"Fully Coordinated ~ Independent Travel ~ Bespoke Itineraries"
In 1964 the Beatles took America by storm. Now is your chance to visit the city that made the Fab Four.
Liverpool isn’t just all about the Beatles however. There’s a long history between Liverpool and America (see below) which you can explore yourself with this incredible opportunity.
Liverpool has some fabulous buildings, a wealth of museums, two renowned football teams and not to mention a fascinating history. The Albert Dock offers a glimpse of Liverpool’s maritime history whilst you indulge in some shopping.
Liverpool’s two Cathedrals provide tranquillity in their contrasting styles and breathtaking views of the city can be seen from the majestic tower of the neo-Gothic Anglican Cathedral.
One of the lasting impressions visitors to Liverpool take away with them is how friendly and safe the city is. Just taking a casual walk in Liverpool you will be surrounded by its history. Strategically located on the River Mersey, Liverpool was once the second city of the British Empire after London.
Liverpool saw its fastest period of growth during the Georgian and Victorian periods and the legacy is the well preserved period buildings that are often used as sets for Hollywood films.
If football (soccer) is your passion, Liverpool Football Club’s new stadium is in the final stages of completion and there are tours of the ground and behind the scenes available.
It is only recently coming to light the role that Liverpool played during the American Civil War. If you are interested in this period of history then visiting Liverpool is a must. Thomas E Sebrell, when researching the war reported, “A majority of Civil War enthusiasts, including those in the United States, are unaware that the war actually ended in Liverpool on 6 November 1865 when the Confederate navy vessel Shenandoah surrendered to British authorities at what is now ‘The Pier’, seven months after Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to his Union counterpart, Ulysses S. Grant, at Appomattox, Virginia, which is usually referred to as the end of the war.”
St George’s Hall, one of Liverpool’s grandest buildings hosted a five-day bazaar which raised £17,000 ($25,000 USD) to support Confederate Prisoners of War.
After long days exploring, there are some wonderful restaurants throughout the city where you can relax and enjoy food from a vast range of international menus, as well as trying some traditional Liverpool Scouse (a type of stew).
Liverpool is emerging from its industrial past as it is reborn as a top tourist destination.
Rich heritage meets modern attractions at the waterfront's Albert Dock, boasting magnificent architecture and the largest group of grade 1 listed buildings in the UK.
Over 25,000 people gathered outside the Hall when John Lennon was killed, and in excess of 65,000 witnessed Liverpool's spectacular European Capital of Culture Opening.
The International Slavery Museum highlights the international importance of slavery, both in a historic and contemporary context providing greater awareness.
The Museum of Liverpool reflects the city's global significance through its unique geography, history and culture - explore how the port, its people and their creative history have shaped the city.
1) The first US consulate was established in Liverpool, in 1790.
2) More than nine million people emigrated from Europe to America via Liverpool.
3) Liverpool was a key trading hub for America over the years.
4) President Obama has a family connection to Merseyside - his great, great-grandfather, Irishman Falmouth Kearney, sailed from Liverpool to the US in 1850 in search of a better life.
5) A plaque at the Pier Head recognises that more than one million US troops took their first steps towards liberating Europe in WW2 when they arrived at Liverpool docks.
6) The very last surrender of the US Civil war happened on the River Mersey in 1865 with the CSS Shenandoah lowering its colours to the British Government.
7) New York’s Central Park was modelled on Birkenhead Park after American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted visited the park during a trip to the city in 1850 and was impressed by its design.
8) The grandson of Buffalo Bill Cody - one of America’s adventurers - was a stonemason who worked on Liverpool Cathedral.
9) In the 2004 remake of Alfie, starring Jude Law, a scene set on a New England beach in America, was actually filmed on Formby beach.
10) Speaking of movies, a dockside scene in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) was filmed in Liverpool’s Stanley Dock.
