• Everton Football Club, [24]. The self-styled "Peoples Club" of the city, Everton is one of the founding members of the Football League. edit

• Liverpool Football Club, [25]. Five time Champions of Europe and the most successful football (soccer) club in England. Their fans are world famous for the traditional singing of "You'll Never Walk Alone" before and after the end of every game. edit

• Mathew Street Festival, [26]. Every year over the August Bank Holiday weekend, Liverpool plays host to Europe's largest free city centre music festival. Many city centre roads are closed to traffic and have large stages erected so that the several hundred thousand people who attend each year can watch a large selection of international pop/rock acts, completely free of charge. edit

• Liverpool Theatre. The Empire plays host to a wide range of shows, including many UK tours of large-scale musicals. The Everyman and Playhouse theatres host a mix of locally produced and mid-scale touring theatres. The Unity Theatre produces a diverse range of work. There's also the Neptune and Royal Court theatres. For tomorrow's performers, see if anything is happening at LIPA (www.lipa.ac.uk), their student shows are always well worth seeing. edit

• The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, [27]. One of the world's great Orchestras and one well worth listening to. Go for a pre-concert G&T in the Philharmonic Pub over the road then sit back and let the music carry you away. edit

• The Mersey Ferries, [28]. Immortalized by the hit song Ferry 'cross the Mersey by Gerry & the Pacemakers, the Mersey Ferries offer a fun day out and a great way to see Liverpool from afar. edit

• TheYellowDuckmarine (duck bus), [29]. This is a guided tour that offers a different view of Liverpool. You are driven around the city in a bright yellow WWII landing craft. This has become a bit of a sight in itself as it splases into the water in the Albert Docks.  edit

• The Liverpool Playhouse, Williamson Square, [30]. A theatre which dates back to 1844. Over the years, the theatre has presented many famous actors including Michael Redgrave, Anthony Hopkins and Noel Coward. edit

• Western Approaches. A museum in the once top-secret nerve centre of World War II Britain. edit

• Space Port, [31]. Interactive science museum aimed at kids and young adults but with enough to keep adults entertained too. Located across the River Mersey in the Seacombe Ferry Terminal, most visitors incorporate a Mersey Ferry Tour into their itinerary. edit

• Shiverpool Tours, [32]. This offers three different tours around Liverpool. "The Hope Street Shivers" is based around the cathedrals, "Auld City Shivers" starting from the Slaughterhouse Pub on Fenwick Street and "Shiver Me Timbers" based around the Albert Docks. All fun but wrap up warm. Prior booking required. edit

A great thing about Liverpool is the architecture. For so long it was neglected and run down, but these days most of the city centre is quite splendid.

• St. George's Hall, Lime Street (near railway station). A mammoth of a Greco-Roman-style building which was built by wealthy merchants for the people of the city. Inside it has one of the best church organs in Europe. On the outside it has a selection of classical murals which were thought quite shocking in their day (due to the shameful female nudity). edit

• World Museum Liverpool (near St. George's Hall), [10]. This is a fine building and well worth a visit. It contains an excellent collection of British rocketry exhibits, as well as the best Egyptological collection outside London. edit

• Liverpool Central Library (near St. George's Hall). This is another fine building. edit

• The World Class Museum, Liverpool Gorgria Street, ☎ 8798724, [11]. Daily 10AM-5PM. Free.  edit

• Royal Liver Building (on the riverside). This is the home of the legendary Liver Birds that sit atop the building looking out across to the Wirral. The river-facing face of the clock is six feet larger in diameter than that of the clock tower at Westminster. edit

• St. Nicholas and Our Lady Church (just off the riverside). This is the city's parish church and home to the third Liver Bird (there are in fact three of them, not two). edit

• Albert Dock (on the riverside). This is one of the more sophisticated places in Liverpool. Old warehouses have been converted into shops, apartments, restaurants and pubs. Also home to the Merseyside Maritime Museum. edit

• Merseyside Maritime Museum, Albert Dock, [12]. Dedicated to the maritime history of the city, complete with galleries on customs and excise and emigration to the New World. There are also a number of vessels to see, such as the Mersey river tug Brocklebank and the river cargo carrier Wyncham. edit

