BY TRAIN

Inter-city trains arrive at, and depart from,
Liverpool Lime Street, which is in the city centre.
For inquiries, phone 08457 484950; for bookings, phone
08457 222333.

There is generally an hourly service from London
Euston to Liverpool. The journey time is around 2
hours, 30 minutes

The cost of a return London to Liverpool ticket in a
standard class carriage ranges from £24 to £175
depending on what time you travel and when you book
your ticket.

Virgin Trains, who operate the London to Liverpool
route, encourage passengers to book in advance, and
the fares vary accordingly.

Below, we offer a guide to prices. We think it is
useful. But the price structure is so complicated that
the best advice we can give is double-check the
details yourself. And buy your tickets before you
board the train; only very expensive tickets are now
sold on the train.

VIRGIN VALUE TICKETS:
In June 2005, a return Virgin Value ticket could be
bought for £24 if booking at least a fortnight in
advance, depending on availability, rising to £34 if
booking at least seven days in advance, or £46 (three
days in advance).
Alternatively, you can buy Virgin Value one-way
tickets from London to Liverpool for as little as £12
(booking at least 14 days in advance).
However, with Virgin Value tickets you have to specify
the date and time of your journey. The availability of
such tickets is restricted to off-peak trains and
subject to supply and demand.

SAVER TICKETS:
A return Saver ticket can be bought on the day of
travel for £55. On Saturdays and Sundays there are NO
restrictions on when a Saver ticket may be used. But
on WEEKDAYS there are restrictions on what times you
can travel with a Saver ticket.

On weekdays (Mondays to Fridays), the earliest train
on which you can use a £55 Saver ticket FROM LONDON to Liverpool is the 9.18am departure.

On weekdays a £55 Saver ticket CANNOT be used on the
3.18pm, 4.18pm or 5.18pm departures from London.

On weekdays (Mondays to Fridays) the first train on
which you can use a £55 Saver ticket FROM LIVERPOOL to London is the 9.15am.

Please note that while the price of a Saver Return is
£55, and the return journey must be made within a
month, the price of a Saver Single is an astonishing
£54!

Prices may be cheaper for holders of certain
railcards. Discounts are available for group travel.

For inquiries, and to check the details listed above,
phone 08457 484950; for bookings, phone 08457 222333.

ON ARRIVAL:
Many people wander off the train, pulling suitcases on wheels, looking confused. Some want a taxi, which is usually easily solved; others have been told their hotel is in walking distance, but cannot see it in the distance.

TAXIS: - There are taxi ranks to the left and right of the station. For more information on taxis, go to the Getting Around page (see taxi logo, top right). For LEFT LUGGAGE, see further below.

EXITS: - There are three.

1) In the middle, down a flight of steps. From here, you can see the city centre Marriott Hotel, 100 yards away. Note that across the road from the Marriott is the Queen Square tourist information centre, which is not visible from the train station steps.

2) To the right (by the ticket office and toilets). There is a taxi rank here. Use this exit for walking to nearby Gladstone and Lord Nelson hotels and little else.

3) To the left (by the left luggage). You should see a taxi rank across the road. Coming out of this exit, turn right for main shopping area.

FIRST impressions of Liverpool from Lime Street station are not the best. There is a tatty parade of shops in front of part of the station and an ugly 1960s office block. The St John's shopping precinct is another legacy of 1960s' planners.

Walk left along Lime Street, towards the Adelphi, and one is confronted by boarded-up buildings. At least, they conform to all those stereotyped images.

DON'T despair - there are many beautiful buildings in Liverpool city centre. Some are very close to Lime Street station too. There is (1) St George's Hall, (2) the Victorian former North Western Hotel that stands over part of the station and (3) the buildings in William Brown Street, behind St George's Hall. It should be pointed out too that there are plans to improve Lime Street.

LEFT LUGGAGE:
Open daily at 7am. Closes at 9pm, Mondays to Thursdays; closes 11pm, Fridays to Sundays. Cost is £5 per item for up to 24 hours, and £5 for each additional 24 hours or part thereof. Since October 2004, the left luggage facility has been situated in the corner of Lime Street station furthest away from the ticket office.

The left luggage facility is operated by the Excess Baggage Company. For further information, phone 0800 8566855.