Happy 800th birthday, Liverpool! Print E-mail
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Confronting the past

Anyone reading about Liverpool's history, and the plans for these two years of celebration, comes across many superlatives - Liverpool has the oldest this, the biggest that, the first of something, the most of something else. There is one superlative that Liverpool might have tried to hide, but instead confronted head-on: a new museum explores all the issues surrounding the transatlantic slave trade.

In the 1790s Liverpool was Britain's leading slave port, with over 130 ships setting sail annually. Much of the city's 18th-century wealth - visible in the buildings that visitors admire today - was based on profits from the transportation of slaves. The infamous triangle began when Liverpool ships were loaded with cottons and woolens, alcohol and guns. They sailed to Africa, where these goods were traded for gold, ivory and slaves (often captured by African chiefs or kings). The ships then sailed to the West Indies or America, where the slaves were sold to plantation owners. The ships were then loaded with rum, sugar, tobacco, spices and hardwood - which were sold at a healthy profit back in Liverpool.

Liverpool hasn't forgotten its past, but it's also living very much in the present, and welcoming visitors with a wide range of things to see and do.

Museums and galleries

  • Merseyside Maritime Museum - Appropriately located in a former warehouse on Albert Dock, the museum tells the story of the port and the people who used it. Tel: 0151 478 4499.
  • International Slavery Museum - This museum opened its doors for the first time on Slavery Remembrance Day, 23 August 2007. The galleries (taking up the whole of the third floor of the Maritime Museum at Albert Dock) feature thought-provoking displays about the story of the transatlantic slave trade. The museum does not ignore difficult issues such as freedom, human rights, reparations, racial discrimination and cultural change. Tel: 0151 478 4499.
  • Tate Liverpool - Housed in a beautiful converted warehouse in the historic Albert Dock, this is one of the largest galleries of modern and contemporary art outside London. Tel: 0151 702 7400.
  • Walker Art Gallery - Discover over 600 years of art at the Walker, which is especially rich in European Old Masters, Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite paintings, and modern British works or art. Tel: 0151 478 4199.
  • University of Liverpool Art Gallery - A collection of modern and historic art, including works by Audubon, Lucien Freud and Jacob Epstein. Tel: 0151 794 2348.
  • World Museum Liverpool - Here are thousands of fascinating exhibits, covering everything from prehistoric pottery to space exploration, with new interactive areas that children love. Here too is Britain's only free planetarium. Tel: 0151 478 4393.

Guided tours and transport
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Tour Liverpool in the Yellow Duckmarine, seen here with the Three Graces behind it.

  • Maghull Coaches - This 50-minute sightseeing tour of Liverpool's famous landmarks, on an open-top double-decker bus, includes live commentary from a registered tour guide. As you pass the waterfront, museums, galleries, cathedrals and Chinatown, you can get on and off at the various stops. Tel: 0151 933 2324.
  • Mersey Ferries - Take a 50-minute cruise across the River Mersey for a spectacular view of Liverpool's famous waterfront and skyline. Tel: 0151 330 1444.
  • Yellow Duckmarine - See the historic waterfront, docks and city from a converted 1942 amphibious vehicle used in World War II. There's live commentary on the one-hour tour. Be prepared for the splashdown into Salthouse Dock. Tel: 0151 708 7799. [2 x PIC]
  • Magical Mystery Tour - You will travel around the city and suburbs on a coach, visiting the homes and schools of the Beatles, as well as places that inspired their songs. The tour departs from the Albert Dock and finishes at the world-famous Cavern Club on Mathew Street. Tel: 0151 236 9091.

Further information

  • A visit to Liverpool would make an excellent WI outing. Diane Nowell, on behalf of the MerseyGuides Association, will help WIs with advice, and find a qualified and insured guide. She can even arrange for someone to meet your coach, for a tour tailored to your interests. She says: "We like visitors to go away happy, amused, informed and eager to come back for more." Tel: 01928 566 969, www.showmeliverpool.co.uk
  • An enormous amount of information, and a free guidebook, is available from the Liverpool Culture Company (tel: 0151 233 2008). Excellent websites include www.visitliverpool.com , www.liverpoolworldheritage.com , www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk and www.liverpool08.com
  • Liverpool 800 is a 532-page fully illustrated book containing seven essays, written by academics and experts, on all aspects of Liverpool's history and culture (Liverpool University Press, £14.95 paperback).

Pull Quotes

There is plenty to see in Liverpool even without the special attractions and events taking place during these two years
In the 1790s Liverpool was Britain's leading slave port, with over 130 ships setting sail annually
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