liverpool city region tourist guides association

Liverpool City Region Tourist Guides Association

THE OFFICIAL ASSOCIATION for the professional registered Blue and Green Badge Tourist Guides of the Liverpool City Region.

The Association has over 60 members, all of whom wear the Blue or Green Badge with pride, which is your guarantee of a professionally trained, qualified and insured guide.

It is their mission in life to showcase Liverpool and its City Region whether that be on foot on a guided walking tour, by coach or public transport or with your own driver guide.

Your tour will be tailored to your specific requirements, interests, needs and language.

Make us the first point of contact when you are planning your visit to Liverpool and beyond.

Based in the Liverpool City Region our guides can also offer you extended trips to Chester, North Wales, The Lake District and other places of interest throughout the North West.

Our guides will happily deliver illustrated talks or lectures tailored to your group.

For more general information regarding the attractions in Liverpool City Region visit www.visitliverpool.com or download the app.

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Thornton Hough an agricultural village mentioned in the Domesday Book.

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Liverpool travel guide

What to do, where to stay and why you’ll love it.

T his maritime-heritage city on the banks of the Mersey is a perennial city break favourite. Its waterfront may have controversially lost its status as a Unesco world heritage site, but the city retains its wide-ranging appeal — from hedonistic nightlife to architecture (some 27 grade I listed buildings) via major sporting and cultural events. Liverpool was the European Capital of Culture in 2008 and its renaissance has continued apace ever since. Major new attractions, such as the 350-seat Shakespeare North Playhouse (opening 2022 in the outlying borough of Knowsley), ensuring the city continues to reinvent itself.

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Start on the waterfront at the landmark Museum of Liverpool for the city’s backstory. Further along the banks of the river is the Albert Dock, a symbol of the city’s regeneration, and the Tate Liverpool gallery, host of annual blockbuster exhibitions, including Lucian Freud and the photographer Don McCullin. The dock is also home to the busy Beatles Story* attraction, which recreates key moments from the band’s history, including the infamous Abbey Road recording sessions.

Liverpool is mecca for Fab Four fans and holds an annual “Beatles Week” each summer, while the Cavern Quarter* is the pilgrimage for devotees of the group. Among the Beatles-themed bars and souvenir shops is the Liverpool Beatles Museum* , run by the brother of Pete Best, the band’s original drummer. Across the road is the Cavern Club* , a recreation of the cellar-like music venue where The Beatles played their first gig at a lunchtime session in February 1961.

The leafy Liverpool suburb of Woolton boasts the childhood homes* of both John Lennon and Paul McCartney; the properties are now managed by the National Trust and preserved in their 1950s heyday. Guided tours of both Mendips (Lennon) and 20 Forthlin Road (McCartney) highlight stories from their teenage years. Around the corner is Strawberry Field* , the former Salvation Army children’s home where the young Lennon played in the garden as a child. The exhibition dedicated to Lennon’s early life includes his brown Steinway piano, used for the song Imagine, on permanent loan from the estate of the late George Michael.

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Back in Liverpool city centre, newer attractions include RLB360, which is a guided history of the Royal Liver Building* , one of Liverpool’s waterfront Three Graces. St George’s Hall, the landmark neoclassical building located near Lime Street, unveils The History Whisperer, a new visitor experience based around Liverpool’s social history.

Where to stay

You’ll find hotels in Liverpool across the spectrum from boutique bolt holes to budget stays via spa-sanctuary retreats. The weekend parade of hen-party crews can be overly raucous, so head to quieter districts for a sounder sleep. The architecturally interesting Georgian Quarter offers a classy counterpoint to the brasher city-centre hotels — plus it’s within walking distance for performances at the Liverpool Everyman theatre and Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. The best place to bed down is the under-the-radar 2 Blackburne Terrace, a late-Georgian townhouse located on a cobbled backstreet. The owners added GNYP, a small contemporary art gallery, post-lockdown.

Not far away, the Hope Street Hotel* is the flagship for Liverpool’s cultural renaissance, hosting everyone from visiting dignitaries to homecoming Beatles. The hotel recently underwent major expansion, opening a new spa, a cinema and new bedrooms.

Food and drink

The Bold Street neighbourhood, located behind Liverpool Central station, is the spiritual home of the city’s food scene with alfresco dining, world-food options — including a flurry of new Korean restaurants — and prices for all budgets. Leaf remains the cornerstone café with its all-day menu of brunches and lunches, plus over 60 rare loose-leaf teas. Check its website to see the roster of regular live music events.

