LIVERPOOL PUB CRAWL
A HISTORIC GUIDE TO THE BEST PUBS IN LIVERPOOL
Liverpool Pub Crawl: I really love Liverpool and this love comes from deep familiarity as I grew up in Liverpool. During my formative years, I have seen this historic landmark of a city develop into one of the best and, undoubtably, one the most exciting cities in the whole world.
And, it is my bold opinion, that because Liverpool’s pub scene is built on such a rich history, warm hospitality, and scouse personality, it is also one of the best cities in the UK to do a pub crawl!
In lending itself to a great pub crawl, Liverpool city centre is relatively compact and therefore easy to explore on foot. This means you can enjoy its world-famous sights and also some of the most beautiful and historic pubs in Britain without needing taxis or public transport. Drinking alcohol is of course optional and certainly not compulsory for a good time.
I love that many of the Liverpool’s pubs date back over a century and they all retain their beautiful and original features of stained glass, carved wood, tiled walls and ornate ceilings. This makes a pub crawl in Liverpool not just about sampling great ales and other beverages but it also makes for a fabulous and unique cultural experience while in Liverpool.
A pub crawl in Liverpool is also about the people you’ll meet along the way and that every drink comes with a story. I discovered this myself recently while on a visit to Liverpool. I was heading back to Lime Street station when I popped into The Globe for a glass of wine, where I got so caught up in a great conversation with a friendly and chatty local ‘scouser’, I almost missed leaving on time to catch my train!
I’ve listed my historic guide to some of the best pubs in Liverpool for a Liverpool pub crawl by assuming that, like me, you might arrive and depart by train into and from Lime Street Station. I’ve used this assumption to list the pub starting at Thomas Rigby’s – one of the oldest pubs in Liverpool – onto the legendary Cavern Club – then across the city and looping back to The Vines at Lime Street Station.
But you can of course choose to do this pub crawl and to visit as many pubs you wish in the order that suits you best – see my Google Map below for the route. Cheers!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- A HISTORIC GUIDE TO THE BEST PUBS IN LIVERPOOL
- WHY LIVERPOOL IS ONE OF THE BEST CITIES IN THE UK FOR A PUB CRAWL
- WHERE TO STAY IN LIVERPOOL
- FIND YOUR PERFECT PLACE TO STAY IN LIVERPOOL USING MY INTERATIVE MAP
- HISTORIC LIVERPOOL PUB CRAWL ROUTE
- LIVERPOOL PUB CRAWL MAP
- Why a Liverpool Pub Crawl is a Great Idea
- THE BEST HISTORIC LIVERPOOL PUBS FOR A PUB CRAWL
- Thomas Rigby’s – One of the Oldest Pubs in Liverpool City Centre
- The Cavern Club – Legendary Live Music Venue on Matthew Street
- The Globe – Classic Liverpool Pub Near Lime Street
- Coopers Townhouse – A Traditional Liverpool City Centre Pub
- St Peter’s Tavern – Historic Church Turned Pub on Seel Street
- The Mayflower – A Sea Shanty of a pub in Liverpool
- The Pilgrim – A True Liverpool Cultural Pub
- The Philharmonic Dining Rooms – Iconic Grade I Listed Pub on Hope Street
- Peter Kavanagh’s – Famous Historic Pub on Egerton Street
- The White Hart – Cosy Georgian Quarter Pub on Hope Street
- The Vines (The Big House) – Ornate Edwardian Pub on Lime Street
WHY LIVERPOOL IS ONE OF THE BEST CITIES IN THE UK FOR A PUB CRAWL
My carefully curated Liverpool pub crawl guide takes you to classic locals, ornate Victorian pubs, and many other character filled Liverpool boozers that define the city’s drinking culture and provide the visitor with a fabulous experience.
Add in friendly locals, great beer prices, live music heritage and a strong sense of community, and it’s easy to see why Liverpool is such a popular destination for a pub crawl.
So, whether you’re visiting for the first time or rediscovering a city you know and love, I can recommend this historic pub crawl as the perfect way to experience Liverpool and to find out why Liverpool is one of the best cities in the UK for a pub crawl!
WHERE TO STAY IN LIVERPOOL
When I stay over in Liverpool I like to stay at the Holiday Inn Express at the Albert Dock Area (where you can also find and the waterfront and the Beatles ‘Fab Four‘ statues) but there are lots of choices when it comes to accomodation in Liverpool whatever your style or budget. Click on my suggestions below or take a look at my interactive accomodation map.
EXAMPLES OF PLACES TO STAY IN LIVERPOOL CITY CENTRE
FIND YOUR PERFECT PLACE TO STAY IN LIVERPOOL USING MY INTERATIVE MAP
HISTORIC LIVERPOOL PUB CRAWL ROUTE
This Liverpool pub crawl route has been designed to be logical, walkable, and packed with character. You can complete it in an afternoon or stretch it into an evening crawl at your own pace. You can of course do this pub crawl in the order that suits you best depending on where you wish to start and finish. See my Google Map below to guide you on the route!
