Liverpool, England — Travel Tips
Getting There By Air
Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Tel: 0871 521 8484.
Website: www.liverpoolairport.com
Liverpool's John Lennon Airport lies 13km (8 miles) southeast of the city center.
Airport facilities
They include disabled access, car rental, currency exchange offices, ATMs, bars, restaurants, shops, prayer room and baby care facilities. There is a tourist information center in the main concourse where staff can provide information on the city's attractions and help with booking accommodation. Wi-Fi access is available and passengers can take advantage of the Halewood Executive Lounge.
Transport to the city
Located off the A561 on Speke Hall Avenue, the airport is easily accessed by car and is signposted from the M6. There is no railway station at the airport but Garston and Hunts Cross stations are nearby and easily reached by taxi. A half-hourly express bus service runs to the city center, and another shuttle service connects the airport with South Parkway station. There’s a hackney cab rank opposite the terminal, or you can try Mersey Cabs (tel: (0151) 298 2222; www.merseycabs.co.uk).
Getting There By Road
Liverpool is easily accessible via road and is signposted from the M6 and the M62 if traveling from the south and the M58 if traveling from the north.
Emergency breakdown services
AA (tel: 0800 887 766 or 0845 788 7766 from mobile phones; www.theaa.com) and RAC (tel: 0800 828 282; www.rac.co.uk).
Coach services
National Express (tel: 0871 781 8181; www.nationalexpress.com) operates regular coach services connecting Liverpool with various destinations in the UK including Victoria Coach Station in London. The National Express terminal is located in the center of the city on Norton Street within easy walking distance of Lime Street railway station in the northeast of the city.
Getting There By Rail
Rail Services
Lime Street station is the city's main railway station located in the northeast of the city center.
Rail Operators
Virgin Trains (tel: 08719 774 222; www.virgintrains.co.uk) operates numerous services to Liverpool including a fast service from London using the new tilting Pendolino trains capable of speeds of up to 201kph (125mph).
Other rail operators running services to Liverpool include Arriva Trains (tel: (0191) 520 4000; www.arriva.co.uk), London Midland (tel: 0844 811 0133; www.londonmidland.com) and First Great Western (tel: 0845 700 0125; www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk). For all train information, contact National Rail Enquiries (tel: 0845 748 4950; www.nationalrail.co.uk).
Getting Around in Liverpool, England
Public Transport
Public transport is excellent and is run by Mersey Travel (tel: (0151) 227 5181; www.merseytravel.gov.uk), which operates a comprehensive range of bus, train and ferry services throughout the city. Public transport runs frequently throughout the day and a number of bus services operate at night. Liverpool's two bus stations are on Roe Street and Paradise Street, closer to the center of the city. There is also an underground system that operates between the city's four main train stations (Lime Street, Central Station, James Street and Moorfields).
Taxis
There are many taxi ranks throughout the city including at all the major train and bus stations. They can also be hailed anywhere on the street. To pre-book a taxi, try Mersey Cabs (tel: (0151) 298 2222), Anfield Taxis (tel: (0151) 263 2222) or Central Radio Cars (tel: (0151) 260 1010).
Car Hire
There are numerous car hire companies operating in Liverpool. Avis (tel: 0844 581 0147; www.avis.co.uk) and Europcar (tel: (0151) 551 8205; www.europcar.co.uk) both have offices at the airport and in the city.
Bicycle Hire
You can hire bikes from the not-for-profit Liverpool Bicycle Cooperative (tel: (0151) 707 6116; www.liverpool-bicycle.co.uk), located in the central Bike Beat shop. The Merseyside Cycling Campaign (www.merseyworld.com/mcc) can offer information and advice for cycling routes in and around Liverpool.
