The first and fateful last voyage of The Titanic is well known. Having departed Southampton en route to New York she hit an iceberg south of Newfoundland in the early morning of 15th April 1912 and sank within a few hours. Over 1500 died in the disaster.
There was a plan for The Titanic to visit Liverpool on her delivery from the shipyards of Harland and Wolff in Belfast but was prevented by bad weather in the Irish Sea. Despite never visiting the city The Titanic had many links to Liverpool. The owners of Titanic were The White Star Line and her port of registry was Liverpool.
As a result she had this painted on the stern along with her name. The offices of The White Star line were in Albion House which stands on the corner of James Street and The Strand. Now a grade II listed building it was built in the late 1890s but needed some restoration following the bombings of Liverpool in the Second World War. This building became the source of news about the disaster and updates and casualty lists were read from the lower balcony to the masses gathered outside. The building today is a hotel.
Former offices of The White Star Line
The White Star public house on Rainford Gardens close to Mathew Street is named after the White Star Line and is an interesting place to visit as not only does it have this association with The Titanic but also with The Beatles. There is some interesting memorabilia to see on the walls.
Many of the crew of The Titanic were from Liverpool and its neighbouring towns including the captain, Edward John Smith, who lived for forty years in Waterloo, north of the city. His time here is commemorated by a blue plaque on Marine Crescent in the town. There is also a memorial to him in Liverpools’s Anglican Cathedral in the form of a stained glass window.
The Philharmonic Hall on Hope Street is home to a memorial plaque dedicated to the members of the ships band, including viola player John Frederick Preston Clarke, who carried on playing as the ship sank. Interestingly the plaque gives the date as 14th April 1912 even though the ship sank in the early hours of the 15th. The plaque can be viewed in the entrance hall.
Across the road from Albion House on St Nicholas Place at the Pier Head is the memorial to the 244 engine room heroes that died on The Titanic that night. Designed by Sir William Goscombe John it stands 48 feet tall and was unveiled in 1916.
Following loses at sea during the First World War it has been dedicated to all the marine engine room heroes.
It is a remarkable monument and is sadly often overlooked by visitors to the city as it is at the far end of the Pier Head.
The Maritime Museum at The Royal Albert Dock houses a small but fascinating exhibition about The Titanic and its links to Liverpool. Located on the second floor of the museum entry is free and it is a very informative and at times touching exhibition. It’s compact and can easily be visited if you have a spare hour or so or indeed as part of a more comprehensive visit to the museum.
The story of that fateful voyage of The Titanic continues to fascinate both young and old. A visit to the maritime museum along with some of the other Titanic related locations in the city is time well spent on a trip to Liverpool.
Having just returned from a short trip to Iceland I can honestly say that I was blown away by the country and am already thinking about when to return for a longer, more comprehensive visit. Summer tourism to Iceland is well established but visits in the winter are relatively new, six years ago there were very few winter visitors. Winter is an excellent time to visit, the landscapes are absolutely stunning, covered with snow and so photogenic. There is also a much greater chance of seeing the Northern Lights.
The days are short. Reykjavik is the most northern capital city in the world and its latitude (64 degrees North), means that in the winter there is a not a great deal of daylight. This doesn’t mean however that there is 24 hours of darkness at any time. Even on the shortest day there are just over 4 hours of daylight, with the sun rising at 11.22am. By the end of January this has increased to around 7 hours. The pace of the day is different, you soon adapt and become much more organised in getting out and about.
It can be cold. It is called Iceland after all. During my visit the temperature was around -6 Celsius with a wind chill down to -12. If you have the right clothing it is perfectly manageable. Make sure you pack appropriately, the temperature won’t necessarily be that low but if you are prepared its much less of a problem. Essentials are waterproof walking shoes/boots with a good tread, it can be snowy and slushy. A wind proof jacket and wind proof thermal gloves. I used the gloves that I use when cycling and they were perfectly adequate. Layering is always a good idea and try to start with a good thermal base layer, I use a merino wool thermal base layer and would recommend them wholeheartedly. Don’t forget a hat and scarf big enough to wrap round your face to protect from the wind. You can of course buy many of these things while you are there but you may find them much more expensive than at home.
You have a better chance to see The Northern Lights. The short days of winter mean that you may get to see the Northern Lights. Of course there is no guarantee, viewings depend on a number of factors such as cloud cover, solar activity and the absence of background light. Trips are available from Reykjavik which run on days when conditions are deemed to be favourable. They usually go to Thingvellir national park, about a 45 minute drive out of the city to an area with no light pollution. You may even be able to book on a subsequent evening if you were unlucky and there was no activity. Reykjavik Excursions run trips at 19.30 and 21.00 each day. The guided tour lasts for 3 hours and costs 4999 ISK.
The weather can be changeable. There had been heavy snow in Reykjavik in the days before I arrived and although main routes were clear side streets were not. Driving in Iceland in the winter requires care, attention and forward planning. Hire cars should be fitted with winter snow tyres to aid traction in snowy and icy conditions. It is possible to visit Reykjavik and do coach tours including around The Golden Circle without the need for car hire. There is also an excellent coach service which links Keflavik Airport with the capital.
