Getting There

By plane: The city is served by the Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which is located a mere 7 miles from the city centre. A number of bus services operate between the airport and the city including the Airlink 500 which runs regularly from 6.45am-11.45pm, along with the 86A and the 80A. The journey takes approximately 20 minutes.

By train: If you're travelling to Liverpool by train, you'll probably end up at the Liverpool Lime Street Station in the city centre. Rail services from towns and cities throughout the UK terminate here.

By bus: National Express is just one of the coach companies who run bus services into Liverpool. You'll find the National Express bus station in Norton Street in the city centre.

Getting Around

On foot: You'll be able to get to many of the city centre attractions including the Albert Dock, Liverpool Cathedral and more on foot. However, if you're looking to go a little bit further afield to check out places like Anfield, Penny Lane and the Wirral, you'll need to use one of the methods of public transport detailed below.

By bus/train: Merseytravel operate Liverpool's bus and train services. A huge number of buses operate on a wide variety of routes encompassing over 6,000 stops. Three main train lines operate across the city with an underground line connecting Liverpool city centre with the Wirral.

By taxi: You'll see black cabs working all around Liverpool and you can either hail them down on the street or hop in at one of the numerous taxi ranks throughout the city.

Liverpool boasts a temperate climate. This usually means that the city sees relatively cool summers and mild winters. July is generally the warmest month with average temperatures of around 17ºC, while in January temperatures fall to around 4ºC. In both summer and winter, Liverpool can see quite a bit of rain. December, January, August and September tend to be the wettest months on average. The weather here can be quite changeable so it's a good idea to pack an umbrella. Conversely, during the summer cloudy and foggy conditions may burn off by lunchtime, paving the way for lovely sunny afternoons.

Embassies*

USA: +44 (0)20 7499 9000
Canada: +44 (0)20 7258 6600**
Australia: +44 (0)20 7379 4334**
New Zealand: +44 (0)20 7930 8422**
South Africa: +44 (0)20 7451 7299
Ireland: +44 (0)20 7235 2171
Germany: +44 (0)20 7824 1300
Spain: +44 (0)20 7235 5555
Italy: +44 (0)20 7312 2200
France: +44 (0)20 7073 1000

*All embassies located in London
**High Commissions located in London

Pumpernickle's, 95A Mount Pleasant, Georgian Quarter This friendly spot serves up a huge selection of sandwiches with all kinds of different fillings, along with soups, jacket potatoes and more. Their lunch bag special is particularly good value. Open Mon-Fri 5.45am-3.30pm, Sat 8am-1pm, closed Sundays.

Tabac, 126 Bold Street, Chinatown From full English breakfasts in the morning to a mouth-watering selection of main meals and tapas in the evening, Tabac is a great choice at any time of day. On top of that, the food at this funky café bar is very reasonably priced. Open daily 9am-late.

Everyman Bistro, 5 Hope Street, Georgian Quarter Located beneath the Everyman Theatre, this bistro is the perfect spot for lunch. On the menu you'll find soups, salads, pasta dishes and quiche. Make sure to save room for one of the incredibly tempting desserts. Open Mon-Thurs 11.45am-midnight, Fri 11.45am-2am, Sat 11am-2am, closed Sundays.

What a Lark... Keith's, 107 Lark Lane, Aigburth Huge windows welcome you into Keith's, a boho wine bar and restaurant on Liverpool's much-loved Lark Lane. The menu is written up on blackboards beside the bar and includes salads, toasted sandwiches, nachos, pasta, meat dishes and plenty more. Open Sun-Thurs 11am-midnight, Fri-Sat 11am-2am.

Tokyou, 7 Berry Street, Chinatown You can tell this noodle bar is a quality eatery by watching the never-ending stream of locals passing through its door to sit down and enjoy a huge selection of noodle and rice dishes. Portions are generous and prices are affordable leaving you with a full stomach and a happy wallet. Open daily 12.30pm-11.30pm.

Cavern Club, 10 Mathew Street, Cavern Quarter It's here that the Beatles started their career and where they played almost 300 times. Today, it's still a popular live music venue with a wide variety of bands taking to the stage every week. While you sit and enjoy a drink, check out the graffiti on the red brick walls. Open Mon-Wed 10am-7pm, Thurs-Sun 10am-2am.

Heebie Jeebies, 80-82 Seel Street, Chinatown This funky bar is spread out over a large area, which includes a smoking area out in the courtyard. Rock and indie fans will appreciate the music played here at Heebie Jeebies, as well as the great drinks selection. Punters can also enjoy live music 4 nights a week and nightly appearances by live DJs. Open Mon-Thurs noon-3am, Fri-Sat noon-4am, Sun noon-2am/3am.

The Dispensary, 87 Renshaw Street, City Centre An old-school bar, the Dispensary's interior is as small as its selection of drinks is huge. Recently voted as CAMRA Pub of the Year, this spot fills up with locals and visitors who come to sample some of the 175 different drinks offered including real ales, ciders, draught beers and plenty more. Open Sun-Thurs noon-11pm, Fri-Sat noon-midnight.

