48 hours in Liverpool: Go ‘ed, get down
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You won’t walk far (and never alone) in Liverpool without hearing the echoes of Beatlemania.
The story of the four likely lads who conquered the world will be told by locals for years to come. But these days, a new generation is looking forward, not back, and the buzzing artistic, creative scene and quirky nightspots that have sprung up with it are worth the trip alone.
Day one:
Morning:
Between two imposing cathedrals on the side of a hill lies one of Liverpool’s classiest streets. Hope Street is a catwalk of Liverpool’s creative talent and a great place to immerse yourself in its unique cultural scene. HOAX Liverpool hostel is the ideal place to base yourself right in the heart of the Cavern Quarter and it’s a short walk to the Metropolitan Cathedral at the top of Hope Street.
Strolling down the street you pass the home of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Liverpool College of Art, the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts – founded byPaul McCartney – and the recently refurbished Everyman Theatre.
Thereare also plenty of lovely pubs and restaurants dotted around – check out the Clove Hitch for some top British cuisine and craft beers. Hope Street will be the buzzing hub of the 2014 Liverpool Biennial, a major celebration of British contemporary art running from early July to the end of October. For four months Liverpool will be alive with shows and urban exhibits far too numerous to mention, and Hope Street will be the main nerve.
Afternoon:
At the foot of Hope Street you’ll find the formidable neo-Gothic structure of Liverpool Cathedral. Even if that wouldn’t normally be your thing, it’s worth taking a look inside the world’s longest cathedral for the stunning view its 331ft tower offers. From there, head back into town via ‘The Black-E’, a striking old church on Great George Street once coated in a grim layer of industrial grime, now a contemporary arts and community centre. Standing wonderfully contrasted next to it is the oriental arch over Nelson Street, the gateway to Liverpool’s Chinatown, where the oldest Chinese community in Europe lives.
Evening:
For an utterly unique night out, you have to head to the Baltic Triangle. It is rapidly emerging as a buzzing edgy artistic quarter and a magnet for Liverpool’s hipster community. An echo of Liverpool’s industrial past, the whole area has been reclaimed as an arty district where you’ll find musicians, designers, filmmakers and entrepreneurs at work and play.
The best thing to do is head down early evening, just wander around and take it all in. Once you’re done rambling, have a nice sharpener in the Baltic Fleet, erstwhile boozer of sailors and dockers, before heading round to Camp & Furnace. A cluster of abandoned warehouses reborn as art and social space, Camp & Furnace is a rich jumble brimming with quirky features – ask about the retro caravans – that attracts creatives of all stripes. With fantastic food on offer in officially the second coolest restaurant in Britain (The Times said so), a buzzing bar where you can party until 4am at the weekend, and even the chance to sing karaoke with a live band, the whole thing makes for an achingly cool venue and a totally one-off night.
Read more: 48 hours in Liverpool: Go ‘ed, get down – TNT Magazine
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