Exploring Liverpool: How to make the most of three days in Britain's most interesting city.

Love at First Sight: Falling in Love with Liverpool

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From New York, it was a quick six-hour hop over the pond to Manchester, England, a flight in which I had an entire row to myself: the ultimate flyer’s Holy Grail! There were no hiccups—a rarity for me, the travel cursed—and I watched Inside Out and took a quick catnap, then I woke up in Manchester, ready to tackle the UK. Ready to fall in love with Liverpool, England.

Exploring Liverpool: How to make the most of three days in Britain's most interesting city.

Getting to Liverpool

A destination I never even cared to visit quickly grew to be one of my favorite European cities after I landed and took the 45-minute train ride from the international airport in Manchester. To clarify, Liverpool also has an airport of its own, but I only found direct flight options from New York into Manchester, but it was easy enough to catch a train directly from the airport that then deposited me smack in the center of Liverpool.

Exploring Liverpool: How to make the most of three days in Britain's most interesting city.

I’ve been to the United Kingdom dozens of times by now; in fact, I lived there for a semester more than a decade ago and have explored Scotland, England and Wales at length in the years since. There are few places I adore more for culture, scenery and, of course, the people. Have you ever met a Brit you didn’t like? I, for one, have not.

Liverpool, on the other hand, was a place that never even crossed my radar. Other than the obvious—meaning Beatles’ history, of course—I knew very little about the town and never would have thought to go there on my own. But three days in this bustling hub of creativity left me wanting much more.

Exploring Liverpool: How to make the most of three days in Britain's most interesting city.

At first glance, Liverpool is glaringly industrial. And if you know anything about its history, you’ll know it’s only been the last decade since this cultural renaissance began. But peer closer and you’ll see there’s much more than meets the eye.

Exploring Liverpool: How to make the most of three days in Britain's most interesting city.

Where to stay in Liverpool

I stayed at the city’s hottest new hotel, the Titanic, which occupies a former rum warehouse in Stanley Dock and boasts some of the biggest hotel rooms I’ve ever seen.

Exploring Liverpool: How to make the most of three days in Britain's most interesting city.

Having just opened last year, everything about this new hotspot is well thought out and follows theme. And you know I love me a good theme.

Titanic Hotel in Liverpool, England
Titanic Hotel in Liverpool, England

The short flight from the US to Britain is almost a tease—compounded with the time change, it’s so quick that you don’t have time for a full night’s sleep—so I’ll confess, as soon as I got into my room, I took a shower and laid down for a rest. Jet lag purists may tell you that you should never do this, but it worked for me, and by the time I awoke, I was ready to tackle the town!

Exploring Liverpool: How to make the most of three days in Britain's most interesting city.

Admittedly, Titanic is a bit of a walk from the center of town—the only downside, I saw, but taxis are plentiful and cheap, so not even a real downside per se; plus, this area is about to see the next big boom in development—however, on my first trip in, I walked. It was daylight out and a bit under two miles, and I needed the exercise after an overnight flight. It was a nice stroll, though not one I would do when darkness set in.

Exploring Liverpool: How to make the most of three days in Britain's most interesting city.

What to see in Liverpool

Once at Albert Dock, there was so much to see, I’d wind up needing to come back a second day to take in the rest. I strolled through the museum complex, which includes Museum of Liverpool, the Tate Liverpool and the Beatles Story. After a couple hours of checking out the area by foot, I hopped aboard the brightly-painted Dazzle Ferry, which makes three stops along both sides of the river over the course of an hour. I, however, stayed put and rode it round trip until I was back where I started.

Exploring Liverpool: How to make the most of three days in Britain's most interesting city.

Once through, I caught a cab to the bustling city center, alive with activity as it was a Saturday night, and settled into my seat at the Royal Court Theatre. While my mom and I have been season ticket holders for Nashville’s own visiting Broadway shows for two decades now, I missed Let It Be when it blew through town a few years back, so how cool to see it not only in the Beatles’ own home, but also in a theater as spectacular as this?

Let It Be in Liverpool
Let It Be in Liverpool
Note: The show is on a limited engagement through November 14, so book your tickets now if you’re heading to Liverpool anytime within the next month.
Let It Be in Liverpool

I hadn’t managed to eat prior to the show and was starving by the time I returned to the Titanic for the night, so I nabbed a table at Stanley’s Bar and Grill and had a bite to eat before going to bed. And, of course, after that bite to eat, I had to have dessert. I mean, when in Liverpool, right?

Exploring Liverpool: How to make the most of three days in Britain's most interesting city.

Exploring Liverpool: How to make the most of three days in Britain's most interesting city.

Let’s be honest, I could use that excuse for any city I visit—as a matter of fact, I often do!

Exploring Liverpool: How to make the most of three days in Britain's most interesting city.

And it was worth every calorie. Just as falling in love with Liverpool was worth every ounce of jet lag.

Exploring Liverpool: How to make the most of three days in Britain's most interesting city.

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Falling in Love with Liverpool

COMMENTS
  • October 19, 2015

    This looks like it was an amazing trip!! I’ve never been to liverpool but it definitely looks like a place that I would enjoy. And yes, any trip to any destination is surely an excuse to eat dessert!! 🙂

    • October 22, 2015

      Funny enough, Liverpool and Manchester both reminded me a lot of Nashville: gritty around the edges with music a driving force of the city’s creative scene.

  • October 19, 2015

    Gorgeous pics! I LOVED Liverpool when I was there a couple of years ago. That hotel looks super chic.

    • October 22, 2015

      Ahhhh I remember when you went! It was with Trafalgar, right? Where did you guys stay?

  • October 19, 2015

    Beautiful pics of Liverpool; great usage of shapes and symmetry in your shots! I completely agree with your post, it’s also one of my favourite places in England!

    • October 21, 2015

      Thank you, Dominique! With three days there, I admittedly did not do the city justice, but it definitely sparked my desire to explore more of Liverpool when I have a longer stretch of time =)

  • October 19, 2015

    Per the norm, it’s never been on my radar … until you show me how awesome it is!

    • October 21, 2015

      Mayhem would love it! Definitely a groovy city that your kid would have some great backdrops for her style blogger posts 😉

  • April 25, 2016
    Nikki

    You didn’t get off at Woodside! That is my side of the river. We don’t have much but we do have Hamilton Square. If you liked looking at the Georgian Quarter, you’ll like Hamilton Square
    http://www.electronicmelodysessions.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1684.jpg

    The town hall is made of the same stone that covers NY’s Empire State Building which was quarried in a village called Storeton about 30 mins away. So is Liverpool Lime Street Train Station.

    We also have a U boat museum where you can tour a cross section of a German U Boat and a tram museum. I’d stick to the pretty Georgian town square!

    • April 26, 2016

      I love your city so much, hopefully this isn’t my only visit there! Sadly, 48 hours wasn’t enough to even scratch the surface but I tried to cram in as much as I could 😉

      Thank you for these awesome tips for when I get back there again!

  • July 9, 2016

    Wow! I’ve never even considered Liverpool as a travel destination. Thanks for the post, I’ll definitely have to check it out one day. If only to stay in that ginormously beautiful room!

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