Waterfront, Liverpool

Creative Tourist

The waterfront, which takes in the Albert Dock and the Pier Head, is an integral part of Liverpool’s UNESCO World Heritage Site – and is the best place to get a feel for the city’s former grandeur. It features The Three Graces, a trio of buildings that were designed to illustrate Liverpool‘s immense wealth, the Baroque Port of Liverpool Building and the iconic Royal Liver Building, topped with two its cormorant-like Liver Birds. The female is said to look out over the sea for returning sailors, while the male looks over the city, to check the pubs are still open. 

The Albert Dock right on the water boasts the largest group of Grade I listed buildings in the UK and is home to numerous shops, restaurants and hotels in its red brick warehouses – as well as Tate Liverpool. This superb gallery is not a lone cultural highlight here, however; the waterfront also features the Maritime Museum, the International Slavery Museum, the Museum of Liverpool and Open Eye Gallery, a small photography gallery with a big reputation.

Our top picks

Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool, Albert Dock, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool, Merseyside, L3 4BB - Visit now

On Liverpool’s Albert Dock, The Tate Liverpool houses an impressive collection of modern and contemporary art, including works by artists such as Pablo Picasso, Mark Rothko, and Andy Warhol. The museum’s collection also includes a range of British art from the 20th century, including works by Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, and David Hockney.

Tate Liverpool from across the docks

Maritime Museum

Maritime Museum, Albert Dock, Liverpool, Merseyside, L3 4AQ - Visit now

The Royal Albert Dock is home to the Maritime Museum, the perfect place to get a feel for the small inlet that grew to become the gateway to the world. Maritime Museum tells the story of the Port of Liverpool, which has been graced by some of the finest ocean cruisers and transatlantic liners that made this a global trading city.

Merseyside Maritime Museum, Liverpool, image courtesy of venue

Maray Albert Dock

Maray Albert Dock, Unit 4, Britannia Pavilion, Albert Dock, Liverpool, L3 4AD - Visit now

The ever-popular Maray’s third site, based at the Royal Albert Dock in Liverpool, has beautiful views and flavours in equal measure.

Museum of Liverpool

Museum of Liverpool, Pier Head, Liverpool Waterfront,, Liverpool, Merseyside, L3 1DG - Visit now

Wedged between Royal Albert Doc and the Three Graces, The Museum of Liverpool  exists to tell the long and winding tale of Liverpool’s past through the 6,000 objects displayed on three floors. Visitors are given the chance to get under the skin of a city that was for 200 years one of the world’s most influential.

Open Eye Gallery

Open Eye Gallery, 19 Mann Island, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool, Merseyside, L3 1BP - Visit now

Open Eye Gallery is an independent photography space and archive in Liverpool with a 35 year-plus history. As well as a regular programme of changing exhibitions, featuring both national and international photographers, Open Eye also runs courses, workshops and talks for serious photographers

Open Eye Gallery, 2013. Image by Mark McNulty.

International Slavery Museum

International Slavery Museum, Albert Dock, Liverpool, Merseyside, L3 4AQ - Visit now

Set within the same building as the  Merseyside Maritime Museum, the International Slavery Museum looks over the docs whereby Liverpool was responsible for half the British transatlantic slave trade, and her ships carried perhaps 1.5 million enslaved Africans into slavery.

Merseyside Maritime Museum & International Slavery Museum

Panoramic 34

Panoramic 34, West Tower, Brook Street, Liverpool, L3 9PJ - Visit now

Panoramic 34 is one of the UK’s highest restaurants and sits 90 metres above Liverpool’s Brook Street. With spectacular views of Liverpool, Wirral and out to the Irish Sea complete with an extensive cocktail menu and bar snacks., Panoramic 34 should be top of your list for fine dining in Merseyside.

A table with a view of Liverpool at the fine dining restaurant Panoramic 34
Panoramic 34

RIBA North

RIBA North, 21 Mann Island, Liverpool, L3 1BP - Visit now

At the heart of RIBA North is the City Gallery, which houses a permanent display about Liverpool’s architectural past, present and future, and the processes involved in urban development and the evolution of the built environment. The gallery includes the Digital City Model, an interactive 3D model which recounts stories about Liverpool and the surrounding area. Younger visitors are invited to become architects themselves in the centre’s Lego city; RIBA North’s own in-house, child-friendly construction site.

Where to go in Liverpool

Bridge Cottage
Port Sunlight
Gallery
Bridge Cottage

Bridge Cottage is one of Port Sunlight’s most charming and architecturally distinctive Arts & Crafts homes. Often hold art Exhibitions and Tours.

The Engine Room Notice Board
Southport
Event venue
The Engine Room

The Engine Room is a creative community hub in Southport’s Wayfarers Arcade, offering co-working space, cultural events and collaborative opportunities for artists, freelancers and educators.

Picante
Liverpool
Restaurant
Picante

Picante is a sun-soaked Mexican restaurant at the trailblazing Cains Brewery Village 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.

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.

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

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester
Theatre in the North

Summer signals theatre festivals, world premieres and open-air spectacle - from MIF25 to comedy, outdoor circus and beyond, here’s what we’re looking forward to.

Cloudwater Production One
Tours and Activities in the North

Go forth with wild abandon to dance the pavements, dabble with the paint and down the pints in this month's tours and activities guide.

Star Nhà Ease
Cinema in the North

July's cinema highlights include spotlights on international cinema, a new cult classic, plus a visit from one of our favourite directors.

Harry Baker
Literature Events in the North

From environmental to experimental, our poetry and prose picks from around the North are focused on the unusual and the fun.

Exhibitions in the North

Captivating, urgent and intimate - we bring you our top exhibition picks, with even more art festivals, artist-led shows and new venues.

Helena Hauff
Music in the North

Shape-shifting bands, scorched-earth techno, and off-grid festivals. Our latest music picks catch the live scene at its most urgent, inventive and alive.