Liverpool itself was much grander than we had expected, with monumental neo-classical buildings sponsored by a highly profitable trade triangle, that took manufactured goods to West Africa, slaves to the Americas, then sugar, coffee, cotton, etc. back to Liverpool.
Its population went up more than 10-fold between 1800 and 1937, a historical peak. Many of the immigrants in that period came from Ireland, just 150 miles to the west. All four members of The Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr) had ancestral roots in Ireland.
Upon disembarking at Liverpool Lime Street Railway Station, we literally stepped down the stairs onto Lime Street in city center across from St George's Hall, and the Empire Theater where the Beatles played 6 times.
After checking into our hotel, we headed to the Walker Art Gallery whose collection of Pre-Rasphealite paintings is the largest and most impressive we've ever seen.
Not to mention this trio: King Henry VIII (center), The famous "Pelican Portrait" of Queen Elizabeth I (left), and Marguerite d'Angoulême, Queen of Navarre (right).
Most of The Beatles sites are in the Mathew Street area, particularly, the Cavern Club.
And its modern rhyming copycat the Cavern *Pub*, the John Lennon mural in front of the Sgt Peppers Apartments, the Liverpool Beatles Museum and more.
One afternoon we walked to check out the gi-nourmous Neo-Gothic Liverpool Cathedral, one of the 10-largest churches in the world, and then walked home via the busy Bold Street.
From our hotel on James Street it was a 5-minute walk to the Liverpool waterfront / docks. In addition to the so-called Three Graces buildings (1st below), there is the Art Deco George's Dock Building (2nd below) which is part of the ventilation system of the Queensway Tunnel, the spiffy modern Museum of Liverpool (3rd), and a larger-than-life statue of the Fab Four.
The River Mersey waterfront at night.
The Picton Reading Room at Liverpool Central Library with excellent views from its rooftop terrace.
Historic Art Deco Royal Court Theatre
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