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City Centre, Liverpool

Creative Tourist

Here’s the thing. Liverpool dates back to the 13th century but, in the city centre, you’ll struggle to find anything much older than 200 years. The creative hub that is the Bluecoat, a former school dating back to 1716, is one exception. Alongside an excellent gallery, café and courtyard garden, the complex boasts independent craft shops and the rated Bluecoat Display Centre. Another architectural OAP is the Town Hall, which dates to 1754 and stands at the centre of the seven streets that made up medieval Liverpool. Keep an eye out for the other beautiful structures in the area, including the Grade I listed Bank of England building, The Royal Insurance Building and the immense glass panes of Oriel Chambers.

Aside from architecture, the main attractions here are eating, shopping and theatre. Our top picks include Delifonseca, which boasts good food, fine wines and locally-brewed beer, the hard-to-find Jenny’s Bar, hidden beneath what appears to be a fish restaurant, and the Liverpool Playhouse, sister to the Everyman theatre on Hope Street.

Our top picks

Boxpark Liverpool

Boxpark Liverpool, Boxpark Liverpool, The Canning Hall, Baltic Triangle, L8 5RE - Visit now

Sitting in the heart of Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle district at Cains Brewery Village, Boxpark Liverpool brings together forward-thinking street food, drinks and entertainment under one roof, championing local businesses and creators in the community.

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The British Music Experience

The British Music Experience, Cunard Building, Liverpool, L1 3DS - Visit now

Tucked away inside the iconic Cunard building  on the world heritage site of the Pier Head is the British Music Experience, the UK’s museum of popular music, a place where you can relive the moments that helped put British music on the map. The BME also hosts special events throughout the year, past events including Everything – The Real Thing Story with Chris Amoo, ‘In Conversation With’ musician, DJ and author Mark Radcliffe, and a series of classic 80s films.

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A music master: David Bowie memorabilia at the British Music Experience

LJMU Exhibition Research Lab

LJMU Exhibition Research Lab, Duckinfield Street, Liverpool, L3 5RD - Visit now

LJMU Exhibition Research Lab is the first academic centre and art gallery in the UK dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of exhibitions and curatorial knowledge.

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O2 Academy Liverpool

O2 Academy Liverpool, 11-13 Hotham Street, Liverpool, L3 5UF - Visit now

O2 Academy Liverpool boasts two performance areas that host live music and clubnights. The main room has seen the likes of Blondie, Arcade Fire, Primal Scream, The Killers, Biffy Clyro, Arctic Monkeys and the Wombats. O2 Academy Liverpool also has a long history of some of Liverpool’s best indie and rock club nights. A modern space with great sound, a must visit spot for music fanatics.

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O2 Academy music venue in Liverpool.

LEAF on Bold Street

LEAF on Bold Street, 65-67 Bold Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 4EZ - Visit now

Keeping Bold Street a hub of creativity, LEAF is more than a tearoom, it’s also a bar and thriving event space with a packed schedule of upcoming happenings.

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Bluecoat

Bluecoat, Bluecoat Chambers, School Lane, Liverpool, L1 3BX - Visit now

The Bluecoat is the oldest building in Liverpool city centre, dating back to 1716. Once a school, it’s now one of the city’s liveliest arts hubs, an art gallery showing work by major national and international artists that also stages regular performances, readings and more.

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BAM BOO

BAM BOO, 108 Bold St , Liverpool, L1 4HY - Visit now

BAM BOO delivers a slice of paradise in the form of brunch right in Liverpool city centre, with indulgent meals and delicious cocktails.

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food and drink
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Everyman Liverpool

Everyman Liverpool, Metquarter, 35 Victoria Street, Liverpool, L1 6DA - Visit now

Liverpool’s most plush cinema that feels like stepping into the 1920s. It has has luxury, comfort and an excellent programme – all that you need to fall in love with going to the cinema all over again. Not to be confused with the equally fabulous Everyman Theatre.

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Where to go in Liverpool

Maldron Hotel Liverpool
Baltic Triangle
Hotel
Maldron Hotel

The Maldron Hotel is perfectly located on the edge of the Baltic Triangle and offers comfortable stays and luxurious breakfasts.

hotel4
Liverpool
Hotel
The Halyard

The Halyard is one of Liverpool’s newest hotels, with top floor suites offering sweeping views of the city and delicious treats in the restaurant.

shop
Liverpool
Shop
COW Liverpool

Cow Liverpool is one of the city’s favourite vintage shops, with clothing, accessories and homeware in a spacious shop on Bold Street.

