Manchester, Chester and Liverpool

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We were in Manchester in 2003, and I remember it as a scruffy place, and it hasn’t really changed. I’ve never seen a place with so much chewing gum stuck to the pavements. The weather was miserable, and as we have booked ahead to the end of August, we had to leave, even though next day was beautiful. It’s a pity there weren’t a few cygnets, would have looked more poignant:-)

Swans and litter at the edge of the Manchester Ship Canal, Salford Quays, Manchester, England, UK
Swans and litter at the edge of the Manchester Ship Canal, Salford Quays, Manchester, England, UK

Chester is beautiful, maybe not as pretty as York, but probably more practical.

Black and white buildings in Chester, with beautiful clear blue sky and sunlight reflecting in windows, Cheshire, England, UK
Black and white buildings in Chester, with beautiful clear blue sky and sunlight reflecting in windows, Cheshire, England, UK

The black and white buildings were all extensively refurbished in Victorian times, so all look very smart.

Street market in Foregate Street, with the Eastgate Clock, Chester, Cheshire, England, UK
Street market in Foregate Street, with the Eastgate Clock, Chester, Cheshire, England, UK
Walkway on top of the town walls, Chester, Cheshire, England, UK
Walkway on top of the town walls, Chester, Cheshire, England, UK

The town still has its walls. Chester was besieged in the Civil War, and the wall was breached by cannon fire. You can see the repair, should have photographed it.

Newgate, Chester, with the Roman Garden in the background on the left, Cheshire, EWngland, UK
Newgate, Chester, with the Roman Garden in the background on the left, Cheshire, England, UK
The Old Dee Bridge and the River Dee, Chester, Cheshire, England, UK
The Old Dee Bridge and the River Dee, Chester, Cheshire, England, UK
Interior of Chester Cathedral, looking towards the West window and the mosaics on the North wall of the nave.
Interior of Chester Cathedral, looking towards the West window and the mosaics on the North wall of the nave.

The cathedral isn’t the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. Also extensively refurbished by the Victorians! They must have had a lot of money in those days.

The Town Hall in Chester, Cheshire, England, a Gothic Revival building opened in 1869.
The Town Hall in Chester, Cheshire, England, a Gothic Revival building opened in 1869.
A view of Chester down busy Eastgae Street, with the Rows and the Eastgate Clock, Cheshire, England, UK
A view of Chester down busy Eastgate Street, with the Rows and the Eastgate Clock, Cheshire, England, UK

We had a great day out in Liverpool, very, very sunny, quite dazzling. It couldn’t be more different from Manchester, it’s a lively, vibrant city with a lot going on.

The Roman Catholic Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, Merseyside, England.
The Roman Catholic Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, Merseyside, England.

Much nicer in real life than in photos!

Shoppers in Liverpool One, the shopping, residential and leisure complex in the centre of Liverpool, England, UK
Shoppers in Liverpool One, the shopping, residential and leisure complex in the centre of Liverpool, England, UK

This is a huge complex, very busy on this day (Saturday).

A narrowboat passing through the Liverpool Canal Link, in front of the Three Graces and the Mersey Ferries Building, Liverpool, England, UK
A narrowboat passing through the Liverpool Canal Link, in front of the Three Graces and the Mersey Ferries Building, Liverpool, England, UK
Museum of Liverpool from the Albert Dock, Liverpool, England, UK
Museum of Liverpool from the Albert Dock, Liverpool, England, UK
Museum of Liverpool, Pier Head, Liverpool, England, UK, by 3XN
Museum of Liverpool, Pier Head, Liverpool, England, UK, by 3XN
The 'Three Graces', historic buildings which dominate the Liverpool waterfront at Pier Head. They are the Royal Liver Building, the Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building.
The ‘Three Graces’, historic buildings which dominate the Liverpool waterfront at Pier Head. They are the Royal Liver Building, the Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building.

Look at that sky! I know you are used to it in NZ, even gets a bit boring, but one thing about the weather here is that you really appreciate the sun!

The Chinatown Arch on Nelson Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, England.
The Chinatown Arch on Nelson Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, England.

Lots to see in Liverpool, we would like to come back and maybe stay in a hotel in the town centre – getting there from our camp site was a bit long winded!

That’s all for now folks, tomorrow we are going to Oswestry. Where? I hear you ask. It’s handy for quite a few other places, such as Shrewsbury. We are now wending our way south towards Bristol, ready for our trip to Ibiza next month.

3 thoughts on “Manchester, Chester and Liverpool”

  2. Liverpool does look awesome. Does it look so good because it was such a sunny day I wonder? I see there are leaves on the trees finally. We are having an endless summer in NZ. It was sunny and 22 degrees all weekend in Tauranga. I’m still in my shorts and T-shirts! I might get a shock when I get to the English summer! Ha ha!!

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  3. It sure is where Paul is from. When we went and stayed with my Mum’s relatives in Manchester they were quite dismissive of Liverpool, and my Dad doesn’t have many fond memories of it. We’ll have to go to Liverpool next time we go to the UK .

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