‘Aside from my love of the accent, it’s one of the friendliest cities in the UK. It’s also packed with culture and history. These are the best free attractions in Liverpool…’

As LT’s from Merseyside (I’m reliably informed all the best people are…), I’ve been lucky enough to spend a bit of time exploring Liverpool.  There are so many things to see and do, and it’s a great place to visit on a budget.  These are my favourite free attractions in and around the city.
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Museum of Liverpool 

Sitting on the waterfront near Albert Dock, this gargantuan museum tells the history of Liverpool in a way that only Liverpool can. It contains more than 6,000 objects and has spaces dedicated to the accomplishments of the people, the incredible musical legacy it’s created, and it’s rather impressive footballing achievements.
It’s also a really impressive building where I’ve spent many a happy hour wandering aimlessly, listening to the locals chatting.
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Penny Lane

Made famous by The Beatles song on the same name, Penny Lane is situated, well…in Penny Lane.  Who knew?  The street was the bus terminus that Paul McCartney changed at when visiting John Lennon (and vice versa), so it was an area that both songwriters knew well.
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Many of the sights mentioned in the song remain today, including the fire station at nearby Mather Avenue, and the white Barber’s Shop, which is now Tony Slavin’s store. Throughout the years, Liverpool Council has had to spend a small fortune replacing street signs for Penny Lane, which are frequently stolen by fans.

If you’re on the lookout for more Beatles stuff, then the city is full of it.  Other sights include childhood homes, The Beatles Story in the dock area, and the famous Cavern Club in the city centre. Abbey Road isn’t in Liverpool, though, so probably best not to try searching for that one. The zebra crossing made famous by the band on the cover of the album is in North West London.

Sefton Park

Sefton Park is 235 acres of outdoor recreation space, just a short distance from the city centre. English Heritage has designated the park as Grade 1, meaning it’s amongst the best in the country. Sefton Park is famous for its Palm House, which house the city’s Botanical Gardens. The Palm House is a fully-restored, Victorian era glasshouse and is popular for its collection of plans (hence the name), as well as its stunning range of orchids and other rare species.

Sefton is very popular with locals for its easy access from the city centre, its walking, running and cycling. It also has a great outdoor play area for kids.

SuperLambBananas

No, that’s not a typo.  Liverpool is the home of the original (and possibly the only) SuperLambBanana on the planet. Japanese artist, Taro Chiezo, designed the symbol for the city. He now lives in New York, presumably living off all his SuperLambBanana money. The original SLB is located in Tithebarn Street, but there are more in place in the plaza outside the Liverpool Museum.
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The original is basically what you expect it will be: a giant yellow banana with a face like a lamb. The guys in the plaza are far more colourful and equally smile-inducing.  You can also buy your very own SLB in the tourist office (not to scale, obviously, because you’re not getting that home in the back of your Renault Clio, are you?). They are superb, but they can be a touch difficult to explain to someone who’s never seen one.
What’s not to love??

Albert Dock

You can’t fail to be impressed by Albert Dock’s transformation over the years.  It’s a fantastic place to eat, drink, and generally be merry.  The sights and sounds of the waterfront are wonderful and the Dock is the largest collection of Grade 1 listed buildings in the UK. Here, you’ll find The Tate, The Maritime and the Slavery Museums, and The Beatles Story.

A short walk from the dockside is the famous Liver Building. This is one of the most iconic and most photographed in the city.  On top of the spire of the tower sits a liver bird, which is the symbol of the city (you thought it was the SuperLambBanana, didn’t you?)  Albert Dock is just one of Liverpool’s 6 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Liverpool Central Library

Believe me when I tell you this doesn’t sound anywhere near as good as it is. As magical as libraries can be to the right people, Liverpool’s has a few surprises up its (book) sleeves. If the tens of thousands of books aren’t quite enough for you, take a short elevator ride to the rooftop and enjoy a birds-eye view of the city.

Harry Potter fans will enjoy the Picton Reading Room, which has a total Hogwarts vibe.

Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and Liverpool Cathedral

Why have one cathedral when you can have two, right? The two cathedrals are a little more than half a mile apart.  The Met can be identified by its unique design, which was one of 300 submitted from around the world when architects were invited to detail their vision for the new cathedral in 1960. The building that stands today was the fourth attempt to complete a design and build on the site.
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A short distance away is Liverpool’s other cathedral, which is called, well…Liverpool Cathedral. What were the chances? LC is the UK’s largest cathedral and is home to Britain’s largest organ and the world’s heaviest bells.  All in one place, people! You can access the third-floor gallery for fantastic views of the building’s interior.
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In addition to the normal cathedral-y (that’s definitely a word…) things, here lies an eternal flame to commemorate the victims of the Hillsborough disaster, a statue of the kneeling Madonna, and a quite enormous stained glass window.
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Public Art

With the exception of Westminster in London, Liverpool has more public art that anywhere else in the UK. It’s impossible to stroll around the city without stumbling upon something amazing or unusual – or both. Superlambananas aside, you can have your photo taken with a Yellow Submarine (they don’t got them in Westminster…), bronze statues of The Beatles, a statue of John Lennon outside the Cavern Club, or the beautiful Liver bird wings mural on Jamaica Street.

If you’re a footie fan, the city’s respective rivals, Liverpool and Everton have their own public art. Legend Dixie Dean has a statue at Everton’s Goodison Park, while Liverpool hero, Bill Shankly can be spotted at Anfied.

Walker Art Gallery

Situated in the William Brown Street Conservation Area, this location in the city has more galleries and public buildings than any other street in the UK.  Walker Art Gallery is one of the largest in England and features works from artists, such as Rembrandt and Degas, to 20th Century masters, Hockney and Freud.

Liverpool Tate Gallery

The first three floors of the gallery are free to enter. Generally, the only fee payable is for special temporary exhibitions.  The Tate is England’s largest gallery (outside London) and sits on the waterfront at Albert Dock.  It houses a magnificent collection of contemporary art. In addition, it holds the national collection of British art from 1500 to the present day, with more than 70,000 pieces. 
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What are your favourite free attractions in Liverpool?

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Suz x

 

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