Liverpool: Shopperholics and Museum Buffs Welcome

Shopping, museums, river waterfronts and cargo ships – that’s just a taste of what an afternoon in Liverpool’s city centre will throw at you.

I’d say it’s a pretty good work out too; all the roads leading down into the main centre are fairly steep, lined with shops and restaurants.

You’d also have to be half asleep not to notice the many historic looking buildings each time you look up – Liverpool certainly has a lot of architectural flair, each building with it’s own story to tell.

Liverpool Evolution

Driving into the city centre, it was very apparent that Liverpool is evolving. Construction sites and what looked like new blocks of high rise apartments seemed to pop up on every turn – a sharp contrast to the older, tightly packed, small terraced type houses further behind us.

I remember going to Liverpool for a shopping trip many years ago and being really impressed with the number of shops, including the quirky little boutiques. It certainly gave Leeds a run for it’s money back then – another old favourite for shopping. Today it seems as though Liverpool has grown into a certified shopperholics paradise. I spied endless walkways of shops going off the main hub in the centre!

I’m sitting on a bench on busy Lord Street, shaded under a tree, amidst the thick swarm of people traffic. I’d forgotten how wide and sprawling Liverpool city centre stretches, with no end to the array of high street shops.

Cities are perfect places for people watching, and on a sunny weekend people of all ages were out for a bit of retail therapy.

Buggies dodged Zimmer frames, as tourists and locals strolled up and down the main shopping streets, some holding cameras, others gripping the leash of their cute designer pooches.

Down by the River

The River Mersey reminds me of the River Thames; deep, wide and brown. It’s windy by the river, making big waves over the surface, and sending a chill through my bones.

A strong current pulls the waves quickly, against a backdrop of grey skies and seagulls.

There are boats all along the river, some are stationary while others sail by, carrying some very brightly coloured cargo containers – I wondered what was in them. Hopefully not the hazardous waste that Sri Lanka is rightly shipping back to us.

Liverpool docks continue to bustle with cargo ships, it’s still one of the busiest docks in the UK. Grain, oil, timber and liquids are just some of the products handled at the port, along with cruise ships, people and cars.

No, this isn’t Paris, it’s Liverpool’s own display of Love Locks. You’ll see signs posted around them warning the public not to leave padlocks as they will be removed. Many local councils are opposed to the practise and feel it amounts to vandalism and a health & safety risk where they are left on a bridge, or fixture risking dangerous and costly structural damage. For those leaving locks however, it’s simply a harmless act of love!

I bet you didn’t know that the River Mersey is sacred to British Hindus – as per the River Ganges – well I didn’t know and would never have guessed.

Around the Albert Docks

Remembering the past

Steeped in history, Liverpool played a prominent role during the Windrush era as a port for caribbean migrants arriving to help rebuild the UK after World War 2.

The International Slavery Museum continues to attract high numbers of visitors each year – peaking in number during the last financial year.

The UK’s oldest black community in the UK are still thought to reside in Liverpool.

De Wadden

The horse monument above was made to commemorate over 250 years of service from working horses in Liverpool.

During the second world war the horses played a significant role in helping to move heavy loads and food supplies between the docks and warehouses.

De Wadden, pictured beside the horse monument, was the last ship working on the Mersey to use sails.

Built in 1917 the ship carried grain, coal, stone and timber between Liverpool and Ireland until 1922.

If you love museums and art you will probably love Liverpool.

According to Wikipedia, Liverpool has the second-highest number of art galleries, national museums, and listed buildings in the entire United Kingdom. I didn’t expect Liverpool to hold that spot!

London holds tight at first place.

A Good Afternoon

A few leisurely hours in Liverpool city centre didn’t go to waste, not with all that window shopping, people watching, walking, and camera snapping!

There’s too much to see in just a few hours, so a weekend trip might be the way to go if your really want to get stuck in.

I managed not to get blown away with the Merseyside wind and would strongly advise you not to wear you floatiest dress or trilby hat if you’re heading anywhere near the docks!