Chinatown is a fantastic spectacle for the tourists and locals with the Chinese Arch being the main…read moreicon. The arch is proudly one of the largest and most attractive in the UK and was shipped in from Shanghai where it was built by craftsmen in 2000. Now a decade old, it has served Liverpool's image well and kept in top condition thanks to those who've put in the effort to maintain it. Liverpool as a matter of fact is actually a small Chinatown and mainly consists of restaurants. It cannot be compared to the likes of Chinatown in London which is completely of different class, though it can be said that Liverpool is home to one of the oldest Chinese communities in Europe.

It baffles me that the magnificent gate dominating the top of Chinatown is only ten years old. Like…read morethe area itself, it feels like it's been there forever. Unlike the one in London, which at least has some corners to break it up and seem as large and sprawling as the Orient itself, standing beneath the gate in Liverpool means you can look right through to the other side, which can spoil the illusion somewhat. Also, I love how the streets encompassed are the least-Chinese-sounding words in existence- Knight, Duke, Nelson, was someone trying to force Englishness on the residents? Of course, this is all just me being picky. Chinatown is the kind of place you're glad your city has, especially a record-breaking one such as this (it's home to Europe's oldest Chinese community, for one thing). Now is it just me, or would neighbourhoods based on other countries not be an incredible idea? I'll get doodling blueprints on my Etch-a-Sketch.

The sand at Crosby beach isn't quite as soft and luxurious as that of Formby, which is slightly…read morefurther north. In parts you actually get the distinct feeling you may sink if you stand in one place too long and a sign actually warns beach goers not to stray too far from the promenade, and of "wet sand" - a slower version, I presume, of quick sand. That said it's still a great location. One hundred metal Antony Gormley's stare out over the water, his 'Another Place' exhibit, great for amateur photographers. Look to the left and you see cranes, ships and the odd pile of scrap metal. To the right a wind farm and on a clear day, the Blackpool Tower. Don't stare at the stunning vistas too long mind, make sure you beware of the jellyfish that sporadically pop up from time to time. On my last visit to Crosby's sands (31 August) the sun was beaming and warm, and a walk along this under-used beach was a real treat.

Crosby Beach is one of my favorite places in the Merseyside area. My boyfriend's family lives not…read moretoo far away, so whenever we're visiting, I ask to go and we always bring along the their dogs. The main attraction here is to see Antony Gormley's Another Place, a permanent installation of 100 cast iron men that spans the entire beach and into the sea as well. The sculptures are all made in the form of the artist's figure, and all face out looking at the sea. They're ever-evolving as nature erodes them away. They're all identical, but they've been placed as various heights. Some are buried into the sea or into the water. The beach itself is quite deserted; there's never very many people here, but when you arrive you think there's more people until you realized it's the statues masquerading as people in the distance. It's a great beach to take your dog too. However, it's quite windy here, so a nice stroll along the beach in the sand, or up on the boardwalk, that's all that's very nice. It's not the beach to sit out at. Come at sunset for a stunning sky and see the iron men in perfect light! This is a great spot for photographers! The iron men look beautiful in various lights, but especially at sunset. There is easy, free parking in the parking lot above the boardwalk too.

It will never be fully established how direct the link was between this gravestone and the Beatles'…read moreclassic. Although he and John were visitors to the churchyard and met mere feet from this spot, Paul McCartney has said the apparent coincidence could in fact be a concoction of his subliminal self. Then again, how can you believe him? He thought writing about the Mull of Kintyre was a nifty idea. To be fair, I visited this boneyard a while back just for something to do and was struck by how many of the stones contain the names 'Eleanor' or 'Rigby' in some permutation or other. I'd be surprised if Macca didn't accidentally call his mum Ellie after coming here. The real Eleanor Rigby was a scullery maid who died 364 days before Lennon was born and almost certainly did not keep her face in a jar by the door. Standing looking at the patch were her bones now rest makes you wonder whether you'll ever posthumously be part of a famous song...I mean ones you haven't just penned yourself because that's almost as sad as looking at a stranger's grave.

it depends on wether you were officially booked or not ,I played at the club with a number of…read morebands all pre 1974 and they are all up there ,so I don't know why you are not named ,one thing I will put right to stop any confusion ,The Easy Beats are on the wall , and they are the Liverpool Easybeats 1961- 1966 so don't believe anyone who says it was the Austrailian group ,there drummer Snowy Fleet used to follow the Liverpool Easybeats around before he emigrated to Australia ,great days. FT

This wall of bricks is on Mathew Street just outside The Cavern Pub etching all the artists who…read morehave played the club out in a nice and organized fashion. The sculpture of John Lennon is right next to the bricks and is a super cool photo spot. This wall was created in 1997 and truly is a nice tribute to all the fantastic artists that have played the club. It ain't just The Beatles y'all.

The statues are tall and quite noticeable from the pier in Liverpool. Expect a crowd, but easy to…read morejump in and get a picture. The statues are so detailed and easily depicted. Liverpool is the home of the Beatles and this statue adds to the history and love for them. While exploring the city, you'll be sure to see many Beatles tributes, making for a memorable trip around the city.