• Tate Liverpool, Albert Dock, [13]. A fine modern art gallery. A definite visit for arty folk. The Turner Art Prize was hosted here from 19 October 2007 until 13 January 2008. This was the first time the award was held outside of London. edit

• Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, [14]. Catholic. Affectionately known by the locals as Paddy's Wigwam. Visit on a sunny day as the stained glass ceiling looks fantastic! edit

• Liverpool Cathedral, [15]. Which, though it doesn't look like a wigwam, is so imposing that the architect of Lord Derby's tomb claimed that no self-respecting church mouse would live there. As a result, he incorporated a mouse into the design of the tomb - it's just under Lord Derby's pillow. Liverpool Cathedral is one of the finest examples in the world of Gothic revival architecture. On a clear day, the tower affords breathtaking views over Liverpool, Merseyside and beyond. edit

• Princes Road Synagogue, [16]. This is an impressive combination of Gothic and Moorish architecture by the Audsley brothers. The colourful interior has to be seen to be believed. Tours can be arranged through their web site. edit

• Williamson's Tunnels, [17]. Heritage Centre T-Su. In the early 1800s, a Liverpool tobacco merchant, Joseph Williamson, funded the construction of an enormous labyrinth of tunnels under the Edge Hill area of Liverpool. To this day, nobody knows his reasons for doing so though many guess it as an act of philanthropy, using his wealth to provide jobs and training for thousands of Liverpool workers. There is a Williamson's Tunnels Heritage Centre. edit

• Speke Hall, [18]. This is a half-timbered Tudor houses set on large grounds. It has parts dating back to the 1530s . edit

• Croxteth Hall and Country Park, [19].  edit

• The Beatles Story, Albert Dock, [20]. The Beatles originated in Liverpool. The Beatles Story is the only museum in the world that is entirely Beatles-themed, with exhibitions such as their instruments and other artifacts. Other attractions based on The Beatles include their homes, Penny Lane, commemorative statues, Strawberry Fields, and more. edit

• Liverpool Town Hall. . Built in 1754. edit

• Sudley House, Mossley Hill Road, Aigburth.  edit

Guided Tours

For those in a hurry there are a number of operators offering guided tours, either using their own transportation or offering their services as "hop-on, hop-off Guides" on your coach or offering guided walks. The best way of getting an overview of the city, is by taking the City Explorer open-top bus [21] run by Maghull Coaches. With 12 stops you can hop on and off all day. Qualified local guides provide the commentary and can answer your questions about the city. For Beatles fans, there is the Magical Mystery Tour [22] which will take you around the places associated with the Beatles both in the city centre and in the suburbs. For a more tailored tour, there's Liverpool Entente Cordiale Tours [23]. Their Liverpool tour guides can plan a walk for you or hop on your coach and guide you around the city. They offer tours in English or French. They can also locate guides Spanish, German, Chinese and Russian if necessary.

By plane

Liverpool John Lennon Airport (IATA: LPL) (ICAO: EGGP), [3]. Around one hundred flights arrive daily from within the U.K. as well as mainland Europe. The airport is particularly well-served by low-cost airlines including Easyjet and Ryanair. For a complete listing of airlines and destinations, see the Summer [4] and Winter [5] timetables. The airport has a unique security charge. In short, if you arrive late you have the opportunity to pay to use a "Fast Lane" in order to minimise the risk of missing your flight. This can be avoided by arriving at the airport with enough time to clear security.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport is located in the suburb of Speke around 11.5km to the south of the city centre. Immediately outside the arrivals area you will find a taxi rank and bus stops. Taxis to the city centre cost around £12 (Approx. €16, US$24) for the 20 minute journey.

Several bus routes go directly to the city centre from the airport:

• The No. 500 Airport Express runs every 30 minutes and takes about 45 minutes to reach the city centre. Cost is £2/€4 Adults, £1/€2 Children and £5/€10 Families.

The following local buses cost about £1.50 to get into the city centre (£1 for students) and although they take a little longer, you'll see a lot of the south of the city and maybe meet some Scousers.

• The No. 80A, run by Arriva, runs every 15 minutes and takes 45 minutes to the city centre.

