UKC

Anyone recommend a hotel or b and b in Liverpool ? It's my other half's birthday and she fancies a weekend in Liverpool but have no idea whee to stay and don't really trust the online reviews , thanks

In reply to climber34neil:

There are lots of places to stay in Liverpool however depends what your aims are whilst you are there and what your budget is.

You cant go too wrong with the usual budget hotels in the city centre if you are just looking for a bed to sleep in however if you are looking for somewhere a bit nicer the Malmaison, Hard Days night hotel and even the Jury's inn arent too bad.

I would say however avoid the Adelphi.

In reply to climber34neil:

I stayed at the Novotel recently very nice hotel, city centre location right by the main shopping area and the docks plus its got swimming pool and spa facilities etc.

In reply to JohnO1978:

Hard days's night is a good hotel and where I recommend work visitors to stay. Never heard anything good about the Adelphi.

In reply to climber34neil:

A couple of friends stayed here recently and were complimentary:
http://rmstitanichotel.co.uk/

In reply to climber34neil:

If you want something cheap and secure there's a lot of newly built student accommodation that I think is let out over the summer. Not sure if it is worth it for a weekend. Also some of it is in the "not brilliant" bits of the city (though most is within walking distance of the centre).

As others have said, avoid the Adelphi. Also avoid the Hanover as it is supposedly very noisy unless you don't mind that.

There is a Premier, Ibis and Holiday Inn all within a stones throw of each other around the Albert Dock which has some decent places to eat and drink and is handy for doing the Ferry across the Mersey. We have had friends stay in each of those with nothing particularly bad to say over the years other than what everyone says about chain hotels.

In reply to JohnO1978:

Thanks all for the suggestions , will look into those. Was thinking of somewhere fairly central so can enjoy the night life without having to drive and within walking distance to Albert docks, unless there is anywhere there. I did look at the ibis at Albert docks but I thought it was quite expensive for an ibis ( our local one is £29 per night, about £130 for the Albert docks!)

In reply to climber34neil:

If you're prepared to be adventurous and take a risk, I would HIGHLY recommend the Adelphi - it is extraordinarily scruffy, but it's a fascinating building full of faded glory and Liverpool history. If you get a room online it can be £50 b & b, it's in the centre of town, and if you get lucky you get a suite the size of a football pitch!

In reply to climber34neil:

The Staybridge suits is well worth a look. Near the docks, and is a lot more relaxed than a traditional hotel.

In reply to Rob Exile Ward:

I wouldn't say I'd exactly recommend The Adelphi, it's quite tatty, the breakfast isn't that great and in my experience (3 visits!) the rooms had certainly been cleaned but hadn't had a thorough clean for some time (never mind a refurb). That said, it is generally cheap, well located and certainly has character (most the other hotels in the area seem to have all the charm of a box of cornflakes). It's quite nice to be supporting somewhere like that rather than a prefab Holiday Inn. If you do go take some earplugs and pliers (in case you need to 'adjust' the heating yourself).

In reply to robhorton:

Something to think about then! Just looked on their website, they are more expensive than the chain type hotels!

In reply to climber34neil:

There's a room free at Cilla's house.

In reply to climber34neil:

I'd forget the city centre and stay ' over the water' on the Wirral, more precisely in New Brighton.

I've stayed at the Sherwood Guest House on a number of ocassions. Only minutes from the station for a swift ride into Liverpool ( 20 mins).

Check it out on Tripadvisor, I've left a couple of reviews :

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g528777-d1067269-Reviews-Sherwood...

In reply to climber34neil:

Let laterooms.com or booking.com be your friend.

In reply to Pyreneenemec:

I live in New Brighton. Train to the centre is about 24 mins. Moorfields station is currently being refurbished (almost done I think) and you have to get off at either Lime Street or Central. Be aware there are no night buses anymore though that go past Hamilton Square in Birkenhead. So it is now a last train /or taxi through the tunnel job if you go out drinking.

In reply to Rob Exile Ward:


I've had some pretty unpleasant experiences using such sites, often getting very poor customer service from the hotels concerned. It may cost a little more but booking direct with a hotel is usually far better. They all have a web site so why mess around with an intermediary ? You can always try and negotiate a better deal : free breakfast or meal vouchers / room upgrade.

