On my to do list of must sees in liverpool was the Three Graces - The fundamental international…read moresymbol for Liverpool, is the Royal Liver Building, as well as The Cunard and the Port of Liverpool buildings. They are all side by side located on The Pier head in Liverpool. Stunning architecture, all majestic in their own right.

This is the first building you see when your ship arrives at the cruise port. One of the famous…read moreThree Graces it stands out more than the other two. On top of the two towers of the building are statues of Liver Birds which are said to be good luck to sailors and the city. probably one of the most iconic buildings in Liverpool. It is a must see when you visit.

Speke Hall is a tudor manor house 2 miles from Liverpool South Parkway train station. Administered…read moreand financed by the National Trust and so the Hall, Gardens and Estate have a full calendar of events, including activities during school holidays, open-air theatre, festive celebrations, customed guided tours, roof tours, waymarked woodland trails, children's play area and quiz trails. I arrived at the hall on a really hot sunning day and enjoyed the ride down the long drive as I approached the house. There isn't much shade in the car park, so if it's hot your car will get baked. Anyway car parked and I hear the roar of an aeroplane landing. I took a tour around the house before it opened to the public. It was great to have someone tell you about the hall rather than having to read through all of the room guides. The hall inside has lots of dark furniture (as per the period) and the windows don't let in much light. But overall the house is really elegant. From the outside the house looks huge but inside you don't get to see all of the rooms as some are closed off. After the tour I took a walk to the estuary viewpoint. It was great being so close to the airport runway. Then round to the south and moat garden which are very relaxing, as people sit out and eat their lunch. The restaurant has loads of fresh produce and I enjoyed a sandwich and jam and cream scone.

Speke Hall is one of the most famous half-timbered houses in Britain and is owned by the National…read moreTrust. During a guided tour, through Tudor and Victorian times, helps bring to life the rich interiors and history of this magnificent building. It gives you the opportunity to stroll in the beautiful landscaped gardens and enjoy extensive woodland walks. There is even an adventure playground that children will adore. The Hall has a home farm restaurant which serves home-made produce too. I have not tried their food but the restaurant was busy when I walked past and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. One mysterious fact I love about the Hall, is that it is known to have a spooky past - one of the main reasons I visited there! The building did have an eerie feel about it and I will never forget that experience.

Strangely, William McKenzies Tomb can represent everything you wish to find about Liverpool. It is…read morean eccentric and flamboyantly designed tomb going against the grain of convention that holds a macabre presence on Rodney Street with many great stories surrounding it. Now surrounded by weeds and construction sights it does not have the dignified surroundings that it deserves but through local interest and the love of a good yarn it has begun to once again attract interest largely due to the larger than life character that inhabits it. Shabby and rough around the edges, you can't help but stop and look when walking past and find yourself being drawn in by its odd charm.

This is a great little spot to visit if you're passing through Liverpool as a tourist or traveller…read more The story behind this pyramid type tomb is that of William McKenzie. Over a hundred years ago, McKenzie was a wealthy business man who resided in Liverpool and was well known for treating his staff terribly and gambling compulsively. Legend has it that McKenzie played poker down to his last penny with a hooded character one night, deciding at that point, to gamble his soul. He then turned cards and had lost his soul to his mysterious opponent. Due to this he requested that upon his death, he be entombed above ground, his corpse sitting at a card table, a winning hand of poker in his hand! He believed that being buried this way would save his soul from being stolen for eternity. That's how he sits within the pyramid tomb on Rodney Street, and his ghost is said to stalk the streets late at night!

