Places to visit in Liverpool

Rock, pop, punk and rave your way through Britain’s popular music history at the British Music Experience. Featuring a mix of images, video and music memorabilia, the museum has items from Oasis to Queen, the Spice Girls to The Rolling Stones.

With a buzzy vibe, industrial-chic decor and a giddying-array of Italian favourites on the menu, Salt House Bacaro is the ideal place to share a meal with your friends or family. From arancini (cute rice balls) and pizzettes (mini pizzas) to cacio e pepe rigatoni (salt and pepper pasta), pair your meal with a jug of zesty Limoncello Sangria and you’re onto a winner.

You can’t visit Liverpool without boarding the world-famous ferry across the Mersey and yes, the Gerry and the Pacemakers’ hit does get played onboard. Spot famous Liverpool and Wirral sights including the UNESCO World Heritage Liverpool Waterfront and learn the city’s history. One of the ferries has been colourfully revamped by Peter Blake, who designed the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover.

One of the most famous music venues in the UK, The Cavern Club helped launch the career of The Beatles. They first performed here on 9 February 1961 and it was where manager Brian Epstein later spotted them. The rest, as they say, is history. Nowadays, The Cavern Club continues to champion up-and-coming musicians, with regular nights of Beatles tributes.

The central spire of this stately sandstone hotel forms a handy landmark for tourists. Opened in time for the Eurovision Song Contest, the meticulously restored Grade II listed building blends ornate columns with William Morris prints on headboards. Do visit the spa with a seriously cool showstopper of a pool and thermal spa, complete with Himalayan salt sauna. Then sip locally-inspired cocktails such as the Mersey Paradise in the colourful Palm Court Library.

Moose Coffee in the Cavern Quarter (there are several in the city) excels in authentic Man v. Food-style breakfast and brunch delights. The crowd-pleasing (gut busting?) menu ranges from fluffy cheese pancakes loaded with crispy bacon, eggs, maple syrup and butter to classic Americano coffee - what else? If you really love it that much you can buy products and merch online.

Liverpool’s Anglican cathedral has a lot to brag about. It’s the UK’s biggest religious building, home to the country’s largest pipe organ and the loudest bells in the world. Need more? Its tower has one of the best views in Liverpool. On a clear day you can see all the way to the Blackpool Tower, as well as 360˚ views across the city sprawl below.  It even has a Tracey-Emin designed pink neon installation under the Great West Window.

With a heady mix of paintings and sculpture by artists ranging from David Hockney to Johnny Vegas, celebrating themes such as Black History month and pioneering women, the Walker is a Liverpool art gallery not to be missed. Daily tours fill you in on the history of the gallery from its opening in 1877 and explore famous works such as Dante's Dream by Rossetti.

Housed in an old brewery in the cool Baltic Triangle district, Liverpool's first street food market is the place to be, especially at the weekend when there’s live music. Under strings of twinkling fairy lights, savour global eats from crispy-fried chicken to melt-in-the-mouth Korean dumplings, all washed down with a cheeky G&T from the gin bar. On Sundays, the site hosts arts and crafts and farmer's markets.

If you love the combination of neon-splattered graffiti, old-school games, cocktails and a rotating selection of craft beer, then this bar is for you. Arcade machines at NQ64 include Guitar Hero and Mario Kart alongside retro consoles such as original PlayStations and Super Nintendo. Booths are available for smaller groups. Instagrammable cocktails include the punchy Mad Max Zombie, a punch blend of house rum and guava.