There are a couple of websites that can help with road conditions in the country. Safetravel.is covers all aspects of travel in the country as well as giving weather and road reports. Road.is details road conditions around the country and even has webcams showing junctions and stretches of major roads so you can judge for yourself what conditions are like. The weather can change quickly and it is always a good idea to get an up to date weather forecast before heading out. The Icelandic Met Office is the place to look for the latest report.
It’s quieter. Although winter tourism is growing it is still far behind that in the summer. As a result tourist attractions are much quieter and restaurants less busy. Make the best of it while you can. Winter is glorious in Iceland and you won’t be disappointed, the snowy landscapes are absolutely magical.
Liverpool has so much to offer the visitor and it is easy to see why it is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination. The city has a rich heritage and visitors will not be short of things to see or do. In this post I examine the tourist attractions in and around the city centre, most of which are within walking distance of each other.
Take a Ferry Across The Mersey. There has been a ferry crossing the River Mersey for over 800 years and the peak they were carrying millions of mainly commuters a year. Those days are long gone but the ferry does still run a commuter service in the morning and late afternoon but for the rest of the day it offers river cruises starting from 10am. Local band Gerry and the Pacemakers immortalised the crossing in their 1964 hit single Ferry Cross The Mersey.
The Waterfront at Pier Head. The Liverpool waterfront is world famous and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Consisting of the three graces, The Royal Liver Building, The Cunard Building and The Port of Liverpool Building, it is an imposing and magnificent site. One can only wonder how Liverpool sailors must have felt entering The Mersey after months at sea to be greeted by such iconic landmarks.
The Museum of Liverpool. Telling the story of Liverpool and its people its a great way to get to know some of the history of the city that isn’t always covered in the travel guides. Currently housing the John and Yoko Lennon Double Fantasy exhibition until 22nd April 2019.
The Merseyside Maritime Museum. A museum dedicated to the historical importance of the sea to the city. Not only was it a major shipping port but it was also the point of embarkation for those seeking a new life overseas.. There is much to admire here including The Titanic and Liverpool exhibition which tells the story of the close association between the two.
Tate Liverpool. Located in the Albert Dock it is the home of modern and contemporary art. Since it opened in 1988 it has hosted many exhibitions of internationally renowned artists. It is always worth checking what’s on at the Tate when in the city. The galleries afford some excellent view over the river Mersey.
The Beatles Story. You cannot come to Liverpool and not do something Beatles related while here. There is much to see in and around the city and this is a good place to start for those that want to find out more about the history of “four lads that shook the world” back in the 1960s. See a recreation of the Cavern Club to experience what it was like back in those heady days.
Find Liverpools Musical Statues. If The Beatles Story has whet your appetite then why not seek out the musical statues around the city that celebrate Liverpool’s music history. as well as The Beatles you can discover Billy Fury, Cilla Black and Ken Dodd. You can even have a photo taken sat alongside Eleanor Rigby.
The Beatles at The Pier Head
Mathew Street and The Cavern. No visit to Liverpool would be complete without a visit to Mathew Street, home of the Cavern Club. There is a lot packed in to to such a short street including statues, the wall of fame and the site of Erics club which did much for the local bands that came after The Beatles such as Echo & the Bunneymen and The Teardrop Explodes. You can visit the Cavern and catch some live music, sadly it’s not the original but has been lovingly reconstructed. There are often buskers performing in the street, Beatles songs naturally.
Liverpool Cathedrals. There aren’t many cities that can boast two impressive cathedrals. Liverpool can and they are separated by the appropriately named Hope Street. They couldn’t be anymore different. The Anglican Cathedral, built in the Gothic style took over seventy years to build. The Metropolitan Cathedral, known affectionately as “Paddy’s Wigwam” by the Liverpudlians, was opened in 1967.
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
The Philharmonic Dining Rooms. Conveniently located half way along Hope Street it is a good place for a refreshment break while in this part of town. Don’t let the name fool you, the Phil is a pub. It was here that Paul McCartney made a surprise appearance as part of the filming of Carpool Karaoke with James Corden.Perhaps best known for ornate gents toilets, made from rose coloured marble. They are grade 1 listed such is their importance, a higher grading than the building in which they are housed.
The Philharmonic Pub
The Bombed Out Church. The church of St Luke as it is officially know is located on the corner of Leece Street and Berry Street. The church was hit by an incendiary bomb on 6th May 1941, destroying all but the retaining walls. It was left as a memorial to those that died in the Liverpool Blitz.
Chinatown. A short walk along Berry Street from St Lukes and you enter Chinatown, home to the oldest Chinese community in Europe.There are records showing that Chinese immigrants were here as long ago as 1834 and grew businesses including restaurants and supermarkets. The arch at the top of Nelson Street was opened on Chinese New Year in 2000 and it is a magnificent structure, built by craftsmen from Shanghai.
