Hotels in Liverpool

Situated on the north bank of the River Mersey, this port city is a thriving hub with both historical character and cutting-edge attractions. It's hard to pick what Liverpool's most famous for; its rich musical heritage, its maritime history or lavish structures like the Royal Liver Building with its vast clock towers bearing the legendary Liver Birds.

Of course, Liverpool is known the world over for being the birthplace of the Beatles, as well as plenty of other bands that stormed the pop charts. The docks on the River Mersey are thriving tourist hotspots – striking brick and stone enclaves packed with bars, restaurants, and world-class museums. For the sports enthusiast, it is home to Liverpool FC, the iconic football club based at the famous Anfield stadium, as well as Everton FC.

The best Liverpool hotels

As you'd expect from one of the most popular cities in Britain, there are Liverpool hotels to suit every budget. The major names are all here: think large, gleaming complexes complete with swimming pools, 24-hour gyms, and steam rooms, ideal for families and business travellers alike. Although, if you're looking to cut costs you'll also find a wide variety of cheaper accommodation in the city centre and beyond. Couples and those just looking for something a bit different can opt for one of the many boutique hotels in Liverpool, some of which ooze a quirky charm of their own.

Currently, The Heidi Bed & Breakfast is our most popular hotel in Liverpool for our users, with 5 guests confirming their booking within the last hour. But if you prefer to continue comparing, you can choose between the following four hotels that complete the top five:

• Lord Street Apartments
• Liverpool 2 Bed Apartment - Tartan York
• Solo Living - X1 Courtyard
• Aigburth Apartments - Ivanhoe

Where to stay in Liverpool

Highlights of each aspect of the city's history can be found in its different districts, and you'll be able to find Liverpool accommodation to suit your style and taste wherever you go. For more information on the best places to stay, please refer to this handy neighbourhood guide.

Cavern Quarter

Named after the Cavern Club on Mathew Street, where the Beatles played over 300 times while honing their musical talents, this district is the focus of the city's night-life. You can stay at a Beatles-inspired hotel, and visit the Cavern Pub or The Welkin pub to enjoy a hearty pint of real ale. Visit during Beatles Week in August, which has become an annual summer event, and soak up all the Beatles history you can handle. Shopping enthusiasts will also find plenty of designer stores in the nearby Metquarter centre on Whitechapel Road.

St George's Quarter

This is the centre of the city of Liverpool, with the historic St George's Concert Hall, World Museum, Central Library and the Walker Art Gallery, alongside the greenery of St John's Gardens, all freely accessible from the cobbled paving of William Brown Street. Nearby are the Liverpool Empire Theatre, the Wellington Memorial and the Radio City Tower, from which you can enjoy a breathless vista of the city. Shop at nearby Clayton Square or catch a cab to Liverpool One, the newest, trendiest shopping centre in the city. There is a wide range of Liverpool hotels in this area to suit various tastes and budgets.

Maritime Mercantile City

Liverpool's waterfront consists of six areas; Pier Head, Albert Dock, William Brown Street, Stanley Dock, Castle/Dale/Old Hall Streets and Lower Duke Street. It was granted World Heritage Site status in 2004. These areas contain the Museum of Liverpool, the Merseyside Maritime Museum, the International Slavery Museum and the U-boat Story site. Also to be found here are the Echo Arena convention centre, Tate Liverpool, the Beatles Story attraction and, at Pier Head, the 'Three Graces' – the architectural masterpieces of the Royal Liver Building, the Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building.

Georgian Quarter

Centred on Canning Street, the leafy streets of this district are lined with distinctive Georgian terraced houses dating back to the early 1800s when it was a new and prestigious housing development. Although the area later went into decline and many buildings were demolished, it is now enjoying revival and restoration, attracting some of Liverpool's best restaurants and bistros such as The Art School restaurant and Moose Coffee. This area offers some of the best hotels in Liverpool to use as a base when visiting the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall across the road. From here, enjoy wandering through the picturesque streets or venture further afield into the city centre.

Ropewalks

This inner-city area of Liverpool was once open fields where long ropes for sailing ships were woven. From rural beginnings, it has become a district packed with trendy eateries and nightspots such as Kazimier Garden live gig venue and Heebie Jeebies late night bar and club. You can enjoy some of the more avant-garde style accommodation Liverpool has to offer while exploring the city's Bohemian heart, including Bold Street with its variety of boutique shops, bars and restaurants, and FACT, the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology.

