The most famous landmark of Liverpool is the docks, and this is quite logical: for many centuries, Liverpool was the largest port in the world. Cargo turnover here reached huge for those times values, therefore there were also many docks here. They are not all preserved, but the part is quite possible to see.
Albert-dock was built in 1846 by an engineer named Jesse Hartley, and his project was quite bold for those years: for the first time a tree was not used to build a dock, for the first time around the dock they made so many warehouses, for the first time the ship could be unloaded by moving goods straight to warehouse, well, there were a lot of technical design innovations. Doc prospered at first, then (before the war) withered, but suffered relatively little during the war - only 15% loss of buildings, for Liverpool harbor it is very little. Now the docks have been restored, and the warehouses have been rebuilt inside, turning them into a stylish, modern complex, in which there are many museums and places for recreation.
Albert-dock was built in 1846 by an engineer named Jesse Hartley, and his project was quite bold for those years: for the first time a tree was not used to build a dock, for the first time around the dock they made so many warehouses, for the first time the ship could be unloaded by moving goods straight to warehouse, well, there were a lot of technical design innovations. Doc prospered at first, then (before the war) withered, but suffered relatively little during the war - only 15% loss of buildings, for Liverpool harbor it is very little. Now the docks have been restored, and the warehouses have been rebuilt inside, turning them into a stylish, modern complex, in which there are many museums and places for recreation.
Albert Dock is an unexpectedly atmospheric and fairly modern place, here you can take a walk, dine, drink a cocktail in the trendy bar (there are many of them) or listen to music.
The dock is of a special construction, a closed harbor, and so was the case. Therefore, the Albert Dock is a rectangular bay surrounded by warehouse buildings around the perimeter. Walking paths were laid along the bay, trees were planted, etc. Warehouse buildings are visible immediately, these are gloomy dark brick buildings with unusual windows (they were needed to lift goods through these windows directly from the deck of the ship - they were usually attached outside by lifts ). From the harbor side there are galleries - also for storage.
nside the building is completely rebuilt. They house several good museums at once (including the wonderful Merseyside Maritime Museum, the Tate-Liverpool Gallery and the The Beatles Story Attraction Museum). There are hotels, cafes and quite a few restaurants, it's nice to stroll along the water or have a coffee in an open-air cafe. You can still wait for the lights to come on and come in the evening - this is an unexpectedly atmospheric and fairly modern place, you can have dinner, drink a cocktail in the trendy bar (there are a lot of them) or listen to music.
nside the building is completely rebuilt. They house several good museums at once (including the wonderful Merseyside Maritime Museum, the Tate-Liverpool Gallery and the The Beatles Story Attraction Museum). There are hotels, cafes and quite a few restaurants, it's nice to stroll along the water or have a coffee in an open-air cafe. You can still wait for the lights to come on and come in the evening - this is an unexpectedly atmospheric and fairly modern place, you can have dinner, drink a cocktail in the trendy bar (there are a lot of them) or listen to music.
Practical information
Official address: Liverpool, Liverpool Waterfront, Albert Dock. You can get there by buses C4 and C5, but from the center here it is most convenient to go on foot. By the way, comfortable thick shoes are needed for a walk, sneakers are best suited - there are many cobbled parts.
Access to the complex itself is open around the clock, but organizations (except restaurants) close around 18:00.
You should not expect low prices here - this is a very “tourist” place, but on the whole is not so expensive, and the restaurants are not bad.
Access to the complex itself is open around the clock, but organizations (except restaurants) close around 18:00.
You should not expect low prices here - this is a very “tourist” place, but on the whole is not so expensive, and the restaurants are not bad.