Although city living is my vibe, I haven’t spent a whole lot of time in many of the UK’s major cities, bar London, which I call home. I’ve stayed in Manchester for Pride, I’ve shopped in Birmingham, but I hadn’t ever ventured up to the west coast to spend time in Liverpool.
However, now I can say I have, spending an enjoyable weekend up in Merseyside, and one that I don’t think I’ll be forgetting any time soon. And one of the reasons that the city will stay in my memory is because of where I stayed, the Radisson Red. Just outside Liverpool Lime Street station, if you’re a Londoner fancying some time in the home of the Beatles and Cilla Black, then you can’t get a better location.
On top of that, the hotel boasts luxurious rooms, a dinner menu to die for (especially on a Sunday), and with its prime location, if you want to savour a special moment in the dockside city, then you really can’t go far wrong.
Location and travelling there
Being a Londoner, the easiest way for me to travel up to Liverpool was on an Avanti train, and while I was imagining that I would be spending around half a day in a train carriage, many of the trips come out at just under three hours!
Travelling first-class in an Avanti train was an experience like no other, with exclusive access to the station lounge, which is filled with sweet treats. You’re also treated like a VIP when you’re on the train, with a menu that could rival some restaurants, things were prepared in an actual kitchen, instead of just being handed off the trolley. I never expected to have an afternoon tea on the train, but I loved every second of it.
Arriving at Liverpool Lime Street, the hotel is one of the grandest buildings that you will see as you exit, with the original building being designed by Alfred Waterhouse, who designed London’s Natural History Museum. We were barely walking for five minutes in the chilly air before arriving in the grand foyer. With such wide-open spaces, it feels like you’ve stepped into somewhere special when you arrive and with handy staff, we were checked in within minutes. Annoyingly, during the trip, the weather was not on our side, but thankfully a rack of umbrellas were available to shield us from the heavy downpours.
The hotel’s interiors were the perfect love letter to the city, with a red bike in the centre of the foyer to greet guests with ornate chandeliers and a grand staircase casting an imposing figure, almost like you’ve walked into your own private manor house. Artwork running across the walls also pays tribute to the likes of The Beatles, and I always chose a trip down the stairs and along the long corridors in order to savour this, instead of just hopping in the lift and heading straight down.
Rooms
The rooms in the Radisson Red felt like a home away from home. While for me, relaxing and unwinding was the main thing on the agenda, if you’re staying on a working visit, super strong WiFi means you’ll never end up disconnected, while there’s a large desk for working. The flat-screen TV also has multiple channels, so while my friend was in the shower, I was able to catch up on some shows in the meantime, there’s almost nothing like binge-watching while on holiday.
The bathroom was gorgeous, and while the room offered views of the city, with my room having a nice look at the market stalls down below, the bathroom was entirely closed off without windows, guaranteeing that sense of privacy that can sometimes be missing. While some hotel showers can be baffling to use, the Radisson Red’s was easy to use, while the shampoos and body washes smelled divine, and left my skin feeling silky smooth.
Dining
Despite being just metres away from the check-in desk, the restaurant, named the Stoke, felt entirely self-contained. With my stay happening over a Sunday, I was lucky enough to try the Radisson Red’s delicious Sunday menu, and this was one of the most impressive parts. Guests are offered a range of meats, from eight-hour slow braised beef or roasted lamb shoulder to half a chicken and honey-roasted gammon; with a vegan wellington for vegetarians.
Beef is my go-to meat of choice for a Sunday option, and the slices that I had while here were absolutely succulent. The trimmings were the standard broccoli, carrots, roasties and Yorkshire puddings, and this was the best roast I’ve ever had in a hotel.
The standard breakfast options were also a delight, with the selection making you feel all the way away from home, even though I was in the same country.
What to do in Liverpool
With its central location, the Radisson Red is in the perfect location to allow you to explore Liverpool. During my stay, the only form of public transportation I needed was the train to get to and from Liverpool. My friend and I were able to explore several of the city’s iconic landmarks from its gorgeous harbour, to statues of Cilla Black, to the astounding Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. I can’t say whether I’ve seen a more beautiful structure in all my years in this country, and even though neither of us are particularly religious, and yet both of us were inspired to explore its interiors.
The city centre is also home to the Junkyard Golf Club, an indoor golf complex with three different courses. My friend and I chose the horror-themed circus course, which provided plenty of laughs with holes that suit everyone of all skillsets, although the less we speak about my efforts on the final hole the better…
During our extended stay in Liverpool, we able to experience several of the bars and pubs that make up the city, and my favourite by far had to be The Munro. Less than a 15-minute walk from the Radisson Red, the exterior resembles an ancient Greek temple, and given how used I am to London prices, it was relaxing to be able to buy a round in for under a tenner. Inside, the interiors and atmosphere provide one of the best welcomes I’ve had in a pub, and whenever I return to the city, the Munro will also be part of my itinerary.
Final thoughts
For my first trip to Liverpool, I couldn’t have asked for more. For me, convenience is key when exploring a new city during a break, and with its location within walking distance of everything I needed, the Radisson Red fulfilled that brief in full. Gorgeous exteriors and magnificent rooms, alongside decadent food, also just improve the whole experience.
Rooms start around £85 per night. Book here for a stay
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