more Liverpool questions

[HotCrossMocha]

I had some good advice earlier on a thread about what to do on a short break in Liverpool. I’ve looked things up and made a list - lots of things closed on Mondays, or occasionally other days, so I came up with a rough plan that took that into account. It’s just me alone, so I can spend as long or little as I like anywhere, though a few things need advance booking.

first couple of days - docks, museums (Museum of L’Pool, Maritime, Western Approaches), tate gallery, cathedrals, arts centre, Crosby beach to see statues, Quirky Quarter? Baltic market area?
one day - Port Sunlight/Chester
last day - not sure, maybe World Museum/planetarium; maybe Beatles story if time to kill, or quirky quarter if not already done; maybe Walker gallery but not sure I’m that keen; other shopping?; train late afternoon

Eating on my own - need to think of places easy to go alone..Breakfast at hotel. Moose Coffee has been recommended. Anywhere else? Chains like Wagamama/Pizza express etc are OK alone for dinner but if there are other good/more interesting places suitable to eat alone in docks or central areas, I don’t want to miss out. Don’t really have any evening plans.

Doesn’t seem possible to visit bombed out church to just look round - only the cafe - would it be very odd to go there alone, have to book tables etc so might feel awkward? worth it? Looks nice from photos online, open late afternoon/evening on a couple of the days

Is Anglican cathedral tower views better/different to Liver building 360 tour view?
Going to go to Crosby, walk down beach to Hall Rd station and then come back, going to go when tide is low and coming in - is this best time?

Train tickets in local area seem much cheaper with Merseyrail day saver compared to trainline- I can buy this online, but I have read that you have to have a physical printout of the ticket and not just show proof on your phone, or you could get fined? I'd have to do that before I go, if so, or buy the ticket at the station instead.

It looks like a commuter ferry ticket is what I need to just cross the river, not on a cruise, and only possible til 9.30am - do I just buy a ticket at the terminal?

Thanks for any more comments/suggestions!

Bond Street for lots of cafes/casual restaurants that would be fine for eating along in.

Is there anything on at any of the theatres?

If your going Crosby there's a Moose coffee there. And for food Etsu is small but lurverly

thanks for the ideas so far, will add them to the list!

Not much on at the theatres in terms of plays etc - more children's events I think as it's the Easter holidays. I was hoping for classical concerts, but I seem to just miss them either side of when I'm there. I wondered about the musical, Six, but it seems to be mostly pop music style, and not sure whether I'd like it or not. There are very very few tickets left, but it's a possibility (as they are mostly single seats!).

Thanks for the tip about Moose coffee in Crosby, that would be useful, as otherwise I was mostly just taking the train out there, looking at the sculptures, and then taking the train back, so good to have something else to possibly do there.

Bold street or Castle street for excellent selection of independent truly lovely restaurants. My favourites include Duke Street Market (Duke Street) Mowgli (castle street) the Italian Club or the Italian Fish Club (Bold Street end), Quarter round Hope Street area. Liverpool Arts Bar by the Catholic cathedral is a lovely bar to go on your own for a drink or cocktail or coffee, full of independent artists really friendly bunch.

I went to World Museum with my kids recently, looking a bit tired but I've been 100s of times so might be why, it's next to the Walker Art Gallery which is lovely so could do both in a morning. Maritime/slavery museum is fab as is the Museum of Liverpool.

A few years ago I went under St George's into the jail/holding cells that was pretty cool and interesting if they still do it!

There's a couple of really cool independent (or less chainy/commercial than the likes of view/odeon) cinemas around - FACT, every man, that have sofas and in screen dining and are a lovely experience if you fancy a night watching a film (Odeon at Liverpool one is outrageously expensive).

Get the ferry across the Mersey (like the song) and go for a wander on the other side, it's lovely. Ferry used to be included in the travel day ticket thing, not sure if it still is.

I love Liverpool, you'll have a fab time!

I can't remember if I commented on your other thread or not, but don't wear nice trainers to Crosby. The sand is very sucky and I ruined a lovely pair of suede ones there.

I've not seen Six, but have heard good things about it.

If you're after classical concerts try the Philharmonic- they do regular performances with their in house orchestra.

FYI, there isn't a Moose in Crosby any more but there are lots of other nice places for lunch

Rough Hand Made on the docks for breakfast/a snack if you like pastries. They do a nice hot chocolate as well. They also bake stuff for lunch but I never get past the sweet pastries.

Western Approaches, Liverpool Museum and Maritime museum are probably the best of the museums. The world museum was looking very tired last time I went. I agree that Crosby beach is very very muddy in places. Stay within the statues as that is the 'safer' place to walk. If it's nice weather there is Crosby Marina for a little walk.

The Quarter for a meal on Hope street. There are loads of places on the docks to eat as well. I'm not sure what has survived covid but Bold street and Duke street are good places for food.

Mersey Tunnel tour is interesting and takes 2 hours
www.merseytravel.gov.uk/tunnels/tunnel-tours/

great views from Radio City tower as well
stjohnsbeacon.co.uk/

It's not near the city centre but easy to get to on public transport, Speke Hall. But check the opening times.

We really enjoyed Western Approaches.

And yes, the Maritime Museum is superb. One of the best of its kind, imo.

