Liverpool’s Albert Dock is the number one, free, tourist attraction in the United Kingdom

Built in 1846 as a warehouse to store cargoes of the last century, it has now been lovingly restored in to a thriving speciality shopping centre and leisure complex

The Albert Dock is actually made up of five impressive buildings, and were named after Prince Albert who officially opened the dock in 1846

The history books tell us that the docks were originally designed and built for the sum of £514,475 8s 1d! (Just one of the luxury apartments here could set you back that much today!)

The Dock Traffic Office, now home to Granada TV’s News Centre, was added in 1848 and in 1852 the Cooperage and Dock Master's House completed the scheme

The Albert Dock met it’s demise as a cargo dock from 1890, as the docks built to accommodate sailing ships did not provide deep enough water for the new steamships

The Albert Dock then remained largely disused until its eventual closure in 1972

After a refurbishment costing in excess of £100million, the city of Liverpool is proud of the Albert Dock, not least for the fact that it represents Britain's largest group of grade one listed buildings

Housed behind the attractive waterfront colonnades there are stores selling such things as books, woollens, art and crafts, Beatles memorabilia, Liverpool souvenirs and a whole lot more

There is also a choice of eateries from a coffee bar right through to a high class restaurant

It’s not the cheapest place to eat in the city, mind you, but good for a treat

The award winning Albert Dock also comes to life in the evenings when the bars open their doors to the night time revellers

The Albert Dock also provides a home for The Beatles Story which is a fabulous Beatles museum

You will also find here the Mersey Maritime Museum, which incorporates the HM Customs and Excise Museum

The Museum of Liverpool Life, which explores the history of Liverpool, it’s people, and culture, is also housed here

And don’t miss the famous Tate Gallery, where you can experience the National collection of modern art on four floors of galleries, with stunning views across the River Mersey

Admission charges apply to the above, but they’re not crazy prices and well worth it

I would recommend if you want to see all these attractions that you do this visit over at least two days, as the museums and art gallery are quite large and take a while to get around if you’re going to look at things in any kind of detail

If you fancy an overnight at the Albert Dock there is a Holiday Inn Express and a Premier Lodge located there

By the way, there will be articles featuring these other attractions coming soon on this blog, so you may like to bookmark this blog

Whilst you’re in this area of the city you may also like to visit:

The Three Graces
Liverpool Duck Tours
Liverpool City Centre
Mersey Ferries
The Anglican Cathedral

Can’t wait to see you la!

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