The Albert Dock has shaken off its chain-café image to increasingly champion independent food and drink providers with quirky coffee shops, bakeries and global-flavour cafés dotted among the galleries and gift shops. The Smithdown Road district, meanwhile, also has an increasing number of interesting places to eat; Belzan, a neighbourhood bistro with a seasonal menu, is the hot ticket. Combine a visit with a stroll through leafy Sefton Park.

Finally, for a true taste of old Liverpool, bypass the Albert Dock crowds and head to the Victorian grade II listed Baltic Fleet pub for pints of locally brewed microbrewery ale and plates of traditional Liverpool scouse: a stew of carrots and mutton, adopted from a traditional Norwegian dish by seafaring Scousers.

Liverpool has a proud maritime history and served as both a global port during the Industrial Revolution and a hub for transatlantic crossings during the golden age of cruise. In 1912, the Titanic disaster was announced to the world from the balcony of what is now room 22 at the Signature Living hotel, the former headquarters of the White Star Line. You can hear about its seafaring story at the Life on Board gallery, part of the Merseyside Maritime Museum. This compelling but often overlooked gallery charts the journey from the 18th century, navigates the interwar heyday of the ocean liners as floating palaces, and docks in the current day.

Nearby, people often miss the Open Eye Gallery — but this tiny art space, dedicated to photography, is well worth a look for thought-provoking exhibitions and small shops crammed with art books. Continuing the modern-art theme, the Liverpool Biennial art festival is well established, and contemporary galleries including The Bluecoat and FACT regularly host works by the likes of Yoko Ono. A new urban art trail of the upcoming Baltic Triangle district is the latest addition and the trail of murals and graffiti art by local artists, such as Paul Curtis (check out his Liver Bird Wings on Jamaica Street), forms the city’s unofficial street-art circuit.

Know before you go

Central Liverpool is generally safe and compact to explore on foot, with trains constantly snaking in and out of its Lime Street rail hub. Book well ahead for accommodation. Hotels are notoriously busy at weekends, especially during Premier League home games and live events at the M&S Bank Arena (formerly Echo Arena), and many places now stipulate a minimum two-night stay. Buses run to attractions beyond Liverpool city centre, but an easier option may be to join a guided tour with the Liverpool City Region Tourist Guides Association.

Take me there

Inspired to visit Liverpool but yet to book your trip? Here are the best hotels from Booking.com* and Hotels.com* .

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Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards ‘Hidden Gem’ shortlist revealed and you can vote here for your favourite

2 years ago

By The Guide Liverpool

Over the last 4 weeks the public have been voting for their Hidden Gem as part of the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards.

The Hidden Gem category celebrates the region’s best kept secrets and puts them in the tourism spotlight.  Gems may be attractions, bars, restaurants, tours, or natural assets which are off the main tourism trail.

Promoted in association with The Guide Liverpool there were more than triple the number of votes for this year’s awards. Today we reveal the top 12 businesses and ask for your support again to vote for your winner.

The overall winner will be revealed at the awards ceremony on Thursday 10th March 2022.

The awards organised by the Growth Platform, held in association with headline sponsor Liverpool BID Company and executive sponsors Quest, Liverpool One and NML, will take place at the magnificent Liverpool Cathedral.

The Hidden Gem finalists are:

-A Slower Space, Liverpool -Bijou Cinema Southport, Southport -British Lawnmower Museum, Southport -Enelles Glass House, Southport -Frederiks, Liverpool -Invisible Wind Factory Rollerdrome, Liverpool -Southport Pier Pavillion, Southport -Sudley House, Liverpool -Sugar and Dice, Liverpool -The Watering Can, Liverpool -Vintage Tea Room, Churchtown -Volunteer Canteen, Waterloo

To vote for your favourite visit the website HERE  or scan the QR code below to take you to the voting form.

Voting will close at 5pm on the 11th February.

Not only does the winner receive the accolade of Hidden Gem 2021, the overall winner will receive a Gold promo package from The Guide.

Jay Hynd, Director at The Guide Liverpool said: 

“This years shortlist for the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards Hidden Gem has surely got to be one of the strongest to date. We’re delighted to be able to offer the winning attraction a free video production and promo package on The Guide Liverpool to help support the business and make sure everyone in the city region, and afar knows exactly why they should visit our winner in the coming months”

Tickets for the awards ceremony are on sale now and can be purchased here .

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Liverpool Attraction Map

Explore liverpool's regions.

Discover unique culture, musical heritage, and top-class visitor attractions

The Mersey River runs through Liverpool and Wirral

Liverpool City Region offers city vibrancy and a relaxing coast all within 30 minutes.

Discover Liverpool

Liverpool is the perfect destination for a city break.  From adventure activities to relaxing days out, whatever kind of trip you’re looking for, you can find it here. Liverpool is a compact region that is easy to explore by train, ferry or bus in under one hour.  

On this page we've created an interactive map that shows all the key attractions across Liverpool City Region. Click on each pointer to find out more about each attraction.   

With so much to see and do, where will Liverpool take you …

You can download an easy PDF map of all the attractions listed below here. 

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Saints has a long and glorious history that dates back to its formation in 1873. Since then…

The World of Glass

The museum has a great glass collection to explore with items from ancient Egypt right up to…

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Liverpool Blue Badge Tourist Guide Course

Applications for the current Liverpool City Region Blue Badge Tourist Guide Course closed on 31 July 2023. This course has been developed by the Liverpool City Region Tourist Guide Association with the British Guild of Tourist Guides and is fully accredited by the Institute of Tourist Guiding.

Successful applicants for this Liverpool Blue Badge Tourist Guide course will be joining  a unique community of experts who are internationally considered the gold standard in tourist guiding in the UK.  Completion of this course will provide them a rewarding career, where no two days are the same, and an exciting opportunity to work as a freelancer or business owner.  They will also be joining a professional community of tourist guides who are cultural & social historians, heritage interpreters, contemporary commentators, entertaining story tellers, passionate explorers and just simply, inspirational!

Wishing all successful applicants an amazing time training to become a prestigious Liverpool Blue Badge Tourist Guide!

You can now vote for your favourite Hidden Gem to be recognised at the LCR Tourism Awards

We’ve all got our favourite places in the city because, when it comes to hospitality, Liverpool can’t be beaten.

It’s well-known for the warm welcome it gives to visitors as well as its own – and applauding that has never been more needed. The Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards are all about giving those who give us a great time a well-deserved pat on the back and the credit they deserve.

There are  19 categories  from Hotel of the Year and New Tourism Business of the Year, to Business Events Venue and  Eurovision Experience Award  – a new one for 2023!

The shortlist has now been announced, but it’s not just about rewarding the big boys. It’s about giving a round of applause to all those special places only you and your mates might know about.

Think about that little café you always get your brekkie from on the way to work or as a treat at the weekend, or that bar that’s a little bit special because of the live music or the events it puts on.

There might be a cute B&B you go to because the owners always make a point of remembering your name or making sure you feel right at home the moment you step over the door; or maybe it’s a restaurant that rolls out the red carpet to greet you whether you were last there a week ago – or last year.

There might even be an adventure trail or a tourist attraction that’s away from the beaten track that’s been a real find – and it would be great to let other people know it’s there, as well as give those behind it some well-earned praise.

Well now’s your chance.

The Guide Liverpool is teaming up with Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards to catapult those Hidden Gems into the spotlight – and you get to help decide who they are.

The ‘Hidden Gem’ category is back again for 2023, voted for by the public and aimed at recognising the region’s ‘best kept secret’.

We’re asking for all your suggestions for this year’s Hidden Gem in the Liverpool City Region – it can be in Liverpool, Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens, or Wirral.

Voting closes at midnight on Friday, November 24, so let us know who you think would be a worthy holder of this coveted title. The top 10 Hidden Gems will go forward to a second round of public voting to decide who is the winner.

The overall winner will be revealed at the awards ceremony to be held at Liverpool Cathedral on Thursday, February 29, 2024, when, not only will they be crowned Hidden Gem 2023, they will also win a ‘Gold Package’ from The Guide to help promote their business and put them firmly on the tourism map.

The Guide Liverpool director Jay Hynd said:

“We love helping Liverpool City Region find its tourism Hidden Gem every year, and we need your suggestions to help showcase the very best of our area. “Once again the winner will receive a full promo package from The Guide Liverpool which includes a shiny new video filmed at the winning venue or attraction, so get in touch and make your vote count for your favourite venue or attraction.”

The awards are organised by the Growth Platform, held in association with headline sponsor Liverpool BID Company.

Vote for your favourite Hidden Gem at the Liverpool Tourism Awards  HERE.

Image caption: Liverpool City Region Tourism Award ‘Hidden Gem’ winner 2023, Southport Bijou Cinema. Picture: Jason Roberts