Remember to use the search function at the top of this page to narrow down your search by location or price, read the hotel reviews left by other guests. Let us help you find hotel deals that will make your stay in Liverpool just that bit sweeter.

Attractions to visit in Liverpool

For music fans, the British Music Experience in the Cunard Building at Pier Heads is not to be missed. Here you'll see the history of British music in bright colours, with the outfits of stars such as Adam Ant, the Spice Girls and Freddie Mercury on display, as well as the instruments played by artists such as the Sex Pistols.

You can also enjoy tours such as the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour that visit landmarks celebrated by the Beatles songs Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane, as well as the childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. It also takes in the Casbah Coffee Club, where George, John and Paul played early on in their careers as a band called the Quarrymen, before ending at the famous Cavern Club.

Liverpool's two cathedrals are located at each end of the appropriately named Hope Street and are well worth a visit. Construction of the Anglican Cathedral was started in 1904 and the classical stone building took 74 years to complete, while the Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral was redesigned after the Second World War as a modern circular concrete building featuring works of modern art and colourful stained-glass windows.

The best food and restaurants in Liverpool

Liverpool's cuisine scene has flourished in the past few decades, now ranging from hip bistros to traditional pubs. The central area is full of Indian curry houses, gastropubs and upscale European restaurants, while the Liverpool One shopping and leisure complex champions easygoing chain restaurants. Many of the luxury hotels in Liverpool offer fine dining experiences, too.

Liverpool's Chinatown, the oldest Chinese district in Europe, is a must-visit. In 2000 Liverpool's twin city in China, Shanghai, gifted it with the largest Chinese Arch outside of China. This magnificent 13.5m tall edifice was erected astride Nelson Street, which is lined with restaurants offering a range of delectable Chinese and pan-Asian dishes. In nearby Bold Street, you'll find Peruvian cuisine, Japanese delicacies and Italian seafood restaurants.

The city centre also boasts a cosmopolitan mix of eating-houses, while at the Albert Dock you'll be able to savour seafood dishes while enjoying river views and even rooftop dining.

For a cool, bohemian vibe of wine bars, trendy cafés and independent fusion restaurants, head to Lark Lane on the outskirts of the city. A wide variety of international cuisines are represented here, and menus feature mouth-watering dishes from North African, Asian and Mediterranean cuisine.

Finally, be sure to get a Liverpool Pass, which gets you a discount at a number of selected restaurants, bars and attractions in the city, allowing you to"Eat, See, Save and Repeat".

How to get around in Liverpool

The most convenient way to travel to from Liverpool John Lennon Airport to your hotel is to take a pre-arranged taxi. The distance is 7 miles and takes approximately 20 minutes. A bus service is also available for airport transfer, however, keep in mind that the last bus leaves the airport at around 7 pm.

Once inside the city, you have plenty of options of getting around:

• By bus – The Merseytravel bus network provides a fully accessible bus service with many ticket options for good value. The main bus terminals are at Queen Square and the Liverpool ONE centre.
• By train – There are four underground stations in the city centre that make travel across the city quick and easy; James Street, Lime Street, Moorfields and Liverpool Central. The Day Saver and the Merseyrail Family Ticket give you the option of affordable, convenient rail travel between the 66 stations around the Liverpool area.
• Cycling – Bike & Go and CityBike hire schemes operate in the city centre, allowing you the convenience of cycling around the city without having to bring your own bike. Cycle parking is provided at most venues and bikes can be taken free on ferries and trains.
• By Ferry – Merseytravel operates Mersey Ferries across the river to the Wirral Peninsula, as well as along the Manchester Ship Canal.

Weather & Seasonality – When to visit Liverpool

Liverpool boasts year-round events and entertainment, but you may want to plan your visit to coincide with some of the main happenings of the year. Most of them run from spring to autumn. The weather at this time is also at its best, with plenty of sunshine throughout the summer months of July and August and mild temperatures through all three seasons. Some notable events to look out for include the famous Grand National horse race, held at Aintree in Liverpool every April, and Liverpool International Music Festival (LIMF) which takes place in July or August.

Beatles fans should note that tours to the restored childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney run daily from March to October.

Winter is low season, and it's at this time of year that you'll find some of the best Liverpool hotel deals.