Royal Liver Building, Liverpool
The Royal Liver Building, a Grade I listed structure, stands as an iconic emblem of Liverpool. Located at the Pier Head, it forms part of the renowned Three Graces, which also include the Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building. These architectural marvels grace the city鈥檚 waterfront and were once part of Liverpool's UNESCO-designated World Heritage Maritime Mercantile City.
Opened in 1911, the Royal Liver Building was originally constructed as the headquarters for the Royal Liver Assurance Group, established in 1850 to assist families coping with the loss of a wage earner. It was a pioneering achievement in architecture, being one of the first buildings globally to utilize reinforced concrete in its construction. At 98.2 meters (322 feet) to the spires and 103.7 meters (340 feet) to the top of the iconic Liver Birds, it was once among the tallest buildings in the United Kingdom and remains the fourth-tallest building in Liverpool.
The building鈥檚 fa莽ade is crowned by two prominent clock towers, allowing sailors on the River Mersey to determine the time as they passed. Manufactured by Gent and Company of Leicester, the clock faces measuring an impressive 7.6 meters (25 feet) in diameter, larger than those of London鈥檚 Great Westminster Clock (Big Ben). Unique among such landmarks, the clocks feature no numerals, only facets marking the hours, and are powered by a single mechanism.
Atop the towers stand the iconic Liver Birds, designed by Carl Bernard Bartels. These 5.5-meter (18-foot) mythical cormorants symbolize Liverpool, with Bella watching the sea and Bertie guarding the city鈥攐r, as locals joke, checking pubs and sailors. Crafted from copper and chained in place, they carry seaweed sprigs in their beaks, a nod to the city鈥檚 maritime heritage. Legend warns that if they ever flew away, Liverpool would cease to exist.
Overlooking the River Mersey, the Royal Liver Building is a cherished Liverpool landmark, celebrating the city's maritime heritage and captivating all with its iconic Liver Birds and rich history.
Why You Should Visit:
In September 2019, during the UK Heritage Open Days, for the first time in its 100+ year history, the Royal Liver Building unlocked its doors to the public with the launch of Royal Liver Building 360, a brand new fully guided tower tour offering a world-class audiovisual experience complete with panoramic 360掳 views across Liverpool from the 15th floor viewing platform 鈥� a true 鈥榖ucket list鈥� must-see attraction.
Tip:
Guided tours take around 70 minutes, with each group limited to 14 people to ensure that everyone gets a great view and the chance to capture images. Visitors are allowed access to all areas inside and outside of the building 鈥� from the marble lobby to the roof and a climb up the "chicken stairway" under the Liver Bird cupola. Yes, you can climb to as high as it gets and it is quite an incredible, unique experience, but to get tickets, you need to book well in advance.
Before booking tickets, prospective visitors should note that the tour is physically demanding and requires the negotiation of 124 steps, 71 of which are a narrow spiral stone staircase. The tour is also not open to children under seven years of age.
Opened in 1911, the Royal Liver Building was originally constructed as the headquarters for the Royal Liver Assurance Group, established in 1850 to assist families coping with the loss of a wage earner. It was a pioneering achievement in architecture, being one of the first buildings globally to utilize reinforced concrete in its construction. At 98.2 meters (322 feet) to the spires and 103.7 meters (340 feet) to the top of the iconic Liver Birds, it was once among the tallest buildings in the United Kingdom and remains the fourth-tallest building in Liverpool.
The building鈥檚 fa莽ade is crowned by two prominent clock towers, allowing sailors on the River Mersey to determine the time as they passed. Manufactured by Gent and Company of Leicester, the clock faces measuring an impressive 7.6 meters (25 feet) in diameter, larger than those of London鈥檚 Great Westminster Clock (Big Ben). Unique among such landmarks, the clocks feature no numerals, only facets marking the hours, and are powered by a single mechanism.
Atop the towers stand the iconic Liver Birds, designed by Carl Bernard Bartels. These 5.5-meter (18-foot) mythical cormorants symbolize Liverpool, with Bella watching the sea and Bertie guarding the city鈥攐r, as locals joke, checking pubs and sailors. Crafted from copper and chained in place, they carry seaweed sprigs in their beaks, a nod to the city鈥檚 maritime heritage. Legend warns that if they ever flew away, Liverpool would cease to exist.
