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At the start of the 19th century, 40% of all the world's trade was passing through Liverpool, and many major buildings reflecting the wealth of the city were built at that time. Liverpool's Custom House was at times the single largest contributor to the British Exchequer. As an important port city, Liverpool has drawn it's population from a wide range of peoples, cultures, and religions, with British ships and those from countries all around the world docking here. Many people came from Ireland, just a short ferry ride away. The city's diverse population includes the oldest Black African community in the UK, and the oldest Chinatown in Europe. After second-world-war bombing destruction and the advent of container-cargo vessels the city was a changed place by the 1970s and, like many cities, Liverpool has needed to re-invent itself. With more museums and galleries than anywhere outside London in the UK, the city was named a joint European Capital of Culture in 2008.

As a tourist destination, the city has attractions such as the Tate Liverpool Museum, the refurbished Albert Dock area, the Kings Waterfront, and a series of new city-center festivals bringing visitors from all over. But the biggest draw of the city is still being the birthplace of the Beatles, who changed cultures on both sides of the Atlantic and beyond. Place names like Penny Lane, The Brian Epstein Guesthouse, the John Lennon Airport, the Cavern Club and an Elenor Rigby statue on Stanley Street, are just a few of many reminders from that era, bringing music fans here from all around the world.

The Liverpool International Music Festival presents eight days of free outdoor music concerts at Sefton Park stages, featuring artists of international fame, and new local talent; opera to rock and reggae, and some of the best tribute bands paying homage to iconic acts of the past 50 years. Events include a concert by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. A Beatle Week at the Cavern Club, and Fringe Festival with over 100 events in pubs and clubs across the city, all take place during this same period at the end of August. See video clip The New Mersey Beat for a taste.

Liverpool's well-known Gay Quarter is centered around Stanley Street. You’ll find plenty of bars hereabouts, and a "Magical’ Makeover" in 2016 transformed the streets, paying homage to the Yellow Brick Road and the Land of Oz. Homotopia, Liverpool’s November/December celebration of queer culture, features more than 50 events of visual arts, theater, film, debate, dance, literature, live art and more.

Liverpool Pride is a big march and festival celebration in late July. Hello Sailor! - Gay life on the ocean wave, an exhibit at the Merseyside Maritime Museum, looks at queer life on board passenger and merchant ships from the 1950s to the 1980s.

Getting here

Liverpool John Lennon Airport is about 8 miles outside the city. It has mostly flights from around Europe, although there are a few from North America too. Arriva bus routes 80, 80A and 500 connect the airport with Liverpool City Centre. Some travelers also use Manchester Airport - see our Manchester guide.

There is direct train service from Manchester Airport every half hour during peak times on the First TransPennine Express, a trip of 70-90 minutes. Liverpool is only a bit over two hours from London Euston station, with frequent departures on Virgin Trains to Lime Street Station. For information and bookings of trains and coaches try the Trainline website. For an overview of all UK rail services see National Rail.

National Express coach company has a bus station at 44 Norton Street, not far from Liverpool City Center. Trips from London take 4-5 hours, and from Manchester Airport, about an hour.

 

Getting around

The downtown area is fairly compact, so do as the locals do and set to it on foot. Buses and trains can get you around town and to outlying sights. Merseyrail, the local commuter rail system, has Moorfields Station by the Gay Quarter with service on both the Northern (blue) and Wirral (green) lines. A third, the City Line (red), from Lime Street Station on the Wirral Line, has service to Wigan and Manchester, among other cities, operated by Northen Rail.

Arriva Bus is one of several companies with service throughout the region. See Mersey Travel for the full scoop on bus, train and ferry routes, schedules and fares, including the City Line trains to Blackpool, a gay-popular seaside resort, about 90 minutes away.

 

Currency and Money

The pound sterling (£) is the official currency of the United Kingdom, subdivided into 100 pence. ATMs are sprinkled throughout the downtown area, in all the usual places. Contact your local bank for a possible UK bank partner to save on withdrawal fees. Visa, Mastercard and American Express are widely accepted - credit cards with a smart chip and pin number, now required by some ticket machines here and in Continental Europe, can be most useful.

