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A holiday guide to Liverpool


For a revitalising weekend break, head for the North-west and the great city of Liverpool where there is something for all the family to do and discover.

The Mersey must be one of the most famous rivers in the world, with Liverpool one of the world's greatest ports built upon it. Early navigators would have found the tides too strong to use all year round but a hamlet, Liverpool, developed around the pool for spring and summer use. Interestingly enough, the name ‘Liverpool’ is an anlgo-norman translation from Latin, meaning ‘Spring Anchorage.'

Opened in 1846, Albert Dock was an architectural triumph which quickly became a treasure house of precious cargoes from all over the world. Today, following a £100 million redevelopment, the Albert Dock has been reborn as a cultural powerhouse, spearheading the regeneration of the famous docklands. World class shopping, fascinating museums, art galleries, loft living, bar culture, eateries and top night spots - Albert Dock has it all.

The docks even have the greatest concentration of Grade I Listed architecture anywhere in the UK. Included among the many attractions on the site are Tate Liverpool (0151 702 7400), the region's major centre for contemporary art; the Merseyside Maritime Museum (0151 207 0001), the largest collection of its kind in Europe; and The Beatles Story (0151 709 1963), a multimedia experience tracing the Fab Four's rise to fame. Also based in Albert Dock is the Yellow Submarine (0151 708 7799) operating a one-hour tour of Liverpool both in and out of the water, aboard an authentic World War II amphibious vehicle.

Or you can simply relax on the ferry ‘cross the Mersey and learn about the fascinating past of one of England’s greatest cities.

Last updated: 16/07/2009