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Visit Liverpool Guide for Groups Flipbook PDF
A guide to Liverpool for trade organisers
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Liverpool
FOR GROUPS
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Contents ❝ My first ever breath of English air was when I was carried off a troop ship docking at Liverpool when I was not even a year old. This, by inhalation, makes me a Scouser through and through: and having just been lucky enough to visit this fabulous city again and again, I have come to the conclusion that if I were to leave London, I would take a fast train to Liverpool at once, and live there forever, in its beauty and friendliness, its wild diversity and elegance, its earthiness and modernity and its sheer adorableness. I absolutely love Liverpool. ❞
Joanna Lumley OBE
WELCOME TO LIVERPOOL
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COACH WELCOME SCHEME
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COACH PARKING
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GETTING HERE
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CULTURE & HERITAGE
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MUSIC & THE BEATLES
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TOURS
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SHOPPING 18 EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS
SPORT 27 DINING OUT
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NIGHTLIFE 30 ITINERARIES 31 ACCOMMODATION 38 CRUISE LIVERPOOL
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BEYOND THE CITY
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A TALE OF FIVE CITIES
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HOW WE CAN HELP
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Marketing Liverpool has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of information within this publication at the time of going to print but changes often occur after going to press. Therefore we cannot accept liability for any loss or damage arising from its use.
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The information within this guide and the design are copyright of Marketing Liverpool and no part of this document may be reproduced in part or in whole by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior written permission of the publishers .
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Welcome to Liverpool When the Beatles sang about ‘Eight Days a Week’ they could have been talking about how much there is to do in Liverpool.
The city and its surrounds are home to more museums and galleries than any other outside London. It’s one of the world’s 30 select Cities of Music and, as such, is crammed with musical attractions and events. Plus, it’s home to a six-area UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is unmatched by anywhere else in the world. The city has a whole pack of aces up its sleeve for 2019, too, making the year one of the best ever to either return to Liverpool or see it for the first time. Firstly, the year will see a string of major new world-class attractions open in the city. Secondly, throughout 2019, various existing attractions and venues will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the release of the Beatle’s iconic Abbey Road album in style.
Finally, 2019 will see Liverpool become part of the North of England City Experience – a new project that makes it even easier to leapfrog from Liverpool to four of the north’s other top cities. It goes without saying that the city bends over backwards for groups. Parties visiting Liverpool are inundated with discounts, perks and private grouponly experiences. You’ll find a few of the top group itineraries detailed in the later pages of this booklet, but trips can be completely tailored to suit your group and their precise tastes. To fine tune your trip visit visitliverpool.com
MEMBER 2018/19
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Member 2019
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Coach welcome scheme LIVERPOOL COACH WELCOME Coach groups can register for a special Coach Welcome, which involves a personal welcome to the city of Liverpool from one of our enthusiastic coach hosts, the latest information on what’s on, complimentary maps, rest room and refreshment facilities. For drivers, there are coach drop-off and pick-up facilities, parking and traffic information and refreshments. There are two locations: Liverpool Cathedral in the city’s historic Hope Street Quarter, and at Liverpool ONE bus station. We recommend booking at least 10 days in advance. • LIVERPOOL CATHEDRAL +44 (0)151 702 7284 [email protected] •
LIVERPOOL ONE BUS STATION +44 (0)151 330 1354 [email protected]
SOUTHPORT COACH WELCOME Coach hosts are available from April to October to meet and greet coach visitors disembarking at the coach drop-off point on Lord Street, adjacent to The Atkinson. Special discount voucher booklets are available for all passengers. The Coach Drivers’ passport is a free-to-join scheme which rewards drivers bringing coaches to Southport.
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There is secure coach parking at the Eco Visitor Centre alongside the park and ride scheme. This includes lounge, kitchen and shower facilities for drivers. For more information visit www.visitsouthport.com or contact Steve Christian on +44 (0)151 934 2319 WIRRAL COACH WELCOME For a Mersey Ferries river cruise, park at Woodside Ferry Terminal. Mersey Ferries links a number of exciting waterfront attractions in Liverpool and Wirral, enabling you to create flexible days out for your group. Port Sunlight, a fascinating 19th century garden village, is a very popular group travel destination and home to both the Port Sunlight Museum and Lady Lever Art Gallery. There is extensive free coach parking adjacent to the Lady Lever Art Gallery, with the village attractions easily accessible on foot. For more information about these and more visit www.visitwirral.com/visitor-info/group-travel
Coach Parking 10 Liverpool Hope University (Creative Campus). Everton FC. Isla Gladstone Conservatory. Liverpool FC.
3 Aintree Racecourse. Southport. Another Place (Cast Iron Human Sculptures).
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Croxteth Hall & Country Park. Knowsley Hall. Knowsley Safari. St Helens.
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Liverpool Hope University (Hope Park Campus). 20 Forthlin Road. Al-Rahma Mosque. Mendips. Penny Lane. Princes Park. Sefton Park Palm House. Strawberry Field. Sudley House.
PICK UP AND DROP OFF GOWER STREET, ROYAL ALBERT DOCK, L3 4AD (See Map 1 for location)
1 bay available for pick up and drop off only with a maximum stay of 10 minutes. Available 24 hours. (Adjacent to bus stop).
CROSSHALL STREET, L1 6DQ (See Map 1 for location)
Adjacent to NationalFestival Conservation Centre. Gardens, Otterspool Promenade, 2 bays are available for pick up and drop off only. Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Available 24 Hours. Speke Hall, Florence Institute
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WILLIAM BROWN STREET, L3 8EN (See Map 1 for location)
Opposite World Museum. 3 bays are available for pick up and drop off only. Available 24 Hours.
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LIVERPOOL CATHEDRAL, L1 7AZ (See Map 1 for location)
2 bays available for pick up and drop off only. Hours of operation are 08.00 - 18.00 with a maximum stay of 15 minutes.
SALTHOUSE QUAY, ROYAL ALBERT DOCK, L3 4AD (See Map 1 for location)
Located opposite the Revolution Bar. 3 pick up and drop off bays available. Maximum stay 10 minutes
LIVERPOOL ONE BUS STATION, L1 8JX (See Map 1 for location)
Access from The Strand or Hanover Street. 1 bay available for pick up and drop off only. Maximum stay 15 minutes.
LIVERPOOL ONE BUS STATION, L1 8JX (See Map 1 for location)
Located opposite the Port of Liverpool Building. Available 24/7 and has a maximum stay of 15 minutes.
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MEDIUM STAY PARKING A total of 39 parking bays have been allocated around the city centre. These parking bays are free to use and no advance booking is required. All parking bays are in operation 8.00am- 6.00pm. 7
BANKFIELD STREET, L20 (See Map 2 for location)
Between Great Howard Street and Regent Road where 4 parking bays are available.