In 1966, three years after the release of the legendary "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and two years…read moreafter their sensational US tour that started Beatlemania, the Beatles were World famous. It was also at this time when Paul McCartney started writing about his days that he shared with John Lennon in their hometown, Liverpool. For Paul, it seemed like he was taking a step back from the limelight of the Beatles' phenomenal success and taking the time to reflect upon his childhood memories. Paul said in a documented interview: "I still want to write a song about the places in Liverpool where I was brought up. Places like The Docker's Umbrella ..., and Penny Lane near my old home." There were a lot of fond memories for Paul when he wrote Penny Lane. This was where he had to change buses to get to John Lennon's house. This was also the district where he hanged out with many of his friends. Paul explained that Penny Lane was not only a street, but also a district, and the lyrics of the song were all based on real places - the barber shop, the bank, the fire station. "It's part fact, part nostalgia for a great place..., as we remember it, and it's still there." Paul recalled that as he was writing Penny Lane, John came along to help him: "We were writing childhood memories: recently faded memories from eight or ten years before, so it was a recent nostalgia, pleasant memories for both of us." Penny Lane is one of very few Beatles songs that were written about real places and real lives and is probably the only one that is about the childhood of Paul McCartney and John Lennon. It's been over 50 years since the release of Penny Lane and almost 40 years since the Beatles broke up, but numerous tourists still visit Penny Lane every day. Yours truly included. And its road sign still gets stolen by Beatles fans. The latest version of the road sign when I was there was bolted down into a concrete wall with temper-proof screws, screws that cannot be unfastened with a screwdriver or most tools. Let's see how long this one gets to stay. I am just guessing... but this must be the most often stolen road sign in the World... "In Penny Lane, there is a barber showing photographs Of every head he's had the pleasure to know And all the people that come and go Stop and say, 'Hello'..."

Another place to visit if you are checking out Beatles landmarks in Liverpool. Penny Lane is a real…read morestreet in the suburbs of Liverpool. The song "Penny Lane" is named after this street of course. You can see the street signs and take a pic. Penny lane is in my ears and in my eyes There beneath the blue suburban skies I sit, and meanwhile back Penny lane is in my ears and in my eyes There beneath the blue suburban skies

This is a beautiful old building located right on the waterfront and the Mersey River. One of the…read morethree famous landmarks that define the city of Liverpool. You have to take a few moments to really look at the building to see all the marvelous details and how it was put together. A terrific icon for the city.

The Port of Liverpool Building, as the name suggest, is one of the most nautically-inspired…read moreconstructions in the city, serving as the headquarters of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board for 87 years from its construction in 1907 until the nineties. That clears that up then. I thought it was just a St Paul's wannabe. After the Liver Building, this is probably the next most identifiable of the Three Graces and the thirteenth tallest building in the city. I came here once as part of an art competition and was struck by how illustrious it was inside. Walking into the entrance you find yourself in a huge room reaching right up into the dome. Marble columns and Edwardian balconies make it all look very professional. I kept expecting to be asked to leave. Nowadays the building is filled with offices that have very little to do with maritime matters. Needless to say they keep it in good order. At least it isn't a Tesco yet.

Wow. So lovely! We recently has the pleasure of visiting Liverpool Town Hall for a wedding, and…read morewhat a wonderful place to get married! Like many historical buildings in the UK, it features prominent features like the neoclassical façade and big dome. Upon entry, you come straight into a grand staircase draped in a bright red carpet. All of the fixtures, statues, and details throughout the whole building are opulent. Rooms large and grand. There was a reception prior to the wedding ceremony which took place on the second floor, which included access to the main balcony. It was a stunning day (shocking, I know!), making it the perfect opportunity to enjoy gathering outside overlooking bustling castle street. The ceremony was in yet another grand room, with plenty of history. Such is a great place for any kind of larger event! It sounds like you can also come here for guided tours to explore the historical and architectural significance.

Liverpool Town Hall is not nearly as grand or ostentatious as many other town halls to be found…read moreacross the UK, however it takes perfectly proportioned pride of place along one of my favourite streets in the city centre. The architecture of Cstle Street is brilliant with every building seemingly capturing a different, style, era and atmosphere of the city through its development. At the tope sits the town hall where it has been positioned under various stages of renovation and transformation since 1673. Although the mayor has little power within the city and much of the council power resides in other buildings across the city, the town hall is still an important civic centre within which weddings and prestigious social and charity events can be held.

