A Liverpool Visit

I recently made a visit to Merseyside and the city of Liverpool. I lived in the area briefly back in the 80s and have fond memories of my day trips to the city. My recent visit took me to some familiar places, but also some new ones.  For instance this was my first ever visit to Liverpool’s Chinatown.

Liverpool’s Chinatown is not as large as some others, but is still distinctive with a magnificent gate, lions, dragons, and lanterns. There are a few Chinese businesses, and it is a nice photo op point of call.

Albert Dock Area

On the waterfront there are several great attractions. At Albert Dock there is the Museum of Slavery, The Beatles Experience, and loads of eateries and cafes.

Beatles Experience

Further along at the King’s Dock area is the convention centre, the Echo Arena, and the Liverpool Wheel.  The dock also has the John Lennon Peace Memorial.

Arena and Liverpool Wheel

The Wheel of Liverpool, is 196 feet (60 m) tall, and has 42 fully enclosed capsules. This attraction is worth the effort and the money. The wheel provides good views of both sides of the Mersey and especially of the Albert Dock area, the cathedrals and the Royal Liver Building. We went on a drizzly day but the views were still good, and with four revolutions of the wheel, we were able to photograph the thing we wanted. I have noted it was worth the money, but that being said we did have a discount voucher.

The Arena hosts concerts and other similar events, and top rate acts play here.

Royal Liver Building

The Royal Liver is another of the must see landmarks in the city.  The clock towers and Liver Birds are iconic and can be seen from across the river and from much of the city centre. A memorial to the Titanic stands nearby as well.

On our last two stays in Liverpool we used the Pullman Hotel.  This is a luxury hotel, which is not billed as such. This is one of, if not the best, hotel experiences we have ever had. This modern, accessible hotel ticks all the boxes. On arrival, there is no “check in counter” but rather members of staff there to greet you one on one, and take all of your details electronically cutting down that aspect of the experience. This gets you into your room quickly and efficiently. The staff are courteous, and go the extra mile to make you feel welcome. On our arrival, we were helped with all of our bags to the room, and then we were allowed to inspect the room for its suitability (disability issues were very definitely being respected and catered to) before getting settled in. The room (204) was large, with a super large bed, wide screen tv, and a bathroom with both a bath and shower stall. The floors were hard wood, and the bathroom mosaic tiled. The in room fridge was a useful and closet space abundant. Breakfast is buffet style though eggs can be made to order. There was a wide range of fresh juices, breads, and pastries as well. Sleep quality was outstanding, with a comfortable bed, great temperature control, and no external noise interference at all. To return to service, this is the biggest strength of this hotel. Members of staff took the time to listen to needs, or just be friendly. Real concern was shown to our health needs, and adjustments were made to make our stay as perfect as possible.

 

Padre