11) And scenes in the American film Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit were filmed in the Liverpool Docks, Duke Street and the Queensway tunnel side entrance, which doubled as New York’s Wall Street underpass.
12) One of America’s founding fathers was born in Liverpool, in January 1734. Robert Morris was a signatory of the Declaration of Independence, as well as the United States Constitution. Toxteth born Robert lived in the city with his parents Robert Morris Snr and Elizabeth Murphey, until he was 13. He became known as the “financier of the American Revolution” and was the first to use the dollar sign.
13) Actress Kim Cattrall, who rose to fame as Samantha Jones in American TV series Sex and the City, was born in Mossley Hill, Liverpool, in August 1956. The family emigrated to Canada when she was three months old but Kim regularly returns to the city to visit relatives.
14) American singer Lana Del Rey is a big Liverpool FC fan. The New Yorker started following the Reds because her manager is a big fan. She particularly loves Luis Suarez and has even been to Anfield.
15) As has American actor Samuel L. Jackson. The Pulp Fiction star was spotted holding a scarf in the air, singing You’ll Never Walk Alone during the Merseyside derby in 2000. He was in the city while filming The 51st State.
16) Although the Titanic liner set sail to America from Southampton, she was registered in Liverpool because the White Star Line’s head office was at Albion House on James Street.
17) In the 1700s Liverpool played a major part in the slave trade, as people were captured in Africa and transported to America to work. The International Slavery Museum in Liverpool opened in 2007 - the bicentenary of the abolition of the British slave trade.
18) Like New York, Liverpool has its own Statue of Liberty. Unlike New York, ours is perched above pub - McHales Irish American Bar on Lime Street.
19) Liverpool and New Orleans were officially linked as sister cities in 1991. Both now have international airports named after famous local musicians (John Lennon and Louis Armstrong).
20) When US merchant John Wellborn Root was sent to Liverpool in 1864 for his safety during the Civil War he was so taken with the design of Oriel Chambers, on Water Street, that he used it as inspiration when he later returned to Chicago and qualified as an architect. Its template was used for towering American skyscrapers of the 1880s including The Rookery Building, the first steel-framed building and considered a masterpiece, measuring 181 feet and 12 stories tall and the oldest standing high-rise in Chicago.
(Extracted from Liverpool Echo)
There are so many locations and places of interest available in Liverpool that it presents the opportunity for a vast array of different programmes - far more than we can easily show on this page.
Itineraries can be developed according to your interests and requirements. We would be delighted to work with you in developing the most suitable tour itinerary that will enable you to make the most out of your time in Liverpool.
As a starting point, we have shown a proposed itinerary below to help you start planning your trip.
Arrival at Liverpool
Check-in to Hotel
Visit to Museum of Liverpool.
During your visit you will have a general tour of the museum with particular focus on Social and Community History. This collection includes objects of local and national importance and reflects the changing history of the city told through the diverse stories and experiences of Liverpool people.
The collection is particularly strong in areas of popular culture and entertainment, working life, labour history, politics and public health.
Return to your hotel - overnight Liverpool.
Your day will begin with a visit inside the neo-gothic Anglican Cathedral with the opportunity to take in the spectacular panoramic views of Liverpool from the top of the tower. On fine days, it is interesting to explore the Victorian cemetery in the Cathedral Grounds which is a testament to the social history of Liverpool and there will be opportunities to take wax crayon rubbings from some of the more interesting grave stones if you wish.
In comparison, Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral offers a startling contrast with its circular construction which contains religious iconography in the form of modern works of art. On a sunny day the interior of the cathedral is lit with a glorious kaleidoscope of colours as the sunlight is reflected through the stained glass of the famous lantern.
Our tour of St George's Hall offers in insight into the grand and not-so-grand lives of Victorian Liverpool. St George's Hall is often considered to be one of the finest neo-classical buildings in the world. Designed as a concert hall and function rooms, the building also housed Liverpool's Crown and Civil Courts until 1984.
