With its two glorious cathedrals and a range of entertainment options, Hope Street has been awarded the title of the Best Street in the country. Restaurants and bars line this important avenue, whose Georgian buildings carry a bygone era’s architectural aesthetic into the present. Go on a stroll during your visit to Hope Street to get a sense of Liverpool’s fascinating religious history.
At the northern end of the street stands the immense Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, with its exceptional design. Gaze up at the spikes surrounding a summit that resembles a crown or a truncated cone. Admire the tent-like conical shape of the lower body and climb the steps to enter. The vast nave is cylindrical and is illuminated by large stained-glass windows in the cone.
As you walk south along the street, you’ll see the Liverpool Medical Institution & Conference Centre. Watch a unique stage production or popular touring show in the adjacent Everyman Theatre.
Reach the traditional Liverpool Masonic Hall, where you can relax with a light lunch and an eclectic selection of beers. Numerous historic pubs, bars and restaurants stand on both sides of the street.
A little farther south is the fabulous art deco Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. Listen to the orchestra and attend other recitals and events in its spectacular auditorium.
Finally, you’ll reach the enormous gothic treasure of the Liverpool Cathedral. Climb up to its viewing tower and appreciate the vista of the city center. Beside this immense religious institution is the scenic St. James Mount and Gardens, which was converted from a former cemetery in 1972.
Hope Street earned the Great Street Award at the Urbanism Awards in 2013. It is located in the southeastern part of Liverpool’s city center. Travel to Liverpool Central railway station and walk east for about 10 minutes to reach the Metropolitan Cathedral at the street’s northern end.
While you’re here, visit some of the surrounding sights, such as Abercromby Square, the Garstang Museum of Archaeology and William MacKenzie’s Tomb.
