In reply to climber34neil:
> Thanks all for the replies and the interesting discussion on the finer points of some areas over others! Sorted now with a room at Albert docks and quite looking forward to being a shameless tourist for a weekend! I guess the next question should be what to do while we are there? Follow the tourist trail to the no doubt now overpriced and overcrowded attractions like the cavern club (I'm not a beetles fan though) or go to the art galleries and pretend I understand the message that the artist is trying to convey? Personally I would prefer the art options, any other suggestions?
Unless you're a die hard Beatles fan don't bother with any of the Beatles stuff. Liverpool is good for cultural stuff, plenty of good architecture, a ferry ride as an essential, you have the Tate Gallery at The Albert Dock there's usually a paid exhibition on but lots is free. The Walker Gallery is mainly more traditional and IMO the nicer gallery and next to St Georges Hall and Liverpool Museum, there's a very good Mayan exhibition on there at the moment.
Alternatively you could get the bus/train to the Strand in Bootle, count the amputees and pretend you're on safari. Seriously though, don't go to Bootle.