Both the city centre and the nearby Albert Dock area are compact enough to explore on foot, but you need at least two days to see it all properly – with plenty left over for a return visit.

Architecture
From the new Liverpool ONE shopping centre to the immense historic Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool is home to a variety of striking architecture, both old and new. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City is made up of six historic locations including the Pier Head and Albert Dock, incorporating many of the city’s most famous buildings. The most iconic landmark of all is the Grade I-listed Royal Liver Building, a riverside ‘skyscraper’ dating back to 1911, topped by two striking Liver Birds – and still dominating the skyline.

St. George’s Hall is one of Western Europe’s finest examples of a neo-classical building, showing off the wealth of local merchants. But the oldest building is the Bluecoat, built in 1717, with a beautiful front courtyard and internal garden. Today it’s used as a creative hub for contemporary arts, and you can visit free exhibitions or grab a reasonably-priced lunch there, made with locally-produced ingredients. Dotted about the city you’ll find countless other beautiful buildings, including the Town Hall, Bank of England Building, and Oriel Chambers – the world’s first metal-framed, glass curtain walled building.

Live music
Liverpool is also well-known for its thriving live music scene and strong Irish links, and you’ll find free live music in many venues, from traditional Irish folk to contemporary local bands. The Cavern Club, where Epstein discovered The Beatles, is still a live music venue with free admission on many nights – and if you can visit Liverpool during August Bank Holiday, you can enjoy live music at the massive Mathew Street Festival.

Liverpool’s maritime history
The Albert Dock area by the River Mersey is the place to discover more about the city’s historic role as an important maritime centre. By the early 19th century, some 40% of the world’s trade was passing through Liverpool’s docks, contributing to its wealth and status. The docks feature the most extensive collection of Grade I-listed buildings in the UK, including old redeveloped warehouses that today house chic restaurants, boutique shops, museums and galleries, offices and apartments.

The free Merseyside Maritime Museum tells the port’s story, and within this is the International Slavery Museum, which looks at Liverpool’s role in the slave trade and its impact across the world.

For fans of Modern Art, the Albert Dock is also home to Tate Liverpool, which is generally free, and if you’re a fan of the Fab Four, the Beatles Story at Albert Dock is a must – although there’s a hefty entry fee for the pleasure (£12.25 at the time of writing).

Before you leave…

To complete your bargain break in Liverpool, you’ll need to find competitive travel insurance to make sure you’re fully covered while you’re away. InsureandGo travel insurance* offers great value with a choice of levels of cover to suit your needs.

This post on having a cheap weekend break in Liverpool was brought to you by InsureandGo.

Photos taken from Friar’s Balsam & Retrobus

What do you do in the height of winter, however? When the temperature drops and you find yourself shivering beneath all those festive lights and outdoor art displays?

Head for an indoor exhibition.

Maillol Exhibition, Barcelona

Until 31st January 2010, Caixa Catalunya is hosting an exhibition on Maillol, another Catalan artist. There are several great things about this:

La Casa Pedrera at Night

1) It’s free

2) It’s indoors

3) It’s inside the Casa Pedrera – a striking, fantasy house designed by Gaudí himself

4) Maillol’s work is well worth seeing

La Casa Pedrera

Otherwise known as Casa Milà, Gaudí designed La Casa Pedrera for a wealthy couple in the early twentieth century. Although the outside of the building grabs attention, the spiralling stairs and ceilings on the inside are also impressive.

Inside the Casa Pedrera, Barcelona

Maillol’s Art

Maillol travelled to Paris, dabbled with painting and tapestry before finding his real passion, sculpture. Here’s a taste of what’s on offer:

Then this portrait of artist Renoir:

And plenty involving Maillon’s muse, Dina Vierny:

Barcelona Art, Maillol Exhibition

This art exhibition is open Monday to Sunday from 10.00 a.m until 8.00 p.m until 31st January. It is closed on 25th & 26th December and for the 1st and 6th January. Entry is free, as are guided tours although they only take place in Catalan and Spanish.

NB = you will need to pay to visit Gaudí’s famous sculptures on the rooftop of the Casa Pedrera and in winter this closes at 6 p.m. (it’s dark by then.)

The Kiss - Rodin

The Rodin Museum displays some of the world’s best-loved sculptures, such as The Thinker and The Kiss, against an accessible and elegant backdrop in Paris.

Not only does the Museé Rodin showcase art that even jaded skeptics find intriguing, it does so within the extended manicured gardens and airy rooms of an 18th century mansion in the heart of Paris.

Today, Auguste Rodin is considered one of France’s greatest sculptors, but just like J.K. Rowling and Elvis Presley, he was rejected several times along the way.

The Thinker - Penseur

His most well-known works include the grim-faced The Thinker, the sensual intertwined lovers in The Kiss and his expressive series exploring hands. He eventually donated his work to the French state, on the condition that it was to be displayed in public. France responded by arranging his work – from immense outdoor sculptures to delicate indoor sketches – in the grand Hôtel Biron.

Hôtel Biron - Joseph Cesare

A visit to the Rodin Museum fits in well with an afternoon spent wandering around the Invalides area in Paris (the district that also includes the Eiffel Tower.) You can buy tickets on site or online, although many groups of people are entitled to free access.

Entrance is free for everyone on the first Sunday of each month. Musee Rodin: 79, rue de Varenne, Paris, 75007 Nearest Metro: Invalides or Varenne, line 13.

More on Cheap Weekend Breaks in Paris

More on Cheap Weekend Breaks in France

lives in a grand, purpose-built monument that resembles a cathedral in its size and scope. Snakes, birds and bears crawl in stone around pillars and staircases and stained glass windows overlook the visitors below.
 

The life-size diplodocus replica in the Central Hall steals the limelight, but there’s more to the Natural History Museum than just “Dippy”. Apart from the grandeur of the building itself, there is a petrified tree trunk from Arizona that’s 225 million years old and a coelacanth fish found in 1938 that the world had thought was already extinct.

Central Hall, Natural History Museum

A statue of Charles Darwin presides over the central staircase, and under the stone arches upstairs, a series of hanging monkeys help explain the theory of evolution.

 Added on to the permanent exhibits, the Natural History Museum organizes plenty of fresh temporary exhibitions, from dinosaurs to caterpillars.

 In September 2009, the Natural History Museum opened its airy, modern Darwin Centre and Cocoon Tour, adding yet another dimension to this impressive site.

Entry is free to the main museum, although the Natural History Museum usually charges for entry to the temporary exhibits. The nearest underground station is South Kensington. There are basic dining facilities within the museum, but as usual, a better option is to grab a sandwich somewhere else.

The Natural History Museum is surrounded by other museums – in particular the Science Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum.  It is also within walking distance of Hyde Park.