Liverpool 1

Day 1

I'm continuing my ambition to visit as many major UK cities as I can. Here we go to Liverpool. As a southerner I am probably guilty of believing the lie that the north is grimy. I'm reminded of the brilliant Victoria Wood sketch of a news reader who announces, ‘Good evening, we'd like to apologise to our viewers in the North, it must be awful for you’. Of course this was an ironic comment on the great misconception, and I can safely say that my best UK city break by far has been Glasgow (if you count it as the north!), beautiful and vibrant. Let's hope Liverpool surprises just as much. 

Unfortunately my train from Euston has departed on time, so no refund is likely. I have a sinking feeling as I get comfortable in my seat (reconciling the fact that I will be travelling backwards), when a family with two young children arrive. Not all children shout when speaking, except when on trains or planes or when near to people longing for a quiet life. One of the children asks for a tablet and my fears are stilled. A phone call to father follows as a password is required for ‘Minecraft’. This thankfully is obtained and quiet ensues with only intermittent screaming when one child obviously commits the crime of touching the othersdevice or some such misdemeanor. 

I arrive in Liverpool only a few minutes late (well done Avanti) and the first stop is to eat so I live the high life in Wetherspoons in Lime Street Station. The view however is very nice of St George's Hall, a majestic facade spoilt only by some Trafalgaresque lions in need of a scrub up. It is on the list for a visit but alas no decent concerts this week. 

 

After finding the hotel I wander along the Mersey (apparently over a km wide), and photograph some significant landmarks. The Liver Building is close by and also a very good sculpture of the Beatles. There is queue for selfies but I manage a quick snap.

 

There is a lot of history here along the Mersey and as well as a memorial to the two world wars, a little board tells the story of 5000 voyages from Liverpool that shipped a million and a half Africans to the Americas. What a sad contrast.

Garmin says 4.7 miles