Liverpool Day Tripping

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Liverpool is well connected into the train network and coach network in England with both the train station and coach station being close to the city centre. The John Lennon airport is on the edge of the city and is linked to the city centre with a bus link (Airlink 500) that leaves every 20 minutes to 30 minutes depending on time of day from just outside the arrivals door. It stops in the city at the coach station, main train station and at several other points.

The city is well served by buses and details of routes can be found at www.merseytravel.gov.uk, which also has a useful journey planner.
Since I was short of time, I decided to buy a ticket for the City Sightseeing tour bus, which is a red open-top double decker and allows you to hop-on and off at various sights - see my review of it - but simply it is only useful if you are short of time. My parents visited a few weeks before and said that the Yellow Duckmarine was a good option for a tour of the city in an amphibious vehicle.

This is the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Liverpool. Work began on the site to build this cathedral in the 1930s with an elaborate plan of the architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. However, World War II slowed work and it came to a standstill in 1941, and the grand scheme was abandoned. In the 1960s, new designs were sought that fitted with the spirit of the Second Vatican Council. The successful design was that of Sir Frederick Gibberd, which incorporated the crypt of the earlier work, and was completed and consecrated in 1967. Its design was significantly different and new at the time as it was circular in design with the altar being in the centre. It has been nicknamed Paddy's Wigwam because of its shape but also the large number of Irish who came and settled in Liverpool, and increased the Catholic population of the city.

Arriving at the front of the Cathedral it has a grandness to its entrance with wide steps leading up to it. The entrance hall has a series of stands giving details of the cathedral and its history. Inside, there is a guide who will try and answer your questions, and who has leaflets for free (available in quite a few languages) detailing all the elements in the cathedral. There are a series of side chapels around the outside dedicated to various saints, Mary and so on. But most stunning is the stained glass which is in deep and varying shades of blue. Its an interesting example of church architecture and worth a wander around.

The cathedral is open from 8am to 6pm everyday, and there is no entrance fee but rather they ask for donations. There is a small visitor centre, shop, and cafe just beside the steps up to the cathedral. Further information about the cathedral including services can be found at www.liverpoolmetrocathedral.org.uk.

This is one of Liverpool's two Cathedrals and is the largest Cathedral in Britain. It was built between 1904 and 1978 based on the design of a young architect Giles Scott, who was was considered an unknown and who had little experience. His original design was elaborate Gothic-style cathedral but the design was altered with a more modern Gothic style being the result, and was built with local sandstone. The tower which is 100m tall contains the highest and heaviest bell peal in the world.

The church is quite beautiful - in fact its size is incredible, and the sense of space is immense. It is possible to climb the tower - well a fair amount of the journey up and down is made lifts and only the last section involves stairs. Entrance to the cathedral is free with donations encouraged, but there is a cost to climb the tower of £4. However, the views of Liverpool from the top are great and you can see many of the key Liverpool skyline landmarks, and also well beyond the city. You can also see the bells in the tower. Entrance to the tower also gives you access to the embroidery gallery which is full of church vestments that are intricately embroidered with detailed designs - but it also provides a different viewpoint to the cathedral.

As you enter the cathedral there is an information desk which is staffed by volunteers who will try and help you in your visit to the cathedral. There is a small shop in the cathedral and also two cafes - Mezzanine Café and the Refectory. We had coffee in the Mezzanine Cafe which had really delightful cakes, and was quite an impressive place to enjoy coffee while looking at the grandeur of the cathedral.

The cathedral is open daily from 8am to 6pm but the tower, cafes and shop have shorter opening hours. Details about the cathedral can be found on its website www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk.