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Bucket list experience:

Last updated: 07 October, 2022
Expert travel writer: David Atkinson

This landmark Victorian palm house in Sefton Park – a gorgeous 3-tiered conservatory – was a gift to the city by Liverpool millionaire Henry Yates Thompson in 1896.

It was destroyed in the Blitz of 1941. Its glass was then restored in the 1950s with a war damage fund, but eventually fell into disrepair – being too expensive to fully restore and maintain. In the 1980s, it was closed and scheduled to be knocked down.

It was saved by a resident’s campaign that raised £3M, painstakingly dismantled piece by piece, restored and rebuilt, then reopened in 2001. It’s now home to a botanical collection and a lovely café. Worth a stop if you have time.

Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 6+
When: All year around

When to do it

The Palm House and its cafe are open all year round, seven days a week.

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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first

Hope Street Hotel

Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom (UK)[3.2 miles]

Cool Scandinavian-chic style and the best food in town create an unbeatable city centre hotel.

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Baltic Hotel

Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom (UK)[3.5 miles]

Urban chic and good vibes are always on the menu at this stylish, contemporary hotel in the city’s up-and-coming Baltic Quarter. One for the night owls and people seeking plenty of ‘vibes’.

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Hard Days Night Hotel

Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom (UK)[4.5 miles]

For a frisson of Beatlemania, get back to this Cavern Quarter hotel for a night surrounded with memorabilia from Liverpool’s swinging Sixties.

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Malmaison Liverpool

Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom (UK)[5.1 miles]

Sexy rooms, cool cocktails and a waterfront location, handy for the Albert Dock, make this a great base for a weekend away. The cheeky, boudoir-chic vibe is one for couples seeking privacy.

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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Liverpool

Merseyside, United Kingdom (UK)

Home of the world’s most successful ever-band and one of the world’s top football clubs, the reborn city is also a cultural powerhouse, with top-notch museums, rich maritime heritage and cultural events galore.

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Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first

Beatles Story

Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom (UK)[4.3 miles]

This popular museum, located in the Albert Dock, traces the Beatles’ journey from The Cavern, via the dizzy heights of Beatlemania, to the final days. Colourful and engaging with lots of pop trivia, it’s one for curious and serious fans alike.

Best for ages: 13+ | £18

Walker Art Gallery

Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom (UK)[4.3 miles]

The largest collection of art outside London, with works of European art from the 14th-20th centuries.

Best for ages: 13+ | Free

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Tate Liverpool

Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom (UK)[4.4 miles]

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

Best for ages: 13+ | Free

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Museum of Liverpool

Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom (UK)[4.7 miles]

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

Best for ages: 8+ | Free

Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..

The front of Paul McCartney's childhood home, 20 Forthlin Road, Liverpool
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A visit to Forthlin Road, the McCartney’s family home from 1955 to 1964, highlights the stories from Paul’s teenage years and illustrates how his gentler character complemented John’s humour and spikiness to form the ultimate songwriting partnership. The guided tours also include a visit to Mendips, former childhood home of John Lennon.

Best for ages: 18+ | £29

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exterior of Liverpool Anglican Cathedral
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Liverpool Anglican Cathedral

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Britain’s biggest Cathedral, the Gothic façade has come to dominate the cityscape since its foundation in 1904. Today the cathedral blends a programme of cultural events with worship and the stunning architecture of Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. The tower tour (paid) offers amazing city views.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

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Exterior of the buildings from the street
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Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom (UK)[3.4 miles]

Liverpool’s ‘other’ cathedral contrasts its traditional neighbour with an architectural style that is rounded and defiantly modernist — hence the nickname, ‘Paddy’s Wigwam’. The circular Cathedral opened in 1967 and features modern works of art, plus glorious multi-coloured windows.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

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Close up of a bright red gate
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Strawberry Field

Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom (UK)[3.4 miles]

The former Salvation Army children’s home, made famous by the 1967 song Strawberry Fields Forever, is now an exhibition about Lennon’s early life. The site first opened in 1936 and the young John would play in the gardens while living nearby with his aunt Mimi.

Best for ages: 18+ | £11

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