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SANDHILLS LANE, L20. (See Map 2 for location).
Between Regent Road and Derby Road where 3 bays are available.
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UPPER DUKE STREET, L1 (See Map 1 for location)
Adjacent to Liverpool Cathedral where 3 parking bays are available.
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BATH STREET, L3 (See Map 1 for location)
6 parking bays are available.
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RIVERSIDE DRIVE, L3 (See Map 3 for location)
Free coach parking available for up to 18 vehicles. No pre-booking necessary. Contact: [email protected]
Getting here It’s possible to blink and you’ll miss the journey into Liverpool. Motorways, high speed rail lines, runways and waterways all speed visitors into the city. When you’re ready to leave, Liverpool is a springboard to dozens of the UK’s other bucket list destinations, as well as a launchpad for trips around the globe. BY ROAD The M62 shuttles visitors directly into Liverpool from England’s main arterial motorways the M6 and prior to that, the M1. You can drive here from London in four hours or break up the journey with stops in the likes of Oxford and Birmingham. BY RAIL Designated fast trains will spirit you from London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street in just over two hours. The route is run by Virgin Trains, which also offers groups a luxury Red Carpet experience that allows them to hire their own train carriage and BELFAST dine as they travel. Edinburgh, meanwhile, is a four-hour train ride away. There is a regular direct rail link between Manchester Airport to Liverpool City Centre
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BY AIR Planes fly into Liverpool John Lennon Airport from more than 60 destinations within the UK and Europe. A half hour drive DUBLIN is all that separates you from the city centre when you touch down on the runway. Alternatively, Manchester Airport is only a 45 minute drive into Liverpool City Centre. This three-terminal airport offers flights to and from destinations around the globe – 200 of them are direct.
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BY SEA Liverpool’s two ports fire you across to Ireland within the space of a day. P&O runs a service to Dublin and StenaLine operates a route to Belfast from Birkenhead. Then there are the city’s cruise connections, which you can read about on page 40.
PLYMOUTH
SOUTHAMPTON
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Culture & Heritage HERITAGE One of the greatest feathers in Liverpool’s cap is the fact that it’s home to one of only 24 UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Sites located in mainland UK, putting the city in league with the likes of Stonehenge and Westminster Abbey. The UNESCO site is a serious size, too. It includes six areas, covers more than 336 acres in total, and spans around four kilometres from north to south and a kilometre from east to west. Within its perimeters you’ll find The Three Graces – three of the city’s most memorable buildings. There’s the Italian renaissance-style Cunard Building, the Edwardian baroque-style Port of Liverpool Building, and the Royal Liver Building that’s topped with two 18-foot Liver birds – the symbols of the city. Also inside the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s edges is St. George’s Plateau. This gateway to the city is characterised by its proud cenotaph monument, bronzes, statues and St George’s Hall, which is said to be one of the finest examples of neo-Grecian buildings in the world. Then there’s Royal Albert Dock with its red bricked warehouse buildings. A one of a kind in terms of engineering at the time it was built, this photogenic place is now a hub of museums, cafes, restaurants and galleries. And you can’t talk about heritage in Liverpool without mentioning the city’s two cathedrals. In terms of design these two places are chalk and cheese. The Grade II - listed Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral is designed in a striking tepee shape, while the focal point of its Anglican Cathedral cousin is the imposing 100-foot tower. Both offer tours, refreshments and VIP experiences for groups.
ART No matter where you are in Liverpool, you’ll never be far from a piece of artwork. Overlooking the waters of Royal Albert Dock, Tate Liverpool serves up four floors’ worth. Exhibitions change regularly and one of the most noteworthy of 2019 will be a showcase of work by American pop artist Keith Haring. The first of its kind ever to be shown in the UK, the exhibition will feature more than 85 different pieces of work and run between 14th June and 10th November. Groups visiting Tate Liverpool can book private guided tours and talks and pre-order food – from sticky Danish pastries and coffees to soup and sandwiches – in the onsite café . Other big news for 2019 are the two major exhibitions that will be held at The Walker Art Gallery. Keith Haring, Untitled 1983 © Keith Haring Foundation
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Between 1st February and 6th May the gallery will host an exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci drawings to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the artist’s death. Between 15th March and 26th August, meanwhile, the gallery will host an exhibition by Charles Rennie Mackintosh where the artworks will span his career and explore the Glasgow Style movement.
Of course, no discussion of Liverpool’s art scene is complete without mentioning The Bluecoat. This space’s heart beats for contemporary art. The work of both upcoming and established modern artists can be seen here, and the gallery offers groups the opportunity to book talks with curators, critics and artists as well as heritage tours of the 300-year-old building.
Returning in 2020 Liverpool Biennial is the UK biennial of contemporary art. Taking place every two years across the city in public spaces, galleries, museums and online, the Biennial commissions international artists to make and present work in the context of Liverpool.
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MUSEUMS There’s a museum for every day of the week and more in Liverpool. The Merseyside Maritime Museum is a popular choice with groups. This interactive attraction spills the beans on the city’s seafaring history and touches on topics such as pirates, smuggling and The Titanic. Also inside the Merseyside Maritime Museum building is the Slavery Museum. The first thing groups will see in this stirring building is The Freedom and Enslavement Wall that’s inscribed with quotes and showcases video content in which people discuss what freedom means to them. The World Museum is another top option. Visitors will find exhibitions here – both temporary and permanent – that explore everything from ancient Egypt to dinosaurs. Groups that want to find out exactly what makes Liverpool tick, meanwhile, should head to the Museum of Liverpool. Filling three floors with exhibits, displays and artefacts, the museum gives you a fly on the wall insight into Liverpool culture and the lives of its people. DRAMA AND COMEDY Curtains rise on everything from fresh-fromthe-West-End musicals to improvised comedy every year in Liverpool. Liverpool Empire has a dedicated group booking line and highlights of the 2019 programme include box office smashes Kinky Boots, War Horse and Les Misérables. For critically acclaimed plays, new material, spoken word and contemporary productions try the Everyman and Playhouse theatres, where groups can book backstage tours before they sit down to watch a production. Another option for your curtain call fix is the 380-seat, -listed, Epstein Theatre, where group discounts are available on certain productions. Then there’s The Royal Court, where you can watch everything from comedy to burlesque and groups can benefit from one free ticket in every 10. If it’s live music you want, beeline to the newly-named M&S Bank Arena. World famous names take to the stage here on a regular basis, sharing the annual line-up with the likes of huge multimedia productions like Marvel Universe LIVE. The arena has a dedicated groups booking line and discounts are available on a range of shows.
