Posts Tagged ‘free entertainment’
Urban Chic’s top ten free attractions in liverpool part I
Friday, November 20th, 2009
A brief history:
Liverpool based its bid to win Capital of Culture 20008 based on the rich 800 years of history. From its origins when Liverpool’s official history started on the 28th August 1207, when King John ‘founded’ the area of ‘Liuerpul’ or ‘Lyverpoole’ (literally meaning muddy pool) granting it the status as an official town in his Royal Charter.
Today, Liverpool is a family friendly must see tourist destination with a rich cultural and historical place. Our family friendly apartments and services really give your family all the ingredients for a great time in Liverpool.
What’s on in Liverpool:
No.1 The World Museum Liverpool
Top of the hit parade is “The World Museum Liverpool” http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/wml/ 5 levels of child orientated fun and interactive learning, its actually really good for the adults too. Start off in the Aquarium level one and get a little spaced out by the curved glass… move on to the second floor for insects and “creepy crawlies” to the third floor of natural history. There are guided tours and sessions that go on throughout the day on the various floors, such as the auditorium’s “A tale of two planets” but get there early as it gets booked up quickly. Its open everyday and because of Liverpool’s rich trading history there is a lot of cultural history from around the world with artefacts and range of cultural riches, many of which have been donated since the World Museum opened. It will take you about 2 to 3 hours to get round and see everything but factor in another hour if you go to any of the shows that are on.
No.2 Merseyside Maritime Museum
This major exhibition follows 800 years of Liverpool’s maritime history, from medieval ‘Lyverpoole’ to 21st century ‘Livercool’, the European Capital of Culture. Liverpool’s recent history of the development of the Liverpool docks was recently detailed as the new Liverpool One (£1 billion pound shopping complex – was developed) by the archaeological dig documented by Tony Robinson’s ‘Time Team” http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/T/timeteam/2008/liverpool/index.html
History can be fun… but most children don’t see it that way, so make sure you time your visit and get to some of the cool things that the kids will enjoy such as the “Royal Navy Sniffer dog” demonstrations that happen pretty much every hour. http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/
No. 3 Tate Liverpool
Liverpool is home to the only other Tate Gallery outside of London. The Tate of Modern and Contemporary art (gallery) is located in the beautifully restored Albert Dock (now the most visited attraction in Liverpool). A crowning glory for Capital of Culture 2008 is the Gustav Klimt exhibition ending this August 31st 2008. There are some Gustav Klimt pieces on display for free but to see the full display its £8 entry and £6 concessions. Even when the Klimt exhibition closes, there’s always a lot of great artists been exhibited and a lot the gallery is free so it’s always worth a look in. There’s so much going on down at the Albert Docks you’ll have a lot of entertainment in and around the shops, bar’s and other tourist attractions such as the World Heritage Waterfront (http://www.liverpoolworldheritage.com/) adjacent to the Albert Dock.
No4. Anglican Liverpool Cathedral
http://www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk/
One of two Liverpool Cathedral’s bookmarked at both ends of aptly named Hope Street. The Anglican Cathedral is an impressive piece of pre war exuberance. There are some great interactive screens, which give a great history of how the Cathedral came in to being, the tools and people and associations that brought it to life. Ensure you explore all the rooms, as the chapels are also architecturally brilliant. The Cathedral bells are the he Cathedral Church of Christ, Liverpool, contains the heaviest and highest ringing peal of bells in the world. The grounds are highly worth a visit on their own (but watch out for the Emo’s lurking around corners, they mean no harm), and you can re-charge your batteries (before heading down the road to the Metropolitan Cathedral) at the café which is really well situated under the some more great architecture and is a spectacular way to end your tour.
No5. Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral http://www.liverpoolmetrocathedral.org.uk/
A five minute stroll down hope street, 10 minutes from the Luxury of our Hudson apartments is the “Metropolitan Cathedral” Metropolitan indicates a wider remit than just Liverpool or indeed Merseyside, for this building is the seat (Greek ‘Cathedra’) of the Archbishop of Liverpool who is the spiritual leader of all the faithful of the Northern Province of the Catholic Church in England. The Cathedral is normally open from 8.00am to 6.00pm. Photography is permitted in the Cathedral except during services.
Although not as grand as the Anglican Cathedral, the rich history that documents the struggle of this as one of the most extravagant of all Cathedral’s. There were four stages of this building and the foundations from Sir Edwin Lutyens (1869-1944) majestic vision of the original crypt exists from which the existing and affectionately and locally known ‘Wigwam” Cathedral exists and is well worth a visit to see what might have been… http://www.liverpoolmetrocathedral.org.uk/history/history.html
Find out about Urban Chic’s next five must see, free destinations