25 Best things to see & do in Liverpool

The Fab Four lads from Liverpool changed the world of pop music forever. Walk in their footsteps, visit the attractions that tell their unique story then catch a tribute live session.

This tour offers a rare glimpse inside one of Liverpool’s most iconic buildings, the Grade I-listed Royal Liver Building. Catch the cityscape views from the 10th floor balcony then climb up the historic clock tower to watch the audio-visual show.

A waterfront stroll along the River Mersey banks via the Albert Dock showcases Liverpool’s maritime-heritage architecture. The Pier Head is home to Liverpool’s iconic Three Graces, namely The Royal Liver Building, The Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building.

A colourful, interactive museum dedicated to the story of chart-toppers – from The Beatles to Freddie Mercury. Highlights include outfits worn by David Bowie, hand-written song lyrics from Adele and an interactive gallery where you can play instruments along to your favourite tracks.

Fascinating waterside museum exploring Liverpool’s industrial, cultural and social heritage – including the Beatles and football.

This secret underground bunker under Liverpool’s Moorfields was the Northwest nerve centre of the WWII war effort. Don’t miss the central Operations Room with its giant battle map and the Cypher Room, where secret coded messages were exchanged with Bletchley Park.

This museum celebrates Liverpool’s seafaring heritage, including links to the Titanic story and a collection of vintage cruise posters. Don’t miss the Life on Board gallery, which documents the golden age of ocean liners from the 20th century to the current day.

A sobering visit, this thought-provoking museum (part of the Maritime Museum, below) has contemporary artworks responding to the history of transatlantic slavery and its legacy. The modern slavery collection contains oral histories and objects to highlight forms of modern slavery.

The northern counterpart of the world-renowned Tate enterprise, showcasing an eclectic collection of British art.

Heart of the Mathew Street Cavern Quarter, home to Beatles-themed bars, shops and the Hard Days Night Hotel, this cellar-like music venue is where The Beatles played their first gig at a lunchtime session in 1961. It hosts live music to this day.