Bold Street, which feature designer brands and independent labels.

You could do far worse than popping your head into one of the traditional local pubs, which can be relied upon to disburse the right drinks and the right tourist tips.

Unless you were born very recently, you can’t talk about Liverpool without mention of The Beatles. Memories and symbols of Liverpool’s most famous sons and ‘world ambassadors’ linger everywhere in the city. The Beatles factor is omnipresent. The city lives with memories of the famous rock band, and its length and breadth reverberates with their songs and lyrics, and there are museums, galleries, shops, hotels and pubs named after their music.

With each of its 110 bedrooms featuring a specially produced piece of The Beatles artwork, Hard Day’s Night — world’s first Beatles-theme hotel — enhances the experience. Photos of the band members adorn the restaurant’s walls and the imposing looking staircase. The hotel is minutes away from Mathew Street and the famous Cavern Club, where the rock band started their eventful journey.

Don’t miss visiting The Beatles Story exhibition at Albert Dock, which captures and encapsulates the history behind the band. A walk through the establishment is an enthralling and atmospheric journey into the life, times, culture and music of The Beatles. You get to see how four young Liverpool lads were propelled to the dizzy heights of fame. You hear the story through the ‘Living History’ audio guide narrated by John Lennon’s sister, Julia. And you get a whiff of what the fuss of the ‘fab four’ was all about. Tripling in size has enabled The Beatles Story to offer even more fun and interactive features, which includes Going Solo — intimate rooms which celebrate the solo careers of the Beatles; a themed StarBucks Coffeehouse; and a Discovery Zone. And there’s a large collection of Beatles merchandise and souvenirs at the Fab4Store. Attracting some 2 lakh annual visitors, The Beatles Story is the hub of this incentive. With its assorted attractions list, Liverpool manages to charm most visitors. It’s a convenient stopover, and after a ‘hard day’s night’, there’s nothing quite so good as to ‘come together’ and rock.

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