• The No. 82A, also run by Arriva, runs every 30 minutes and takes around 40 minutes to the city centre. This runs direct to Paradise Street interchange without stopping elsewhere in the city centre.

• The No. 86A (Arriva) runs every 15 minutes during the day and now runs through the night, every half hour. This takes a little less time than the 80A as it is a more direct route down Smithdown Road. Journey time is 40 minutes but may be longer at peak traffic times.

• The No. 81A also serves the airport, but does not go into the city centre. It may prove useful if you want to visit Woolton or the north of the city, as the route goes round the city ring road, Queens Drive, and terminates in Bootle.

The 80A and 86A also stop at Liverpool South Parkway station. It's a 10 minutes journey from where a frequent train service runs to the city centre in about 15 minutes. This may be a better option at times of peak road traffic (8AM-9AM, 5PM-6PM).

Manchester Airport (IATA: MAN) (ICAO: EGCC) can also be used and may be a better option. It is about a 45-60 minute drive away from Liverpool. Direct train services also run between Liverpool Lime Street Station and Manchester Airport operated by Northern Rail. Manchester Airport serves a variety of long haul destinations in North America and Asia, as well as short haul services throughout Europe.

By train

Liverpool is served by Liverpool Lime Street station which is located in the heart of the city centre. Trains arrive frequently from all parts of the U.K.

Liverpool is only about two-and-a-half hours from London by train. There's a train about every hour, and it's not too expensive to get there. You can get a saver ticket for £60 on the day of travel, or for as little as £12.50 if you book a couple of weeks in advance.

There is a direct train from Manchester Airport to Liverpool every hour at peak times (around 6:30AM-7:30PM). In addition, it is possible to reach Liverpool by changing at Manchester Piccadilly or Manchester Oxford Road.

Other main services

Birmingham, 1 hr 45 minutes, hourly Manchester, 50 minutes, frequent Leeds, 2 hours, hourly

By bus

• National Express [6], the U.K.'s largest scheduled coach company has a bus station a short walk from Liverpool City Centre. London is four to five hours away by coach and is served by a half a dozen services per day. Manchester is served by an hourly service taking a similar time to the train (except at rush hour). Manchester Airport can be reached by coach in under one hour, six coaches run per day.

• Megabus [7] operates a fleet of ex-Hong Kong buses on its network across the U.K. There is one bus daily from London to Liverpool. Journey time 4-5 hours. Prices range from £1 (€1.46) to £11 (€16) depending on how far in advance you book.

Over the next 10 years a Park and Ride scheme will be developed, with easy access to the city centre, for more information see National Park and Ride Directory [8].

• Liverpool One Executive Travel [9] Provides an executive 16 seat minibus service from all airports, seaports and other locations. Prices vary depending on distances. Call 07761042952 or visit the website for further information.

Liverpool City Centre is small enough to walk around, but black cabs are plentiful if you are feeling lazy. Buses run out from the centre regularly from Paradise Street Interchange (mainly to the south) and Queen Square (mainly north/east). Both bus stations have travel centres with sometimes helpful staff who will assist with which bus to get and from which stand. At these, Saveaway, Solo and Trio travel passes can be purchased. The Saveaway presents a good value for the visitor, at £3.20 for unlimited off-peak travel for one day in 'Area C' (includes city centre, west out to Huyton, north to Crosby and south to Speke), including trains. All-zones saveaways can be obtained for about a pound more and will take you through the whole of the Merseytravel area. Perfect for visiting the Wirral ,and as far as Chester, or Southport, these include train and ferry services as well as buses. Trio (train, bus and ferry) and Solo (bus only) tickets require a photo, but have no peak-time limitations and can be bought for a week, month or year. This is ideal for visitors staying longer or working and therefore requiring more flexible travel. A Trio for one week costs about £12 for one zone, a Solo about the same for one area.

The train service in the Liverpool is quite reliable and efficient these days (having once been nicknamed 'Miseryrail' and 'MerseyFail' by commuters). The main stations in the city centre are Central, Lime Street, Moorfields and James Street. Lime Street is the terminus for many national lines and the local City line to Manchester. Moorfields is just off Dale Street, ideal for the business centre of Liverpool and Central is usually used by shoppers and visitors. Local trains run very frequently between Hunts Cross, Kirkby, Ormskirk and Southport on the Northern line. They run every 15 minutes during the day and 30 minutes in the evening. Central station is the main station for the Northern line, although the 'loop' links the three main city centre stations. The Wirral line forms the link between the Lime Street, Moorfields and Central, so all of these stations act as an interchange between the City, Northern and Wirral lines.

A new station in the south of Liverpool replaced the old Garston and Allerton stations in June 2006. This links the Northern and City lines and is ideal for the airport. It also acts as an interchange for a number of local buses. Bus fares on the main operator Arriva are a flat £1.40 throughout the Merseyside area, with similar flat fares available from the other operators as well. There are also limited night bus services on a Friday and Saturday night costing £3.00. Some buses are subsidised by Merseytravel, such as early morning and hospital services, and there is a maximum fare of around 80p. If you plan to travel a lot, a pre-paid pass presents much better value. Generally speaking, you save money with two or more train trips or three or more bus journeys.

Although the main shopping street in Liverpool is dominated by the same chain stores you'll find in any other large U.K. city, Liverpool has many distinctive shops of its own including:

• Grand Central. An alternative shopping centre which is definitely worth a look. The 40 small shops inside sell goods ranging from alternative clothing to used furniture. edit

• MetQuarter. This recently built shopping center has more than 40 stores. edit

There are various pubs serving food accross the city centre and its' suburbs. The two main areas are the City Centre and Lark Lane about three miles from the city centre in Aigburth. There are various restaurants on Allerton Road (near Liverpool South Parkway) as well.

City Centre

• Quynny's Quisine, Bold Street. Easy to miss as the entrance is a yellow door with stairs leading down. Caribbean food. Well kept secret until now ;) edit

• Kimos, Mount Pleasant. Look for the entrance opposite the NCP Car Park on Mount Pleasant for one of Liverpool's favourite student eateries. It boasts a fine selection of western (a superb Club Sandwich) and Arabic foods (cous cous and kebabs). There is also a smaller branch near to the University of Liverpool. edit

• The Tea House, Bold Street and University of Liverpool. This modern Hong Kong-style tea house is a great place to visit for some cheap but tasty Chinese meals, snacks and drinks. edit

• The Monro, 92-94 Duke Street, ☎ 0151 7079933, [36]. Popular gastro-pub serving good British food from rabbit and boar right through to the local delicacy, scouse. All washed down with a pint of real ale. edit

• Everman Bistro, 5-9 Hope St, ☎ 0151 708 9545, [37]. Offering fresh made food where the menu changes all the time. Not inexpensive, but you get what you pay for in good portions and real food. Also offers a good range of gluten free dishes that are clearly marked. Mains £7-10.  edit

• Piccolino's, Cook Street, ☎ +44 151 236 2555, [38]. Good Italian food and wines. All served in a friendly warm restaurant. Try to get one of the plush red booths. Booking recommended. Mains £8-15.  edit

• Thomas Rigby's, Dale Street. One of the finest pubs in the city offering a selection of local and world beers plus a fantastic food menu. The "proper chips" offered with the battered fish are to die for! edit

Lark Lane

Lark Lane is about 2.5 miles to the south of the city centre and is one of the better places to eat out. The road, which connects Aigburth Road with Sefton Park, is home to many unique restaurants, cafés and other shops. Among the better ones are:

• Green Days Cafe, 13 Lark Ln, ☎ +44 1517288259. Bills itself as The first choice cafe for veggies. It's true, there's little sign of meat in any of their wonderful snacks. It's a great place to catch lunch in a friendly atmosphere for veggies and non-veggies alike! edit

• Negresco Sud Situated in the heart of Liverpool’s bohemian district, Negresco brings the soul of the stylish Cote d’azur to South Liverpool. Residing in the former public house, the Masonic, the Franco-Italian restaurant pays homage to Nice’s widely celebrated Negresco hotel. French classic cuisine is offered, including a range of tapas and moules Negresco. There is a sumptuous brunch menu. Negresco proffers gastronomic delights which work in harmony with its theatrical interior, featuring gilt chandeliers and black crows.

For a good night out

There's a good selection of pubs, clubs and bars to suit a variety of music and atmospheric tastes. Friday and Saturday nights are the busiest nights, although many bars are busy with students throughout the week! Mathew Street and Concert Square with nearby Wood Street are the main two nocturnal focal points. There is a good mix of locals and students. It is best to dress smart for the majority of bars and clubs (such as "Society" and "Garlands"). Notable exceptions are places like Le Bateau, the Krazy house, the Caledonian and other places of a similar alternative style. Like any major UK city , it is pretty safe out at night. The local police have had a heavy presence on a Saturday and Friday night to combat any problems and they are largely succeeding. It is pretty busy getting out of the city centre at the end of a weekend (especially at the start of university term time - Sep/Oct). There are plenty of black hackney cabs which congregate at various taxi ranks. The Merseyrail system works until about midnight, whilst there are a series of dedicated night buses which run from the main bus stations, usually for a flat fare. All modes of transport tend to become very busy from around midnight.

• The Vines, Lime Street – A stylish club.

• The Cavern Club, Mathew Street – Famous home of the Beatles.

• The Cavern Pub, Mathew Street – Across the road from the Cavern Club, friendly atmosphere with live music every night.

• The Grapes, Mathew Street - The Beatles' favourite pub. They would drink here before and after their many gigs at the Cavern Club, and there is a corner of the pub dedicated to them. It even has a photo of them sitting down in seats that are still there today.

• Rubber Soul, Mathew Street – A Beatles-inspired bar.

• Abbey Road, Mathew Street – Another Beatles-inspired pub.

• Flanagan's Apple, Mathew Street – This one of the original Irish pubs, well before Irish pubs started popping up all over the country (and now all over the world). Flannagan's was there with beer, whiskey, barrels and great live music.

• Concert square is situated behind Bold Street, where you'll find a range of the trendier bars. Most bars are open until 2AM M-Sa. They include Lloyd's, Walkabout, Modo and a minute away near Slater Street is Baa-Bar.

• Korova, 39-41 Fleet St (next door to Baa-Bar), ☎ 0151 709 7097 (fax: 0151 708 8751), [39]. M-Sa 11AM-late; Su 11AM-12:30AM. Part bar, part club, split between two floors. Upstairs there is the lush front area replete with orange leather booths and over-table televisions which usually stream the live action from downstairs. At the back is the kitchen, which during the day serves a range of freshly cooked meals. Downstairs the intimate gig venue has hosted some of the biggest names in music, as-well as being an important venue for local musicians. Korova also has free Wi-fi.  edit

• Geisha, 7 Myrtle St (opposite the side of the Philharmonic Hall), ☎ 0151 709 7097 (equiries@geishaliverpool.com), [40]. 'Geisha' is a bar and a pan-Asian restaurant and is Liverpool's award winning Korova group's first foray into an eastern themed venue. With a wide range of eastern inspired cocktails, it comes highly recommended. edit

• Babycream. A joint venue between Korova Corporation and Cream, Babycream is located on the Albert Dock. Babycream is perfect for couples to recline against pillows on bench-style seating on the mezzanine level. Or, for the more socially adventurous, try the lower level. The bar showcases the concept of the DJ Restaurant, and is a meeting point for the Northwest's finest. Babycream delivers on style and contemporary design, with an emphasis on quality eating, premium drinks and the cutting edge in music.

• Circo [41] Yet another venue from Liverpool's Korova Corporation, Circo is also located on the Albert Dock. Circo is inspired by such bars as the '21 club' in New York and 'The Clown Bar' in Paris. The venue is a ‘multi-purpose’ one in that it provides a large stylish bar area, split into two rooms. One room is a dark ‘speakeasy’ and the other room is bright, airy and overlooks the Albert Dock quayside. A café bar menu is served daily. The large, luxury ‘steakhouse’ restaurant also overlooks the water and serves an international menu from sushi, oysters, and veal meatloaf to pizzas, pastas, and steaks. On the venue’s mezzanine level is a series of stylish private spaces for hire, including the Velvet Box Suite which can host the already popular private karaoke dinner parties. The venue hosts an array of VIP after-show parties.