 

Local Media

Visit Liverpool and Liverpool Echo/Whats On are general information tourism and arts/culture/events listings websites. The Beatles Tour gets around to all the places of interest to Fab Four fans.

A Night in Liverpool is another online guide to the city, with a bar guide for both gay and general public clubs around town.

Gaydio from Manchester can be heard online everywhere. The station gets news feeds from Gay Times, the UK national gay magazine.

Attitude is another national gay periodical, with information on what’s happening around the country, including Liverpool.

Homotopia, the big gay Merseyside festival during November, has streaming video content at HomotopiaTV. Liverpool Pride takes place in late July.

Seen Magazine Liverpool's LGBT publication is no more, but see back issues here.

For map locations and website links to area businesses, and entertainment venues, see our gay Liverpool listings pages.

 

Going Out
Get out and pound the pavement around the Gay Quarter to find most of the gay social life in Liverpool.

Baa Bar (5-9 Fowlers Bldgs, Victoria St, Gay Quarter), one link in a chain of bars, late night gay-friendly mixed scene, cheap shots. Also at 43 Fleet St, at the Centre.

Cafe Tabac (126 Bold St, Center), bohemian-scene cafe/bar, home-style food, Sunday roasts, DJs, films, live bands. Diverse music includes alternative, folk, electronica, RnB, Soul, Funk, Jazz, Latin, Ska, Hip Hop, Funk, and Reggae.

Cavern Club (10 Mathew St), slick operation, live tribute bands, Beatles memorablilia store/tours, summer Beatles festival.

The Curzon (8 Temple Lane, Gay Quarter), older male crowd, funky/sociable old-school cottage cruising, pool games, drag shows, LADs events. Re-opened summer 2017 with new owners.

Dolphin Sauna (129 Mount Rd, New Brighton), men's sauna/steam on three floors, Jacuzzi, cinema, WiFi, cafe/bar/lounge, sun garden.

Garlands (8-10 Eberle St, Gay Quarter), big and popular dance club, gay/straight, men/women, all-ages and types.

G-Bar (1-3 Eberle St, Gay Quarter), gay bar, Thursday through Sunday underground-style after-hours dance club in three unique rooms: the Church, the body-throbbing Basement underground, and the Thursday/Saturday Boosh Hip-Hop/RnB. Strict door policy.

Heaven Liverpool (10-18 Victoria St, Gay Quarter), gay bar/ dance club nightly until 5am, Saturdays 'til 7am, Funky House, gay and lesbian, young to older mix.

The James Monro (69 Tithebarne St), entertainment bar/club, comedy, cabaret, variety shows; homestyle food.

Jupiter's Bar (10 Hackins Hey), gay-friendly mixed pub, karaoke, open mic nights, pool table, mixed/popular with women.

Lisbon Bar (35 Victoria St, Gay Quarter), one of the oldest gay bars in town, early party pub, holiday specials, live music entertainment and quiz nights, cask ales, wines, WiFi, home-style meals and cupcakes.

Masquerade Bar (10 Cumberland St, Gay Quarter), nightly gay bar, popular Sunday drag cabaret; karaoke, quiz and card games, WiFi.

Navy Bar (27-29 Stanley St, Gay Quarter), gay weekend party bar and dance club, relaunched April 2015, DJs, entertainment.

OUT! Liverpool (34 Cumberland St), gay cabaret bar/club, drag shows, pool games, men/women mix.

Passion (31/33 Dale St, Gay Quarter), Hard Rock Cafe Friday/Saturday nightclub, midnight to 8am, mixed dance crowd, shows.

Poste House (23 Cumberland St, Gay Quarter), small upstairs gay pub, younger mixed crowd, cheap shots.

Superstar Boudouir (22-24 Stanley St, Gay Quarter), open nightly gay/mixed cocktail lounge, dance and drag showbar, DJs, karaoke, booth seating.

CLOSED: Pink (4-6 Victoria St, Gay Quarter), party til 4am, young mixed crowd, drag; Lantern Theatre (57 Blundell St), fringe, new classic stage drama, comedy, music; Magnet (45 Hardman St, Center), live bands, comedy, DJ sets; Splash Sauna Spa (5 Fazakerley St, Gay Quarter), 4-floor men's bathhouse.

 

For some restaurant and hotel suggestions see our map & listings pages.