14 Best Things To Do In Liverpool You Don't Want To Miss

Liverpool is one of the most visited cities in the United Kingdom thanks to its vast array of visitor attractions. From Albert Dock to the Cavern Club, Culture Trip lists the 14 places you absolutely can’t miss while you’re in the city.

Albert Dock

Building

One of Liverpool’s most aesthetically pleasing attractions, Albert Dock should be right at the top of any visitor’s list. Not only is the dock a UNESCO World Heritage site waterfront, it also houses the largest collection of Grade I-listed buildings in the country. A number of Liverpool’s most popular attractions can be found here.

Liverpool Cathedral

Building, Cathedral

View Tours

Opened in 1978, Liverpool’s monumental and magnificent cathedral is the largest in the UK and the eighth largest in the world – meaning it’s rightfully regarded as a national treasure. The cathedral boasts a number of record statistics – such as having the UK’s largest organ and the world’s widest and tallest gothic-style arches – and there are spectacular views of the city from its tower.

The Beatles Story

Museum

View Tours

This award-winning attraction tells the story of four lads from Liverpool who went on to form one of the most successful bands in the world. From their small beginnings through to the height of their careers – as well as their solo careers and John and George’s deaths – this is the most comprehensive Beatles exhibition you’ll visit.

World Museum

Everybody loves a good museum, and Liverpool’s World Museum is one of the best in the country. This attraction specialises in sciences and human cultures, with a planetarium, aquarium and various space exhibitions on rotation. As an added bonus, it’s completely free.

Tate Liverpool

One of Albert Docks’ many attractions, Tate Liverpool is a British and international contemporary and modern art gallery. Past exhibitions have included Jackson Pollock: Behind the Spots, Transmitting Andy Warhol and Mondrian and his studios, and the gallery played an integral part in the Liverpool Biennial. With a regularly changing exhibitions reel, you’ll be sure to find something of interest here.

Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool

Art Gallery, School

View Tours

With one of the largest public collections of art in the country outside London, Walker Art Gallery is a great way to spend an afternoon. This gallery boasts a rather large collection of drawings, paintings and sculptures from as far back as the 13th century.

Mersey Ferries

Building

View Tours

A popular attraction in the city, Mersey Ferries offer various ferry trips around the northwest. While you can simply hop on the 50-minute sightseeing trip along the River Mersey, other routes include canal trips to Salford Quays down famous stretches of waterside.

Merseyside Maritime Museum

Museum

View Tours

Yet another popular attraction on Albert Dock, the Merseyside Maritime Museum celebrates the history of the port of Liverpool. Here you’ll be able to check out full-sized vessels, maritime paintings and an exhibition on the city’s links to the Titanic.

The Cavern Club

Nightclub, British

View Tours

Another must-visit for any Beatles fanatic is The Cavern Club on Mathew Street. Though the Club isn’t the original Cavern, it’s still an incredibly popular tourist attraction and is home to a wealth of memorabilia. Bands also play here on a daily basis.

Museum of Liverpool

The Museum of Liverpool is the newest museum in the city’s catalogue and celebrates the extensive culture and history of Liverpool and its people. The museum is a must-see for anyone keen to swat up on local heritage, as sporting and creative achievements are recognised.

Radio City Tower

Building

View Tours

For what is simply the best unobstructed view of Liverpool, you’ll want to head to the Radio City Tower’s viewing platform. At 122m (400ft) above the city, the platform offers 360-degree views and, on a clear day, you can see as far as Wales and the Cumbrian Hills.

Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

Cathedral

View Tours

If nothing else, the striking design of this cathedral makes it a rather unique attraction to visit. Though the history of this cathedral is more contemporary than that of its sister venue at the other end of Hope Street, its gothic-revival architectural style makes it a standout feature of Liverpool’s skyline.

International Slavery Museum

The final Albert Dock attraction on Culture Trip’s must-visit list, the International Slavery Museum is a one-of-a-kind experience. The only museum of its kind, visitors can explore all aspects of historical and contemporary slavery in a venue that has welcomed millions of visitors since opening in 2007.

Lennon and McCartney’s childhood homes

At 20 Forthlin Road and 251 Menlove Avenue, you’ll be able to stand in the exact spots where Paul McCartney and John Lennon (respectively) wrote some of the Beatles’ biggest hits. Both homes are now National Trust attractions, and have been kept as they would have been in the 1950s and 60s.

About the author

Richard Franks

Freelance Travel and Music Writer

Proudly born and bred in Birmingham, UK, Richard is passionate about all things travel and music. Having founded the regional online music magazine Counteract in early 2010, Richard has enjoyed a versatile writing career and writes for a number of publications, including The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Independent, Metro and others. If he's not travelling around Europe, you'll often find him supporting his football team, Aston Villa.