The Girl on the Train, Liverpool Playhouse Theatre
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Great things have been arriving here for centuries. Be the next. Restaurants, cafés, bars, shops, museums, events, and Tate gallery set within a world heritage site.
@theAlbertDock www.albertdock.com
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The Beatles Story is the world’s largest permanent exhibition dedicated to telling the story of the world’s greatest band. In 2019 celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Abbey Road album with a visit to this immersive, award-winning attraction. The Beatles Story offers special rates and packages for travel trade partners and group visits. Hear the story unfold with multimedia guides available in twelve different languages, narrated by John Lennon’s sister, Julia.
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50 Years of
Music & The Beatles 2019 is a milestone year as far as the music scene in Liverpool is concerned. It’s the year in which the city celebrates the 50th anniversary of the release of The Beatle’s game-changing Abbey Road album. One of the major highlights of the year will take place in September when the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra will put on a special performance called And In The End: A Celebration of 50 Years of Abbey Road and Let It Be. The production will put a classical twist on masterpieces like Here Comes the Sun and Come Together. There’s also a room dedicated to Abbey Road studios at major Beatles attraction The Beatles Story. Inside you’ll find memorabilia that includes handwritten notes, which the band wrote during their recording sessions. The Abbey Road section is one of many at The Beatles Story. In other areas of this warren-like attraction you’ll be able to learn about everything from the band members’ childhoods to their relationships with each other. Group rates are available for parties of 10 or more and group organisers get in free. In summer 2018, the Magical Beatles: A Fab Four Experience opened its doors to the public for the first time. Located on Mathew Street, close to the iconic Cavern Club, the museum was the brainchild of Roag Best – brother of the band’s original drummer Pete.
The five-floor attraction is crammed with more than 300 items of Beatles memorabilia, some of which had barely been seen by the public before the attraction opened. Strawberry Field, immortalised in the Beatles song Strawberry Fields Forever - is the new heritage attraction opening for groups from September 2019. Previously, the site of the former Salvation Army Children’s Home, where John Lennon found solace as a child playing in the grounds, Strawberry Field will now consist of a new visitor experience including an authentic inter-active exhibition with media guide; a stylish cafe and shop; and tour of the gardens of John’s childhood. Plus, make sure you take a peek at the Beatles & Music itinerary inspiration on page 31, which includes The British Music Experience. This interactive attraction opened in 2017 and includes more than 600 items of pop memorabilia and costumes. At regular intervals holograms of pop icons like Boy George take to the attraction’s stage to give visitors a taste of what it was like to see them perform live.
Sgt Pepper suits at The Beatles Story
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Presents
THE CAVERN CLUB
THE CAVERN PUB
THE MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR
INTERNATIONAL BEATLEWEEK FESTIVAL
DISCOVER BEATLES LIVERPOOL 16
@cavernliverpool
www.cavernclub.com
Tours Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour – The Beatles sang about it and the city where they were born makes them possible. In fact, mystery is just one of the topics that can inform a group tour of the city. Liverpool’s meticulously trained, often multi-lingual, Blue and Green Badge Guides can tailor tours around almost any subject. You can sculpt a tour around architecture, art, history, beer, film locations such as those linked to Peaky Blinders and Harry Potter. For a slightly more unusual topic, take a look at Brilliant Liverpool Tours’ listings. This company’s tours can be themed around everything including the impact that The Blitz had on the city. Alternatively, test your mettle on a Shiverpool Ghost Tour, where a costumed guide will tell you about all the skeletons that Liverpool has in its closet. Shiverpool has recently started offering dining packages for groups, too, including posttour cheese and chocolate fondue experiences.
Shiverpool Tour
For a tour that covers a range of topics, meanwhile, hop on one of Liverpool’s open top bus tours. Liverpool City Sights and City Explorer both offer routes that stop at all the top landmarks and attractions. Opening in May the new Royal Liver Building 360 attraction will allow visitors to Liverpool to be able to experience the city’s iconic Royal Liver Building in a way that’s never been possible before. SEE THE SIGHTS FROM THE WATER Some of the best tour experiences in Liverpool are water-based. Mersey Ferries offers a range of sightseeing cruises that show you the city’s sights from a slightly different angle. Options include the 50-minute River Explorer cruise that sails from Pier Head to Wirral. These cruises can be upgraded to a Do the Double touring experience that includes a City Explorer open-top bus tour, too. For something truly memorable, take a look at Mersey Ferries’ Manchester Ship Canal Cruise. 2019 marks the 125th anniversary of the opening of the Manchester Ship Canal so there’s no better year to try this for the first time or go back to experience it again.
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Shopping You’ll need some serious stamina to make it around all of Liverpool’s shops. There are 170 in Liverpool ONE alone. Spread across multiple floors, this openair shopping mall encourages sprees with shops like Coast, Cath Kidston, Gap and John Lewis. The good news is there are plenty of places to make a pit stop onsite, too. You can refuel on everything from wood fired pizza to freshly baked cookies while you’re here. The centre is group-friendly, too, thanks to Liverpool ONE bus station, which has a bookable coach drop-off and pick-up bay. Not that you’ll necessarily want to get back on the coach immediately after exploring Liverpool ONE. Just steps from the exit of the centre, the shops continue. This is where you’ll find the city’s traditional high street area. On clement days street artists and singers punctuate the crowds as shoppers mooch around stores like Marks & Spencer, Primark and Forever 21. In the centre of it all, there’s another multi-storey shopping centre. The Metquarter is the place to come for a pair of designer heels from a brand like Kurt Geiger, a keepsake piece of jewellery from the likes of Links of London, and to stock up on high end beauty products at shops such as MAC. Those looking for something a little more out of the ordinary, meanwhile, should head to Bold Street. This street is lined with vintage shops, vinyl record stores and kooky gift stores. Finally, shopaholics with a soft spot for a bargain, should schedule a trip to Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet into their itinerary. This sweeping shopping area, half an hour from Liverpool centre, features more than 140 outlet shops that sell at discount prices. You’ll find names like Karl Lagerfeld, Pandora and Kate Spade emblazoned on the bags that swing from shoppers’ arms when you visit here. What’s more, groups of 10 or more receive a welcome pack when they visit that includes a 10 per cent off discount card per person.
Liverpool ONE
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SHOPPING IMAGE
COW Vintage, Bold Street
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Tax free shopping Non-EU residents can enjoy a tax refund on products purchased in our centre. Visit our onsite Tax Refund Office for more information.
Collections you’ll love With over 170 designer and high street brands like BOSS, Clarks and Polo Ralph Lauren for up the 60% off RRP, it’s time to make some space in your wardrobe.
