24 things about Liverpool that will seriously surprise you even if you live here
Liverpool is a city that is popular with tourists from around the world - leaving it difficult to still hold secrets.
But our city has a few hidden gems and surprising, magical places still left to discover.
There’s plenty about Liverpool that even its inhabitants may not know, including secret bars and interesting facts.
So if you really want to explore Liverpool off the beaten track, take some unique photos and wow people with unusual facts, check out our guide below.
1. The Baltic Triangle has a farm
The Baltic FarmA sneak peek of what The Baltic Farm has in store 🌝🌼 . . . . #balticfarm #farmurban #liverpool #urbanfarming #ecostartup #urbanag #verticalfarming #agritech #startup #sustainability #liverpoolbaltic #education #community #baltictriangle #organic #plantbased #wholefoodwholehearts #cleaneating #fitness #healthyfood #veganfoodie #veganrecipes #naturalfood #cleaneat
The Baltic Farm is a community-embedded urban farm and cultural events space in the city centre.
It has transformed the urban landscape of the Baltic Triangle to bring a sense of community to the area, building a local food network and creating jobs.
2. You can take foodie tours of the city
You can take tours of Liverpool foodie scene
Liverpool is renowned for its food and drink scene, which seems to be getting bigger and better by the minute.
Now you take part in A Taste of Liverpool Food Tour which sees diners stop at six different restaurants and hear all about the history of the city and its foodie past.
3. There used to be a castle in the city centre
Liverpool Castle once stood on the spot where the Victoria monument stands now.
The castle in Liverpool was built to protect King John's new port, and was sited at the top what is now Lord Street , offering the highest point in the city overlooking "the Pool".
It had a hall, chapel, brewhouse and bakehouse, as well as a moat running around the outside.
4. Woolton Carpet Centre is in the wrong place
Woolton Carpet Centre has long caused confusion for many passers-by due to it being based in Garston
Woolton Carpet Centre opened more than 60 years ago and will be a familiar sight to locals and those who have driven to Liverpool's John Lennon Airport.
Despite its name, it is actually based on Speke Road in Garston, adding confusion to many passers-by.
5. There are hidden vaults beneath the city centre
The picture taken by an engineer showing the mysterious 'lake'
An arched vault sits below ground level near Pier Head towards Water Street.
The area is supported by solid arches below ground, with what looks like clean water below
This is just one of the many tunnels and underground spaces below Liverpool’s streets.
Some of them are well-used – like the Merseyrail loop line - but many are forgotten.
There are several disused railway tunnels, including the Wapping tunnel below Chinatown and the Victoria tunnels heading to the docks.
6. Dinky Toys were invented in Liverpool
The cover of the 1957 Dinky Toys catalogue features a galaxy of models from the huge range, jostling for road space in that notorious traffic blackspot Piccadilly Circus, with Eros signalling the love felt for these British die-cast icons …
In 1934, just before The Second World War, a factory on Binns Street, Liverpool, began producing Dinky Toys, one of the most popular collectible vehicle sets.
In the late 30s, six cars were introduced to the collection including a truck, a delivery van, a farm tractor and a sports coupe.
These were made up until 1979, but are still popular with collectors today.
7. Liverpool was originally made up of just seven streets
Those seven streets marked the origins of the city of Liverpool - when a new town was laid out near the Pool, a creek which gave Liverpool its name.
Liverpool's seven streets were Bank Street (now Water Street), Castle Street, Chapel Street, Dale Street, Juggler Street (now High Street), Moor Street (now Tithebarn Street) and Whiteacre Street (now Old Hall Street).
8. You can have drinks inside a rooftop igloo
Liberte's rooftop, which now offers Igloo-style pods, offers spectaular views of the Strand, the Liver Building and out over the Mersey.(Image: Andrew Teebay/Liverpool Echo)
Liberte’s rooftop bar in the city centre is taken over each year by an igloo village.
Each of the pods seats up to ten people and are decorated with cosy throws and fairy lights to get the perfect winter experience.
The rooftop location gives views of the Three Graces and across the River Mersey.
9. Football nets were invented in Liverpool too
Everton FC player Fred Greary
Liverpool engineer John Alexander Brodie revolutionised sport across the globe when he designed the first ever football goal net in 1889
His invention was trialed by the FA in 1891 at the Nottingham Forest’s Town ground during a North v South game.
The first goal to be scored in one of his nets was by Everton player Fred Geary who was the first ever player to legally hit the back of the net.
10. There’s a mysterious spring hidden in a local cemetery
Liverpool’s only natural spring has been shrouded in mystery for almost 250 years with some people believing that the ‘haunted water’ turns black when you boil it.
The source of the spring is still unknown but stories have circulated over the years about how the cool waters can relieve fevers, diarrhoea, symptoms of diabetes and gout.
11. Mother Teresa once visited the city
Missionaries of Charity Convent on Seel Street.(Pic Andrew Teebay).