In reply to ultrabumbly:


Assuming that the OP is 'not out on the town' until the early hours, New Brighton is still a good option !

I particularly enjoy the walk along the prom to the ferry at Seacombe in the morning, helps the digestion after a huge breakfast !

In reply to ultrabumbly:

Not New brighton/wallasey, if considering the wirral, West kirby is much nicer and about the same distance by train

In reply to goldmember:

Yeah I wouldn't be inclined to stay in either to be honest when visiting Liverpool. Or if you are prepared to stay that far out you can also look at Chester for accommodation. West Kirby and the like can be hard to get accommodation if there are any golf or (less so)sailing type events on.

Worst part about New Brighton is being 4km from the climbing walls with a much longer round trip.

In reply to ultrabumbly:


clearly you haven't been to New Brighton ; )

Adelphi is a beautiful building great for a night to soak in the history, so grand

In reply to goldmember:






Apart from the detruction of the out-door swimming pool, I think the renovation of New Brighton has been done very tastefully. The new theatre attracts first-class performers ( Ken Dodd- did I really say that ! ) and the 'mini-golf' puts to shame any other I've ever played on !

Apologies to the OP for hi-jacking the thread !

In reply to Pyreneenemec:

I served my time there, stuck between Wallasey/Liscard and the new front. A polished poo, Is still a poop

In reply to goldmember:

Bits of CH45 are very nice and some are 'orrible. I use the new gym up at Guinea Gap and around there is certainly mostly grim and probably where you are talking about. I avoid it all by going along the front. The only issue we ever have is when cretins miss the last train from a day getting sunburnt while passed out on White Lightning at "the dips" and stumble along our road in search of alternative means of getting home. That hasn't been an issue since night buses stopped running really. We used to call it Lobster season. It's worth living here for having the front nearby to run or bike along away from traffic. Marine Point I hope will get better now the casino has shut. The only thing we make use of there is the supermarket and the small but modern cinema. The place would be an ideal commuter spot for Liverpool if they ever reintroduced a Ferry (can't see it happening).

In reply to ultrabumbly:


A new pier/ floating landing stage at New Brighton would not be excessively expensive and would probably qualify for E.U funding. Hard to believe it's not already been done! I have fond memories of going to New Brighton on the ferry with my nan and visiting the out-door swimming pool, even though I was already spoiled as I lived in Southport!

I've been to the Grosvenor casino a few times and always enjoyed myself. Admittedly it was mid-week and most of the players were Chinese ! They even provided a free Chinese buffet on Monday nights- quite a feast !

In reply to krikoman:


Berkshire isn't very convenient for the Albert Dock!

In reply to climber34neil:

My only advice would be check the football fixtures before trying to book. I once fancied a weekend in Liverpool taking in the match and was astonished to find that everywhere was booked up. Had to stay in Knutsford in the end....

The B+B's and hotels kept saying "ah..its the match you see" to which I replied "but don't Liverpool fans actually live in Liverpool and not need a hotel?"

I think its something to do with large contingents coming over from Ireland, but if I'm completely wrong someone will be along in a minute to correct me

In reply to Babika:

Liverpool FC is an "export club" the same as Man United with supporters clubs all over the place. Surprising number in places like Malaysia.

In reply to Babika:

That's spot on, I used to manage a city centre hotel, we did a cheap room rate to get coach loads of Irish supporters in. The bar was open 23 hours a day over football weekends, it closed at breakfast time to hose out the vomit and blood then reopened. The Irish (sweeping generalisation) seem to exist mainly on a diet of sausages, we generally ordered 3 times what we thought we'd need and this was usually just enough.
It was absolute infuriating chaos but some of the most memorable times of my life, mostly for good reasons.

In reply to Mooncat:

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?

In reply to climber34neil:


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.

In reply to Mooncat:

Thanks, not a beetles fan at all but the rest sounds good (I'm even intreged to see bootle now!)

In reply to climber34neil:

I almost forgot, I've also stayed here a couple of times, when there was 3 or 4 of us :

http://www.trafalgarwarehouseapartments.co.uk


Just 1 minute from Lime Street station- awesome warehouse conversion !

