A Weekend Up North

Last weekend I had the pleasure of travelling from the South coast of England all the way up to Liverpool!

Having only ever been to the northern cities of Sheffield and Manchester, which was only to look at the universities, I have never really explored anywhere around that area.

Forgive me if Liverpool isn't North to you, but considering I'm from South East england, anywhere that far away is North to me!

I met my friend in Liverpool after a 4 hour train journey there. We stayed in the Novotel in the city centre which is a stunning hotel with the best location, and even has a pool! We managed to get a really great deal using booking.com, so check this out for the best value deals on top hotels.

 I recommend staying near the Liverpool One shopping centre, as it's right in the centre of the city and all the attractions are within walking distance.

So, the first thing to do when we arrived was to of course go explore the shopping centre! It has a fantastic array of high street shops from Primark, New Look, Topshop to the more upper end shops like Michael Kors.

That evening we headed over to the restaurants in Liverpool One, and there is a big selection to choose from, ranging from American to Thai cuisines. Most of the restaurants here were chains, which is good for quick and cheap eats. We ate at Chaophraya, a Thai restaurant where I decided to be adventurous (for me anyway) with what I was ordering and opted for duck, which is something I never usually order. It was amazing, and definitely recommended!

After we took a stroll to the Albert Dock to see it at night, as well as getting a glimpse of the Liverpool wheel at night with all the lights on, before heading to a bar for some cocktails. The bar we stumbled across was hidden down some steps on Colquitt Street, but it had the nicest cocktails, was cheap and had shots out of chocolate cups! What more could you want?! Plus it had a really nice and chilled atmosphere which was a perfect way to end our first day.

Visit Bar Bodega for great cocktails

Day 2 was full of city sightseeing. We started off in Albert Dock, having a look around the shops before going to the Beatles experience. Of course, Liverpool is famous for being the birthplace of one of the greatest bands in the world, and even if you aren't the biggest fan of the Beatles, this museum is still so interesting and not badly priced!

Luckily I was a student so I could get in for only £11 on a concession rate, but even the full price is only around £15. This includes admission to the museum with a personal headset, so you can take your own time and listen to what you're interested in. The museum took around 1 hour and a half, and was a poignant tribute to the rise of the Beatles.

The experience didn't stop there, as the ticket includes admission to another attraction over by the pier head which includes an interactive 4D show. If you have time it's worth checking out, but if you don't want to head over there then you wouldn't be missing out.

After learning about the lives of the Beatles, we headed over to where it all began, Mathews Street, to see the Cavern club where the Beatles used to play. Around there are loads of independent pubs that are perfect for that Saturday afternoon drink.

Mathews Street

We also headed up the Radio City tower to get a 360 degree view of the city. This is great on a clear day as you can see across the Mersey, and sometimes as far as Wales! Plus it was only £5 so it won't break the bank balance!

With all the walking, we headed over to Bolt street, which is filled with loads of independent cafes and restaurants, as well as the usual chains. We decided to go to Central Perk, a Friend's themed coffee shop for some coffee and cake. It's quite expensive but the theming is cool with the typical sofas plus they play friends episodes all day! I also bought a huge carrot cake which was delicious, but was way to big so I couldn't finish it all!

Liverpool Cathedral

Next stop, we wandered up to the cathedral before making our way back to the hotel for a pre dinner swim. This time we ate at Albert Dock in a really nice restaurant which I can't remember the name of! But I definitely recommend checking out the restaurants around there as there are some really nice independent ones which aren't badly priced! Plus there is a really nice atmosphere to have a walk around after all the consumption of great food.

Our Saturday ended with a night out on the town. Liverpool's nightlife is notorious for being amazing, and it certainly didn't disappoint. You will find an array of bars and clubs, all situated around Concert Square, and there is something for 18-50 year olds! Expect lots of hen and stag does though.

After a busy weekend, it was time to head back south. Liverpool is truly a great place to visit and you can explore the whole city in just a weekend. Everyone is so friendly and there are lots of things to do and see for all ages. Whether its a historical and educational visit, or a night spent dancing away, check out Liverpool!

View from the Radio Tower