Low Bar, 52 Lark Lane, Aigburth Boasting a wide selection of drinks and an outdoor seating area, Low Bar is a great spot to stop for a tipple. Located along Liverpool's Lark Lane, it's very popular with locals and is well-worth a look. Open Mon-Thurs noon-11pm, Fri-Sat noon-1am, Sun noon-10pm.

The Peacock, 49-51 Seel Street, Chinatown You'll find two floors here at the Peacock, the bar downstairs and the club upstairs, which opens from 9pm onwards. There's also a large outdoor seating area. Head here on a Friday evening to take advantage of the free barbeque before you start in on the cheap cocktails! Open Sun-Wed noon-2am, Thurs-Sat noon-3am.

This is Anfield Liverpool FC Stadium Tour, 69-71 Anfield Road, Anfield Anfield is the home of Liverpool Football Club, the most successful football club in English history. On one of the entertaining tours you'll get the chance to visit the Kop where Liverpool fans belt out 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. Tours run daily from 10am-3pm, frequency of tours varies with season; admission £14.

The Beatles Story, Albert Dock & Pier Head, The Waterfront Located at two different sites along the Waterfront, The Beatles Story is one of the city's top attractions. The Albert Dock site features an intriguing collection of Beatles memorabilia including George Harrison's first guitar. Open daily 9am-7pm; admission £12.95 for both sites.

Spaceport, Victoria Place, Seacombe, Wirral Explore the cosmos at Spaceport, an attraction dedicated to helping visitors understand the universe. While you're here, make sure to see a show at the planetarium. Open Tues-Sun 10.30am-6pm, closed Mondays; admission £8.

Liverpool Cathedral and Tower, St. James Mount, Georgian Quarter Designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the man responsible for the UK's red telephone boxes, Liverpool's imposing Cathedral is the largest cathedral in Britain. Head up the 101-metre high tower to see panoramic views of Liverpool. Open daily 8am-6pm; admission free to Cathedral, $5 for Tower.

Mersey Ferries, terminals at Pier Head, Seacombe and Woodside Made famous by the Gerry & the Pacemakers song 'Ferry Cross the Mersey', the ferry trips across the River Mersey are hugely popular. On the ferry you'll get stunning views of Liverpool's skyline and learn about the history of the city. 50-minute tourist trips depart daily on the hour from 10am-4pm; admission £6.50 return.

January/February - Chinese New Year Liverpool's long-established Chinatown area hosts the annual Chinese New Year celebrations. These are quite spectacular and feature everything from a parade to traditional performances.

April-May - Liverpool Comedy Festival Liverpool Comedy Festival features performances by top comedians, as well as workshops and lots more. Big names who have appeared here in the past include Jimmy Carr and Peter Kay.

May - SoundCity Taking place over four days, SoundCity sees a huge number of music acts perform in venues across the city. This musical extravaganza attracts bands from around the world.

May - Writing on the Wall On the go for over ten years, the Writing on the Wall Festival features a broad selection of events from literary readings to live music and from art shows to workshops.

June - Lord Mayor's Pageant One Saturday each June, Liverpool city centre witnesses a spectacular parade in the form of the Lord Mayor's Pageant. Horse-drawn carriages carry the mayor through the streets, followed by colourful floats, marching bands and more.

July - Brouhaha International Street Festival Performers from all over the world head to Liverpool to take part in this festival which runs for ten days. The highlight is the Liverpool International Carnival held at the end of the festival.

August - International Beatle Week Festival Celebrating the music of the Beatles, this annual festival features a host of musical performances at locations around the city including the Cavern Club.

August - Mathew Street Music Festival Held over the August Bank Holiday Weekend, this music festival attracts large numbers to the city. Live acts perform on six outdoor stages during the festival.

September - Liverpool Food & Drink Festival A relatively new event on Liverpool's annual calendar, the Food & Drink festival includes cookery demonstrations, food tasting sessions, reduced restaurant prices, live music and lots more.

November - Homotopia Taking place throughout the month of November, Homotopia is an annual festival which celebrates Queer Culture. This festival features a wide variety of events including theatre, film screenings and photography exhibits.

Cultural Quarter One of the most visited areas of the city, Liverpool's Cultural Quarter is unsurprisingly most famous for its cultural attractions including the impressive St. George's Hall, a Grade I listed building with a stunning exterior. Here's where you'll also find the Walker Art Gallery, the World Museum Liverpool and the beautiful St. John's Gardens.

Albert Dock Albert Dock, which can be found amongst the biggest collection of listed buildings in the UK, hosts some of the most popular things to do in Liverpool. In a relatively small area you'll find attractions like the Beatles Story, Tate Liverpool and plenty more. A number of touristy stores, cafés, restaurants and bars can also be found here.

Ferry cross the Mersey... The Wirral Across the Mersey from Liverpool City Centre, you'll find the Wirral Peninsula, which is definitely worth a visit. Hop on a ferry or catch a train across the river and when you arrive you'll be greeted by a number of attractions including the U-Boat Story and Spaceport. There's also a great selection of top-notch restaurants and bars to check out.