Liverpool
Shop
Pop Boutique Liverpool

Pop Boutique houses Vintage, clothing, homeware and vinyl. This bold street shop is in the centre of the ropewalks area of Liverpool which is fast becoming the indie centre of Liverpool.

cafe
Lark Lane
Café or Coffee Shop
Press Bros

Press Bros is one of Lark Lane’s best coffee spots, with coffee made from locally roasted beans and delicious breakfasts.

food and drink
Liverpool
Restaurant
Manifest

Manifest is a casual fine dining restaurant and wine bar in the Baltic Triangle, serving seasonal dishes and delicious wines from small scale producers.

food and drink
Liverpool
Restaurant
Sanskruti

Sanskruti is a vegetarian and vegan Indian restaurant, serving an array of fresh, brightly coloured dishes in Liverpool’s Business District.

food and drink
City Centre
Bar or Pub
Brass Monkey

Brass Monkey is a quirky bar with swings serving delicious drinks, tucked away down a quiet street in the centre of Liverpool.

food and drink
Liverpool
Restaurant
The Botanical Gin Garden

The Botanical Gin Garden is a seasonal outdoor gin bar, open six months a year, serving a wide selection of delicious gin drinks.

food and drink
City Centre
Bar or Pub
Cafe Tabac

Cafe Tabac is the longest running café bar in Liverpool, serving food and drinks to arty locals and curious newcomers.

See all places in Liverpool

Liverpool Visitor Guides

The Spa at Carden Garden
Spas in the North West

If you find yourself in the North West of England looking for a spa day, look no further, check out our guide featuring our favourite spots.

Coffee Shops in Liverpool

Over the last couple of years, Liverpool – like the rest of the country – has been taken over by an army of artisan coffee shops. But how do you separate the wheat from the chaff (or bean from the berry)?

Vegan Food in Liverpool
Vegan Food in Liverpool

Liverpool is one of the better cities when it comes to high-quality vegan cuisine - here's our guide to the best vegan food in the city

Photo of upturned cocktail glasses
Restaurants in Liverpool

From gourmet tapas to towering burgers – by way of sushi, Chinese and vegetarian food – we’ve done our best to lasso together an inventory of Liverpool’s best restaurants.

Music Venues in Liverpool

When it comes to music venues, there's more to Liverpool than the Cavern Club. Lots more. Here are our top spots in the city.

Croxteth Hall and Country Park
Walks in Liverpool

A round-up of the best walks in Liverpool, including the city centre, its many parks, and over the water by Creative Tourist.

Breakfast in Liverpool

Breakfast. There’s a reason that it’s deemed the most important meal of the day - here are our favourite breakfast places in Liverpool.

Casual dining in Liverpool

From delicate small plates to locally-sourced laid-back dining, Liverpool has it all. We get it, sometimes you’re just not in the mood to get dressed-up and fancy, sometimes jeans, t-shirt...

Restaurants on Liverpool’s Bold Street

Bold Street is one of Liverpool's most high-profile areas, full of unique coffee shops and independent restaurants. Here's our expert guide to this wonderful area.

Liverpool District Guides

Baltic Triangle, Liverpool

Read our guide to The Baltic Triangle, a great spot for eating, drinking and partying in Liverpool.
Hope Street, Liverpool

Our guide to Hope Street, one of Liverpool’s most graceful quarters, where religious heritage meets forward-thinking culture.
Ropewalks and Chinatown, Liverpool

The Ropewalks is a part of Liverpool that combines old and new. Taking in arts, culture and hospitality, read our guide to the area.
The ship in Liverpool Sound City
Waterfront, Liverpool

Our guide to Liverpool’s waterfront, an integral part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a glimpse into the city’s historical grandeur.
Art galleries in Liverpool
William Brown Street, Liverpool

Our guide to the museum centre of the city, with beautiful library rooms, marble sculptures and excellent coffee.
southport guide
Southport

Southport is a large seaside town in the county of Merseyside, which also takes in Formby, West Kirby and Liverpool. Formerly known for genteel ladies of a certain age and…
Lark Lane, Liverpool

A little way out of Liverpool City Centre, and a short and leafy walk from St Michael’s train station, is the low-key enclave of Lark Lane. Rather beautifully named, this…
Image by Jonathan Schofield.
Spotlight on

Walking Tours in Manchester by Jonathan Schofield

Presenting the best walking tours in Manchester for history buffs, culture enthusiasts, and those looking to scratch beneath the surface of the city.

Take me there

Destination Guides

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Dynamic dance, party-performance, high-energy stand-up and a site-specific show set in a pub. All this and more in our newest theatre guide.

A woman sits in a car with hands holding the steering wheel.
Cinema in the North

Vintage Alfred Hitchcock and a family friendly film festival are amongst our highlights this May.

Sextile
Music in the North

Open air clubs, new festivals and long-awaited gigs. The North West's live music scene is heating up this spring. 

Laura Ellen Bacon, Into Being, 2025. Photo © India Hobson, courtesy Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Exhibitions in the North

Willow weaving, textile collages, digital arts and ecology - all this and more in our exhibition top picks this month

Image by Jonathan Schofield.
Tours and Activities in the North

We've got many a good time in store this month as we round up the best walking tours, cultural classes and makers markets in the land.

Okechukwu Nzelu
Literature Events in the North

If it's inspiring, inclusive events and avant-garde, experimental afternoons you're after, look no further than live literature this spring – we've got you covered.