So thankful my tour guide showed us this hidden jewel during our private Beatles tour!!! We stopped…read morein not quite realizing what it was, but thanks to Julie and our tour guide (Joey Lyons), we learned it was a site full of Beatles history and unique memorabilia. I loved the Penny Lane wall on the outside area along with the original yellow submarine...great spots for pics! And inside I was thrilled that the tiny space was selling so many wonderfully unique Beatles items perfect for gift giving and collecting. The prices were reasonable and majority of the inventory was entirely unique. I controlled myself from purchasing every single item and instead purchased a hand-painted tile for my parents, the book "Once Upon a Time in Liverpool" (which my 6 & 3 year old girls loved), a guitar pick, key chains, and I think that was all I bought. I LOVED all their original Beatles prints and tiles and handmade cards but seriously had to hold my hands back from buying out the place! I hope the word gets out about this business because it is not one to be missed for any Beatles fan. The bigger picture of this place is that it's a non-profit to benefit the local community in Liverpool. Julie, the charity manager (I have no idea what her title was honestly!) engaged in conversation with us and was so polite and helpful. My trip to Liverpool taught me how fantastic the city is and how much Paul McCartney still pours his heart and soul (and money) into the city. They hold community events and classes here, so I wish I could have experienced more! I'm thinking this is not a commonly found site for Beatles tourists, so consider yourself told about it now and make it a point to check it out!

Here stands Liverpool's Diamond in the Rough. This beautiful…read moreorganization - run by Julie Gornell, The Penny Lane Development Trust is a HUB in the community. And, in my heart, by community I mean our Global community as well as the locals who are blessed enough to live and work near PLDT. Everyone the world over is welcome. As for the wonderful local Liverpudlians, Penny Lane Development Trust offers them many, many opportunities to participate in community life, participating, volunteering... being a bigger part of who we are and all we see. Activities are also held there, and they're many and varied... Pilates, creative writing, Yoga, weight loss, art classes... And needless to say THOUSANDS of Beatles fans come every year as it harkens back to many a happy memory of a song by the same name. There's one of a kind Beatles memorabilia in the gift shop area, paintings, books, tile art, jewelry, postcards, tea and coffee cups, T-shirts... they have it all, and quite reasonably priced as well. If you ever are fortunate enough to visit this marvelous city in the north of England, please remember to stop by and say HI to Julie and the rest of the lovely people there at Penny Lane Development Trust. It will be one of the fondest memories of your entire trip. And the kettle is always on. ...Penny Lane is not just ANY Lane. :)

It's frightening how old this place is. It's not 'ancient' in the same way Pythagoras was but it's…read morestill damn old, one of Liverpool's half dozen oldest buildings. Built sometime between 1604 and 1618, the original chapel (now modified) has always been associated with non-conformist religion. Its first master, Richard Mather, was only fifteen when a group of Toxteth Puritans (not a gang name) appointed him. Following a stint at Oxford he returned to the chapel and lasted right through to the early 1630's, when he was suspended for his non-conformist views. He emigrated to America in 1635. 1635! America was just a bunch of tiny villages back then. The country still had a damn century to wait until George Washington was even born. Although constructed in the countryside, the chapel was later swallowed up by the neighbourhoods of Liverpool and now sits at the end of Park Road, next to a cemetery of unquestionably old gravestones. I reckon it'll outlive the Himalayas.

Hopefully ! - we have a visit planned for a week tomorrow (27 July 2017) with a U.S. visitor, who…read moreis directly descended from the Aspinall family, whose brass plaque is in the chapel. The contact phone number (0151 263 4899) is a dead line, and there is no email address - PLEASE CAN YOU HELP US TO CONTACT THEM TO CONFIRM OUR DATE AND VISIT ? Many thanks in advance for your assistance - I do not do Facebook (I am 70). Martin Walker

This is a very well known local landmark comprising of two separate builds with diverging…read moreintentions though now seemingly amalgamated. In the centre of the five lamps, on a column atop three stones steps, a winged lady, Victory I believe. stands bearing a laurel and a palm branch. The column on which she stands is inscribed with the names of local soldiers killed during the war. Five lamps existed prior to the construction of this monument and were the location of an old tram station. The current lamps are not the originals. "The Five Lamps" is beautiful and remains a prominent feature in the area despite the traffic lights crowded around it!

Towering 160m above both what was once the old-money village of Alderly Edge (now a mecca for…read morePremiership footballers and Wags) and the Cheshire Plain in general, the edge has some of the best views of anywhere in the area thanks to the dramatic edge - a steep cliff-like drop. The edge has historic associations with, somewhat incongruously, mining and wizardry, but these days it's a great place to go for a walk with either the kids, the dog, visitors or even a solitary stroll. There are car parks at both the foot of the edge and the top (the latter is the main one) giving the option of a quick trip to the edge itself and back or a longer, more demanding up-and-down walk.