Liverpool, UK - British Isles & North West Europe Cruises

Discover the fascinating history surrounding the unique and picturesque village of Port Sunlight.

Port Sunlight is arguably the finest surviving example of early urban planning in the UK. The late 19th century village was built by philanthropist William Hesketh Lever (later Viscount Leverhulme) to house his soap factory workers at Lever Brothers, now trading as the global giant Unilever. Lever’s passion for art and architecture is evident throughout the village, which is now a conservation area.

Enjoy a leisurely drive around this unique village which is set in 130 acres of beautifully maintained parkland. Approximately 900 houses have been built along with some larger ‘principal’ buildings and nearly every building is Grade II listed. Lever employed over 30 different architects in the building of the village and the result is an intoxicating mix of architectural styles enhanced by the parkland setting giving tranquil scenes of great beauty.

After your orientation of the village, you’ll visit the Port Sunlight Museum, where you can discover the fascinating history of the village through exhibits and period displays. The Museum also houses a scale model of Port Sunlight.

From the Museum, you’ll visit the dramatic building of the Lady Lever Art Gallery. The Gallery is filled with treasures from Lever’s remarkable collection of paintings and decorative arts, which have since gained international renown. As well as a stunning collection of paintings, there are also Chinese collections, tapestries, sculpture, furniture, Wedgwood and classical antiquities.

Note: Your journey to Port Sunlight crosses the Mersey River by tunnel.

Experience the lively, cosmopolitan city of Liverpool with its rich architectural heritage from the comfort of your coach.

As you travel through Liverpool you will see many interesting sights, including the Royal Liver Building, with its towers topped by statues of mythical Liver Birds from which it is said the city took its name. Continuing through the oldest part of the city, see the Town Hall and the Cavern Quarter, where The Beatles performed at The Cavern Club many times. Close by are the notable buildings; the Walker Art Gallery and St George’s Hall.

A stop is made at the Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King to admire its giant wig-wam style design. The building is undoubtedly the major modern architectural attraction of the city. This unusual cathedral is topped by a spiked lantern tower containing 25,000 pieces of stained glass.

Passing through Chinatown, see the second of Liverpool’s great religious buildings - the Anglican Cathedral. Built in Gothic style from red sandstone, it is the largest cathedral in Britain.

Stop for a photograph at Penny Lane, made famous by The Beatles song of the same name, before returning to the city centre through more areas of parkland, along the reclaimed river frontage to the converted dockland areas of Albert Dock. Opened in 1846 as England’s gateway to the New World, Albert Dock is the largest group of Grade I listed buildings in Great Britain.

Note: The majority of sights are seen from the coach. There are toilet facilities located in the Cathedral. The order of sights may vary.

Experience the sights and sounds of The Beatles rise to fame on this interesting historical tour. A must for all Beatles fans.

The city of Liverpool was well known internationally long before The Beatles emerged from The Cavern in the swinging sixties, but the city is now a major attraction and mecca for countless numbers of fans and devotees of the ‘Fab Four’ and their music.

See the birthplaces, former homes, schools and venues of The Beatles as you view the city from your coach. Listen to their music as you see the places they wrote about, such as Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields. Your tour guide will recount the story of The Beatles as stops for photographs are made at places of interest.

Enjoy The Beatles Story, a multimedia exhibit which chronicles the ‘Fab Four’ from their childhood to their final break-up. The story unfolds in 18 audiovisual sets allowing you to experience The Beatles time in Hamburg as well as the sights and sounds of The Cavern Club as it appeared in 1961. Each feature reflects a time or place during The Beatles phenomenal rise to super-stardom.

Continue to Mathew Street, where you can enjoy a short walk to the site of The Cavern Club. Opened in 1957 as a jazz club, The Beatles made their first of nearly 300 performances here in February 1961. Their last performance was in August 1963, by which time they had become international stars.

Note: There is approximately one hour is spent at the Beatles Story and the venue is wheelchair accessible. There is 20 minutes leisurely walking along Mathew Street.