Lark Lane Pick up the 82 bus from Hanover Street or Berry Street and it'll take you out towards one of the nicest areas of Liverpool, Lark Lane. Not far from Sefton Park, Lark Lane is the place to go if you're looking to enjoy a beer or have a delicious meal in a friendly atmosphere. Hugely popular with locals, it's well-worth the short trip from the city centre.

Cavern Quarter Built around Mathew Street where you'll find the world-famous Cavern Club, the Cavern Quarter is an energetic area of the city popular with visitors from all over the world. People come here to see where The Beatles started their career, to visit the upscale stores in Cavern Walks, to check out the wide variety of bars or simply to walk the cobbled streets and soak up the atmosphere.

ONE love Liverpool ONE, South John Street, City Centre ONE, a huge shopping mecca right at the heart of Liverpool, is the result of Europe's largest city centre regeneration project. It's comprised of over 160 shops offering up a massive variety of stuff to tempt shoppers. Stores include Miss Selfridge, Pull and Bear, Office, Gap and more.Open Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 10am-5pm.

Metquarter, 35 Whitechapel, City Centre Inside the modern-looking Metquarter you'll come across a great variety of threads including Tommy Hilfiger, Diesel and DKNY Jeans. Other brands available in this popular shopping centre include Timberland and Levi's.Open Mon-Wed & Fri-Sat 9.30am-6pm, Thurs 9.30am-7pm, Sun 11am-5pm.

Bold Street, Chinatown If it's something a bit more alternative you're after, make sure you add Bold Street to your shopping itinerary. Alongside stores like HMV and Waterstones, this street also boasts a great selection of quirky furniture shops, a comic store, a second hand record shop and some cool art and jewellery stores.

Church Street, City Centre Liverpool's main shopping drag, Church Street is often thronged with eager shoppers looking for a bargain in the stores lining this pedestrianised thoroughfare. Some of the shops you'll find here include Schuh, Primark, Topshop, M&S, River Island, H&M and Next.

Cavern Walks, 8 Mathew Street, Cavern Quarter This is the place to go if you're looking for designer clothes and boutique chic. Smack bang in the middle of the Cavern Quarter, Cavern Walks is spread out over a few levels and boasts stores from designers like Vivienne Westwood and more. Open Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Thurs 9am-8pm, Fri-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm.

Have a look around the Tate Liverpool Tate Liverpool is one of the biggest modern art galleries in the UK outside of London and hosts an intriguing collection for visitors to experience. Opened in 1988, this gallery features works of art by both British and international artists. Open Tues-Sun 10am-5pm; admission free to all but the special exhibitions.

Check out the World Museum Liverpool Taking up six floors, the impressive World Museum Liverpool contains a huge collection of artefacts and interactive exhibits. As you wander through this giant museum, you'll be able to visit the fish at the Aquarium, see mummies from Ancient Egypt, check out the collection of dinosaur fossils and much, much more. Open daily 10am-5pm.

Strolling through the park one day... Explore Sefton Park Spread out over 200 acres, Sefton Park is a huge oasis of green just a short trip from the city centre. Two of the top attractions within the park are the Palm House with its collection lush and leafy plants, and the wonderful Peter Pan statue, which you'll find beside the Palm House. The park is also home to wide open grassy spaces and beautiful water features. Open daily 24 hours.

Take a trip down Penny Lane Made famous by the Beatles song of the same name, Penny Lane is a street you'll find a mere ten minutes from the city centre. Wander along 'beneath blue suburban skies' and see if you can spot the 'barber showing photographs'. A must for all Beatles fans, it's also an interesting trip for anyone visiting Liverpool.

Visit the Walker Art Gallery This free art gallery is well-worth a look thanks to its first-rate collection of paintings and sculpture. Colourful impressionist works by Monet are just a small part of a wide variety of exhibits you'll be able to see here. Open daily 10am-5pm.

Start the day with a delicious full-English breakfast at Tabac, one of the best cafés on Bold Street.

From here, walk towards the Albert Dock where you can visit attractions like The Beatles Story (below) and the Tate Liverpool.

Head from here to Pier Head where you can take a world-famous ferry across the River Mersey.

Make your way back across the river and towards the Everyman Theatre, underneath which you'll find the Everyman Bistro, a perfect spot for lunch.

Stroll down Hope Street towards the stunning Liverpool Cathedral where you can climb the tower for panoramic views.

Walk back to the city centre and go check out the Cavern Quarter, where you can have quick drink in the famous Cavern Club where the Beatles began their career.

A short walk from this part of the city will take you down Church Street and into Liverpool ONE where you'll find some of the best shopping in Liverpool.

Take the bus out to the Lark Lane area near Sefton Park and have dinner in one of the area's many restaurants such as Keith's.

Make your way back into the city centre where you can stop off at The Dispensary and sample some real ale.

Finish the night checking out the multitude of bars and clubs in and around Seel Street including Heebie Jeebies and The Peacock.