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Get away from typical tours and experience the unique hidden places with your group in the seaport city. Here is how you can experience Liverpool like a true local beyond the typical city tours.
Most people who come to Liverpool often end up spending a whole day at famous places like the Royal Albert Dock, the Beatles Statue, or the football stadiums. These places are amazing sights, undoubtedly recommended by everyone. But limiting your sightseeing to a typical tourist guide will make you miss what the city really has to offer.
With that said, Liverpool is best explored with groups, such as family, friends and colleagues, out for picnics, local tours and some fun time together. But group travel requires careful planning and organisation, so the enjoyment doesn’t turn into chaos. To cater to that, a single and reliable vehicle, like hiring a coach in Liverpool, might be a suitable option. This way, you will be able to commute simultaneously with your squad without the need to split up into multiple rides.
Now, if you want to experience the local taste of Liverpool, you should go around different neighbourhoods, see the arts and crafts, and the community life. From places with independent small shops to underground secret tunnels, the city is full of so many real-life experiences that are usually missed on your tour. Let’s help you get to these areas! Here are seven great local experiences you must try to experience Liverpool like never before.
1. The Baltic Triangle
Best known for: Warehouse street art, independent street food and live music.
Leave behind the usual shopping centres of the city and check out what the Baltic Triangle on the southern side has to offer. What was once an industrial district with old warehouses is now one of Liverpool’s most creative districts for independent creative businesses, digital agencies and nightlife.
This area still has the same original characteristics since it naturally grew through the hard work of the residents here. After strolling through streets decorated by artists with beautiful murals, you end up at Cain’s Brewery Village, which is a vibrant courtyard that houses an antique market, small eateries, and indoor gaming bars. There are also options for coffee lovers to have a locally made, freshly brewed caffeine boost or enjoy live music at the venue.
- Suggested time: Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for a walk and a food stop.
- Starting Point: Do explore Jamaica Street before continuing towards Cains Brewery Village for a more localised experience.
- When to Visit: Baltic Market is currently open from Wednesday to Sunday. But do check its opening information if dining there is part of your plan.
2. The Secret of the Williamson Tunnels
Best Known for: Underground brick chambers and the mystery surrounding Joseph Williamson’s excavations.
Hidden underneath a quiet, residential street in Edge Hill is one of the city’s most intriguing architectural mysteries, the Williamson Tunnels. These tunnels were constructed in the early 1900s by the affluent tobacco merchant, Joseph Williamson. This huge underground network of brick arches and underground passages still mystifies and captivates people with its charm. Though there has been no discovery of any explanation of why Williamson created these underground structures.
While all regular sightseeing tours stay above ground level, exploring these excavated rooms will give you a rare opportunity to view one of the more peculiar aspects of Liverpool’s history. People from local societies conduct regular visits for tourists and share interesting stories about merchants’ lives.
- Time Planning: Allow two hours for the Friends of Williamson’s Tunnels Paddington visit.
- Important Info: Don’t forget to double-check your meeting point. Friends of Williamson’s Tunnels gathers at the corner of Mason Street, whereas the separate Heritage Centre will be on Smithdown Lane.
- What to wear: Friends’ tours involve steps and require suitable shoes, as open sandals, flip-flops and high heels are not permitted.
3. Traditional Scouse Stew at a Historic Pub
Famous for: Liverpool’s signature stew and a taste of the city’s seafaring heritage.
Trying a delicious serving of Scouse is a must on the trip when you are already in the city. This is a traditional stew, made of meat and vegetables, which was introduced first by the Scandinavian sailors who came to the port centuries ago. Although several trendy and popular restaurants give you their own versions, you really need to go deep into the city’s traditional neighbourhoods in the less crowded side streets if you want to enjoy the true authenticity of this dish.
Old pubs like Ye Hole in the Wall and the Baltic Fleet are great places to taste Scouse, which is cooked over a slow fire based on the old family’s recipes. The tasty meal is served together with the pickled beetroot, the red cabbage, and the warm bread, which together are the culinary reflection of the history of the working-class population of the city.
