Liverpool Sightseeing Guide

Probably one of Liverpool’s most famous buildings, St George’s Hall built in 1854 is considered to be one of the best examples of Greco-Roman architecture, not just in England, but in all of Europe. Queen Victoria, in fact, is said to have remarked that the building was "worthy of ancient Athens". The hall is located on a plateau called St George’s Plateau on Lime Street.  

It was designed by a 24 year old architect called Harvey Lonsdale Elms (who, unfortunately, did not live to see his work completed; the building’s construction was completed under the supervision of Elms’ friend and mentor, C R Cockerell). St George’s Hall is an imposing and magnificent building, very close to the main railway station of Liverpool (Lime Street Station). Inside, the Great Hall of the building has a fabulous Minton tiled floor and sparkling chandeliers - ornate and lovely.

Set amidst a huge expanse- 500 acre of parks and woodland - Croxteth Hall is situated on the outskirts of Liverpool, close to the M57 highway. At one time the country estate of the Earl of Sefton, the Edwardian hall, which is surrounded by a well-maintained traditional Victorian walled garden, is beautiful enough to warrant a visit. And if you’ve got children along with you, the place is even more of a must-see: it has its very own miniature railway, a sure success with the younger generation.

 The largest Anglican cathedral in Europe is the Liverpool Cathedral, one of the most important buildings of the city. One of the high points (quite literally) of the cathedral is the magnificent view of the city from the top of the 331 ft high tower. Situated at Mount Pleasant in Liverpool, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the man who designed many of the monuments in India’s capital, New Delhi.

Lutyens’ dream had been to build for Liverpool a church that would rival St Peter’s in London; a paucity of funds, however, cut shirt his ambitions- but the Metropolitan Cathedral is nevertheless beautiful. It has an unusual shape- circular-and its most outstanding feature is a `lantern’ tower, decorated with coloured glass.

One of the best art galleries in the UK, the Walker Art Gallery was first opened in 1877, to exhibit a collection of national and international art. Over the century or so since then, the gallery has added considerably to its collection, and today boasts of some excellent works- including a large Italian Renaissance collection, post-impressionist art, and contemporary art; there’ also an impressive sculpture gallery and a series of galleries depicting decorative art.

Named after a wealthy Liverpool industrialist called Henry Tate, the Tate Gallery is a subsidiary of the famous Tate Gallery of London. Liverpool’s Tate Gallery, like its London counterpart, has a very good collection of art, both contemporary as well as classical. The Liverpool Tate is generally regarded as the foremost art gallery in Northern England, and other than the permanent collection in the gallery, there are periodic temporary exhibitions held throughout the year.

 Liverpool has a number of other attractions, too, of which the most popular- not so much as a `sight’, but more for the shopping and entertainment it offers- is the Albert Dock. Besides that, there are other museums and art galleries, including the Liverpool Museum, the Bluecoat Centre, the Atkinson Art Gallery, the Lady Lever Art Gallery and the William Brown Library, trips to all of which can be rewarding visits.