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BURBERRY
Spotlight on style Sought-after designer brands for less Need a style refresh? Or simply looking to add to your already fabulous wardrobe? Discover the perfect day out at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet where you kind find key trend pieces and designer brands for up to 60% off RRP. Shop until you drop, browse new collections and when you need a break, relax and refuel at one of our many restaurants and cafés. What are you waiting for?
cheshireoaksdesigneroutlet.com
Fashion Passport Show this page to Guest Services to receive an extra 10% off outlet prices. Group bookings can also enjoy exclusive benefits such as premium parking, hands-free shopping and discounts on selected cafés and restaurants.
Closer Than You Think The centre is conveniently located just 30 minutes from Liverpool with a whole host of guest services available such as complimentary Wi-Fi.
KATE SPADE
NIKE
Event highlights CHARLES RENNIE MACKINTOSH MAKING THE GLASGOW STYLE 5 March - 26 August Walker Art Gallery liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker MADE OF IRON May - September Williamson Art Gallery and Museum - Birkenhead Priory imaginewirral.com SOUND CITY 3 - 5 May Liverpool Baltic Triangle soundcity.uk.com INTERNATIONAL GUITAR FESTIVAL 18 - 31 May New Brighton Floral Pavilion imaginewirral.com ROCK AND ROLL MARATHON 25 - 26 May Liverpool City Centre runrocknroll.com/liverpool
British Musical Fireworks Championship
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MERSEY RIVER FESTIVAL 31 May - 2 June Liverpool & Wirral Waterfront Visitliverpool.com BORDEAUX WINE FESTIVAL LIVERPOOL 31 May - 2 June Pier Head bwfliverpool.com REMBRANDT IN PRINT 1 June - 15 September Lady Lever Art Gallery imaginewirral.com
TAKE THAT 6 June Anfield Stadium liverpoolfc.com/lfcevents/concerts
FEIS 6 July Liverpool Pier Head feisliverpool.com
KEITH HARRING 14 June - 10 November Tate Liverpool tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-liverpool
WIRRAL FESTIVAL OF FIRSTS 6 - 14 July New Brighton Marine Lake wirralfestivaloffirsts.org.uk
AFRICA OYÉ 22 - 23 June Sefton Park africaoye.com
BRAZILICA FESTIVAL 12 - 14 July Liverpool City Centre visitliverpool.com LIVERPOOL INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL 20 - 21 July Sefton Park limfestival.com INTERNATIONAL BEATLEWEEK 21 - 27 August Liverpool City Centre internationalbeatleweek.com SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW 6 - 8 September Southport Seafront air-shows.org.uk
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Event highlights SOUTHPORT FLOWER SHOW 15 - 18 August Victoria Park southportflowershow.co.uk
BRITISH MUSICAL FIREWORKS CHAMPIONSHIPS 27 - 29 September Victoria Park visitsouthport.com
INTERNATIONAL BEATLEWEEK 21 - 27 August Liverpool City Centre internationalbeatleweek.com
DOUBLE FANTASY – JOHN AND YOKO Until 3 November Museum of Liverpool liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/
CITY OF LIVERPOOL TATTOO 13 - 14 September M&S Bank Arena mandsbankarena.com/whats-on
LIVERPOOL INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW 28 - 31 December M&S Bank Arena mandsbankarena.com/whats-on
Southport Flower Show
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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
©Disney, ©Disney/Pixar.
AMAZING CITY CENTRE LOCATION EASY PARKING AND GREAT RATES
The Wonderful World Of Disney On Ice
Gladys Knight
The City of Liverpool Tattoo
Marvel Universe LIVE!
Snow White
Theraplate UK Liverpool International Horse Show
17 - 21 April
13 - 14 September
13 - 24 December
3 July
31 October - 3 November
28 - 31 December
mandsbankarena.com | 0344 561 7672 JOIN THE CONVERSATION
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STADIUM TOUR EPIC EXPERIENCE To other clubs, it’s just a stadium tour. For us, it’s giving you spine-tingling moments you’ll never forget.
Unmissable. Immersive. The LFC Stadium Tour. Book now at [email protected] or call 0151 906 1817 Available in 9 languages
ع WE ARE LIVERPOOL. THIS MEANS MORE.
Sport
Liverpool hits the back of the net, gets a hole in one and scores a slam dunk with its sports offering. Both the reds and the blues offer groups the opportunity to take behind-the-scenes tours of their stadiums. At Anfield, the tour lets you snoop around the home and away team dressing rooms, gives you the opportunity to practice your interview techniques in the press room, and allows you to take a walk down the players’ tunnel, imagining the thunder of the crowd outside. The cost of the tour also includes admission to the interactive Liverpool FC Story museum. Audio guides are available in 10 different languages and parties of 15 and more can tailor their experience with the help of a dedicated groups manager. Group meals, meanwhile, are available in the Boot Room Sports Café, which has room for up to 240 people. Four minutes down the road from Anfield, there’s Goodison Park, home of the reds’ rivals. Here, group tours take you into The Director’s Box, give you an insight into what happens in the Dixie Dean Suite on match days and let you take in the views from the dugout.
Of course, you can’t talk about Liverpool’s sporting muscle without mentioning horse racing. Aintree and Haydock Park both host class 1 racing throughout the calendar. The highlight diary dates for 2019 have to be the Randox Health Grand National Festival, which will take place between 4th and 6th April. Group bookings are available for all three days of the event, including Ladies’ Day. Then there’s golf. Liverpool is the gateway to England’s Golf Coast – home to 14 courses, including nine of the Top Courses in England. Three of these venues - Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool and Royal Lytham & St. Annes – have hosted The Open 33 times between them.
Liverpool International Horse Show
Everton FC Stadium Tour
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Dining Out You could eat in a different restaurant every night for two and a half years and still not get around all that Liverpool has to offer. You can chow down on everything from Venezuelan arepas to Canadian poutine here. Groups are put on a pedestal in many of the city’s eateries, too, thanks to group menus and private dining spaces.
WHAT’S NEW? Spanish eatery Lunyalita fired up its kitchens for the first time in summer 2018. Located in Royal Albert Dock, next to The Beatles Story, the restaurant is split between two floors and can cater for parties of up to 100. The group menu features two ‘tapas banquet’ options with dishes like calamari in beer batter and albondigas – homemade Spanish meatballs – on offer.
