Our trip to Liverpool was planned as a little escape from the usual Christmas routine and, more importantly, as a surprise present for the biggest Liverpool fan in our family. The whole thing was kept top secret since nobody in the family can keep a secret for too long!
We started with tickets to Paris, keeping the final surprise hidden: a ticket to the Liverpool vs. Leicester game. Long story short, the gift was a big success. From Paris, we flew to London, but since no public transportation was running on Christmas Day—no buses, no trains, nothing—we had no choice but to rent a car. Four hours of exhausting and stressful driving later, we finally made it to Liverpool.
By the time we arrived, it was Christmas evening. After dropping off the car and checking into our hotel, we faced our next challenge: finding somewhere to eat. It felt like the whole city had shut down for the holiday. We walked and walked, growing hungrier and more tired, until we finally stumbled upon an open restaurant – Smoke & Dough.
The place was packed and buzzing with life—loud music, laughter, and a festive vibe. Later, I discovered that this spot was actually one of the most recommended places by travel bloggers. While the food was just okay, the atmosphere completely made up for it. It was the perfect way to start our Liverpool adventure.
Thanks to jetlag, our next morning started slow—we barely managed to wake up and get ready to explore Liverpool. While planning the trip, I didn’t come across many “must-see” attractions in the city. It’s mostly famous for football and the Beatles, but since I’m not a big fan of either, my expectations were pretty low. We had about six hours to explore before heading to the game, so I figured we’d make the most of it.
Unlike the sunny Christmas Day, December 26th greeted us with a thick mist that blanketed the city. It looked eerie and had us worried that the game might get canceled. But there was something about misty Liverpool that felt enchanting, and it completely won me over.
We headed to the one of the city’s most popular spots: the Pier Head and Albert Dock and met those guys on our way.
Albert Dock was built in 1846, it was the world’s first non-combustible warehouse system, constructed entirely from cast iron, brick, and stone, without any structural wood. Today it’s a vibrant area filled with tourists, museums, shops, restaurants, and bars.
From the Dock, we made our way to the city center, with one particular stop high on our list—a dream destination for one of our group: the official Liverpool FC store, affectionately dubbed “a candy store for a fan.”
Unlike the quietness of the previous day, the city center was buzzing with life. Streets were busy, shops were packed, and cafés were teeming with activity. Musicians played lively tunes on the streets, adding to the vibrant energy. 
The next stop of the day was Liverpool Cathedral. Not only is it Britain’s largest church, but it’s also the world’s largest Anglican cathedral—a pretty impressive title. I’d read that you could climb up to the tower for a spectacular view of the city.
Well, first of all, we could barely find the cathedral—it was shrouded in mist like some mysterious fortress in a storybook. And second, the tower was closed. Not that it mattered much; even if it had been open, I doubt we’d have seen anything through the fog!
The church inside was very beautiful and impressive, with a huge old-fashioned Christmas tree adding to the festive vibe. There was also a traditional red telephone booth inside, which felt a bit random but fun. And then, there was a modern version of Jesus Christ—definitely something different. The mix of classic and modern details made it feel unique.
The last planned stop before The Game was, of course, The Cavern Quarter. This part of the city centre is a mecca for Beatles fans. There are Liverpool’s Wall of Fame, featuring the names of every local band or solo artist who’s hit Number One on the UK charts. The Cavern Club, famously known as the birthplace of the Beatles, is the heart of the quarter, alongside the Beatles Museum and a collection of bars and shops dedicated to them. John, Paul, George, and Ringo are everywhere—statues, posters, graffiti—you name it, they’ve got it. It’s like the Beatles in every possible form and shape, peeking out from every window and corner.
Despite the heavy fog, lucky for us, the game wasn’t canceled, and Liverpool won the game. The biggest fan was over the moon—an unforgettable highlight of the trip!