Regular readers will remember that while visiting Liverpool on board Queen Mary 2 in July last year my wife and I made excellent use of  the Fab Four Taxi Tour of the city…

https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2015/11/27/one-way-to-do-liverpool/

Time had been limited on that occasion due to our forenoon attendance at the Cunard Anniversary Service at Liverpool Cathedral. We have recently returned to Liverpool and this review covers what can also be achieved in a day without taking the taxi tour.

The great joy of visiting Liverpool on a cruise ship is the fact the cruise terminal is  really at the heart of the city…

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So we started our day on the waterfront adjacent the ‘Three Graces’ and a mere 5 minutes walk from the terminal…

Worth noting atop the first of the Three Graces are the figurines of the two ‘Liver Birds’…

A quick zoom in…

The use of a bird to represent and symbolise the city dates to the medieval era, but the idea that the “liver bird” is a mythical creature specific to Liverpool evolved in the 20th century. The bird is normally represented in similar form to a cormorant which appears as such on Liverpool’s coat of arms.

 

Myths and popular culture give rise to many reasons  why the birds face in opposite directions but the one that appealed to us is that as they are a male and female pair, the female is looking out to sea, watching for the seamen to return safely home, while the male looks towards the city, making sure the pubs are open.

Whatever the reason though, one thing is for sure, the visitor is not going to get away from The Beatles, they have a presence right here on the waterfront: and a very popular photo opportunity…

Well, for us anyway…

A word of advice here. This spot is very close to the ticket office of the Mersey Ferry Company…

…so if it is the visitor’s intention to take the near hour long trip on the famous ferry…

…then now may be a good time to purchase a ticket for a time that suits.

The ferry cruise departs hourly from Liverpool Waterfront and the  ticket allows the passengers to break their journey at both of the Wirral Terminal stops – Seacombe and Woodside.

On our journey we disembarked at the Woodside Terminal in order to visit the U-Boat Story…

…a very well put together exhibition and history of the German U-Boat U-534…

Incidentally, the entrance fee to the U-Boat Story is included in the ferry price.

And so back to the Liverpool side…

Next up was a walk through Albert Dock…

…now the vibrant heart of Liverpool’s historic waterfront. Completely redeveloped, the Albert Dock complex  is the country’s largest group of Grade I listed buildings where museums, galleries and a huge range of venues to eat and drink are set  amidst the lofty colonnades and architectural splendour of 19th Century dockside warehouses.

Amongst these rejuvenated buildings can be found The Beatles Story…

(but watch the queues – this place is popular)

 

The Museum of Liverpool…

The Wheel of Liverpool...

…and, spanning the old Kings Dock, the ACC Liverpool ( Arena and Convention Centre)…

 

Not forgetting various tributes to other Merseyside legends…

 

But Liverpool has so many iconic sites to explore and the joy is that they are all pretty much walkable in a day. Why not head out, via Chinatown...

 

…to the furthest first, as  we did, the Liverpool’s iconic Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral…

 

Now heading back towards the central area and a short distance along Mount Pleasant we discovered this architectural gem on the corner of Rental Street, Grand Central Hall...

It has certainly seen better days, but we loved the trees growing out of the upper towers.

 

Continuing along Renshaw and past the rather infamous budget Adelphi Hotel…

We arrived at another of those famous Liverpool landmarks, Lime Street Station…

And not just from the outside either,  pop in and see who is there…

Remember him?

A matter of yards and we found St John’s Gardens with its King’s Liverpool Regiment Memorial dated 1905 …

 

Interesting to note that one of the conflicts remembered on this memorial was that of the Afghanistan War of 1878 – 1880.

As mentioned earlier, it is difficult to get away from the Beatles influence in this city: and why should one.

Heading in the general waterfront direction, and adjacent to Victoria Street,  there is an area of the city centre known today as “The Cavern Quarter” which will afford a  daytime opportunity to explore ‘Mathew Street’…

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Visited by thousands of tourists every year, this is the home of the Cavern Club...

 

…and many surrounding ‘Beatlemania’ attractions including a statue of John Lennon…

 

…a Beatles store and several pubs formerly frequented by The Beatles…

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One thing is for sure about Mathew Street, it just ain’t that quiet after 5.00pm. Neither would it be fair to let the Beatles take all the credit. The Mathew Street ‘Wall of Fame’ attests to many Liverpool music legends all playing their part too…

The Wall is a  tribute to the groups and solo artists who played at the original Cavern Club including acts from the city which have reached number one in the UK Singles Charts. It features 54 Liverpool number 1 UK chart hits since 1952. Though the wall is dominated by The Beatles, who have 17 discs thereon, other names include The Searchers, Gerry and the Pacemakers and Cilla Black. One disc that has been removed was that of Gary Glitter.

Continuing to head in the general direction of the waterfront the visitor will come across Derby Square and the Queen Victoria Monument.

This Square and monument effectively marks the boundary of Liverpool 1, a mega shopping, residential and leisure complex covering some 42 acres and is well worth a visit.

The Waterfront is also known for hosting outdoor entertainment and sporting events. One such event we were thrilled to witness was a colourful and energetic Samba Band…

There is no doubt that Liverpool is a fine place for a cruise ship visit and the majority of sites, as can be seen, are very easily covered on foot.

If you have enjoyed this review and insight into Liverpool and would like to be amongst the first to hear of new reviews including  forthcoming cruise reviews of  Seabourn Sojourn and the Scenic Diamond,  plus port reviews ( which will soon include a One Way to do Toulon, Salem from Boston and Yangon), why not join the many other followers by clicking on the ‘Follow’ link on the front page.

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