TRIED AND TESTED Located in Royal Albert Dock, PanAm serves up food inspired by the Americas and the Caribbean. Think Bajan lamb with rice and beans and Jambalaya. Food and drink packages are available for large groups of 50 plus. Close by, in Liverpool ONE, there’s the Bierkeller, which doths its cap to Bavarian beer hall culture. The menu features the likes of German bratwurst and schnitzel and discounts of 10 per cent are available to parties of 30 and more. Staying with the beer theme, there’s Love Lane Brewery, which opened in 2017 inside a restored rubber factory. Today, it houses a brewery, a gin distillery, three bars, a kitchen, a tasting room and an event space. Private tours of the brewery and/or distillery can be booked by large groups and visitor packages can be tailored that include pre or post tour food as well.
60 Hope Street
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NYL is another favourite with groups. It’s located inside the former Royal Insurance Building with its stuccoed ceilings and wooden panelled walls. The chefs here have created a menu that marries American and Liverpudlian food. The dedicated groups menu showcases dishes like ham hock fritters with apple and celeriac slaw and New York cheesecake of the day. For something a little bit different, there’s Floating Grace, a barge restaurant that serves diners everything from roasts to afternoon teas as it cruises around Liverpool’s docks. Parties of up to 50 can hire it privately.
A TASTE OF TRADITION Liverpool’s most traditional dish is scouse – a steamy cockle-warming stew made with beef or lamb and chunky vegetables that’s typically served alongside chunky bread and red cabbage. A handful of groupfriendly restaurants serve the dish. The Baltic Fleet, not far from Royal Albert Dock, has a private function room where parties of up to 60 can enjoy scouse and sea shanties. Another option is The Ship and Mitre, close to the Walker Art Gallery, which can serve scouse to up to 75 people in its private room.
AFTERNOON TEA
FISH AND CHIPS BY THE SEA
For an afternoon tea to write home about, head to Blakes inside The Hard Day’s Night hotel. It’s inspired by the fact that The Beatles referenced tea more than a dozen times in their songs and it features quintessential items like British beef and horseradish finger sandwiches and fruit scones with clotted cream and preserves. The tea selection here is sourced from Whittard of Chelsea and includes no less than 15 options.
Every northerner worth their salt (and vinegar) will have tucked into traditional fish and chips by the sea at some time in their lives. No trip to Southport is complete without taking part in this institution. Owned by the Defty family for more than 35 years, The Swan on Stanley Street is well used to serving coach parties. The menu features classics like fried fillet of cod, homemade steak pies, mushy peas and – of course – chunky, hand cut chips.
INDEPENDENT LIVERPOOL For an evening meal to wow your taste buds, a wander down Bold Street won’t disappoint. From the Indian delights of the much sought after Mowgli Tiffin, to the nutrient jampacked veggie and vegan treats at Love Thy Neighbour. Maray is the place of foodie dreams, and if you fancy some oysters and champs, Italian Club Fish is calling your name.
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Nightlife In addition to there being something to do in Liverpool eight days a week, there’s something to do eight nights a week, too. Liverpool is one of the UK’s nightlife capitals. MATHEW STREET Mathew Street is the place to go for true nights on the tiles. Live music starts ebbing out from the bars and onto the pedestrianised street here at lunchtime and doesn’t stop until the morning after. This street is where you’ll find the Cavern Club and Cavern Pub, which are well used to dealing with group bookings. If your group prefers the Greta Garbo approach to nights out and wants to be alone, there are rich pickings for private room hire in Liverpool. Groups of around 100 can book into the Pill Box at Fredericks Bar in the Georgian Quarter. This loft-style space comes with sleek sofas, a contemporary fireplace and its own bar. The highlight of the drinks selection, meanwhile, is its Cocktails and Other Cures offering. Ma Boyles is another option. Its basement bar, Rum and Rumour, can be reserved by groups. It’s a memorable space with a design scheme that hints at the Moulin Rouge thanks to a statement theatrical red velvet curtain and French Art Nouveau posters on the wall. A range of food and drinks packages can be booked, too, including those that involve fondues and dessert trays. SEEL STREET Then there’s Alma de Cuba. Located on Seel Street, which is another pulse point for the city’s nightlife, this bar is inspired by all things Cuban and Latin American. There’s a menu of private hire options here. At one end of the scale there’s the 30-person Lady Chapel, in the middle there’s the 50-person Mezzanine area, and at the other end there’s the entire bar, which has space for up to 400 people. BALTIC TRIANGLE The Baltic Triangle has fast become a thriving and cutting edge area of the city, that is at the beating heart of Liverpool’s independent music scene. Venues like Constellations, The Baltic Social and 24 Kitchen Street all offer a unique vibrant mixture of weekly club nights and week-long live music festivals. Alternatively, just outside the city centre, there’s TriBeCa, a New York-inspired bar and pizzeria. Groups of up to 170 can book to come here for signature cocktails like the Bomb and Cherry. Plus rum tastings and pizza making sessions can be set up for something a little bit different.
Cavern Club
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Itineraries Liverpool spoils groups for choice when it comes to things to do. Here are a few themed itineraries to help you plan a trip that suits your group down to the ground.