In the rain, but we had to come because we were close. Larger than life size. They all have cowboy…read moreboots. And different expressions. Glad to come

Reliable corner of silence and relaxation right in the middle of the city centre. Since the garden…read moreis part of the bluecoat museum and art centre, you can easily extend your visit to either - or both

The Bluecoat Garden is tucked away within the Bluecoat Centre. It is a lovely little haven of calm…read moreand silence, being surrounded on all sides by the Bluecoat Centre's Buildings. Even though it is only a stone's throw from Liverpool One it is still a lovely place to get out of the hectic city centre shopping crowds and just take things at your own pace for a little while. It is an excellent place to read a book, chat to a friend, listen to your MP3 player, or just enjoy the silence and calm of the surroundings. The cafe adjoining the garden is an excellent place. Get yourself a pot of tea and a slice of chocolate cake, and just take a few minutes to relax and take in the surrounding architecture of the Bluecoat Gardens.

A stone's throw from Matthew Street and the legendary Cavern Club there's a bronze statue of…read moreEleanor Rigby. The work of musician and artist Tommy Steele, the statue was inspired by the imaginary character in The Beatles song and given to the city as a gift. The plaque dedicates it to 'All the lonely people...' and there's space on the bench for locals and tourists to sit and contemplate in solitude. Since 'Eleanor Rigby' happens to be one of the few Beatles songs I loathe, I never get the inclination to visit her. Lots of people clearly do however, as there's often flowers laid across her lap and feet. I'm not sure if it's an urban myth but allegedly, Steele placed a pair of football boots, a four leaf clover, a couple of sonnets and a few childrens comics inside the statue for luck!

I always presumed the Eleanor Rigby statue was on Mathew Street somewhere and couldn't fathom how…read moreI'd never seen it. Then just the other day I walked past it, by chance. Turns out it's on Stanley Street. Ah begorrah! This location seems quite fitting because, detached from the swathe of tourists cramming up the area radiating from the Cavern, the statue gives off an even more melancholy air. Poor gal. She doesn't even have a face. She obviously left it in a jar by the door. Also, since Beatles songs feature such memorable characters (Sergeant Pepper, Mean Mister Mustard, the Taxman, a girl with kaleidoscope eyes etc), does anybody else think, statue-wise, we could've done better than this lonely cow?

Once you turn onto Matthew Street, you'll immediately see the John Lennon sculpture to your left…read more Located in a fun area, full of bars and Beatles love, memorabilia, and tributes, this statue is your perfect start to the Beatles tour along the city. At night time, Matthew Street is lively, however, during the day, expect little crowds, no live music, and sadly many stores and bars being closed. Exploring and walking the city will make up for the lack of entertainment among the city if you have a love for the Beatles and the history.

This is a fantastic statue of John Lennon situated on Mathew street right outside the cavern club…read more A trip to Liverpool is not complete unless you have at least a million photos of this iconic statue.

Parbold Hill is a layby on the side of the A5209 opposite the pub the Wiggin Tree. From here there…read moreare spectacular views of the surrounding countryside to be seen, there is also an ice cream van that has the novel idea of putting sherbet onto your ice cream Mmmm Mmmm. Anyway there are numerous walks in all directions that take you away from the traffic and into a lovely bit of countryside a walk through the woods down the hill will, after crossing over the railway line take you onto the canal for some nice canal walking or you can carry on along nice footpaths in numerous directions.

This is a great area to take the dogs walking. I have been on several occassions and each time it…read morehas a great atmosphere and plenty of people about.

One of the last remaining secondhand record shops in Liverpool is Hairy Records. Situated at the…read moretop of Bold Street, it's a gloriously ramshackle shop that has literally dozens of racks of old vinyl. The window is a great indicator of what you'll find inside with well thumbed copies of early Dylan, Neil Young and Van Morrison records alongside old classics by The Cure, The Smiths and The Specials. It's not all rock and pop however, as inside there are literally hundreds of brilliant soul, funk, disco, motown, northern soul, girl groups, reggae and krautrock albums. If you can't find what you're looking for, ask the friendly owner and there's a chance he might have a copy somewhere. I only chatted to him for five minutes and it was clear his passion and enthusiasm for music was infectious. In the week, Hairy Records is quite quiet so you'll have time to look through everything without being disturbed. At weekends however, expect to be elbowed by local musicans like The Zutons and The Coral. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJrGKqYYfdY

Liverpool's selection of independent record shops is so bad, considering the city's monumental…read moremusical heritage, it's almost laughable. Hairy is one of the few left and is probably the biggest and best known. Its collection of vinyl is tremendous with stacks and stacks from all genres and eras that you can happily spend days rooting through them all. But like all specialist shops - particularly record shops - there is always a catch. Remember High Fidelity? Remember the father innocently asking Jack Black if he had a copy of 'I Just Called To Say I Love You'? Yep, just be careful.