Liverpool’s reputation as a tourist destination has increased significantly in recent years, especially with the 800 anniversary celebrations in 2007 and the upcoming honour of being European Capital of Culture in 2008. The sights range from the historical, as Liverpool boasts over 2500 protected buildings, to the popular, with The Beatles continuing to be a big draw many decades after their last recordings.

Cathedrals

Two of Liverpool’s most diverse and interesting places of worship can be found within a five minute walk of each other. The city’s Cathedrals are separated by the appropriately titled Hope Street, and both have their own unique points of interest. The Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral was originally designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, but was downsized in its planned scale and finished by Sir Frederick Gibberd in May 1967, and is a strikingly modern concrete structure which is known locally as ‘Paddy’s Wigwam’, because of the large Irish-Catholic community in the city. It features the largest panel of stained glass in the world and often hosts classical music recitals.

In contrast the Anglican Cathedral, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, is built in a neo-gothic style. Started in 1904, but not finished until 1978, the largest Cathedral in the country can be seen from many miles away, whether approaching from the land or the sea. Inside there is one of the largest organs in the world and a 100-metre-tall bell tower; visitors who ascend to the top of the tower are rewarded by views of the sprawling city on one side and the Irish Sea on the other.

Penny Lane

Situated around 20 minutes bus ride south from the city centre, Penny Lane is immortalised by the classic Beatles song. The lyrics are apparently not about Penny Lane itself, but about the formally busy shopping area around the close-by Smithdown Road. Though nothing more than a street sign, bus loads of tourists still make the trip to have their picture taken under it. The street faces student dormitories, and unsurprisingly the actual sign, and its many replacements, have disappeared countless times over the years.

The Bombed Out Church

St Luke’s Church, or as it’s more commonly known The Bombed Out Church, was hit in 1942 during the Liverpool Blitz. Most of the internal structures were destroyed and the standing outer walls are blackened by fire damage. Over 60 years later the church remains unchanged, as it was decided to leave the damaged building as a monument to peace. Its gardens still prove popular; sometimes there are theatre or musical performances in the grounds and local peace groups still come to place to remember of the horrors of war.

Football

It is impossible to remove the city of Liverpool from its association with one of the world’s most famous football teams Liverpool FC. 5 Times champions of Europe and 18 times English League Champions, Liverpool are not just popular locally but also internationally. Their current home, Anfield, located in the north of the city is to be demolished and replaced in the coming years by the new Stanley Park stadium. Liverpool offer guided tours of Anfield and their heavily laden trophy cabinet, tickets are available in advance throughout the season. Tours are also available at the regions other football clubs Tranmere Rovers and Everton.

Albert Dock

Opened in 1896, built entirely of cast iron, brick, and stone the docks no longer function for their original purpose, apart from during the annual Tall Ships Festival every summer. It officially closed in 1972, but was redeveloped in the 1980s when it became home to various offices and a television studio. With 5 Grade 1 listed buildings, the Albert Dock has it is the largest collection of such buildings in the country and offers a cult attraction for many as “Fred’s weather map” (which was featured for years on British television during weather forecasts) is still housed in the dock. There are also various bars, restaurants, museums and art galleries located in the buildings.

Tate Liverpool

The Tate Liverpool is the second largest gallery of modern and contemporary art in the country, and houses some of the same material from its London sister-gallery as well as many original exhibitions. It was opened in 1988 and has since proved to be one of the most popular of the city’s attractions, for both locals and visitors. The displays include modern and contemporary art from 1900 up until the present day, with such mediums as performance, printmaking, photography, video, painting and sculpture.

Pier Head and the Three Graces

Fairly recently the buildings on the Pier Head in Liverpool have been dubbed the city’s “Three Graces.” The Royal Liver Building, Cunard Building and Port of Liverpool Building can all be seen from miles around and thus have come to represent the image of Liverpool. This is especially true of the 1914 constructed Royal Liver Building as on top of each sit the mythical Liver Birds (the symbol of the city), designed by Carl Bernard Bartels. Whilst some people have claimed that the two birds, one facing towards the city and the other towards the see, are meant to be watching over the people of Liverpool and guiding in sailors to dock, local people have claimed it is rather that one bird (the male one) is checking if the pubs are still open and the other (the female) if looking out for handsome sailors arriving into town.

Magical Mystery Tour

The Magical Mystery Tour runs Beatles enthusiasts around Liverpool in a ‘vintage’ bus as used in the 1967 film of the same name. It stops at the birth places of the different members of Beatles, the place of their fists concerts, the places they grew up and the places their songs have made famous, such as Penny Lane (see above) and Strawberry Fields.

Williamson's Tunnels

One of Liverpool’s more bizarre landmarks is a series of tunnels commissioned by the 19th Centaury philanthropist Joseph Williamson. The reason for the building of this network of tunnels is disputed. Some people claim it was built to provide labour for the many unemployed in Liverpool at the time, which makes it the world’s oldest labour creation scheme. Others however dispute this, believing that they were built for the purposes of land reclamation. They were renovated and opened to the public in 2002; archaeological work and debates about their purpose still continue.