Explore Bold Street. It's got such a nice vibe!

I think you will struggle to fit all that in in the time you have available. Chester should really be a totally separate trip.

For food, I agree with The Quarter in Falkner St (near Cathedrals).
Italian Club & Italian Club Fish, both in Bold St.
Further down towards Pier Head, try Bouchon or Bacaro - both excellent, part of the same Salt House group.
Lunya in Hanover St or their sister restaurant Lunyalita at Albert Dock.
Mowgli always gets lots of recommendations.

Thanks, this is all excellent to hear. Sounds like I've chosen the right museums to start with. It might be that it's too much to fit in - right now I have the final day kind of empty, so if I don't fit in some of them earlier, then I can do them on that day. I thought I might do the Museum of Liverpool and Tate the afternoon I arrive, and then the Maritime Museum/Slavery museum one morning, and possibly the Western Approaches later that day. The museums mostly being closed on Monday has meant that some days are a bit busier than I'd have liked, and one of the days less so - that's why I was looking at the Liver building tour and the cathedrals that day, along with Crosby.

Good tip about shoes for Crosby! I thought it was mostly a promenade to walk on rather than on the sand anyway.

Cinema would be good for an evening, so I'll check those out, thanks. The Philharmonic was my first thought but there are things on the afternoon as I arrive (not in time) and I think the day I leave! But I wonder if the concert hall might be worth viewing anyway.
The jail etc sounds good too if I have any spare time or maybe on the last day when nothing is planned.

I was planning on the ferry across (the commuter ferry seems to go til 9.30) and then train from Hamilton Square to Port Sunlight from there as that seems both interesting and a practical way to get there. And then also train to Chester, if I do that - it could be that I will end up saving that for another trip in the end, especially if Port Sunlight takes me quite a while. The trains seem pretty frequent and flexible, so I don't have to book anything and can easily decide to just stay in Port sunlight etc. The train ticket that I was looking at was off-peak hours only, but the ferry seemed to be only commuter times unless you wanted a river cruise, so I thought I might just buy that separately. But I read some things online about people not having paper copies of their tickets that they'd bought on their phones, and being fined for it, so I'm a bit wary of this day-saver ticket!!

thanks for the suggestions about the food streets and bakeries etc! I'm really looking forward to going now. I always feel a bit odd about eating in resaturants alone, but it's probably easier when I'm away from home.
Is the bombed out church cafe worth trying? It feels very awkward having to book at table in advance for one person..
The books about Liverpool by Helen Forrester have stayed in my memory since I was a young teen; much of what she described isn't still there, but the grand buildings are, and that church was one of them I think, so could be interesting.

The Bombed out church just walk up bold street ( excellent for food) its at the top you will see enough from just walking around it.
Its not far from the cathedrals if you fancy them?
This is near by too if it interests you?
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186337-d2642803-Reviews-The_Hardmans_House-Liverpool_Merseyside_England.html

Bold street is Fab, If you like Mexican La Parilla, there is also one in Waterloo near Crosby beach.
More Bold Street, Crust, Leaf, My Daughter has been in on her own in all of these and made very welcome.
Lark Lane is like Bold street but a short 20 mins drive excellent food and next to Sefton Park

Now I doubt you can fit this in as its more or less a full day but the train to Crosby goes to Southport
www.donthibernate.co.uk/day-or-evening-trip-to-southport/

The Cavern is nice to see and they always make you welcome.
In Chester Marmalade is excellent and if you walk the walls its 2 mins walk from the wall but best to book
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186233-d3454629-Reviews-Marmalade-Chester_Cheshire_England.html

Thanks for the extra ideas!

Good to know that you can see the bombed out church by just walking around it. I'd got the impression from the website that you couldn't really see much unless you went in somehow, and there weren't any events on the days I"m there, just the cafe/bar in the evenings, and I didn't know if that would be suited to someone alone.

The Hardman house sounded interesting but is closed now unfortunately, opens again for weekends in May.

The cathedrals are definitely on the list! And the crypt in the Catholic one, have been told that's worth seeing. I've been recommended the tower in the other one as well, but if I'm seeing the view from the Liver building, I don't know if I need to go up that one too, though the bells might be interesting so maybe I will. The day I was thinking of seeing the cathedrals etc is the day most of the museums are closed, so I might end up with plenty of time to go up both. My feet may be sore after all the walking, though!! (I haven't looked into any buses or trams for the central stuff)

I wonder if this is the tour that someone mentioned about St George's and the prison cells etc?

It sounds more like only a virtual reality show and not a tour though.

www.stgeorgeshallliverpool.co.uk/events/the-st-georges-hall-experience-the-history-whisperer/

Or there seem to be some other private tour companies that do tours of St George's as well, but not cheap. hmmm
www.liverpoolgo.com/detail-victorian-crime.html

Don’t know about Liverpool (came on this thread as I have an upcoming trip myself) but I have seen SIX in London, I loved it. Less than 24hours later I had booked to go again, such good fun, I highly recommend. It is like a hybrid of a show and pop concert.

that's good to know! I'm still considering it. I'm not actually a pop music fan, which is kind of my reservation about it, but I like history, classical music, theatre etc generally, so it might be OK

If you have tiktok the scouse gourmet is a great follow for cafes and cheap but fab food.