Architecture Liverpool
If you look down just for a moment while walking through Liverpool, chances are you’ll miss something amazing. The city is home to a vast number of stunning and historic buildings. It actually houses over 2, 500 listed buildings and 27 of these are Grade I.
The beautiful architecture of Liverpool has a story to tell; it represents over 300 years of a port of worldwide importance, whose fortunes declined in the twentieth century but is now experiencing a renaissance as a cultural capital, hosting world-class events, breaking records and collecting numerous accolades.
The Victorian Albert Dock located on Liverpool’s waterfront is the largest single collection of Grade I listed buildings in the UK made entirely out of cast iron, brick and stone. The Albert Dock does not only offer a beautiful backdrop to a quayside stroll, but a wide variety of restaurants, galleries, museums and more to enjoy, including key attractions such as Tate Liverpool, The Beatles Story, the Merseyside Maritime Museum and the International Slavery Museum.
A short walk from The Albert Dock is where you’ll find the Three Graces; The Royal Liver Building, The Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building. The Royal Liver Building sports the famous Liver Birds, the mythical creatures which symbolise Liverpool. For nearly a century these buildings have defined one of the world’s most recognised skylines, which can be admired from aboard the historic Mersey Ferry.
The Bluecoat is thought to be Liverpool’s oldest building in the city centre, dating back to the early 1700s. Visitors can now enjoy a year-round programme of visual art, literature, music and dance here. The Liverpool Town Hall was constructed in the 1700s between 1749 and 1754 and its beautiful interiors are a prime example of late Georgian architecture.
Liverpool’s architecture can be seen from another level from the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral tower, the largest cathedral in Britain, taking 74 years to construct from 1904. Look down from this intricate beauty and admire the elegant Georgian townhouses that are always in high demand for filming.
In Liverpool, we don’t do things by halves, being home to two cathedrals. Just a short walk away is Hope Street, which connects the two Cathedrals and is where you’ll find The Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. This cathedral was originally planned to be a huge structure similar to the neo-gothic Anglican, but due to pressures of war and rising costs the design was abandoned. The cathedral now stands as a modern circular design featuring glorious multi-coloured stained glass windows; completed in 1967 it still features Lutyens Crypt, which was built as part of the original design.
Outside the city centre, Speke Hall dates from the Tudor period, recognisable from its black and white timber appearance. Croxteth Hall also has ties to this era, with one of its wings dating back to 1575 (though the majority of the building was completed in the 18th and 19th centuries).
This is just a brief snapshot of Liverpool’s stunning architecture, so when you’re walking through the streets of the city, remember to look up because you might miss something beautiful!
