Whilst it lacks the wow factor of her neon inside Liverpool Cathedral, Tracey Emin's Roman Standard…read moreis also worth seeking out. Her first piece of public art, it was installed in 2005 and consists of a tiny, life size bronze bird perched on top of a four metre pole outside the Oratory next to the Cathedral. Commissioned by the BBC, the sculpture reflects Emin's on-going fascination with birds and the belief that they represent strength and freedom. As the pole is centred behind the Oratory gates the Roman Standard seems to appear and disappear depending on where you stand, creating a feeling of mystery and ambiguity. Walk too far to the left and you could miss it altogether....

Some really beautiful pictures here…read more The independent art gallery specialises in historical and modern prints, originals, paintings and photographs. Specialists in images of Liverpool, shipping and sport. Images of Liverpool include Royal Liver Building, Albert Dock, Liverpool Overhead Railway and Antony Gormley's 'Another Place' Crosby Beach. Respected marine artists that they show include Gordon Ellis, Samuel Milton Brown, Brian Entwistle, Gordon Bauwens, Norman Colebourne and Les Cowle. Pic's of Liverpool and Everton football clubs are also stocked at Liverpool Pictures.

Liverpool Pictures is an independent art gallery selling prints of Liverpool, located on the Albert…read moreDocks, it's a great place for tourists and proud locals to pick up pictures as memories of the beautiful scenery in the surrounding Dock area and waterfront. They have great postcards for 60p and really cheap prints of the sunset over the mersey and the Three Graces. They also sell some rather interesting black and white prints of Old Liverpool so you can really see how the city has changed and developed over the years. It's a good little gallery that captures the essence of the 'pool in still life.

I was so excited to see that Liverpool had a Tate branch because I'm very aware of the London…read morelocation. It was so convenient that most of the museums were directly across the street from our Hilton hotel. This location is perfect most of the tourist spots were dotted all along the dock area here! It was a rainy day too so we were so lucky to be so close. After London we were so weary of cabs even though the most of the cabs are those vintage large black ones where your luggage can go at your feet. Most of the museums have had a donation box near the entrance/exit areas. This is smart because I definitely gave more on some occasions when we were thrilled with the exhibits. I actually tend to give more at the end of a visit instead of upfront. Some places ask straight away and some have a collection box near the exits. I think people are more generous after enjoying the museum fully. There were many beautiful exhibits inside. Many works associated with a "color" theme throughout the museum. I was very surprised to find pieces by Paul Klee and Pablo Picasso inside. Actually I had never seen this piece by Pablo and I loved it! His work is so different with each decade his style changed and evolved. If you travel to Liverpool I would highly suggest staying at the Hilton, all the museums are just a few blocks ahead to the port. Loved this Tate!

I was so excited to visit the Tate museum to see the Don McCullin exhibition that I had booked well…read morein advance. Don McCullin is a photographer that takes photos of war and famine and poverty, my type of photos of things that are real and hard hitting and it certainly didn't disappoint. The photos I saw were powerful and thought provoking and sometimes disturbing and I left in awe. The Tate museum and gallery in Liverpool is fantastic and well worth a visit put this on your itinerary.

FACT is easily one of the best things Liverpool has to offer, if not THE best thing…read more FACT is a combination of cinema, art gallery, exhibition space, bar, cafe and shop. Yes, all of that. The cinema is absolutely top notch, it is the best cinema I have ever visited. They show a good mix of both major releases and independent films. You'll find big blockbusters rubbings shoulders with arthouse movies, or Japanese animation. They even show classics from time to time. Perfect. The art exhibitions change on a regular basis so it's hard to specifically review those. My favourite in recent memory is the "History of Music Video" piece they had in, where you could go through the evolution of the medium. I spent ages in here and wrote down a good few obscure artists I hadn't heard of so I could check them out later. Anyway, the exhibitions are always fantastic and imaginative. The bar is also much-loved. It's a favourite hang-out spot of mine, even if I'm not in the building for anything else. It doesn't boast a HUGE range of drinks but the atmosphere is always nice, relaxed and friendly. The cafe downstairs is equally as good, especially lately as it's been re-done and now offers a bigger selection. I'm especially fond of the different green teas. Anyway, FACT is a must. It's essential. It is the heart of Liverpool.

FACT is fabulous - its only flaw being that it is in Liverpool and not Belfast! I discovered FACT…read morewhile visiting friends in Liverpool and it is without a doubt the best cinema I've ever been in. It shows a full range of film, both commercial and more obscure or 'arty' movies. One of its 4 cinema's has the best luxury sofa seating ever - it's so comfy. Plus there is a cafe/ bar and you can take your wine into the cinema screens to enjoy while you watch your movie. FACT = Foundation for Art and Creative Technology, so it's not just a cinema, it also has 3 art galleries showing various art exhibitions. FACT is an amazing arts centre - I want one in Belfast :-(

Are you lost? A stranger to these parts? In search of artistic stimulation or inspiration?…read more You've found yourself in the right place then. I didn't know this Service Station existed. You could walk past oblivious, reaching the grand entrance to The Bluecoat without realising that you have skipped past the artist/poet in residence exhibition rooms. All concrete and white walls, art and poetry on the walls, a thought-provoking video installation and one of the artists sat willing to chat about his work. At the moment the exhibit is Mistranslations which had some great works mixing Spanish and English. There are gaps between residences but the website will keep you updated, fear not! So if you're walking on by, don't be a stranger and stop in. Even if it's just for 5 minutes it'll give you some food for thought for the day.

This is the 5th Liverpool Biennial, celebrating modern art on an International scale…read more Throughout the streets of Liverpool, artists' instillations can be seen in a myriad of situations ranging from abandoned factories, city parks, bombed out churches, down to the Tate Museum All media varieties from film, to paintings, to models, to light sculptures, etc... it's all fair game & it's all a spectacular sight to behold! Just some of the exhibits we enjoyed in the 2008 MADE UP included: * An enormous Spider's Web, made of lights, connecting a block of buildings in the downtown area * Boxed-in room that is lined w/ mirrors & lighted balls - the effect when the door is closed is just like Carl Sagan - you're standing among billions & billions of stars * Yoko Ono designed the instillation in a beautiful bombed out church - whose perfect outer structure was a facade in the literal sense due to its vast destruction on the inside * City Park where Evergreen Trees rotated tilty-turny * The BEST, most astonishing instillation we saw was this "normal" building in the Downtown area that had a huge hunk cut out & placed on hydraulics - the cut-out piece then *rotated* w/in the building - AMAZING Exhibits will have you walking around Liverpool so there's an added bonus of seeing the beautiful city itself, up close & personal. Nicely laid out maps from the Welcome Center will easily guide you through all the areas of interest & they also commission nighttime activities throughout the 2-month run..... so there's a lot to see & a lot to do! Every 2 years from September through November - most exhibits are FREE Mark your calendars for 2010!! Don't miss it!!

The Liverpool Biennal happens, well, every two years unsurprisingly and over the last decade has…read morebeen a strong element of Liverpool's reinvention as a place of artistic energy and creativity. It's a festival which causes some division amongst Liverpool's artistic community as it is a showcase of international art with commisions going to artists from all over the world and works being shown from internationally renowned names with, some see, not enough attention given to the city's own artists - but then it would really only be a pointless exercise for Liverpool and not the internationally recognised event that it is! The 2 month long event takes place in all the cities galleries but also spills into many other spaces such as outdoor public places and cafes and bars which means that the city does come alive with unusual sights and sounds.