www.liverpoolpictorial.co.uk

ALBERT DOCK

Restored Victorian dock and warehouses that today include Tate Gallery, The Beatles Story, Maritime Museum, hotels, shops, bars and restaurants. Note that the walkways and attractions are mainly under cover and there is no admission charge to the Albert Dock itself, which is the largest group of Grade 1 listed buildings in Britain.

It is named after Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert who opened the dock in 1846. Fell into disrepair in the 1970s but restored in the 1980s. Prince Charles in 1999 wrote: "It was my great great great grandfather who, when asked formally to open the eponymous Albert Dock complex, remarked that 'I have heard of the greatness of Liverpool but the reality far surpasses the expectation'."

YELLOW DUCKMARINE
Travel by 30-seat amphibious vehicle on a hour-long sightseeing tour of Liverpool's city centre, waterfront and docks. The former military craft motors along the roads then drives down a slipway into the water for a dockland voyage. Starts and finishes at the Albert Dock, L3 4AS. Adults £9.95; under-16s £7.95; Family Ticket (2 adults and 2 children) £29; Senior Citizens, students, registered disabled, carers £8.95. For journey times, phone 0151 708 7799. www.theyellowduckmarine.co.uk

BEATLES STORY
Won Mersey Tourism's Visitor Attraction of the Year Award 2002 and 2001. Clever use of music, memorabilia, photos and a warehouse cellar to create a walk-through experience that recreates the sights and sounds of the formative, chart-topping and most recent years of the Fab Four. Tour takes from around an hour to 90 minutes, depending on how long you wish to linger. Exhibits range from Lennon's lenses to George's first guitar. Open every day, except Dec 25 and 26; April to October, 10am to 6pm; November to March, 10am to 5pm. Admission: adults, £7.95; concessions £5.45; children £4.95; family pass, £23. Phone 0151 709 1963. www.thebeatlesstory.co.uk

MERSEYSIDE MARITIME MUSEUM
If you want an idea of how it was for the nine million emigrants who left Liverpool between 1830 and 1930 for new lives in America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, you must visit. Similarly, its Trans-Atlantic Slave Gallery is very evocative. Also has marvellous models of the Liverpool-registered Titanic and the Lusitania. Free admission. Open 10am to 5pm. Merseyside Maritime Museum, Albert Dock, L3 4AQ. Phone 0151 478 4499. www.nmgm.org.uk/maritime/index.html

FERRY CROSS THE MERSEY
Gives best view of the Liverpool waterfront, taking in its Three Graces - the Liver, Cunard and Port of Liverpool buildings - the Albert Dock and, behind them, the two cathedrals. Fifty-minute-long heritage cruises sail on the hour from the Pier Head on weekdays from 10am to 3pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 6pm. A commuter service operates before 10am, and from 4.15pm to 7.15pm on weekdays. All sailings call at Seacombe and Birkenhead Woodside. For details and prices, phone 0151 639 0609 or 0151 236 7676. www.merseyferries.co.uk

TATE GALLERY

The Albert Dock is home to the Tate

Tate Gallery Liverpool has Britain's largest gallery of modern and contemporary art outside London. Generally open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-6pm. Also open on Bank Holiday Mondays. Free entry to Tate Collection, but there is an admission charge (adults, £3; concessions, £2) for the special exhibitions. Recorded information phoneline, 0151 702 7402. For further details, phone 0151 702 7400. www.tate.org.uk/liverpool

HISTORIC WARSHIPS, BIRKENHEAD
Billed as Britain's Finest Collection of Fighting Ships. Includes the frigate HMS Plymouth and submarine HMS Onyx, both heavily involved in the Falklands War. The surrender of South Georgia was signed in the boardroom of HMS Plymouth. Also includes the mysterious U534, the only German submarine to be raised from the seabed after being sunk by the Allies. Sunk in May 1945 as she headed, it is thought by many, on a special mission to South America. The Historic Warships, East Float, Dock Road, Birkenhead. CH41 1DJ. For details of opening times and charges, phone 0151 650 1573. www.warships.freeserve.co.uk

MUSEUM of LIVERPOOL LIFE
Focuses on the social history of the city, ranging from political activity to religious faiths, and from production of Ford cars to the soldiers who served in the Kings Regiment, which traditionally draws on Merseyside. Also celebrates aspects of popular culture, ranging from the Merseybeat era to Brookside. Free admission. Open 10am to 5pm. Museum of Liverpool Life, Pier Head, L3 1PZ. Phone: 0151 478 4080. www.nmgm.org.uk/liverpoollife/index.html

LIVER BUILDING
This majestic building, topped by the 18ft high Liver Birds, has become synonmous with Liverpool. The clock faces on the Liver Building are the biggest in Britain, 30 inches wider than Big Ben in London. The building opened in 1911 as the headquarters of the Royal Liver Friendly Society, a workers' burial club formed in 1850. To enquire about guided tours, phone 0151 236 2748.

HM CUSTOMS and EXCISE NATIONAL MUSEUM
Tells the story of smugglers and duty men, from the 1700s to the present day. Includes hands-on displays where you can try and spot the suspect traveller and help search for contraband. It also houses the national collection of the UK's Customs & Excise - one of the most important of a small number of such collections held internationally. Free admission. Open 10am to 5pm. Housed in the Merseyside Maritime Museum, Albert Dock, L3 4AQ. Phone: 0151 478 4499 www.nmgm.org.uk/customs/index.html