Liverpool/Chester, UK 2012
Annabella had been to Liverpool in December 1989. The city is vastly changed. What had once been a dank, depressing and blighted English city now has a vibrant tourist scene, arts scene and student life. An easy train ride from Liverpool is the ancient Roman city of Chester. We visited Chester on the same day that we stopped along the wait to see the quaint village of Port Sunlight, where the Lever Soap workers lived and where the Lever family donated its extensive pre-Raphaelite collection to be a museum (free).
The English don’t have a reputation for friendliness, but we couldn’t have found people to be any friendlier. The National Rail workers were happy to give us directions, ditto everyone in the museums, hotels, restaurants, etc. And they all sound like the Beatles, who, in case you didn’t know, are from Liverpool.
Great architecture in Liverpool.
The Walker Art Gallery, which has many pre-Raphaelite and other works of art as well as an extensive collection of clothing and accessories donated by one of the city’s premiere shopaholics, who lived during the first half of the 20th century. Nice museum cafe, too.
With advertising like this, who wouldn’t want a cuppa?
What every Beatles museum needs is an Elvis souvenir shop.
Tired of London’s high prices? Liverpool has its own Eye and Tate Museum.
Around Liverpool are these Lambananas (a tribute to the port city’s great exports/imports – lambs and bananas). This one is a poppy lambanana tribute to war veterans located outside the Museum of Liverpool.
The Albert Dock, a revitalized former warehouse district now filled with museums, restaurants and shops.
Guess who’s from Liverpool?
The banker never wears a mac in the pouring rain. We wear fleece.
The Magical Mystery Tour is going to take you away…
12 Arnold Grove – Birthplace of George Harrison.
Childhood home of Paul McCartney.
Strawberry Fields Forever.
- The Cavern. Live music daily.
The Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight.
Chester Cathedral.
Lunch in the old refectory inside Chester Cathedral. Eating in British churches and museums is a great way to get a delicious, affordable meal and to support the upkeep of these treasures.
The streets of Chester.
School kids enjoying the Roman ruins while dressed as centurions.
Scones and clotted cream – a favorite British snack.