This entry is an overview of the Dock and what's on offer. There are other entries in this journal which say more about the individual attractions.
The Albert Dock is one of the success stories in the regeneration of the city and the area is now one of the most cosmopolitan in the city. With a mixture of visitor attractions, luxury housing developments, shopping and eating and drinking establishments, the Albert Dock is a town in itself.
The Dock is well sign-posted from the city centre and is barely 10 minutes walk from the centre. Many of the city's bus services terminate at the pier-head too from where it's a five minute walk along the river.
The Albert Dock was built in 1846 to store newly arrived cargoes from all over the world. When you look at the waterfront buildings on the river it must have looked awe-inspiring for sailors arriving from the West Indies and the Americas with their exotic treasures. The Dock buildings themselves are no less impressive - tall, sturdy and practical red brick buildings bordering the dock; in fact these buildings make up the largest collection of Grade 1 listed buildings in the UK.
So what do these buildings house now? Well many of them have been converted into luxury apartments. And who wouldn't want to live here? Opening the doors onto your balcony each morning and looking out onto the Mersey, or walking down to enjoy an evening at one of the nearby restaurants . . .
The main cluster directly around the main compound of the dock house tourist attractions and shops selling souvenirs, etc., as well as the studios for Granada from where "Richard and Judy" used to be broadcast. You can even see where Fred the weatherman used to give his reports from the floating weather map.
The visitor attractions include the Beatles Story, the Tate Modern Liverpool and the Merseyside Maritime Museum. The shops tend to be of the general tourist-aimed UK shops. You know the ones that think that tourists will by tartan anywhere! However there is alot of Beatles related merchandise on sale but for the least tacky stuff buy from the Beatles Story - the stuff is much better there, and there are some nice limited edition prints.
Eating places cover all possibilities: a traditional pub with a good range of food, a couple of high-quality restaurants and a couple of cafe-bars which serve interesting tapas-type dishes.
I would say though that if you have quite young children you may find a lack of child-friendly places to eat. Also bear in mind that many of the places on the dock have terraces overlooking the water and you should take care to watch young children at all times. There are railings but a child could easily climb through.
I would say there is more to entertain adults than children here but I would recommend the Yellow Duck Marine Tours (see separate entry) for families.