Ever wanted to visit where The Beatles were born? What about where Steven Gerrard scored some of his most famous goals? Liverpool offers this and so much more, a city with its fingerprints all over British culture. Like all big cities, Liverpool is a vibrant and varied tapestry, where hidden gems hide round every corner, the locals have their own distinctive character and there’s an array of activities to enjoy. But for our quick run-down of reasons to visit this famous city, we’ve focussed on two tent-poles of Liverpudlian history: football and music. So, here are our recommendations for what to do in Liverpool for football fans and music lovers, specifically fans of The Beatles. Plus some top restaurant and hotel tips along the way, of course.
Things to Do for Football Fans
There are few cities more synonymous with football than Liverpool. For those from Manchester or Madrid already getting angry, we said ‘few’ not ‘none’. No matter who you support, the impact of the city of Liverpool on British football has been immense, helping to make the northwest of England a true hub of sporting greatness.Liverpool’s inhabitants are roughly split in two: the red half and the blue half. The blue half, the Everton fans, will want to head to the Goodison Park Stadium Tour. Here you can bask in the club’s century-plus of success which has included nine league titles, five FA Cups and one European Cup Winners' Cup. The tour will also allow you to walk the same hallways as club legends like Graeme Sharp, Peter Reid and Dixie Dean. Goodison Park is situated just a mile from the Liverpool FC stadium, with the lovely greenery of Stanley Park available if you want to take a detour when walking between the two. But all that will change come the 2025-26 season, when Everton fans will finally flock to their new home at Bramley-Moore Dock. Curious ‘Toffees’ can head over here to see the construction in progress, plus enjoy views of the River Mersey.
Meanwhile, the Liverpool FC supporters among you should make a beeline straight for Anfield, the site of innumerable trophy wins, last-minute winners and miraculous comebacks over the years. As the home of Liverpool FC from day one, Anfield is a stadium with more history than most. Soak it all up at the Anfield Stadium Tour, where you can see inside the dressing rooms, stand at the pitch’s edge and even touch the famous ‘This is Anfield’ sign as you walk down the tunnel. Your ticket also allows you to learn about the history of the club at the Liverpool FC Story Museum, view the British-record six European Cups and marvel at a relatively new exhibit dedicated to the club’s recent glory years under Jürgen Klopp. If you’re a thrill-seeker, why not try The Anfield Abseil and see the stadium from a different angle?
Often referred to as ‘the friendly derby’, the rivalry between Liverpool and Everton has often been seen as a more respectful one than most, with fans of the two clubs sometimes co-existing within families. Uniting them is a shared sense of history, with both clubs having existed since the late 1800s and together having dominated the 1980s in English football in particular. In the modern era, both teams can boast to being among only six teams to have featured in every single Premier League season – along with Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
Things to Do for Beatles Lovers
If football is a huge part of Liverpool’s DNA, then The Beatles make up the rest of the helix. While we may have upset a few readers in the football section, nobody is going to argue with us when we say that The Beatles are the biggest band to have ever lived. They changed the face of music around the globe, turning themselves from normal Liverpudlian lads into eternal megastars. Even more than 50 years after The Beatles disbanded, their fans are numerous and committed – for them, there is no better place to visit than Liverpool.There’s a whole host of Beatles activities, both big and small, spread across the city. Among them, one of the biggest and best is The Beatles Story Museum. Pitched as an immersive journey through the story of the band, this museum walks you through how these four Liverpool locals became the most famous band in the world, via a collection of memorabilia and artefacts. The rotating special exhibitions, meanwhile, dive into specific albums and slices of Beatles lore.
Next on your list should be the Magical Mystery Tour. Fittingly named after a Beatles song, this two-hour bus tour not only gives you your Fab Four fix, but will provide you with a greater understanding of Liverpool as a whole – it stops off at several key locations that influenced the band, including Strawberry Field, Penny Lane and some of the group’s childhood homes. The tour finishes at The Cavern Club which is itself a must-visit for Beatles fans.
