Liverpool Walking Tours Compared: Cathedrals, Georgian Quarter and City Centre
5 min read
For most visitors who want more than the waterfront, Steps In Time is the best walking tour of the five compared here: from €16.73, 2.5 hours, rated 5.0 from 21 reviews, because it is the one whose route includes the Georgian Quarter and both cathedrals. The others keep to the waterfront and the city centre.
Five tours compared
| Tour | Length | From | Rating and reviews | Starts at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steps In Time | 2.5 hours | €16.73 | 5.0 · 21 | Pier Head |
| Guided City Walking Tour | 1.5 hours | €16.73 | 4.9 · 158 | Museum of Liverpool |
| City Highlights Walking Tour | 2 hours | €14.94 | 5.0 · 40 | One Derby Square |
| Full History Walking Tour | 2 hours | €21.51 | 4.8 · 243 | Royal Liver Building |
| Heritage, History & Culture Tour | 135 minutes | €27.49 | 4.9 · 142 | The Bluecoat |
What each route covers
- Steps In Time starts at Pier Head and, per the listing, goes to the Albert Dock, St George’s Hall, the Metropolitan Cathedral, Abercromby Square, the Georgian Quarter and Liverpool Cathedral, with Hope Street, Falkner Street and Chinatown mentioned in the description. The listing says you admire the cathedrals’ architecture; whether the tour goes inside, you can see on the booking page. The page lists it as not suitable for children under 7.
- Guided City Walking Tour is the shortest. Its stops run from the Museum of Liverpool through the Albert Dock, the Three Graces and Castle Street to the Cavern Club, finishing at the Queen Victoria Monument.
- City Highlights starts on Derby Square and passes the Bluecoat, Liverpool One, Town Hall, Exchange Flags, the Royal Liver Building and the Cunard Building.
- Full History is led, according to the listing, by an academically trained local guide and runs from the medieval town to the present. Its stops include the Royal Liver Building, the Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool One, the parish church of Our Lady and Saint Nicholas and Castle Street.
- Heritage, History & Culture takes in the Albert Dock, the Beatles statue, the Three Graces and the Cavern Quarter, and finishes at the Eleanor Rigby statue. The description also covers the city’s role in the slave trade.
All five say English; the operators of Steps In Time, the Guided City Walking Tour and Full History mark them wheelchair accessible. The Heritage page contradicts itself: it shows the wheelchair label and calls the locations accessible for strollers and wheelchairs, mentions cobbles, and also lists the tour as not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. For any tour, ask the operator through the booking page to confirm what your group needs.
The cathedrals on your own
The Anglican Liverpool Cathedral and the Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral stand at opposite ends of Hope Street. The Metropolitan Cathedral’s website gives daily opening from 7.30am to 6pm, with the crypt open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Liverpool Cathedral’s site says no booking is needed, a visit is usually free, and the Tower Experience has its own ticket. Hours change for services and events, so check Liverpool Cathedral and the Metropolitan Cathedral before you go.
Who should pick something else
If your interest is Beatles, the Beatles-themed tours and the bus options fit better. If you want a first overview in 1.5 hours, the Guided City Walking Tour is the shorter choice; one reviewer on its page found the meeting point unclear, so read the meeting-point details before you go.
Our recommendation
Book Steps In Time if you have an afternoon and want the Georgian Quarter and cathedrals. All guided walks are on the walking tours page.
