Day 9 - Liverpool

19th August 2019

Liverpool is a maritime city in northwest England, where the River Mersey meets the Irish Sea. A key trade and migration port from the 18th to the early 20th centuries, it's also, famously, the hometown of The Beatles. Ferries cruise the waterfront, where the iconic mercantile buildings known as the "Three Graces" – Royal Liver Building, Cunard Building and Port of Liverpool Building – stand on the Pier Head.

Ferry cross the Mersey

This morning just rolling up the Mersey into Liverpool.  Berthed quite close to all the riverfront attractions of the city.  Everything pretty much in walking distance.

Our choice for today is to take the “Ferry cross the Mersey” (for those of a certain age this will have a musical accompaniment).

After an easy start and morning coffee we went ashore.  Another advantage of taking our time is that the tide had come in far enough for the ramp from the floating dock to the mainland has reduced to an easy incline.  On a previous visit we had an almost insurmountable slope to get ashore.

First visit to get tickets for the ferry roundtrip cruise.  Then after a short wait boarded the ferry, found very nice seats at the front to enjoy the view.  It seemed a huge queue for the ferry but once on board not at all crowded.  And off we go, a downriver loop first to Seacombe Terminal, a partial change in the passengers and then off upriver to Woodside Terminal, similar change then off again to loop around back to Pier Head where we started.  About an hour on the river to make the round trip.  Rather windy but nice and sunny, the tidal flow quite amazingly strong, no wonder the tidal range is so big and all the main dock areas along the river are behind lock gates.  Excellent views of the river front and longer views back to the city’s two cathedrals.

Followed this with a walk along the riverfront past the “three graces” (the Royal Liver Building, the Cunard Building and The Port of Liverpool Building) to the Albert Dock.  

This like so much along the river redeveloped, old warehouses made into apartments, restaurants and shopping.  Also there is much new development to complement the conversions including new offices, hotels, etc. and tourist attractions including the Liverpool Museum, the Tate Gallery and  many references to The Beatles.

Back to Victoria for the rest of the day and evening.  Quite a late sailaway with quite a turnout of spectators watching from the city.