LASTWORD Tried


tested


Samantha Mayling has a ticket to ride to Liverpool – the home of the Beatles and (for a while) China’s Terracotta Warriors


Magical history tours


The last time I was in Liverpool, I visited Anfield during the 1996 European football championships.


The city has changed enormously since then – and this year has been celebrating the 10th anniversary of being the European Capital of Culture. Football fever was again


evident when I visited during this summer’s World Cup, but it was not Liverpool’s fine footie heritage that I sought – it was the ancient history of imperial China and the 20th Century story of rock and roll. First on my itinerary was The


Beatles Story in the waterfront Unesco World Heritage site. Dedicated to the Fab Four, it


recreates famous sites associated with John, Paul, Ringo and George – from their early days in Berlin and the Cavern to the heyday of Beatlemania, then their time in India and solo careers. I next strolled to the World


Museum for the Terracotta Warriors that have been the venue’s most popular exhibition,


Where to stay


I spent two nights at the Novotel, which is popular with groups and overseas visitors. The hotel had all the comforts of an international chain, but it was great to see nods to the city’s heritage – and the swimming pool was a welcome treat after a hot day of sightseeing. Its Rope Walks bar and restaurant is named after long, straight streets


of the 19th century that allowed rope manufacturers to lay out their ropes. It was decorated with heavy ropes and Victorian-style décor, but the food was certainly not ropey. Being in Liverpool, I ordered the ‘scouse’ from the menu – a delicious meat stew which is traditionally a meal for sailors, and has given its name to the locals. novotel.accorhotels.com


36 TravelGBI | July-August 2018


To enter, visit travelgbi.com/ news/competition


and a must-see for any visitor (see page 28-29 for more).


Iconic Liver Building


Then it was back to the waterfront for the British Music Experience in the Cunard Building – next to the iconic Liver Building. Opened in March 2017, it tells


the story of British rock and pop through costumes, instruments and memorabilia, including costumes worn by Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Dusty Springfield, Spice


Girls, Adam Ant and Duran Duran. It’s guaranteed to generate


pangs of nostalgia and uncontrollable toe-tapping. Visitors can also try playing


guitar or drums, or singing along to classic tracks. There was just time to nip


to the Mersey ferry for a ‘River Explorer Cruise’ – accompanied


by the hit song Ferry Across the Mersey and commentary about landmarks. If I’d had more time, I could


have disembarked at Spaceport to find out about space and Star Wars, or nipped to the U-boat Story to explore a Second World War German submarine. It was a whirlwind tour of


Liverpool’s highlights but the city centre is very compact and easy to navigate, so I packed plenty into just a few short hours. The Beatles’ ‘Daytripper’ had a


one-way ticket but sadly mine was a return fare so I had to depart – but hopefully I will return for more


magical mystery tours soon. visitliverpool.com


NEXT MONTH


▌ IN FOCUS Wales Heritage


East of England


▌ FACE TO FACE Jennifer Cormack, chair of the Lake District China Forum, and Colin Fox, chair of the Lake District Japan Forum


▌ SPECIAL REPORT VisitEngland’s Discover England Fund


▌ TRIED & TESTED RHS Hyde Hall


NEXT ISSUE SEPTEMBER 10, 2018 travelgbi.com


WIN!


Two tickets to the house and garden at Waddesdon Manor


&


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