City Breaks are a great way to get away from it all, catch a show, enjoy some unique sights and shopping, and get to experience a different culture and climate with all the convenience of a modern metropolis. I recently decided to check out Liverpool, a city with long connections to Ireland and somewhere with a very unique musical heritage.

Two things made this trip particularly memorable and one of the most fun of all the city breaks that we have enjoyed over recent years. The first was that no airports were involved. No luggage restrictions, no intrusive security cheques, no long queues and no delays. We took the P & O Ferry from Dublin to Liverpool with a night sailing that included a comfortable cabin, complimentary meals, very friendly staff and arrived fresh in the early morning at our city hotel. With our large car we were able to pack lots of shopping in, and we were only a twenty minutes drive from the ferry port at either end. While the majority of our fellow travellers were mostly truckers, there were also couples, families and small groups of friends embarking on the same trip. The complimentary dinner and breakfast were excellent, plenty of choice and quality and we enjoyed a good bottle of wine tax free with our meal. A very sound night’s sleep in our en-suite cabin – no cramped airline seats – and we were fresh as daisies when we arrived at Jury’s Inn in the centre of Liverpool, who kindly allowed us an early check-in.

The second thing about this city-break that made it so special was the whole Beatles experience that we delved into, particularly as we visited during the John Lennon Tribute Season (9^th October – 9^th December 2010) where special events were held to remember Liverpool’s most famous son and one of the world’s most influential and legendary musicians.

John Lennon, had he not been murdered in New York thirty years ago, would have been seventy years of age a few weeks ago. The festival marked the 70 years since his birth and 30 years since his untimely death. When you look back at the body of work that he did produce in his lifetime, you can’t help but feel robbed of the further greats in music and art that Lennon would undoubtedly have achieved in the last three decades.  But on the positive side, Liverpool certainly celebrates the success of the Beatles and people come from all corners of the world to learn more about the incredible phenomenon that was The Fab Four.

First up was The Beatles Story (www.beatlesstory.com), a great attraction that transported us on an enlightening and atmospheric journey into the life, times, culture and music of The Beatles. This is located in the historic Albert Dock which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, just a short walk from our hotel and since it opened in 1990 has attracted 3 million visitors. This is a “must do” when visiting Liverpool. We also went on the Magical Mystery Tour, a two hour bus journey around the outskirts of the city to visit each of the Beatles’ original homes and the places mentioned in their many songs – Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields etc. The tour finished at the world-famous Cavern Club where up-and-coming bands are always playing live hoping to follow in the footsteps of the legendary John, Paul, George and Ringo.

We also went to see the White Feather exhibition, which is a presentation of life with John Lennon as told by his former wife Cynthia and his son Julian. The highlight of our three days though, was our visit to the Royal Court Liverpool to experience Bob Eaton’s fantastic musical – Lennon. The show was back in John Lennon’s home city fir the first time since its original run at The Everyman in 1982 from where it went off to Broadway and then to London’s West End. It was a fantastic show featuring 40 hit songs and follows Lennon’s life from his upbringing with Aunt Mimi to his later life with Yoko Ono.  

Besides immersing ourselves in The Beatles, we also took the Ferry Across the Mersey (remember Jerry & The Pacemakers?) to learn more about the extensive maritime history of this famous city. Impressively, Liverpool has more museums and galleries than any other UK city Region outside of London, and during 2008 its celebratory year as European Capital of Culture, record numbers of visitors came to Liverpool. If you are pushed for time, one attraction not to be missed is a visit to the Cathedral. Gothic in design, it is the largest cathedral in Britain and fifth largest in the world. The Tower Experience takes you to the very top for a bird’s eye view of the city. It also contains a very nice little café, which is perfect for lunch.

But of course shopping was high on our list with a car to fill, and Liverpool One did not disappoint. Once again, it was within walking distance of our hotel and is one of the biggest regeneration projects in the city. It spans 42 acres and features 160 shops, bars, restaurants, apartments, cinema, car parking, two hotels and a five-acre park. Flagship stores like John Lewis, Debenhams and Topshop are there, together with a huge Primark and stores for both the city’s Premier League teams Liverpool Football Club and Everton Football Club. All in all, it contains 160 shops, bars and restaurants and really is Retail Heaven!

There is so much in Liverpool, we went up the Echo Wheel of Liverpool for a real bird’s eye view of the city and decided that we would have to come back soon again. We want to visit more galleries and museums and many of them are free, certainly if you pick up a visitor card, a three day mini break card (www.yourticketforliverpool.com) which helps you put together your itinerary to suit your interests and the weather. If, like us, you were a great Beatles fan, it is such a wonderful place to visit, and while we were sadly nostalgic about Lennon, we were impressed to learn how both Yoko Ono and Paul (Sir Paul McCartney now) are involved in encouraging new musical talent through the Liverpool Music Academy. We do plan on returning again, and will certainly take the ferry for the comfort, convenience and sheer pleasure of it all. You really can’t help but love Liverpool.

 

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