October 10, 2022, 9:43 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Football and the Beatles were probably the first things that came to mind when you heard Liverpool. But now a new event overshadows both: As announced on Friday, the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 is set to take place in Liverpool. The interest is already enormous, as booking numbers show. TRAVELBOOK knows what the rough port city in northwest England has to offer and reveals twelve places you shouldn’t miss on your first visit to Liverpool.
On Friday evening, it was announced that the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) will be held in Liverpool on May 13, 2023. After the Kalush Orchestra won for the still-contested Ukraine this year, the United Kingdom is stepping in as the host country next year for security reasons. The decision to hold the ESC here was met with enthusiasm–already reflected in the booking numbers.
Just half an hour after the announcement, 99 percent of accommodations on Booking.com for the ESC final day were no longer available–despite absurdly high prices! As the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” reports, hotel rooms in the center were offered for more than 2,300 euros per night, and on the weekend for more than double that.
Already have a room or planning to visit Liverpool on another day? Here are some tips on what to experience in Liverpool beyond the ESC.
12 Exciting Places in Liverpool
1. The Port
If you’re visiting Liverpool for the first time, you should take enough time for the port, which has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2004. The area with its docks stretches over 12 kilometers along the River Mersey and shows the importance of the port for the English metropolis. The best way to explore the area is with an extended walk.
2. The Albert Dock
Part of Liverpool’s port area and a popular destination for locals and tourists is the Albert Dock. The stone buildings combine culture, shopping, and culinary delights: Here you can find small souvenir shops, museums such as the Merseyside Maritime Museum and Tate Liverpool, as well as many restaurants. Tip: Enjoy fish & chips with a view of the Mersey estuary–there’s hardly a better place for it.
3. The Museum “The Beatles Story”
If you’re visiting Liverpool, you can’t avoid engaging a bit with the Beatles. The museum The Beatles Story at the Albert Dock offers a great opportunity for this. For approximately 18 euros, visitors can learn more about the history of the most successful music band of all time in colorful rooms and purchase unique souvenirs at the end of the exhibition.
4. Penny Lane
And while we’re on the subject of the Beatles: A visit to Penny Lane should also be on the agenda when visiting Liverpool. John Lennon and Paul McCartney grew up in the area, and the street inspired the duo to write the song of the same name.
5. The Cavern Club
Another attraction related to the Beatles is the Cavern Club. The band performed here almost 300 times in the early 1960s. Although the club was closed for more than ten years, it remains a cult venue today.
6. The Anfield Stadium
Even though it has been renovated and expanded many times since its opening in 1884, Anfield Stadium is a football historical monument. Here, Liverpool FC fans create a goosebump-inducing atmosphere week after week when they serenade their team and coach Jürgen Klopp with “You’ll Never Walk Alone” before the games. If you want to take a closer look at the stadium but couldn’t get tickets for a game, you can join a tour.
7. Liverpool’s Cathedrals
If you’re interested in architecture, you should definitely visit both cathedrals in Liverpool: the Anglican Liverpool Cathedral and the Catholic Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. The former was built in the neo-Gothic style and consecrated in 1904, while the latter was only completed in the 1960s and thus designed in a modern style.
8. The Superlambanana
The 5.2-meter-high plastic figure is a mix of a banana and a lamb. Initially seeming absurd, the figure carries an important message: The Superlambanana humorously highlights the issue of genetic engineering. The sculpture was designed in 1998 as part of the ArtTransPennine Exhibition. In 2009, it was decided that the artwork would remain in the public space for 80 years, reports the British broadcaster BBC. It has since become an important landmark of the city.
9. The Sefton Park
On sunny days, Sefton Park, a green spot south of the city center, is the perfect place for a walk or a coffee. On rainy days–which you should expect in Liverpool–you can spend time in the park’s Palm House.
10. St. John’s Beacon
If you want to see the city from above, you can take a trip to the observation deck on Liverpool’s TV tower. The St. John’s Beacon is 133 meters high and offers a unique view over the city’s rooftops.
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11. The World Museum
Absolutely worth a visit–especially on rainy days–is the World Museum with its large collection of Egyptology and ethnology exhibits. It also includes a planetarium. Admission is free.
12. Royal Liver Building
Completed in 1911, the building is probably the quintessential landmark of Liverpool. Until 1934, it was even the tallest inhabited building in Europe at 98 meters. Atop the tower sits the Liver Bird, the symbol of the city and the emblem of Liverpool FC.