Georgian Quarter

Two cathedrals, one street

The Georgian Quarter is Liverpool’s most architecturally distinguished district, built up through the 18th and 19th centuries as the city’s merchant class moved into elegant townhouses uphill from the docks. Its spine, Hope Street, is one of the few streets in Britain that connects two cathedrals of different denominations — Liverpool Cathedral (Anglican) at one end and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King (Catholic) at the other — a fact locals and guides alike enjoy pointing out, since it’s genuinely unusual.

It’s a quieter, more residential-feeling district than the waterfront or Cavern Quarter, and its appeal is less about ticking off a single attraction than absorbing the architecture and, in the evening, eating well.

Liverpool Cathedral

Liverpool Cathedral is the larger of the two by a wide margin — it’s the largest cathedral in Britain and one of the largest in the world, built in a dramatic Gothic Revival style over 74 years (1904-1978) to a design by Giles Gilbert Scott, who was only 22 when he won the competition to design it. The tower offers panoramic views over the city and the Mersey for visitors willing to climb it, and the building’s sheer scale is worth experiencing even without going up.

Metropolitan Cathedral

At the opposite end of Hope Street, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King is a striking contrast: a modernist, circular 1967 design nicknamed “Paddy’s Wingwam” locally, topped by a lantern tower of stained glass by John Piper that floods the interior with coloured light. The two cathedrals, standing at either end of the same street with roughly 60 years and a completely different architectural philosophy between them, make for one of the more interesting short walks in the city.

Hope Street itself

Between the cathedrals, Hope Street holds Liverpool’s best concentrated stretch of fine dining, including the London Carriage Works and other long-standing higher-end restaurants, alongside the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, home to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and a regular concert venue for touring acts too. The Philharmonic Dining Rooms pub next door is worth a look even if you’re not eating — its ornate Victorian interior, complete with famously ornate men’s toilets that even non-drinkers are sometimes allowed to view, is a genuine city landmark in its own right.

Exploring on foot

A heritage and culture walking tour is a good way to see the Georgian Quarter alongside the rest of central Liverpool’s history, since a guide can point out details on the Georgian terraces along Rodney Street and Canning Street that are easy to miss otherwise. For something with a different angle, the Hope Street ghost tour covers the same streets after dark with a very different set of stories, taking in the area’s Victorian cemetery connections.

Rodney Street, just west of Hope Street, is sometimes called Liverpool’s Harley Street for its concentration of Georgian townhouses that once housed the city’s doctors, and is one of the best-preserved Georgian streetscapes in the city — William Gladstone, the future prime minister, was born on this street in 1809.

Getting here

It’s about a 15-minute uphill walk from Lime Street, or a short bus ride if you’d rather skip the incline. The Georgian Quarter connects naturally with the Knowledge Quarter immediately to the north, home to the university campuses and several of the city’s museums, making it easy to combine both into a single afternoon.

Concerts and events

The Liverpool Philharmonic Hall runs a full season of classical concerts alongside touring contemporary acts, and is worth checking for a show regardless of your usual taste in music — the 1939 Art Deco interior is a big part of the experience. The area also sits close to the annual Liverpool Pride march route in late July, which passes through parts of the city centre before finishing at the waterfront.

Frequently asked questions about the Georgian Quarter

Why does Hope Street have two cathedrals?

It’s a historical coincidence rather than a plan — Liverpool Cathedral (Anglican) and the Metropolitan Cathedral (Catholic) were built independently across the 20th century and happen to sit at opposite ends of the same street, giving Hope Street its unusual double-cathedral character.

Can you climb Liverpool Cathedral’s tower?

Yes, the tower is open to visitors for a fee and gives panoramic views over the city and the Mersey.

Is Hope Street good for a nice dinner?

Yes, it has the best concentration of higher-end restaurants in the city, including long-standing names like the London Carriage Works.

How far is the Georgian Quarter from the city centre?

About a 15-minute walk uphill from Lime Street station, or a short bus ride.

What is the Philharmonic Dining Rooms?

A Victorian pub next to the Philharmonic Hall known for its ornate interior, including famously elaborate men’s toilets that are something of a minor city landmark.