Merseyside is a metropolitan county that straddles the River Mersey in Northwest England. Famous for its industrial and maritime heritage, it’s also the birthplace of some of Britain’s most successful bands and soccer clubs. Discover the fascinating cultural history of Merseyside at superb museums and exhibitions. Visit famous concert venues, attend a soccer match and experience the life of traditional coastal towns.
Liverpool, once among the world’s busiest ports and today home to a UNESCO-protected docklands and city center, is a great place to start. Head to Liverpool Waterfront, an urban district where bars and restaurants line up alongside galleries and museums. Admire landmark buildings, such as the Royal Liver Building, at Pier Head and the Three Graces. Albert Dock is an area of refurbished warehouses loved for its drinking and dining scene, The Beatles Story and Tate Liverpool.
Witness the magical atmosphere created by fans of Liverpool Football Club at Anfield Road Stadium. Go on a shopping splurge, catch a movie and play adventure golf at Liverpool One. Don’t miss an evening at the Cavern Club, where the Beatles performed almost 300 gigs between 1961 and 1963. The Casbah Coffee Club and St. Peter’s Church are other former haunts of the Beatles.
A short drive north from Liverpool, Crosby Beach hosts Antony Gormley’s exhibition of 100 iron statues called Another Place. Continue along the coastline to the sandy dunes of Formby Beach and Ainsdale Beach. In Southport you can enjoy typical British seaside fun. Ride fairground attractions at Southport Pleasureland and snack on fish and chips while enjoying the views from Southport Pier.
Cross the River Mersey to the Wirral Peninsula and wander the quaint streets of the Victorian garden village of Port Sunlight. Discover dramatic coastal cliffs and woodland trails in Thurstaston. Inland from Liverpool, St. Helens is a charming industrial town once known for coal mining, cotton weaving and glassmaking.
Merseyside sits between Cheshire and Lancashire. Get here by flying to Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Trains travel frequently from London to Liverpool Lime Street station in just over 2 hours.