Explore the cosmopolitan city of Chester, one of Europe’s great heritage cities.

Visiting Chester is like taking a magical journey back in time with so much of the past in the streets, in the buildings, and in the air. One of the most historic settings in Britain, this interesting little city now guards an awe-inspiring legacy - 2,000 years of British heritage.

Enjoy a panoramic sightseeing tour of the city, with its pretty Victorian Eastgate Clock, the most photographed timepiece in the world after Big Ben, before visiting the majestic Chester Cathedral with its rich heritage. Afterwards there will be around 2½ hours of free time to explore Chester independently. If you choose to walk along part of the city’s walls, you will be rewarded with fine elevated views. Studded with historic towers and ancient gates in the form of imposing arches, the walls offer a bird’s eye view of the city centre on one side with magnificent views of the distant Welsh mountains on the other.

Not to be missed, and a magnet to every visitor, are Chester’s unique half timbered galleried shops on two levels, the foundations of which are 13th century. There are many examples of the black and white architecture – the most in Britain - giving Chester its outstanding medieval look.

Note: Luncheon has not been included to allow maximum flexibility; please carry local currency (Sterling). The visit to the Cathedral is optional. The journey to Chester is approximately 1¼ hours. Walking is at guests’ discretion.

Absorb the beautiful scenery en route to Conwy and visit its medieval Castle before stopping in the quaint town of Betws-y-Coed.

Discover the beauty of North Wales, with its heather clad hills and hidden river valleys. It is an area unspoilt by the ravages of time and abounding with legend and a rich cultural heritage.

Dominating the entrance to the historic walled town of Conwy stands Edward I’s mighty fortress of Conwy Castle. The castle’s impressive eight great towers and connecting walls are all intact. Conwy retains a distinctly medieval atmosphere, and its superbly preserved walls, punctuated by 21 towers and three gateways, form one of the most complete ancient wall circuits in Europe. This makes Conwy a masterpiece of medieval architecture and one of the most picturesque areas in Wales.

There is time to enjoy Conwy before travelling past pastures with grazing sheep alongside the placid meandering river on the way towards Llanrwst, a typically Welsh market town, boasting a famous old narrow humped bridge.

The town of Betws-y-Coed, although only 50 feet above sea level, is entirely surrounded by hill country of an average altitude of 1,000 feet. Not only the River Conwy, but also three tributaries flowing from the west, enhances the beauty of the surrounding countryside, and it has a distinctly Alpine atmosphere. There will be two hours’ free time to enable you to explore the beautiful area, browse the shops for gifts and purchase a delicious luncheon at one of the local restaurants.

Note: Luncheon is not included to allow maximum flexibility. Please remember to take local currency (Pounds Sterling).

Enjoy this fun and unusual tour of historic Liverpool by land and water in a special World War II amphibious military vehicle.

DUKWs (colloquially known as Ducks) are six-wheeled amphibious trucks created for use as military ship-to-shore transport during World War II. Today, the majority of them are used in cities as a unique way to see the local sights and attractions from both the land and water.

Your exclusive Duck will collect you from the ship and take you first by road around the vibrant maritime city of Liverpool. You’ll see the main sights including Cunard House, the ornate Liver Buildings, Queens Courts, the contemporary Metropolitan Cathedral, colourful China Town, the striking Anglican Cathedral and the many places associated with The Beatles. Your guide will provide you with an interesting and humorous commentary as you pass the many historical sights.

On arrival at the historic waterfront, you’ll experience the splashdown into Salthouse Dock. The tour then continues on the water through the South Docks, via Wapping and Queens Docks to Coburg Dock. Your Duck will then circle the famous Albert Dock before returning to dry land.

At the end of the tour you’ll have the option to stay in the Albert Dock complex for shopping and further sightseeing or you can remain on the Duck and return the ship.

Note: There are a few steep steps to embark the vehicle and there is no storage for wheelchairs. Guests are recommended to dress in layers as the vehicle is open-sided. Guests who opt to remain at Albert Dock are responsible for making their own way back to the ship.