• GBar, Eberle Street – Popular gay-friendly club with two floors. Upstairs, 'The Church' offers funky house music from legendary DJ John Cotton. Lady Sian plays campy classics in the 'Love Lounge'. Downstairs 'The Bass-ment' pumps out quality vocal house music! Open Th-M. Costs between £5-£7 for non-members.

• The Krazy House, Wood Street – The club provides three floors. K1 with rock and metal, K2 with indie and K3 with Punk/R&B/Dance, all combined with constant cheap drinks. It attracts a crowd of skate punks, students and metal heads. You'll hear R&B and dance music on Thursday, punk and new wave on Friday and nu metal on Saturday night.

• Le Bateau, Duke Street – The home of Liverpool's premier alternative club night, Liquidation every Saturday, which is also the city's longest running weekly club night spread across 2 floors. Plus Adult Books on Tuesdays, Shoot The Messenger on Wednesdays, Indiecation on Fridays. Cheap drinks every night, plus a Royal Rumble pinball table. Very friendly, and popular with a mix of locals and students all year round.

• The Caledonian, Catharine Street – Underground, alternative music venue in a pub. DJs and live bands throughout the week. First Friday of every month is the infamous "It's Not Bangin", with classic dub reggae, soul and disco playing. Well worth a visit.

• Doctor Duncan's, St. Johns Lane – Large, friendly pub serving the locally brewed Cains beers.

• O'Neills, Wood Street – Part of the O'Neils chain but don't let that put you off. Its managed by two real Irish men who know what a real Irish bar means. Good beer, food and good music is always on hand here. You also might bump into a few Liverpool FC players drinking in the corner.

Enjoy Comedy?

Comedy nights are featured on a Friday and Saturday at Baby Blue, a nice club on the exclusive Albert Dock, which is known as a celebrity hotspot. Check online [42] for more info and tickets.

Also for laughs, try Rawhide at the Royal Court Theatre which showcases some of the best in regional and national comedy talent.

Every June or July there is a fortnight long *Liverpool Comedy Festival which takes place in venues across the city. One event not to be missed is the now legendary Drink up Stand up pub crawls which includes four pubs, four comedians, one compere (host) and a megaphone!

On the first Tuesday of the month the Fab Café on Hope Street hosts a comedy night with two or three local comics plus a compere.

Express Comedy, [43]. Based in Birkenhead across the river Mersey, Express Comedy has a stand-up comedy night called Laughter at the Lauries.

Real or Cask Ale

Cask conditioned ale is the traditional form of beer in the UK and is (with some modern microbrewery exceptions) unique internationally. In the 1970's, the larger brewers switched from cask ale to keg beer. Keg beer is essentially 'dead' beer with added CO₂ and NO₂ and is more economical as it lasts for years, rather than weeks in the case of cask. Unfortunately, its taste is often less complex and satisfying than the real ale counterparts. Thankfully, recent years have seen a revival in traditional cask ale, and the European Capital of Culture has been in the vanguard of its urban renaissance. So to help you sample some traditional British beer when in Liverpool, check the list below of a vast array of pubs, ranging from the traditional to the modern. Liverpool is home to the Cains brewery which produces a large selection of cask beers. For more information about cask ale, see the Wikipedia Article.

The best

• The Ship and Mitre, 138 Dale Street – Consistently voted one of the top cask ale pubs in Liverpool by the Merseyside branch of CAMRA. This pub plays host to a wide, and frequently changing, variety of guest ales. It also has a large selection of bottled foreign beers (though this selection pales slightly in comparison to that of other pubs in the area). Hot and cold food is served in the afternoons and evenings.

• Rigby's, Dale Street – This cask ale pub dates back to Lord Nelson and has recently been refurbished by the Isle of Mann Okell's Brewery (it being their first UK mainland pub). Good atmosphere. Busy on weekend nights and also does meals in the bar.

• Fly in the Loaf, Hardman Street – Also owned by Okell's. This pub was, until recently, a topless bar. It originally housed the Kirklands bakery. Today it arguably serves the finest quality and variety of cask ales in the city centre. The Fly in the Loaf has a good mix of students and local regulars. BIt includes bar meals and wide-screen televisions for football.

