I remember a time when a holiday just didn’t feel like a holiday unless it involved an airport. However, my views have changed and a recent trip to Liverpool was both magical and memorable.
My eyes have been opened to the fantastic history and landscapes to be enjoyed right here in the UK. If you’re lucky enough to get the weather, too, then all the better.
Neither my partner or I had visited Liverpool before and it was refreshing seeing a city with fresh eyes.
Quayside views of Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock
Our dockside hotel was compact but squeaky clean – the shower/toilet facilities were akin to those you’d expect on a cruise ship.
But what more did we need when our window overlooked the quayside and the weather pleasant enough to enjoy drinks on the terrace from the restaurant/bar downstairs?
Unable to sleep one night, I found myself lying in bed looking up at the moon.
The cool breeze from the water creating such a therapeutic feeling of calmness that for once I didn’t mind my sleep being disturbed.
View from the hotel. Picture by Yvonne McKenzie.
We only had three days in the home of the Beatles, so began with a couple of bus tours.
The first highlighting city landmarks which gave us a feel of the place.
The second day we boarded the tour bus focussing on the Fab Four.
We had the obligatory pictures beside Penny Lane and also Strawberry Fields and followed up the bus trip with a nostalgic look round The Beatles Story in their honour.
Headsets in place we lost ourselves in the journey of the band’s rise to fame – set aside a couple of hours for this as there’s so much to take in.
Strawberry Fields. Picture by Yvonne McKenzie.
We headed to the Cavern and were lucky enough to get a table and enjoyed the live music while soaking up the atmosphere.
On asking the doorman if it was always busy his retort was “eight days a week”. I’m guessing he’s used that line before!
Telling stories that need to be told
We also paid a visit to the Museum of Liverpool – showing the diverse history of the city’s past.
We then explored the Titanic exhibition at the Maritime Museum and the International Slavery Museum, heart-breaking and emotional, but telling stories that need told.
No visit to Liverpool would be complete without exploring the grand Liver Building. We enjoyed the 360 tour which affords fantastic views across the city’s skyline with a fabulous audio-visual experience in the clock tower which brings to life its history in a surprisingly moving way.
The Royal Liver Building. Picture by Yvonne McKenzie.
Our tour guide also provided fascinating information. Did you know this famous landmark escaped being bombed, despite Liverpool being second only to London for the amount of bombs dropped during the Blitz? Some reckon it’s because they used the Liver Building as a landmark for gauging the location of other targets.
Sadly our trip was over all too soon but we will definitely return, if only to take the ferry across the Mersey. The one thing we just didn’t manage to squeeze in to our whistle-stop trip.
For more from the “Friend” team, click here to read our blog.
For more travel features from “The People’s Friend”, click here.
Yvonne McKenzie I work on the Features team and admit to being nosy, so I love looking after the Between Friends letters and finding out all about our lovely readers. I also look after our health copy and enjoy writing about inspiring people that help make the articles in the magazine so interesting.