We will begin our tour visiting the holding cells and the condemned cell were prisoners were held before their appearance in court. We will follow in the steps of some infamous prisoners as we make our way to the Crown Court and experience standing in the dock of this Victorian Courtroom. After exploring the court and judges chambers, we will view the Grand Hall and small concert room which has been described as the "Albert Hall in miniature".
During the afternoon we will take a leisurely tour of the Albert Dock where there will be opportunities for shopping, visiting the Tate Art Gallery (home to the National Collection of Modern Art in the North) and recent displays have included canvases by early modern masters such as Picasso and Braque, Dada and surrealist pieces by Duchamp and Ernst. As you explore the Victorian architecture of the Albert Dock you will also have the opportunity to visit the Maritime Museum and International Slavery Museum.
The aim of the International Slavery Museum is to address ignorance and misunderstanding by looking at the deep and permanent impact of slavery and the slave trade on Africa, South America, the USA, the Caribbean and Western Europe. Thus increasing our understanding of the world around us.
The evening can be spent at leisure. Perhaps you would like to take in a show at Liverpool Empire Theatre or maybe enjoy a leisurely meal at one of Liverpool's many international restaurants.
Return to your hotel - overnight Liverpool.
Spend a leisurely day exploring Liverpool on your own and discover the wealth of museums, shops, bars and restaurants that Liverpool has to offer.
We can also make some recommendations based on your interests and we will provide a mini-programme with directions for you to follow.
There is also the opportunity to fit in some optional tours that might be of interest to you. For example, you might like to visit Anfield, the home of Liverpool Football Club; or Speke Hall, a Tudor half-timbered mansion fully preserved with Priest's hiding holes and a facsinating history.
For the evening, we are able to arrange theatre tickets for Liverpool's famous Empire Theatre or you might like to enjoy a cabaret show or see a band that is playing at one of the many concert venues - we will let you know what's available and who will be playing etc on the dates of your visit.
For something really special, would you enjoy smoking Cuban Cigars and drinking whisky at the "Puffin Club" to the accompaniment of soft music from live musicians?
Conclude your visit to Liverpool with a fun and informative Magical Mystery Beatles Tour of the city.
Step aboard the colourful Magical Mystery Tour bus for a fun and fascinating 2 hour tour of Beatles Liverpool. You’ll see all the places associated with John, Paul, George and Ringo as they grew up, met and formed the band that would take the pop world by storm.
See the Beatles childhood homes, schools and colleges and get up close to places that inspired some of their most memorable songs – Penny Lane and Strawberry Field
There will opportunities for some last minute shopping and enjoying a leisurely walk around some of your favourite places in Liverpool. Maybe in the evening you would like to enjoy a pint in a traditional "pub" or enjoy the great British favourite - Fish and Chips from a local "chippy".
Return to your hotel - overnight Liverpool.
Check-out of hotel
Assisted transfer to airport / train station etc
You can extend your trip and travel to any other UK or European destination from Liverpool. E.g. LONDON or EDINBURGH or throughout Europe. Please ask for details.
Onward journey to next destination or return journey home.
Feedback for individual guides is obtained from a variety of sources, including social media. We'd be delighted if you could take the time and let us know how you enjoyed your tour.
Trains on the National Rail Network arrive at Liverpool Lime Street Station. There is also a local train network called Merseyrail that travels to / from Central Station. You would then be able to obtain detailed directions using the search facility above.
There are two main bus terminals in Liverpool. There is the Central Bus Station at Canning Place, Liverpool 1. There is also another terminus at Queens Square by St George's Hall. There is an extensive bus network throughout Liverpool and the 82 bus from the Central Bus Station will travel through the city centre.
Black cabs are available all over the city and can be flagged at the roadside. You can tell the taxi driver the name of your destination and they will be able to take you there. Their knowledge of streets and venues (especially in the city centre) is extensive and you should not have any difficulty.