- Suggested time: about 45 minutes to 1 hour for your meal break.
- What to look for: A restaurant with Scousha listed on the menu is what you are looking for. Also, check that the kitchen has separate hours, as sometimes it can run differently from the pub’s opening.
4. The Botanical Wonder of Sefton Park Palm House
Best known for: Tropical plants, Victorian glass architecture and community events.
Just a bit further south from the mainstream central parks is the 235-acre Sefton Park, which is a major open green recreation area. At the centre of the park, you can find the amazing Palm House, an ornamental Victorian glasshouse displaying exotic plants from all over the world. A great thing about Palm House is that it is not located on any major tourist path, because of this giving you time to yourself to be calm amidst the hustle and bustle of the city.
People can enjoy the view of huge palms and other rare tropical plants, plus some monuments of famous leaders. Not only that, but you can also take part in some community activities such as craft markets, jazz concerts and sunrise yoga sessions. If you are a nature lover or a photographer, it’s a really good activity to do during a quiet afternoon.
- Proposed Time: Allow 30-45 minutes for the Palm House, with extra time to explore Sefton Park.
- Also Check: Plants used to produce familiar foods, spices and medicines.
5. Unique Street Art and Independent Shops on Lark Lane
Famous For: Small shops & Independent cafes
At the very end of Sefton Park lies Lark Lane, bursting with creative energy, independent boutiques, cosy cafes, and vintage clothing shops. Compared to the big chain retail stores you see on the major high streets, the entire operation of Lark Lane is carried out solely by the local community spirit and the charm of small businesses.
You can experience old-fashioned vinyl records, look through handcrafted jewellery or hunt for antique pieces. Besides that, the street features a large number of family restaurants where you can get everything from the most genuine Mediterranean dish to a vegan dish that satisfies your comfort craving. So, your visit to Lark Lane really makes you feel like you’re experiencing what a local’s everyday life is like away from the touristy parts of the central shopping districts that can get a little hectic.
- Suggested time: Allow 1-2 hours for browsing and a café or lunch stop.
- Also Visit: Pair it with the neighbouring stops of Sefton Park and the Palm House.
6. Sunset Views at Crosby Beach and the Gormley Statues
Known for: Antony Gormley’s iron figures and coastal sunset views.
Most coastal visitors rush towards the city centre waterfront piers and completely miss a dramatic feature, Crosby Beach, which is just a few miles north. This stretch of shore is the famous art “Another Place” by British sculptor Antony Gormley, who installed one hundred life-sized, cast-iron figures across two miles of open sea in “Another Place”, all facing towards the Irish Sea.
The iron figures are the perfect scenery with waves of the seaside, making it a perfect photography spot. You can also witness a great golden sunset to light up the coastal horizon and fully enjoy the moment with your loved ones, since the beach is less crowded.
- Plan: Allow 1-1.5 hours for a walk and photographs.
- Tip: Crosby is a non-bathing beach. Plan your visit around walking and photography, and follow local warning signs.
7. William MacKenzie’s Tomb
Best known for: A granite pyramid tomb and a local legend about a poker game with the Devil.
William MacKenzie was a high-stakes gambler and a railway contractor. Rumour has it that he sold the Devil his soul in a game of poker. To fool Satan and prevent his soul from being claimed upon burial, MacKenzie is said to have ordered that he be entombed sitting up inside a granite pyramid above ground, holding a winning hand of cards.
His tomb is a 15-foot granite pyramid in the graveyard of St. Andrew’s Church. People interested in history and ghost legends can visit this place.
- Suggested time: Allow 10-15 minutes for a brief stop.
- Good to know: The poker story is local folklore. The pyramid was erected in 1868, seventeen years after MacKenzie died in 1851. Historic England’s monument record.
- Pair with: A stroll along Rodney Street to admire its Georgian architecture.
Final Word
The real bliss of visiting the city of docks is in exploring its unique side, where the true local experience lies. By planning a trip to these places, your trip will not only be more enjoyable but also peaceful, away from the typical crowded places, which makes your experience more personalised.