Overlooking the River Mersey, the Royal Liver Building is a cherished Liverpool landmark, celebrating the city's maritime heritage and captivating all with its iconic Liver Birds and rich history.
Why You Should Visit:
In September 2019, during the UK Heritage Open Days, for the first time in its 100+ year history, the Royal Liver Building unlocked its doors to the public with the launch of Royal Liver Building 360, a brand new fully guided tower tour offering a world-class audiovisual experience complete with panoramic 360掳 views across Liverpool from the 15th floor viewing platform 鈥� a true 鈥榖ucket list鈥� must-see attraction.
Tip:
Guided tours take around 70 minutes, with each group limited to 14 people to ensure that everyone gets a great view and the chance to capture images. Visitors are allowed access to all areas inside and outside of the building 鈥� from the marble lobby to the roof and a climb up the "chicken stairway" under the Liver Bird cupola. Yes, you can climb to as high as it gets and it is quite an incredible, unique experience, but to get tickets, you need to book well in advance.
Before booking tickets, prospective visitors should note that the tour is physically demanding and requires the negotiation of 124 steps, 71 of which are a narrow spiral stone staircase. The tour is also not open to children under seven years of age.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Liverpool. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Royal Liver Building on Map
Sight Name: Royal Liver Building
Sight Location: Liverpool, England (See walking tours in Liverpool)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Liverpool, England (See walking tours in Liverpool)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Liverpool, England
Create Your Own Walk in Liverpool
Creating your own self-guided walk in Liverpool is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Beatles Tour in Liverpool, Part I
The hometown of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Star, Liverpool is called 鈥淭he Beatles Capital鈥� for a reason. The city saw the dawn of the Fabulous Four's musical career and is brimming with Beatlemania: Beatles-themed bars, restaurants, hotels, and other places associated with the iconic band.
The Beatles Story, an immersive museum, chronicles the Fab... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
The Beatles Story, an immersive museum, chronicles the Fab... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Beatles Pub Crawl
Alright, so you're in Liverpool, the hometown of The Beatles, and you're thirsty. There are lots of pubs in Liverpool, all different in character, with some claiming that The Beatles drank or played there at some point.
Indeed, the lads performed in many small venues throughout the city, but the joints they usually played were not the ones they liked for their drinks. Now, if... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
Indeed, the lads performed in many small venues throughout the city, but the joints they usually played were not the ones they liked for their drinks. Now, if... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
Liverpool Historical Sites Walking Tour
For a city steeped in history and culture as much as Liverpool, it is only natural to have many historical sites illustrative of its glorious past. Three of Liverpool's most remarkable buildings, collectively known as the Three Graces of Liverpool, are situated in the Pier Head. These include the Royal Liver Building, the Cunard Building, and the Port of Liverpool Building.
The... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles
The... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles
Beatles Tour in Liverpool, Part II
Liverpool is permeated with The Beatles who seem to be everywhere! There are so many places associated with the band in the city: childhood homes, schools, bars... Some of them are rather unassuming, at a glance, and thus can be easily overlooked.
George Harrison's Birthplace, located at 12 Arnold Grove, is where the lead guitarist of The Beatles was born on February 25, 1943. Despite its... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
George Harrison's Birthplace, located at 12 Arnold Grove, is where the lead guitarist of The Beatles was born on February 25, 1943. Despite its... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Beatles Tour in Liverpool, Part III
Now that you have been to a good number of spots around Liverpool associated with The Beatles, it is high time to explore the 鈥渆arly days鈥� of the Fab Four in their hometown and see where it all started.
One such place is Strawberry Field, immortalized in their song "Strawberry Fields Forever." It was a Salvation Army children's home, and although the original building no... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.3 Km or 3.3 Miles
One such place is Strawberry Field, immortalized in their song "Strawberry Fields Forever." It was a Salvation Army children's home, and although the original building no... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.3 Km or 3.3 Miles
Liverpool Introduction Walking Tour
Famously, the hometown (aka the 鈥渃apital鈥�) of the Beatles, Liverpool is more than just the Fab Four. Closely associated with the arts, music, culture, and architecture, as well as industrial innovation, the city is renowned for its multitude of historic landmarks, world-class sport arenas and shopping/entertainment. The abundance of art galleries, national museums and listed attractions in... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles