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City Centre, Liverpool

Creative Tourist

Here’s the thing. Liverpool dates back to the 13th century but, in the city centre, you’ll struggle to find anything much older than 200 years. The creative hub that is the Bluecoat, a former school dating back to 1716, is one exception. Alongside an excellent gallery, café and courtyard garden, the complex boasts independent craft shops and the rated Bluecoat Display Centre. Another architectural OAP is the Town Hall, which dates to 1754 and stands at the centre of the seven streets that made up medieval Liverpool. Keep an eye out for the other beautiful structures in the area, including the Grade I listed Bank of England building, The Royal Insurance Building and the immense glass panes of Oriel Chambers.

Aside from architecture, the main attractions here are eating, shopping and theatre. Our top picks include Delifonseca, which boasts good food, fine wines and locally-brewed beer, the hard-to-find Jenny’s Bar, hidden beneath what appears to be a fish restaurant, and the Liverpool Playhouse, sister to the Everyman theatre on Hope Street.

Our top picks

Boxpark Liverpool

Boxpark Liverpool, Boxpark Liverpool, The Canning Hall, Baltic Triangle, L8 5RE - Visit now

Sitting in the heart of Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle district at Cains Brewery Village, Boxpark Liverpool brings together forward-thinking street food, drinks and entertainment under one roof, championing local businesses and creators in the community.

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Boxpark Liverpool

The British Music Experience

The British Music Experience, Cunard Building, Liverpool, L1 3DS - Visit now

Tucked away inside the iconic Cunard building  on the world heritage site of the Pier Head is the British Music Experience, the UK’s museum of popular music, a place where you can relive the moments that helped put British music on the map. The BME also hosts special events throughout the year, past events including Everything – The Real Thing Story with Chris Amoo, ‘In Conversation With’ musician, DJ and author Mark Radcliffe, and a series of classic 80s films.

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OUTPUT in Liverpool

OUTPUT in Liverpool, 32 Seel Street, Liverpool, L1 4BE - Visit now

OUTPUT is a small gallery in Liverpool city centre that works exclusively with creatives from or based in Merseyside. Through a programme of free exhibitions and events, it aims to encourage the development, mobility and strength of the local art scene and has a high turnover of shows in order to work with as many artists as possible.

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OUTPUT gallery in Liverpool
Courtesy of OUTPUT gallery

LJMU Exhibition Research Lab

LJMU Exhibition Research Lab, Duckinfield Street, Liverpool, L3 5RD - Visit now

LJMU Exhibition Research Lab is the first academic centre and art gallery in the UK dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of exhibitions and curatorial knowledge.

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O2 Academy Liverpool

O2 Academy Liverpool, 11-13 Hotham Street, Liverpool, L3 5UF - Visit now

O2 Academy Liverpool boasts two performance areas that host live music and clubnights. The main room has seen the likes of Blondie, Arcade Fire, Primal Scream, The Killers, Biffy Clyro, Arctic Monkeys and the Wombats. O2 Academy Liverpool also has a long history of some of Liverpool’s best indie and rock club nights. A modern space with great sound, a must visit spot for music fanatics.

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O2 Academy music venue in Liverpool.

Bluecoat

Bluecoat, Bluecoat Chambers, School Lane, Liverpool, L1 3BX - Visit now

The Bluecoat is the oldest building in Liverpool city centre, dating back to 1716. Once a school, it’s now one of the city’s liveliest arts hubs, an art gallery showing work by major national and international artists that also stages regular performances, readings and more.

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Image courtesy of The Bluecoat

More City Centre events

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Where to go in Liverpool

food and drink
Liverpool
Restaurant
Mahoe Blue

Mahoe Blue is a bar and bistro that serves authentic Jamaican food in a cosy venue in South Liverpool.

music 2
City Centre
Music venue
Rough Trade

The largest of Rough Trade stores, it’s record shop, event space and concert venue in the heart of Liverpool, complete with its own gift shop

bar
City Centre
Brewery
Ye Cracke

Hidden in the Georgian Quarter, Ye Cracke is a historic Liverpool pub, known for being John Lennon’s local in his student days

record shop
City Centre
Shop
81 Renshaw

81 Renshaw is a record store in Liverpool city centre, selling new and second-hand vinyl from a location with a long musical history

shop
Lark Lane
Shop
Larks

Larks is a vintage clothing and gift emporium in a bright pink shop where you’ll find a bit of everything, sprinkled with glitter.

library
Liverpool
Shop
Henry Bohn Books

Prepare to do some browsing and digging – this second hand bookshop is full of hidden treasures just waiting to be discovered

shop
Liverpool
Shop
A Slower Space

A Slower Space offers a curated selection of homeware, candles, jewellery and more, all in a relaxing atmosphere, on the iconic Penny Lane.

library
City Centre
Shop
News from Nowhere

News from Nowhere is a radical community bookshop selling texts on important current issues as well as leading social justice initiatives.

pub
Liverpool
Bar or Pub
The Merchant

The Merchant is a chilled pub, with a great selection of beers and gins and lots of outdoor seating. It’s also the home of Nightcrawler Pizza.

food and drink
City Centre
Café or Coffee Shop
Artefact

Artefact combines vintage finds with a laid-back coffee shop experience, plus a busy schedule of events from open mic nights to exhibitions

See all places in Liverpool

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As city centre districts go, this one is relatively small: a cluster of buildings along a cobbled street, with Lime Street Station at the top and the Queensway Tunnel entrance…
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Southport

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Lark Lane, Liverpool

A little way out of Liverpool City Centre, and a short and leafy walk from St Michael’s train station, is the low-key enclave of Lark Lane. Rather beautifully named, this…
Spotlight on

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Destination Guides

Culture Guides

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A sculpture of a dark brown dog looks to the right, hanging out of its middle and the back are what appears to be its insides (in cream) spilling out.
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Raver Tots at Escape to Freight Island
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