Renowned as the birthplace of the Beat Music scene that took Britain by storm, The Cavern Club has hosted many legendary acts over the years – but none more so than The Beatles themselves, who stepped foot on the Cavern stage for the first time on 9th February 1961. Enrapturing crowds from the start, this is where the journey to stardom all began; visiting here now is like stepping on hallowed ground. The Cavern Club is still a live music venue today and hosts several acts including Beatles tribute acts.
Finish your Beatles pilgrimage with a photo at The Beatles Statue by the River Mersey waterfront. Created by sculptor Andy Edwards, it was unveiled in 2015 and depicts the band walking side by side towards the water. This area, just up the road from the Royal Albert Dock, also affords great views of the famous Liver Building – a Liverpool landmark known for its crowning sculpture of a Liver Bird, the mythical creature that acts as a symbol of the city.
Where to Eat in Liverpool
During all of your adventures to Liverpool’s key musical and footballing landmarks, you’re likely to work up an appetite. Fortunately, there are several MICHELIN Guide restaurants scattered across the city. From The Beatles Statue, your closest options are NORD and “8” by Andrew Sheridan. The former is a relatively new addition to the city’s dining scene, a spacious and minimalist place with a thoroughly modern chic. The cooking pulls from a host of influences, but wherever the inspiration comes from, the execution is impressive. “8”, meanwhile, offers a more immersive dining experience. Sit at one of two chef’s counters to enjoy boldly flavoured dishes devised by eponymous chef Andrew Sheridan.
A little further south, in a regenerated area known as the Baltic Triangle – which is handily located for landmarks like Liverpool Cathedral, the Liverpool One shopping centre and the aforementioned Royal Albert Dock – is Manifest. With a wine bar vibe and an open kitchen allowing you to glimpse the chefs at work, it’s another cool spot thanks to its exposed brickwork and steel pillars.
Your final city centre options are clustered together on the border of the Knowledge Quarter and Georgian Quarter districts. Vetch incorporates a number of East Asian influences across both its well-priced lunch offering and dinner tasting menu. The Art School, meanwhile, is an aptly named establishment with a real sense of style. Red chairs contrast white tablecloths while each complexly constructed dish provides an equal splash of colour.
Where to Stay in Liverpool
Of course, to fit in all of this fun, you’ll need to stay for more than a day and as such will require some overnight accommodation. The MICHELIN Guide’s hotel selection recommends a number of great options in and around the city, but given you’ve likely come here as a Beatles fanatic, there’s really only one option…The Hard Days Night Hotel is a Beatles-themed establishment that manages to pull off its unique décor without ever lapsing into kitsch. Beatles art adorns the walls of the bedrooms and common spaces alike, while you’ll find memorabilia scattered about and the ‘Lennon Suite’ even features a white grand piano. Your other accommodation options include the well-located Malmaison Liverpool; the industrial-chic Hope Street Hotel, situated in a former carriage works; and the Titanic Hotel Liverpool, which pays homage to the famed ocean liner without being a full-on themed hotel.
Whether you’re a football fanatic or a Beatlemaniac, we hope you enjoy your trip to Liverpool. If you’re not from these parts, then take advantage of being in northwest England with a second trip to the equally wonderful Manchester, under an hour away by train. Liverpool’s rival in both football and musical prowess, Manchester has plenty to offer its visitors. We’ve even created a guide to Manchester for music-lovers, so you’ve no excuse not to pay a visit.
Address Book
Anfield Stadium, Anfield Rd, Anfield, Liverpool, L4 0THBramley-Moore Dock, Liverpool, L5 9SR
Goodison Park, Goodison Rd, Liverpool, L4 4EL
Liver Building, Pier Head, Liverpool, L3 1HU
Penny Lane, Liverpool, L18 1HQ
Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool, L3 4AD
Stanley Park, Walton Ln, Anfield, Liverpool, L4 2SL
Strawberry Field, Beaconsfield Rd, Liverpool, L25 6EJ
The Beatles Statue, Pier Head, Liverpool, L3 1BY
The Beatles Story Museum, Britannia Vaults, Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool, L3 4AD
The Cavern Club, 10 Mathew St, Liverpool, L2 6RE
Hero Image: Royal Albert Dock in Liverpool. © Victorburnside/iStock