• The Philharmonic – Located on the corner of Hope Street and Hardman Street, this Tetley heritage pub is opposite the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. Formerly a gentleman's club, there are two small, snug rooms and a larger dining room to the back with leather sofas and an open fire. The gentlemens toilets are grade 1 listed and ladies may ask permission to view them at the bar. Excellent food served both from the bar and in the dining rooms upstairs. Usual cask beers include Timothy Taylor's Landlord, Caledonian Deuchars IPA and Tetley's.

• Dr. Duncan's, St John's Lane – This is the premier pub for the local Cains brewery. It has a fine reputation and consequently is full of middle-aged professional drinkers. The pub has the full range of Cains beers, including Dr. Duncan's IPA (which is harder to find among the Cains pubs). Rudimentary bar menu, but good busy atmosphere on the weekend.

• The Baltic Fleet, 33 Wapping, 0151 709 3116, [44]. Just over the road from the Albert Dock, this unique pub is a great place to escape from the glossy and expensive bars on the Albert Dock. Serving good food and real ale at great prices and with a friendly atmosphere. The basement houses Wapping Beers, a small brewery. Take the opportunity to taste one of their own beers as fresh as it comes.

• The Swan Inn, Wood St – Liverpool's only rocker/ metalhead pub, it actually has quite an eclectic mix of customers during the week, ranging from construction workers to businessmen, all side by side sharing pints. In the evenings and weekends, this gives way to the alternative/ rocker scene. Pub quiz every Thursday evening and a legendary jukebox. This pub is consistently regarded highly by the local CAMRA group, due to its dedication to quality and variety of ale.

• The Dispensary, Intersection of Renshaw and Leece Streets – Another of the local Cains brewery houses. Charming Victorian bar area. Usually has two rotating guest beers, plus a large selection of bottled beers and ciders.

• The Globe, 17 Cases Street (Tucked away, adjacent to Clayton Square shopping centre, opposite the Ranelagh Street entrance of Central Station) – A small, often cramped. This is a traditional Liverpool pub, with no-nonsense barmaids. Usually busy after 5PM and during the weekend, acting as a refuge for husbands abandoned by, or having escaped from, their shopping-mad spouses. Always a good variety of guests.

• Roscoe Head, 26 Roscoe Street.

• The Lion Tavern, 67 Moorefields. Excellent pub, particularly for cheeses!

• The Brewery Tap is attached to the Cains brewery and serves a large variety of ales, plus traditional pub fayre.

The Rest

• Wetherspoons, 1-2 Charlotte Row.

• The Welkin, Whitechapel.

• The Crown, 43 Lime St.

• The Cambridge – Located at the corner of Cambridge Street and Mulberry Street. This pub is at the heart of the University of Liverpool and has a great atmosphere. It is very popular with students and lecturers alike. However its repertoire of cask is somewhat limited.

• Ye Cracke, 13 Rice St – This pub was a favourite haunt of John Lennon's uncle.

• The Pilgrim, Pilgrim Street – Located off Hardman Street, this pub serves the best breakfast in town, £4 for a king size feast. You also get to share the pub with stag parties and students wondering what happened the night before! Cracking jukebox as well. A classic!

• The Railway Hotel, 18 Tithebarn St.

• The Canarvon Castle, 5 Tarleton St.

• The Augustus John, Peach St. This is an obligatory hang out for Liverpool's students. Like most student pubs, the bar area is a scrum during September and October.

• Pig & Whistle, 12 Covent Garden. This pub has recently undergone a 'refurbishment' and been transformed into a rather ugly plastic looking pub.

• Everyman, 5-9 Hope St.

• The Excelsior, 121-125 Dale St.

• Peter Kavanagh's, 2-6 Egerton St.

• Ma Boyles Oyster bar, 2 Tower Gardens

• Poste House, 23 Cumberland St. Most nights has a gay friendly bar serving cheap cocktails upstairs from the main pub.

• The Brookhouse Smithdown Rd. This was one of liverpools finist pubs and was a hangout of Liverpool bands of the late 80s bands such as the La's and Oasis. Its now most popular with students and is famous for its Liverpool Games when Dom Dottin and Mr. Constable lead the Liverpool cahnts and become the vocal cords of this old pub.