Liverpool or Wales

Trying to decide between spending the day in Liverpool or taking a tour to Wales. Never been to either...opinions appreciated...

Which port in the UK will you be taking your day tour from?

We'll be on a cruise ship, docking in Liverpool.

I would stay in Liverpool. There is just so much to see and do there, you need a lot longer than a day.

If resident scouser (Liverpudlian) Towncar T sees this thread he'll insist you stick around Liverpool. ;)

With some justification, there's enough to keep you occupied without a lot of travelling.

But if countryside, wild hills & castles are your thing rather than cities, then take a tour along the north Wales coast.

Often recommended on Cruise Critic are

http://www.busybus.co.uk/wales-from-liverpool

But their vans do book out early, so if that's your choice, don't delay.

It's possible to travel to Conwy (walled town & imposing castle) by train, and from there a short side trip on the branch line to the Victorian seaside resort of Lllandudno, and from there a tram up the Great Orme. (google them).

But much of what north Wales has to offer can only be seen by road.

JB :)

Thank you all for the advice...I think we may stay in Liverpool and get a better feel of English life. The scenery of Wales was enticing, but we will probably see plenty of beautiful scenery (and castles) on our other stops. I wish we had more time to see both...

Thanks you for helping me decide...

With all due respect to Liverpool, when doing our research, the main sites are related to the Beatles. We decided to take the north Wales bus tour offered by Busy Bus Tours.

It was great and not expensive.

This is our award-winning 9-hour (synchronised to “all aboard”) / 200-mile North Wales Adventure tour tailored for departure from Liverpool and has been carefully designed with your cruise holiday in mind. Not only is it almost half the price of many other tours on offer, we usually use either our 16 or 29 seater midi-coaches but even when we allocate a full-size coach it’s only with your comfort in mind, never stuffing it like a “cattle-carrier” to capacity and always ensuring everyone has plenty of seat space and a full window view. This is sightseeing the way sightseeing was written! All our vehicles are latest models, carefully designed to a purpose-built sightseeing specification with panoramic windows, full PA system, overhead parcel shelves, luggage compartment(s) and forced air ventilation.

Your tour is fully escorted and narrated with a jolly driver and knowledgeable escort who, invariably, will become more of a friend than a tour guide! Every passenger receives special attention and lots of freebies on the way – including your very own personalised laminated route map and itinerary to remind you later of your wonderful time with us.

Your tour commences directly from your ship on the spectacular Liverpool quayside (synchronised with the shiDsps timetable. We won’t go without you or get you back late!). Liverpool has a direct berthing dock meaning no requirement for tendering. This alleviates poor weather cancellations.

We will take you to places in Wales you thought didn’t (or couldn’t) exist and your driver & tour escort will keep you fully informed and advised as to points of interest and general knowledge regarding the ever-changing panoramic views.

This Wales sightseeing tour has been carefully routed and planned with your driver tailoring the day to suit the weather, atmosphere and ambiance of the general group on board. This makes every tour unique, special and memorable and allows you to partake in as much (or little) as you feel comfortable with. You will never be put under any commitment or pressure to do anything that you don’t wish to.

OUTLINE ININERARY

After we’ve admired the Liverpool splendour and skyline we’ll literally pass 10 meters beneath your ship (honestly!) on-route to the mysterious and legendary land of Wales in a 90-minute fully-narrated journey, navigating the spectacular A55 coastal road with it’s magical stories and mystical legends. On a clear day you’ll see your own cruise liner from Wales berthed up with all those poor souls aboard who decided not to join this tour!

Next is the walled town of Conwy, constructed by the English monarch Edward I between 1283 and 1289 as one of the key fortresses in his ‘iron ring’ of castles to contain the Welsh, it was built to prompt such a humbling reaction with its fabulous wall circuit of over 3/4 mile long and guarded by no less than 22 towers. It is renowned as one of the finest examples in the World.

Conwy Castle is a gritty, dark-stoned fortress built by James of St. George in partnership with the french Richard The Engineer. This castle is the “real thing” resembling exactly what children form from buckets of sand on the beach. It has the rare ability to evoke an authentic medieval atmosphere. The first time that you catch sight of the castle you’ll know you are in the presence of a historic site which still casts a powerful spell. When you go inside…well…need I even comment?

Now, brace yourselves for what BusyBus has become known for (and, we modestly add, have won National awards for) the North Wales Adventure element of the tour. In to Snowdonia National Park using carefully selected routes and taking you well and truly off the beaten track to viewpoints of wonder! You’ll feel like you own Snowdonia in the tranquility and ambience (and adventure) we’ve prepared!

No trip to North Wales would be complete without a stop at the “capital”, Betws-Y-Coed (prayer-house in the woods). Interestingly, whilst right in the centre of Snowdonia National Park, an exclusion boundary has allowed this fairy-tale town to flourish into the centre of outdoor tourism in Wales. With it’s many shops, cafe’s, pubs and locals, it simply can’t fail to impress!

Finally, you’ll get a unique chance to experience the Pontcysyllte Canal Aqueduct, built by Sir Thomas Telford in 1795 for a monumentous cost of £47,000 and still taking canal barges across the valley (…where boats fly high in the sky…) over 100ft above the ground.

4774Papa

When you did your research on Liverpool maybe you didn't do it well enough as you should have done as most of the things to see and do in Liverpool are certainly not all to do with the Beatles, they are only a small part.

I visited Liverpool last year, after having not been there for many years. One of the reasons we had gone was because we had been staying with a friend who is originally from Liverpool. She wanted to visit the new museum which is near the Albert Dock. Within a small area there is also the maritime museum, Tate Modern and a couple of others. There are also plenty of other things to see.

You can take the ferry on the Mersey and see the famous Liverpool skyline and of course, see some of the beatles associated things if you want to.

The OP had already said they are visiting other places which will have beautiful scenery, so why miss all that Liverpool has to offer. My partner and self definately want to return.

Hi.

Perhaps it would help if you took a look at our thread on ideas for Liverpool? It is situated here:

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=907552

Liverpool does have a lot to offer, and of course I am a little bit biased towards my own home city, but North Wales is wonderful too. Having spent yesterday playing golf on the beautiful island of Angelsey, its amazing scenery is fresh in my mind. However, my own feeling is that you will get more bang for your buck by staying in and around Liverpool for the day, as there are lots and lots of things to do here. Some Beatles stuff, of course. Why wouldn't there be? But Liverpool is WAY more than the Beatles. It's also the friendliest city you'll find anywhere. Like I said, take a look at the thread and then post any questions there. Also happy to answer questions on North Wales if you decide to go there.

T:)

Having only one day in a city is tough. We stopped there in July. I did the busybus Wales excursion and absolutely loved it. My brother walked around town and saw some of the museums near the dock. He had a good day too. I talked to others who did Beatles centered activities and had a great time.

Some people are into nature and scenery, others into city stuff. I think it's just a matter of what is of interest to you.