If you decide to visit Liverpool, you won’t be short of things to do and see. I’ll run through some of my favorite things that I’ve done on my trips here, but obviously your choices would differ depending on if you are a Beatles fan, history buff, etc.

My favorite museums for a first-time visitor include The Beatles Story which has an interactive history of the Fab Four, the Maritime Museum which tells the history of Liverpool’s shipbuilding industry and bustling port, including a Titanic exhibit and the Museum of Liverpool which tells the story of the city and is especially good for families with younger kids.

On my first visit, I took the Magical Mystery Tour which was a van tour with about 16 seats that visits the main Beatles sites: the houses where they grew up, Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields, and other important places. The tour included a free admission to the Cavern Club that night (normally £15-20) so you could go watch live music where the Beatles once performed (not really as they have moved it but it’s faithfully recreated in the new location a few yards away).

I also visited the Anglican Cathedral and took the stairs all the way to the top for views out across Liverpool and the Mersey River including all the way to Anfield, several miles away. There’s a more modern Catholic cathedral as well which you can visit.

St. George’s Hall is another interesting place to visit as you can see some historical exhibits and the old jail and courtrooms. The Radio City Tower also can give you great views over the city if you take the elevator to the top.

Liverpool is a great walking city. It’s easy to walk along the piers and then cut over through the other historic parts of the city. It’s very safe throughout the daylight hours and even at night in the well-trafficked nightlife areas.

This was my sixth trip to Liverpool so I’ve mostly done all the tourist things there. I asked my wife if she wanted to go on a Beatles tour or to any of the museums, but she said that if the weather was nice, she’d rather visit some beaches and go shelling. As it turned out, we had great weather and drove directly to Crosby Beach after we picked up our rental car at Manchester airport.

There’s an art installation there called “Another Place” which consists of about 100 metal statues of the sculptor, Anthony Gormley, buried at various depths and in various places, some on the beach and some out in the water. As the tide goes in and out, the statues appear and disappear.

My wife found some interesting and unique shells and we walked the length of the beach. It was apparently the first nice day in a while so everyone and their dog was out there. It was about 60 degrees and sunny.

We took day trips outside the city for the next couple of days, but on our last day (which was also match day), I took her on a walk around the city. We walked along the Albert Dock and Pier Head, where several of the museums mentioned above are located. From there, we cut over to the Baltic Triangle, which has been slowly converted from warehouses to lofts and bars/restaurants.

We enjoyed a great Indian dinner at Mowgli, a well-known restaurant that has expanded to many locations across the UK since opening in Liverpool several years ago. I try to have dinner there every visit.

We also tried Lobster Pot fish and chips, which are regarded by many as the best in the city and they didn’t disappoint.

For most people, London is the first place they will visit in the UK, but if you’ve already done that and want to base yourself up north to explore Yorkshire, the Lake District, North Wales etc., you should definitely plan at least a day or more in Liverpool, whether or not you’re a football or Beatles fan.

Up Next: Tips on Driving in the UK

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