Mersey Ferries Tours
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Running right through the heart of the city, the Mersey River is the lifeblood of Liverpool, and the city’s iconic ferries have sailed its shores for more than 800 years. Today, the Mersey Ferries remain a must-see attraction for visitors to Liverpool.
The Basics
This famous ferry is one of the best ways to see Liverpool’s historic waterfront, which is itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 50-minute River Explorer Cruise operates hourly and includes recorded commentary with the option for visitors to stop off at Woodside Ferry Terminal to see and explore a German U-boat. If you’re sightseeing in Liverpool, you can also combine a boat cruise with a hop-on hop-off bus tour or a tour of Liverpool Cathedral Tower.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Audio commentary is available on-board.
- Free entrance to the U-boat Story exhibit is included in the River Explorer Cruise ticket.
- On-board services include a café, restroom, and open-air viewing deck.
- All Mersey ferries and ferry terminals are fully wheelchair accessible.
How to Get There
Mersey Ferries depart regularly from the Pier Head Ferry Terminal, next to the famous Liver Building on the Mersey River waterfront. The ferries sail across the water to Birkenhead Woodside Ferry Terminal and Seacombe Ferry Terminal on the Wirral Peninsula. River cruises can be boarded from any of the three ports.
When to Get There
Mersey Ferries run all year round, although times vary throughout the year. During the peak summer months, opt for an early morning departure if you want to avoid the crowds.
The Mersey River in Pop Culture
Taking a ferry cruise across the River Mersey is such a strong Liverpool tradition that it was immortalized in the 1964 Gerry and the Pacemakers song “Ferry Cross the Mersey.” A smash hit on both sides of the Atlantic, it remains one of Liverpool’s most popular anthems, covered by numerous artists over the years including Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Burton Cummings, Pat Metheny, and even Sir Paul McCartney, as part of a fundraising effort for the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.
Address: Pier Head, Liverpool L3, England
Hours: Open year-round
Admission: Varies
2 Tours and Activities to Experience Mersey Ferries
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Audio GuidesLiverpool: 50-Minute Mersey River Cruise
Maximize your time in Liverpool with a hop-on hop-off sightseeing cruise along the Mersey River. Aboard a colorful ‘dazzle ferry,’ pass main city attractions and disembark at any of the port stops to check out the sites up close. Admission to the U-Boat Story for a look at an authentic WWII German submarine is included.
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- 50 minutes to 2 hours 40 minutes
- Free Cancellation
From
$14.62
Bus ToursLiverpool: River Cruise and Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
See Liverpool by land and water on this enjoyable combo tour. Take a River Explorer cruise along Liverpool’s UNESCO-listed waterfront, seeing the sights as the onboard commentary recounts their history. Plus, enjoy included entry to the U-boat Story, a museum dedicated to a War II German U-boat. Couple your cruise with a hop-on hop-off City Explorer open-top, double-decker bus tour. With your 24-hour pass, travel around must-sees such as St. George's Hall and Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King Liverpool, listening to the live commentary and hopping off at stops of interest.
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- 2 hours
- Free Cancellation
From
$23.92
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