Seel Street is home to the Missionaries of Charity convent, where a community of Catholic nuns live, worship and serve the city through their charitable works.
The organisation was founded by Mother Teresa in 1950, and she even came to visit in 1979, returning several times before her death in 1997.
12. Walton Flooring Centre is in the wrong place too
Walton Flooring Centre, Wavertree.
You might find yourself scratching your head if you’re looking for this in North Liverpool.
Walton Flooring Centre is actually based on the other side of the city on Wavertree High Street.
13. There’s a hidden bar on Berry Street
Berry & Rye on Berry Street(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Tucked away on Berry Street, this little bar seems like a city centre secret.
Reminiscent of old-fashioned speakeasies, guests have to knock on the darkened door of Berry and Rye and hope there’ll be enough room inside to visit.
Jazz music plays while the extensive cocktail menu is hidden in vintage books to add to the illusion of secrecy.
14. Church Street did actually have a church once
Have you ever wondered where the church is on Church Street?(Image: James Maloney/Liverpool Echo)
Have you ever wondered where the church is?
According to Chris Cannon of Hidden Liverpool, St Peter’s church once stood where the entrance to Liverpool ONE is now.
There are several subtle hints to the church’s existence along Church Street, including the names of the surrounding streets such as Church Alley and Peter’s Lane.
The throughway to Peter’s Lane from Church Street is even called Keys Court, a reference to the Keys of St Peter - and if you look high above the entrance to Keys Court nowadays, you’ll see a carving of those very keys.
15. Liverpool is where the Royal de Luxe Giants were inspired
The Royal de Luxe Giants' final visit to Liverpool in 2018
The letter was written by May Louise McMurray to her father, a first-class bedroom steward on board the Titanic, who did not survive the tragic events of 1912.
This inspired Sea Odyssey, the Giants’ first trip to Liverpool in 2012, 100 years since the liner’s sinking.
16. You can play arcade games in a bar
NQ64 Liverpool has a sister bar in Manchester which opened earlier this year
Tucked away on Colquitt Street in the city centre, Liverpool has it’s very own drinking den filled with retro games and classic consoles.
NQ64 offers a trip down memory lane for visitors, featuring 80s classic like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and Space Invaders along with 90s favourites such as N64, Megadrive and SNES.
17. There’s a third Liverbird
(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Older, though less famous than it’s Liver Building counterparts, there is another liver bird in Liverpool.
A white liver bird stands above a carved sailing ship on Mersey Chambers in Covent Garden, overlooking St Nicholas Church gardens.
18. There’s a secret garden in the city centre
(Image: Liverpool Echo)
While many already know of this hidden oasis, there will be many yet to make the discovery.
In the middle of Liverpool ONE there is a sanctuary for shoppers away from the busy streets.
The Bluecoat’s garden is the perfect place to grab a coffee, take a seat and relax.
19. You can find Jurassic fossils in St John’s Gardens
(Image: Colin Lane)
The streets around St George’s Hall bear traces of prehistoric times, including on the statue of William Rathbone in St John’s Gardens.
You can find clam markings more than 150 million years old carved into the statue, while there is a groove in the pavement at the top of William Brown Street from a fossilised fallen tree.
20. Nearly all of England’s marzipan was created here
Renshaw Baking company in Liverpool and the making of marzipan. Photo by Colin Lane
Liverpool company Renshaw is said to made 90% of the country’s marzipan at it’s factory, just off Upper Parliament Street.
The company was founded back in 1885 by members of the Allmey and Layfield families. A century on, it merged with London-based marzipan specialist Renshaw and all production moved to Liverpool in 1991.
21. This city centre bar was once a prison
(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Just a stone’s throw from Liverpool ONE lies a bar which was once a prison.
The Bridewell in Campbell Square was once a police lock-up, and in fact has transformed its cells into booths.
22. There’s a story behind the green gates in Liverpool ONE
Liverpool ONE: The Liverpool Sailors' Home Gateway on Paradise Street, close to John Lewis(Image: Colin Lane)
Something many will walk past on a daily basis without ever knowing the real story, the Pooley Gates in Liverpool ONE have an interesting past.
Liverpool’s Sailors Home on Canning Place was an imposing sight before being demolished due to bomb damage during World War II.
Designed by West Derby-born Joseph Pooley, the gates feature one of the oldest examples of the Liver Bird motif.
The gates of the Sailors Home have sat in Liverpool ONE since returning to the city in 2011.
23. We have our own ‘Diagon Alley’
Queen Avenue, Liverpool(Image: Gavin Trafford)
Liverpool’s hidden shopping street, Queen Avenue, is tucked away off Castle Street and considered to be the city’s answer to Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley.
The tiny avenue is home to wine merchants, hair salons, and art galleries.
24. Red Square vodka was invented here
The popular drink is actually produced here in Merseyside at Halewood International in Tarbuck Green, along with other household brands such as Lambrini and Crabbie’s ginger beer.
