Open top bus tour, Liverpool Central Library, Walker Art Gallery and Radio Tower

The White Star Line building.
The Titanic was registered here

As the next day was sunny we decided to take the Explorer open top bus tour of Liverpool. So we braved the wind and took in the sites with our guide and attempted a few photos from the top of the bus. It was good to see the various parts of Liverpool and it was easier to understand the layout.

Afterwards we headed for the ferry port to get our photos standing with the statues of The Beatles, and as the wind seemed keener along the front we walked back into the city and went to the Central Library. Wow! I could live here. The staircases are wonderful and the roof is beautiful. So many floors, so many books, so much to do. They even have a writing clinic once a month and there is a lot of on local history - books, newspapers and the like. While my hubby was chatting to a lady in the local history section I was flicking through some of the local books, including one about the overhead railway that used to serve the docks and a book about Paul McCartney's paintings.

At the top of the building there is a roof terrace with great views across the city and the library is blessed with good toilets on every floor. The reading room downstairs is based on the great one in the British Museum in London - absolutely splendid. The library also boasts a Costa Coffee. If I lived in Liverpool I'd spend days in Central Library.

Next door is the Walker Art Gallery where we looked at the Victorian Treasures exhibition (PreRaphalite art) and stopped for refreshments. There was an interesting room of arts, craft and design with fashion, ceramics and some Burne Jones tiles.

Lastly we headed towards the local radio building (St John's Tower) in the St John's Shopping Centre and took a lift to the top. Here there is a viewing platform with 365 degree views across Liverpool. Stunning stuff.

We had one more day left in Liverpool. The weather looked as if it would hold. Joy!