Live it up in Liverpool

People visiting Liverpool after a decade say they can barely recognise it. It’s like watching a child grow. Or, in this scenario, it’s like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button , where the city just gets younger. , It has kept up with the changing times and gotten all glitzy, but deep within, its still holds on to its reputation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The new waterfront is the pride of the Liverpudlians. “Have you seen it?” they often ask with their eyes gleaming. The geometric, monstrous Museum of Liverpool that sits by the dock attracts a flurry of tourists. Cafes, chic hotels and buildings that showcase a mix of old and modern architecture also dot the harbour front.

“What will you do in Liverpool? You’re not even a football fan,” said one of my friends before I left for the city. That got me doubting. I was proved wrong. Apart from art and culture the city is bustling with fancy restaurants, shopping, nightlife and a thriving music scene. After all, Liverpool is where the four local lads got together to form The Beatles…this is the city that influenced and honed their music.

After a couple of action-packed days in the city, here’s my pick of the most popular things to do in Liverpool.

So, you are a fan of the fabulous four? Don’t miss The Beatles Story. Housed in the Albert Dock area, this permanent exhibition is a comprehensive tour that traces the lives, rise and journey of the band. How The Quarry Men became The Beatles, their childhood struggles, a large photograph of their Abbey Road album cover, unseen pictures, film footage, their instruments from earlier days, John Lennon’s white piano, and a yellow submarine form part of this. Do give yourself more than an hour to complete this tour and when you are done, head to the souvenir store where they have everything, right from cushion covers to keychains with the faces of these legends on them.

One of the best ways to tour a city is by a cruise. While in Liverpool, get aboard a ferry from the stables of Mersey Ferry and sail across River Mersey looking at, and learning about, the important buildings along the waterfront. The River Explorer cruise is a 50-minute ride that runs everyday between Liverpool’s Pier Head, Seacombe and Woodside on the Wirral.

You can hear the music even before you make your way to the underground club. Started in 1957, this place has provided a platform to many a talented singer and band. The Beatles started playing at his club in 1961 and their gigs became a regular feature here. It’s a warehouse cellar converted to a club, where performers take the stage and belt out their selection of music to an involved and enthusiastic crowd that dances and often sings along. The atmosphere is electric and the place is packed. You may have to elbow your way through but the happy faces around don’t mind that at all. They graciously make way for you to get to the front. ‘Summer of 69’, ‘Country Roads’, ‘It’s my Life,’ ‘Let it be’…the music is an eclectic mix and the dance styles — people jive, salsa, b-buoy — ah well, who cares what style as long as everyone is having a good time.

I found myself in the midst of this sprawling shopping and leisure district on Black Friday. I did think I could take on the crowd and make the most of the bargains, but boy, was I wrong! People were spilling out of the shops. The high-street brands in particular seemed to have more clients than clothes. Top Shop, Forever 21, H & M, Mango, Harvey Nichols, Reiss, Coast, Warehouse, Armani, Hugo Boss, River Island, Debenhams, Apple…the list of stores is exhausting, and yes, it exhausts your wallet as well. But shopping here is an experience. And if the shop-hopping tires you out, watch a movie at the multiplex or just sit back at one of the cafes, push back a shot of espresso, get out and get shopping.

I had my eye on this church from the moment I drove into Liverpool. Majestic in red, I first caught a glimpse of this imposing building under moonlight. It looked eerily beautiful. So, the next morning, post a heavy English breakfast at Blackburne Terrace, where I was staying in the company of my lovely hosts, I walked to the church that's just five minutes away. The church measures up to a height of 331 ft and doesn’t have spires. One of the interesting aspects is the walk up to the large vestry tower. A lift from the ground level takes you up, and then you change elevators and walk up 108 steps. Considering the area is largely empty, and quiet, it can be a tad intimidating. Once on top, the panoramic view is fantastic. The Albert Dock, Three Graces, Liver Building… all look like they belongs to Lilliput’s land. It is quite windy, so, on a cold winter day, I’d advice you to keep your ear muffs handy.