Liverpool began as a fishing village in the thirteenth century, but grew rapidly in the eighteenth century with the growth of sea trade to become Europe’s greatest Atlantic seaport.  From its waterfront millions of emigrants embarked for the New World, and through its spacious docks and endless brick warehouses passed much of the trade of industrial Britain in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. 

The wealth its commerce generated produced a magnificent cityscape, great architecture and a rich cultural heritage, particularly in fine arts and music.  The increasing size of ocean-going vessels diverted the traffic elsewhere on the Mersey estuary, and the city has sought to find a new role, most recently through the Capital of Culture 2008 initiative.

The heritage walk gives an insight into the historic development of the city and port of Liverpool, beginning at 10.30am at Birkenhead Hamilton Square Station and crossing the Mersey on the legendary Ferry to explore the buildings and dock engineering around Pier Head and the Albert Dock.  A buffet sandwich lunch is served at the Atlantic Tower Hotel, followed by a walk through the city, passing Oriel Chambers, the Town Hall, Mathew Street with its Beatles associations, to the great civic buildings around St George’s Hall, ending at Lime Street Station around 4.00pm.