The Story of Liverpool 2-Hour Walking Tour

INTRODUCTION The Welcome to Liverpool Tour is a must if you only have a limited time in the city. If you are staying longer it is also a good starting point to obtain an overview of Liverpool’s history –the high points and the low points. Be careful though, this tour only begins to open the door on the story of Liverpool – you will be left curious and wanting to find out more about the many topics covered by your guide. The tour is an ideal opportunity to see some of Liverpool’s finest buildings and some of the waterfront architecture that Liverpool is famous for. You will also see some of the banking houses built by the wealthy merchants of Liverpool who became rich on the back of the slave trade or the goods produced by slaves in America.

When the Titanic sank, had her lights and wireless telegraph failed, panic would have been rife and it would have been impossible to summon assistance, or lower her lifeboats safely. In the event power was maintained for the wireless set until ten minutes before she sank, with the lights failing just two minutes before she sank. None of the engineers survived the sinking and this is a memorial to them.

One of the oldest buildings in Liverpool is the Church of Our Lady and St Nicholas at the Pier Head. The River Mersey used to lap the steps of this church at high tide before the land reclamation for George’s Dock. Many slave traders worshiped and are buried at this church including the well known name of Bryan Blundell.

When the American Civil War broke out, Britain agreed to remain neutral but the merchants of Liverpool were firmly on the side of the South (Confederacy). You will see the unofficial Confederate Embassy and learn about the company that became the unofficial bankers of the Confederate states.

One of Liverpool’s finest buildings is the Town Hall and the merchants who funded its construction spared no expense in the architectural design and interior decoration. Around the frieze of the Town Hall you can see carvings depicting the trade that enabled Liverpool’s wealth. Depictions include elephants, camels, African people, ivory and many other flora and fauna.

The Royal Liver Building is the most famous building in Liverpool and it is admired and loved by both local people and visitors. Learn about how the building was constructed and what was on the land before the building.

As you return towards the waterfront, you will be able to see Albion House, the headquarters of the White Star Line. Your guide will remind you (if you have seen the film Titanic) of the history surrounding the ill-fated ship and you are able to see the balcony where the staff of the White Star Line read the list of names of those who had died in the disastrous sinking of the ship in 1912.

Returning to the waterfront, learn about the Mersey Tunnel and the extraordinary feat of engineering before seeing the final two buildings of the Three Graces – the Cunard Building and the Mersey Docks and Harbour Building.

As you pass through the Albert Dock, learn about its history, how it was designed and built and the role it played during the Second World War. Your guide will point out the Tate Gallery and the Maritime Museum and International Slavery Museum should you wish to visit these places following your tour.

You will pass the Salthouse Dock and Canning Dock where some of the massive stones from Liverpool Castle were used in the construction. Also see the Graving Docks where slave ships were refurbished following the arduous transatlantic journey in preparation for returning to Africa and beginning the trading process again.

Finally, arriving at Thomas Steers Way, you can see laid out in the pavement the outline of the Old Dock and it is possible to view a section of the dock through a glass viewing window in the ground. The tour will end here but your guide will be pleased to assist you with planning the rest of your time in Liverpool and will make recommendations of places to visit that would be of interest to you.

Did you know that there was a Bank of Liverpool and it even produced its own currency notes? The Bank of Liverpool building still exists and you will be able to see it during the tour.