Liverpool Cathedral

To fully appreciate Giles Gilbert Scott’s famous design, visitors can opt to ascend the bell tower for panoramic vistas or simply explore the peaceful interior, looking out for installations by notable artists, including Tracey Emin. If you’re tight for time, some tours offer a city overview package that includes the cathedral along with other top attractions. For brave souls, other tours offer after-hours insight into some of the city’s spookiest spots, including the cathedral graveyard.

• With the world’s largest Gothic arches and the UK’s biggest organ, the cathedral is a must-see for anyone interested in architecture and design.

• Access to the building itself is free, but a small donation is encouraged.

• Some tours include the Tower Experience as part of the package; otherwise, there is a charge to enter the bell tower.

• Be prepared for a lot of climbing as the tower has 108 stairs.

• The main cathedral floor is wheelchair accessible from the parking lot. Elevator access is available to different ground floor levels and the Lady Chapel.

Liverpool Cathedral is just under a mile (1.3 kilometers) from Liverpool Lime Street. The walk from the city center is about 30 minutes. Bus routes 82 and 86 serve the cathedral, taking around 15 minutes from Liverpool One Bus Station. Some tours offer hop-on hop-off bus services, stopping near the cathedral.

The cathedral is an active place of worship, and therefore visitor access is restricted during services. Interested members of the public are welcome to join the congregation for the service; otherwise, it’s best to avoid Sunday morning visits.

Liverpool Cathedral’s architect, Giles Gilbert Scott, also designed the UK’s famous red telephone boxes, as well as London’s Battersea Power Station, among other notable landmarks. His work mixed modernism with Gothic features and created well-known structures out of otherwise functional buildings, all of which are still well worth a visit.