In reply to Pyreneenemec:

My fav little hidden gem for some grub is the Egg cafe, great food, lovely people and music a BYOB place

In reply to Mooncat:

I agree that the Strand is one of the those have I just seen that sort of places but Bootle itself is fine. I currently live in Bootle due to work, yes its a poor town and has some real deprivation in parts but there are parts of most cities in the UK way worse than anything Bootle can serve up. Some parts of Bootle are great to live in with very little trouble like where I live at the moment.

I do agree there is nothing here for a tourist other than passing through to the Iron men!!

In reply to Alan M:

I had a 12 month tour in bootle. its very deprived but the people are great. Its really handy for the hanger and awesome walls.

In reply to Alan M:



I work with people who love living there, I'm based in 2 offices in Bootle and they're either side of the Strand so I don't get to see much more than that. Even when I was in the plod if it was a choice between Bootle and Toxteth, it'd be Toxteth every time, quite like it there actually.

In reply to goldmember:
The town is predominantly deprived but some areas of the town do buck the local trend. Its street by street though I mean the estates around the Strand/Marsh Lane etc are a completely different world to the estate just a little inland.

Like I say the area I live in at the moment I have absolutely no issues with it, you hear horror stories about the place (Bootle) but the reality is completely different. I would happily buy a house in this part of the town the house are big, the gardens are huge, you can get several coaches on the front drive and a footy team can train in the back garden

In reply to Mooncat:
Yeah my office is near to the strand also, so I can understand your point (Marsh Lane, the border with Kirkdale, Knowsley Road etc) very very deprived but there are pockets of the town that buck the trend and if wasn't for the Bootle part of the address you would swear that they weren't in Bootle.

In reply to Alan M:


I walk up from Oriel Road station sometimes if I'm working in Merton Road, there's a road I walk up and it's lovely, like a little oasis, it must have been quite an affluent area years ago.

In reply to Mooncat:

We must have passed each other at some point we work in the same area and use the same train station.

Yeah there are some beautiful houses in that area, some parts of the town must have been very affluent at some point in the past, its a shame overall the town declined. A little bit further in towards Oxford Road a friend recently purchased a 6 bedroom with basement and garden for little over 100K, unbelievable value. The street is well maintained and clean, so are all of the other houses and the park he over looks.

In reply to Alan M:



According to indices of deprivation, the North of Liverpool contains some of the most deprived areas in England - mostly in the top 100 deprived areas (out of 32482) in the country. Areas around Walton are in the top ten worst places. My experience of Bootle matches those findings (18 years living and working in the area) with all of the attendant problems that you'd associate with these conditions. There are some nice streets, I can think of one cul-de-sac down by Trinity Road and the area between Southport Road and along one side of Derby Park. However, on the whole the place is very deprived. Gangs and crime are a bad problem in the area. I work in a school in the area and see the evidence of this regularly.

In reply to climber34neil:

County Road lad here who went to School in Bootle (Savio) living in W.Derby now. Agreed with what most people have put, deprived area with generally nice, decent people in amongst a few bad 'uns.
Bootle was my old stomping ground in my earliy twenties, used to drink in the Merton and the Yates by the Strand when I was on leave from the Army.

As someone else has mentioned, its great for being close to the Hangar and Awesome walls!

In reply to climber34neil:

You've probably decided now (I've only skimmed this) but I've stopped in Liverpool a fair bit recently. About 8 to 9 weeks of last year was spent in hotels there, and about 2 to 3 of this year.

Without a doubt my favourite hotel there is the Malmaison. It's brilliantly located, staff are fantastic and it's one of few hotels I actually sleep well in.

The aesthetic is very dark and purple, which some don't like, drinks are also pricey if you're having anything at the bar but the nightly rate is usually fairly reasonable.

In reply to Kieran_John:

Thanks , have already booked but I'm sure we will go again so will bare it in mind for next time

In reply to climber34neil:

A bit late to this thread , but it is worth checking out the hotels around Sefton Park, The Alicia, is part of the feather chain, he has about 3 hotels in Liverpool.