Liverpool Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Liverpool

Famously, the hometown (aka the “capital”) of the Beatles, Liverpool is more than just the Fab Four. Closely associated with the arts, music, culture, and architecture, as well as industrial innovation, the city is renowned for its multitude of historic landmarks, world-class sport arenas and shopping/entertainment. The abundance of art galleries, national museums and listed attractions in Liverpool – the second highest number in the UK after London – is fit to delight culture lovers and history buffs. The strategical position of the city at the estuary of the Mersey, where the river meets the Irish Sea, determined its maritime past as a key trade and migration port.

The name “Liverpool” is believed to have come from the Old English “lifer”, meaning thick or muddy water, and “pōl”, meaning a pool or creek; although some suggest that it may have derived from "elverpool", a reference to the large number of eels in the Mersey, or from Welsh “llyvr pwl”, which means "expanse or confluence at the pool".

Although the borough of Liverpool was founded as early as 1207, by the mid 16th century, the local population accounted for some 500 people only, hindered by continued battles for control of the town waged during the English Civil War. In the early 18th century, amid the growing trade from the West Indies, Liverpool started to expand rapidly, with substantial profits from the slave trade and tobacco adding to its prosperity. For periods during the 19th century, because of the large volume of trade passing through the city, the wealth of Liverpool exceeded that of London and it was even described as "the New York of Europe". A good number of local landmarks, such as St George's Hall, Walker Art Gallery, Wellington's Column and others, emerged during the 1890s.

In the 1960s Liverpool was the center of the "Merseybeat" sound, which became synonymous with the Beatles, the most commercially successful and musically influential band in popular history. In 2004, several areas of the city center were granted World Heritage Site status by UNESCO including The Pier Head, home to the "Three Graces" – Royal Liver Building, Cunard Building and Port of Liverpool Building, as well as St George’s Quarter, home to the magnificent St George’s Hall, and more.

Capitalising on this popularity, tourism has become a significant factor in Liverpool's economy, rendering it the seventh most visited city in Britain. All of this makes Liverpool a highly attractive tourist destination. Follow this introduction walk to some of the key sights in Liverpool you wouldn't want to miss.