The Labour Party Conference: 12 places to visit while you’re in Liverpool

All eyes will be on Liverpool when the Labour Party Conference is held in the city this September.

The Labour Party Conference will be the first chance for new Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his top team to take to the stage after their General Election win in July – and it might be the first time many of them and their supporters have arrived on Merseyside.

So, if you’re new to the city or you want to learn more, here’s 12 places to head to.

The Beatles Story

It’s the biggest Beatles exhibition in the world which is why hundreds of thousands of people walk through its doors at the Royal Albert Dock every year. 

There’s little you can’t learn about the Fab Four and their rise to fortune and fame in this immersive experience with key places like Abbey Road Studios, NEMS Record Store and The Cavern Club recreated, and loads of unique memorabilia. 

More info here.

RLB360

Not too far from where the conference is taking place, party faithfuls can get a Liver Bird’s eye view of the city and learn more about one of Liverpool’s most iconic landmarks, The Royal Liver Building.

Taking pride of place on the famous waterfront, it’s a symbol of the city, its history, and its people, and the RLB360 tour will help you find out more about the famous building, while treating you to a state-of-the-art projection inside the historic clock tower.

More info here.

Museum of Liverpool

The Museum of Liverpool reflects the city’s global significance through its geography, history and culture and visitors can explore how the port, its people, and their creative and sporting history have shaped the city. 

New to the museum – and just in time for visitors attending the LPC in September – will be The Holly Johnson Story, charting the Frankie Goes to Hollywood singer’s life and career.

More info here.

Western Approaches

The Western Approaches Museum offers the chance to explore Derby House, a key operational hub during World War Two, and once the nerve-centre for the war-defining Battle of the Atlantic.

The maze-like bunker is as it was in 1945 and you can see original documents, tools, and maps used to analyse the enemy, plus one of two surviving phones that had a direct line to Churchill’s War Rooms! Surely a politician’s must-see attraction?

More info here.

Splash Tours

Newly-launched at the beginning of August, Splash Tours offers six daily tours on land – and on water – from the Royal Albert Dock. The tours will showcase major landmarks like the Royal Liver Building, Liverpool Cathedral, the Bombed Out Church, the Chinese Arch, and St George’s Hall from new amphibious vehicles.

More info here.

Maritime Museum

As well as one of the best Titanic Exhibitions, Merseyside’s Maritime Museum boasts ‘Life on Board’, exploring the fascinating stories of Liverpool’s seafarers and passengers.

It highlights the stories of merchant sailors who drove the city’s prosperity, and people who sailed on leisure liners from the 1700s to the present day (and it’s also home to Border Force National Museum: Seized! The Border & Customs uncovered, and The Old Dock Tours).

More info here.

LFC Museum at Anfield

There’s bound to be a few Reds (!) among visitors for the Labour Party Conference, and at the LFC Museum they’ll be able to learn more about the club’s history, with areas dedicated to LFC greats past and present, and an awe-inspiring collection of football memorabilia.

As well as all the major trophies – including the six European Cups – for a limited time only there’s a tribute to Jürgen Klopp alongside iconic memorabilia from the former boss.

More info here.

British Music Experience

You can learn about the history of British music from post-war jazz to the Summer of Love, right through to today and see costumes and memorabilia from pop stars like Adele and the now-reunited Oasis! Visitors can go in the Gibson Interactive Studio and set their inner rock star free, and there’s currently a ‘Girl Power! Spice Girls at 30’ exhibition (and who doesn’t love Scary, Sporty and co?).

More info here.

The Cavern Club

Surely the ‘ayes’ will have it if anyone’s offered the chance to visit ‘the most famous club in the world’, home to where the Beatles – and others – began, and now a destination music venue in its own right? The Cavern pays tribute to its past while giving new music artists the chance to perform on its three stages.

More info here.

The Walker Art Gallery

As the ‘National Gallery of the North’ the Walker’s always worth a visit but it’s better than ever after a multi-million pound refurbishment. 

It’s got one of the most important painting collections in the UK including European Renaissance paintings, masterpieces by Rubens, Rembrandt, Turner and Stubbs, Pre-Raphaelite artworks by Rossetti and Millais, Impressionist works by Monet and Degas and contemporary works by Hockney, alongside current exhibitions like Metamorphosis by Johnny Vegas and Emma Rodgers.

More info here.

Liverpool Cathedral

There’s no better time to visit Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral than in its centenary year, celebrating 100 years since it was officially consecrated in 1924. The gothic-style cathedral is the largest in Britain and the fifth largest in the world, and as well as being open daily for worship it’s holding celebratory events in its special year – and its Welsford Bistro is always a great place to eat.

More info here.

St George’s Hall

If you’re travelling into the city for the Labour Party Conference by train, St George’s Hall is one of the very first things you’ll see as you step out of Lime Street – and what a vision it is: one of the finest neo-classical buildings in the world. You can enjoy guided tours of the Liverpool landmark and experiences like The History Whisperer which bring it to life.  You might even remember it as a screen star if you’ve watched blockbusters like The Batman, and TV series including The War of the Worlds and Peaky Blinders.

More info here.

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