First-Timers ROYAL ALBERT DOCK The timeline of Royal Albert Dock can be traced back to 1846 when it was the first of its kind, in terms of construction, in the world. Today, its buildings make up the UK’s largest collection of Grade I listed properties. In amongst the history there’s modernity in the form of plush cocktail bars, tempting restaurants and a clutch of galleries and museums. albertdock.com TATE LIVERPOOL Tate Liverpool is one of the most important contemporary art galleries in the north of England. Its exhibitions are often firsts of their kind and regularly feature world famous artists – from Roy Lichtenstein to Pablo Picasso. Private tours, talks and group refreshments are all options for parties. tate.org.uk/visit/tate-liverpool/group-visits MERSEY FERRIES You can’t visit Liverpool and not take a ferry across the Mersey, as made famous by the Gerry & The Pacemakers song of 1965. Mersey Ferries’ 50-minute River Explorer Cruise is a good option for groups. It takes in some of the city’s most iconic sights from the water and discounts are available for parties of 20 plus. merseyferries.co.uk/Groups
THE WALKER ART GALLERY Work from masters Leonardo da Vinci and Charles Rennie Mackintosh will line the walls of The Walker Art Gallery in 2019 as part of its special exhibition programme. liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/ ST GEORGE’S HALL Part of Liverpool’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, St George’s Hall was built by the Victorians in 1854 as a music venue and a base for its civil and crown courts. Inside it’s all chandeliers, statues, mosaics and frescoes. Its tunnel vaulted ceiling, meanwhile, is the largest of its kind in Europe. stgeorgeshallliverpool.co.uk ANTONY GORMLEY: ANOTHER PLACE Completely free to see on Crosby Beach, Antony Gormley’s Another Place is a huge art installation that spans land and sea. It’s made up of 100 life-size cast-iron human figures that explore man’s relationship with nature. visitliverpool.com LIVER BUILDING 360 Royal Liver Building 360 is a unique tower tour and experience through Liverpool’s most iconic landmark. The attraction will include a new lower ground floor visitor centre with incredible pieces of the building’s history on display. During the building tour, visitors can visit the 10th and 15th floors where they will enjoy spectacular views of the Liverpool and Wirral skyline as well as experiencing a worldclass digital show inside the iconic clock tower. rlb360.com
Walker Art Gallery
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Music & The Beatles MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR Take a two-hour bus tour around the places where the members of the Beatles grew up. See childhood homes, former schools and locations that inspired songs like Penny Lane. cavernclub.org/the-magical-mystery-tour
PHILHARMONIC HALL Groups get between 10 and 20 per cent discount on most Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra concerts. Make a night of it with a meal at nearby London Carriage Works. liverpoolphil.com/concessions
THE BEATLES STORY Learn the warts-and-all stories of The Beatles in this interactive museum. Gen-up on their rise to fame and discover what went on away from the spotlights. beatlesstory.com/travel-trade
LENNON & MCCARTNEY CHILDHOOD HOMES A combined escorted tour of Mendips and 20 Forthlin Road, the childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, is your only opportunity to see where the Beatles me, composed and rehearsed many of their earliest songs. Visits by National Trust mini bus only. nationaltrust.org/beatles-childhood-homes
THE BRITISH MUSIC EXPERIENCE Continue your musical pilgrimage at the newly opened British Music Experience. Watch holograms of world famous British singers take to the stage and have a go at playing guitars, pianos and drums. britishmusicexperience.com CAVERN CLUB AND MATHEW STREET Visit the club that launched the Beatles’ careers. There’s still live music on here from midday, seven days a week. cavernclub.com STRAWBERRY FIELD Group visits to the major new Strawberry Field attraction are set to start in September 2019. There will be a coach drop off point close to the entrance, group organisers will be admitted for free, and both the GTO and coach driver will be treated to a free hot drink. strawberryfieldliverpool.com
Strawberry Field The British Music Experience
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Sporting icons LIVERPOOL FC STADIUM TOUR Special group rates are available to parties of fifteen plus wanting to go behind the scenes at Anfield Stadium. Other perks include free group leader places, free coach parking and group catering in Boot Room Sports Café. stadiumtours.liverpoolfc.com/groups EVERTON FC STADIUM TOUR Private group tours can be arranged at the home of the blues, Goodison Park. They’ll give you a fly on the wall look at usually off-limits locations like the Director’s Box and the dugout. evertonfc.com ENGLAND’S GOLF COAST 14 of the UK’s top golf courses are located on England’s Golf Coast. Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool and Royal Lytham St Annes are just three of the jewels in this area’s crown. Between them they’ve hosted The Open 33 times. englandsgolfcoast.com
Liverpool FC Stadium Tour & Museum
ST.HELENS RFC Watch ‘Saints’, one of the worlds most famous rugby clubs play at their Totally Wicked Stadium. Match day hospitality packages available. saintsrlfc.com
St. Helens Rugby Club Royal Liverpool Golf Club
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Family fun MATTEL PLAY Take the kids to play with Bob the Builder, Thomas and Friends, and Fireman Sam. Inside three interactive themed zones little ones can don hard hats, drive pretend diggers and play at being firefighters. mattelplayliverpool.com SPACEPORT A 10 per cent discount is on offer to parties of 20 plus at Spaceport. While you’re here you’ll get to learn about all aspects of space, from its facts to its fiction. Highlights include the observatory and the Sci Fi Icons area, where you’ll come eye to eye with Ewoks and Wookiees. spaceport.org.uk
Mattel Play!
WORLD MUSEUM Families visiting the World Museum can find out about everything from ancient Egypt to dinosaurs in an interactive and hands-on way. Don’t miss the planetarium shows, either. liverpoolmuseums.org.uk KNOWSLEY SAFARI PARK Stalk your way around the nature reserve at Knowsley and you’ll come face to face with lions, giraffes, baboons, tigers and elephants to name a few. Private guided tours are available to groups. knowsleysafariexperience.co.uk/explore/group-visits
World Museum Liverpool
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Knowsley Safari
Luxury Liverpool
Wonderful Wirral
PANORAMIC 34 The clue’s in the name with this one. This plush eatery is located on the 34th floor of Liverpool’s West Tower. At more than 100 metres above sea level, it serves up 360-degree views of the city’s skyline alongside its food. panoramic34.com
PORT SUNLIGHT MUSEUM & GARDEN VILLAGE Built to house the workers of the Lever soap factory empire, Port Sunlight is now an interactive museum. Discounts, tours and refreshment packages are available for parties of 15 plus and group leaders get free entry and £5 to spend in the tea room. portsunlightvillage.com/group-visits
LAND ROVER EXPERIENCE Tour the car factory before heading out onto the all-terrain test drive course to get behind the wheel of one of the elite four by fours. Large parties will be split up into smaller groups to make the most of the experience. liverpool.landroverexperience.co.uk KNOWSLEY HALL Britain’s only 5* gold rated Statley home, located within a private and secure 2,500 acre estate. knowsleyhallvenue.co.uk
LADY LEVER ART GALLERY Located on the same site as Port Sunlight, the Lady Lever gallery is home to more than 12,000 exhibits including Wedgewood jasperware and Pre-Raphaelite paintings. liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ladylever NEW BRIGHTON Dodgems, ice creams, crazy golf, model boat sailing, sandcastles and fish and chips are all part of the quintessential British seaside experience on offer at New Brighton – located just 20 minutes from Liverpool city centre. visitnewbrighton.com FLORAL PAVILION The schedule at this 800-seat theatre in New Brighton features everything from ‘evenings with’ to musical theatre. There’s a dedicated phone line for parties of 10 people or more and group discounts are available on many shows. floralpavilion.com
Land Rover Experience Lady Lever Art Gallery
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Classic Southport
Liverpool from above & below
SOUTHPORT PIER The 1,000-metre-long Southport Pier is the second longest in the country. People have been walking along it for 150 years. Groups with less mobile members can catch the pier tram to the end, to take in the sea views that look all the way over to Blackpool on clear days. visitsouthport.com
ST JOHN’S BEACON Needling 138 metres into the sky, St Johns Beacon is home to a 360-degree viewing platform that looks down on the rooftops of Liverpool. It’s also home to Radio City, and visitors can look into the DJ booths to see radio presenters delivering live radio shows while they’re up at the top. yourliverpoolview.com
SOUTHPORT PLEASURELAND The rides and games at Southport Pleasureland bring to life the heyday of the classic British seaside. This is a place to try candy floss, ride the waltzers and try to win tickets on the arcade games. southportpleasureland.com LORD STREET This Victorian canopied boulevard, edged in scenic gardens, is home to the Grade II listed Wayfarers Shopping Arcade with its glass domed roof, period décor and 30 independent stores. visitsouthport.com MARTIN MERE AND WILDFOWL WETLANDS TRUST This 800-acre nature reserve, 20 minutes from Southport, is home to hundreds of species of wildlife. Depending on the time of year you visit you can see flamingos, otters and – in autumn – up to 2,000 wintering swans all together in one place. It’s got a fun side, too. This place puts on regular familyfriendly events such as the North West’s Puddle Jumping Championships. Groups of 12 plus can take advantage of 15 per cent off the entry price. wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/martin-mere
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THE WHEEL OF LIVERPOOL Board a pod on Liverpool’s equivalent to the London Eye and sponge up the views from 60 metres above the skyline of the city. Parties of 25 plus are entitled to 25 per cent off. ticketquarter.co.uk QUEENSWAY TUNNEL Get a mole’s perspective on Liverpool by going below ground on a tour of the Queensway Tunnel. Groups can book private experiences that take in everything from the tunnel’s control room to is giant ventilation fans. [email protected]
Mersey Tunnel Tours
Rembrandt in Print 1 June - 15 September 2019
Charles Rennie Mackintosh Making the Glasgow style 15 March 2019 – 26 August 2019
Taki Katei Japanese Drawings 4 October 2019 - 13 April 2020
Explore the Glasgow style, experience art for an emperor and discover history at National Museums Liverpool. Eight venues, one city, unforgettable visit. Group travel options available.
liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/groups
Credits: Charles Rennie Mackintosh – a Glasgow Museums touring exhibition; Rembrandt - touring exhibition from Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford.
Where will 2019 take you?
Accommodation It’s no secret that Liverpudlians love their sleep. When choosing a method to protest against the Vietnamese War in 1969, John Lennon famously opted to spend two entire weeks in bed. If he were around to repeat the stunt today, he’d have no shortage of options for where to lay his head in the city of his birth. LIVERPOOL THROUGH AND THROUGH For an experience that’s unique to the city, head to Hard Day’s Night Hotel. The design of this 110room, Grade II listed hotel is inspired by The Beatles. There’s memorabilia, specially commissioned art work and subtle nods to the band and their history all over the hotel – from the sheet music that hangs in an installation above reception to the names of the cocktails in the bar. This place is well geared up for groups. Group dining and afternoon tea is available in its restaurant, Blakes and there are several private function rooms that groups can book. Just down the road from Hard Day’s Night there’s another hotel dedicated to a Liverpool icon – Bill Shankly, who managed Liverpool Football Club between 1959 and 1974. Hard Days Night Hotel
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Like Hard Day’s Night, the design at the Shankly Hotel is subtle. Memorabilia and images are dotted around tastefully. Guests who want to find out more about the life and times of the football manager can also visit the on-site museum. The Suites Hotel Knowsley & Spa is a privately owned 4 star hotel and the only hotel in the North West where everyone gets a suite. The new and exclusive Spa, ‘The Spa @ Suites Hotel’, is an oasis where you can relax and pamper yourself with an array of treatments from the word renowned Decleor. The spa also offers the exclusive range of treatments and products from the Haute Courture of beauty Carita, Paris.
Suites Hotel
A TOUCH OF LUXURY Built within a restored rum and tobacco warehouse on the waterfront at Stanley Dock, Titanic Hotel Liverpool is now home to 153 plush bedrooms and an indulgent spa. It’s accustomed to hosting groups and offers parties a range of event spaces and function rooms FAMILIAR FACES Some of the world’s biggest hotel brands have bases in Liverpool. The Hilton Liverpool City Centre occupies a prime position close to Liverpool ONE and Royal Albert Dock. Rooms here come with floor to ceiling windows that look out over the skyline of the city and there are a number of function rooms and banqueting suites that can be booked privately by groups. Radisson Blu has claimed another top spot. The hotel, with its 194 rooms, spa and classic British brasserie, eyeballs Princess Dock and is a 10-minute walk from the River Mersey Ferry station. Its Kings Suite can accommodate 200 people for receptions.
Titanic Liverpool
Jury’s Inn is another option. Next to Royal Albert Dock it has 310 rooms and function rooms that can accommodate up to 100 people. Then there’s Holiday Inn. This 139-room hotel is footsteps from Lime Street Station and offers group event spaces large enough to fit 400 people. Best Western, Ibis and Premiere Inn are also part of the city’s collection of big brand names.
Hilton City Centre
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Cruise Liverpool 2019 is a bumper year as far as Liverpool’s cruise offering is concerned. The season runs from 12th April to 7th December, will see 40% more ships sail into Liverpool Cruise Terminal on Princes Parade, close to Royal Albert Dock. 21 cruise lines sailed in and out of Liverpool in 2018 including world famous names like Cunard and P&O, and luxury lines such as Oceania and Regent Seven Seas. Their destinations? All around the world. Ships spirited passengers from Liverpool to Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar, Morocco and the Norwegian fjords. In 2019, two new cruise lines will join the schedule. Both Costa and Norwegian Cruise Lines will drop anchor in Liverpool this year. The year will also see 11 ships making their inaugural calls in the city. Costa Mediterranean, Norwegian Spirit, Mein Schiff 5, Celebrity Reflection, Insignia, SS Navigator, Zenith, Spirit of Discovery, Viking Jupiter, Viking Sea and Le Dumont D’urville will be making their debut. Another highlight of the season will be two high profile visits from Cunard ships – Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2. Cunard has strong ties to Liverpool. The cruise
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line chose to build its headquarters in the city in 1917 and, although its tenants have since moved on, the building itself still bears the Cunard name and – thanks to its Italian Renaissance and Greek Revival style – forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. In September, meanwhile, Disney Magic will return to the city. The last time the ship visited Liverpool an outdoor cinema screening and family event was planned to coincide with it. If 2019 is expected to be a halcyon year for Liverpool cruise, the following year is looking even better. 2020 will see a brand-new stateof-the-art cruise terminal open in Liverpool.
Find Out More…
Cruise Liverpool www.cruise-liverpool.com +44 (0)151 233 2008
• See the UNESCO World Heritage Waterfront with Mersey Ferries • Learn about the city’s culture & history on the City Explorer Bus • Take in views from the top of the Liverpool Cathedral
Group packages & discounts available:
DO THE DOUBLE
DO THE TREBLE
To arrange your group visit call 0151 330 1420 or email [email protected] Or visit www.merseyferries.co.uk/groups
Beyond The City Liverpool is corralled by group-friendly attractions and experiences. Within a 40-minute radius of the city, or less, there’s the classic seaside town of Southport, historical Wirral, and the Roman city of Chester. Southport rolls out the red carpet for groups. Between Easter and October coach parties can take advantage of a meet and greet scheme, in which a dedicated host greets them on arrival, gives them tips on what to do in town, and hands out discount coupons. Group discounts are available on tickets for some of the town’s major events, too. Southport Flower Show offers parties of 10 to 48 a 10 per cent discount and parties of 49 plus a 15 per cent discount. This year the prestigious event will celebrate its 90th birthday and will run from 15th to 18th August. The British Musical Fireworks Championships also offer groups discounts on tickets. Taking place from 27th to 29th September 2019, the event sees 10 tonnes of fireworks set off into the sky above Victoria Park as firework artists from around the globe compete to be named the best. Over on the Wirral Peninsula, one of the most group friendly attractions is Port Sunlight – a village that was built to house the workers of the Lever soap empire. Today it’s a museum that gives groups the VIP treatment. See the Wirral itinerary on page 36 for more inspiration.
Antony Gormley: Another Place
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In Chester, meanwhile groups can explore what was once one of the most important outposts of the Roman Empire. Today, the town attracts tourists with its jaw dropping black and white revival architecture, what’s thought to be the largest Roman amphitheatre in Britain, and its 1,000 year old cathedral. Tower tours are available here, but large parties will have to be split up into smaller groups to take part in the experience. Chester also boasts a zoo that’s home to more than 21,000 animals from 500 different species. Habitats within the 125-acre site include a Fruit Bat Forest, a Spirit of the Jaguar area and Tsavo section where endangered black rhinos live. Groups of 15 and more are entitled to discounts of up to 30 per cent when they buy tickets in advance, as well as fast track admission, free zoo maps and refreshment packages. Then there’s Crosby. This swathe of cookie-coloured coastline is home to more than 100 cast iron life-sized human body statues. They’re all part of an art installation known as Another Place by Antony Gormley. Some figures are sunk into the sea, others are frozen on the shoreline, looking out at the waves. There’s nothing like it in the world and it’s completely free to see.
A tale of five cities
Introducing: The North of England City Experience They say there’s strength in numbers and that’s why Liverpool has teamed up with four other neighbouring cities to be part of the ground-breaking North of England City Experience. The experience has been designed to make it easier for visitors and groups visiting the north of England to hop between its greatest cities as part of a quintuple destination break. Visitors and groups taking advantage of the experience will be able to buy a North of England City Experience rail ticket by TransPennine Express that enables four days travel between the cities over an eight-day period. The cities that Liverpool has partnered with are Hull, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle Gateshead. Here’s a little bit about what you can expect from each one.
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LIVERPOOL Located on the River Mersey, only 35 minutes away from Manchester by train, Liverpool is a waterfront city, today known as an incredible cultural and sporting destination. The city has UNESCO World Heritage status and was crowned European Capital of Culture in 2008. From the breath-taking waterfront to the historic Georgian Quarter, and from the football clubs of Liverpool FC and Everton FC to The Beatles, Liverpool is famous as a friendly city with a unique character all of its own For those looking for a cultural experience there’s plenty to see and do, as Liverpool is home to more museums and art galleries than any other UK city outside of London, many including multi lingual audio guides. This includes Tate Liverpool as the home of contemporary art in the north as well as the Walker Art Gallery which showcases one of the finest collections of Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite art in the country.
HULL
MANCHESTER
UK City of Culture, Hull is located on the east coast of northern England, so it should come as no surprise that many of the daytime attractions here are linked to the sea and its stories. The Deep, for example, is one of the UK’s largest aquariums. Hull Maritime Museum, meanwhile, tells the story of the city’s whaling, fishing and merchant history. Come nightfall, Hull is a city of curtain calls and applause. There’s Hull Truck Theatre with its pioneering programming and the Hull Philharmonic Orchestra based in City Hall. Then there’s the food. Go traditional and try a Hull Pie or take your pick from one of the city’s many international restaurants – there’s everything from Mexican street food to Caribbean cuisine here.
Birthplace of everything from modern computing to women’s suffrage, Manchester is one of the UK’s seminal cities. Visitors and groups are barraged with things to do here. There are walking tours, behind the scenes visits to the BBC’s TV studios at Media City, snoop around the home of one of the 21st century’s most important women writers, Elizabeth Gaskel, experiences at the Imperial War Museum North and time in the Science and Industry Museum. Evenings, meanwhile, can include anything from taking your seats at a fresh-from-the-West-End production at the Palace Theatre or Opera House to a meal in one of the city’s group friendly restaurants, including the newly-opened Ivy and 20 Stories eateries.
LEEDS
NEWCASTLE GATESHEAD
One of the highlights of a trip here has to be a visit to the Royal Armouries – the national museum of arms and armour. This place lays the secrets of 3,000 years of warfare bare and puts on regularly changing temporary exhibitions in addition to showcasing its permanent collection. The Henry Moore Institute is another that’s not to be missed. It’s part of the Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle, which boasts the largest sculpture collection in Europe. Inside you’ll find a world class collection of art by 19th and 20th century British painters. Shopaholics, meanwhile, can’t miss the Trinity Leeds with its 120 plus stores and the arcaded, postcardpretty, shopping area of The Victorian Quarter with its designer boutiques.
Newcastle Gateshead welcomes visitors and groups with an A to Z of sights and attractions. Must-sees include the iconic Angel of the North sculpture on the way into the city with its 54-metre-wide wings, the world-class BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art with its ever-changing calendar of exhibitions and activities, and Newcastle Keep, which dates back to 1178 and once belonged to the castle from which Newcastle takes its name. Other group include the one-of-a-kind mirror ball-like Sage Gateshead music venue, which was named as one of the top five music halls on the planet, and the Victoria Tunnels that take visitors deep beneath the streets of Newcastle for an earthworm’s perspective on the city and its history.
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How we can help Here at VisitLiverpool we are committed to bringing your clients to the Liverpool City Region and ensuring they will have an enjoyable and memorable time. We can provide you with assistance for itinerary ideas, accommodation advice, dining experiences and help with destination imagery and content. You can meet us at travel trade events throughout the year, including British Tourism and Travel Show and Explore GB. We can also organise familiarisation visits for you to get to know the city region better. We recommend that you keep in touch with us by signing up to our regular Trade talk e-newsletter. Here you will get all the latest news including advance notice of forthcoming events, new openings plus a host of information from our many tourism partners across the city region.
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For more travel trade information and ideas on things to see and do please visit visitliverpool.com/traveltrade If you have a specific enquiry, then please email us at [email protected]
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