LIVERPOOL PUB CRAWL MAP
THE BEST HISTORIC LIVERPOOL PUBS FOR A PUB CRAWL
Thomas Rigby’s – One of the Oldest Pubs in Liverpool City Centre
A former coaching inn, dating back to the 18th century, this multi-roomed and Grade ll listed building, bears the name of Liverpool wine and spirit dealer Thomas Rigby.
Thomas Rigby’s is one of Liverpool’s oldest surviving pubs. With traditional ales, classic pub food, and a warm and historic atmosphere, with an outdoor courtyard for if the weather is good, Thomas Rigby’s an ideal place for us to start our Liverpool pub crawl with a pint and some proper pub grub.
Address: 23-25 Dale St. Liverpool L2 2EZ.
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday: 12pm – 11pm
The Cavern Club – Legendary Live Music Venue on Matthew Street
Even if you’re not a die-hard Beatles fan, The Cavern Club offers a unique and authentic slice of Liverpool’s culture that complements our historic Liverpool pub crawl perfectly.
The Cavern Club first opened on 16 January 1957 in a warehouse cellar on Mathew Street and quickly became the beating heart of Liverpool’s emerging live music scene.
As you walk through the brick-arched cellar and hear live acts echoing through the space, you know you’re tapping into decades of music history that helped put Liverpool on the map. While The Cavern Club isn’t a pub in the traditional sense, it feels like one thanks to its atmospheric setting, vibrant crowd, and deep connection to Liverpool’s music scene.
Address: Mathew Street, Liverpool. L2 6RE
Opening Hours: 11am – till late.
The Globe – Classic Liverpool Pub Near Lime Street
Just a short walk away, The Globe offers a more traditional pub experience. Known as an ‘old fashioned boozer’ with its friendly regulars, relaxed vibe, and impromptu singalongs make The Globe a classic city centre pub where conversation flows as easily as the pints.
Check out The Globe’s part in the Liverpool story from the old newspaper clippings and fading photos on the walls.
As a word of warning, watch out for the deceptive and quirky sloping floor!
Address: 17 Cases St, Liverpool L1 1HW
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat: 11am – 11pm. Sun: 12pm – 10.30pm.
Coopers Townhouse – A Traditional Liverpool City Centre Pub
Coopers Townhouse is a true Liverpool institution and is known for its lively buzz and as ‘the littlest pub with the biggest heart’ so it’s small in size but big in atmosphere. The pub is famous for its karaoke nights and its welcoming crowd who will invite you to ‘get Coopered’.
This is my brother’s regular and favourite pub in Liverpool and he can often be found enjoying Cooper’s Bar and seen on their Tiktok channel enthusiastically singing karaoke! This is a great place to visit on your Liverpool pub crawl. Cooper’s also have their own merchandise so you can buy a souvenir of your visit!
Address: 13 Cases St, Liverpool L1 1HW
Opening Hours: Mon – Sun 11am – 11pm.
St Peter’s Tavern – Historic Church Turned Pub on Seel Street
Housed in a former Roman Catholic church dating back to 1788, St Peter’s Tavern combines historic surroundings with a modern pub atmosphere. The original church was badly damaged by a bomb in WW2. Following its deconsecration and subsequent years of neglect, this pub was painstakingly restored – saving as many original features as possible including the original altar – by the company who had restored The Vines.
St Peter’s tavern now offers four levels of seating, three bars, two beer gardens, and a ‘re-imagined grand old pub interior’. It’s a unique stop on our pub crawl and a great example of Liverpool’s ability to repurpose historic buildings.
Address: St Peters Tavern, Seel St. Liverpool L1 4BH
Opening Hours: Mon – Wed: 12.00pm – 1.30am. Thur – Fri: 12.00pm – 2.30am
Sat: 11.00am – 2.30am. Sun: 11.00am – 1.30am
The Mayflower – A Sea Shanty of a pub in Liverpool
Also on cobbled Pilgrim Street and adjacent to The Pilgrim pub – The Mayflower is one of Liverpool’s best kept secrets. Housed in a late 18th century warehouse building located in Liverpool’s historic Georgian quarter, it’s now a cosy and popular ‘sea shanty of a pub’ with a great atmosphere, a distinct nautical flavour, and authentic beer barrel features.
Address: 34 Pilgrim St. Liverpool L1 9HB.
Opening Hours: 7 days a week from 12pm to late.
The Pilgrim – A True Liverpool Cultural Pub
The Pilgrim is a true Liverpool institution known for its underground feel and jukebox culture. Housed in an 18th-century former warehouse on Pilgrim Street, in the heart of Liverpool’s Georgian Quarter. Over the past four decades, The Pilgrim has become a legendary hangout and meeting place for the city’s for artists, musicians, academics, students, and free-spirited local community.
For many years, the pub was famous for its vintage free-play and table-mounted jukeboxes that were once an iconic feature of the bar. While they no longer work, they remain proudly in place as a nostalgic nod to The Pilgrim’s musical heritage.
These days, the soundtrack is just as good and complemented by a retro pinball machine. Many locals come here for the well-kept cask ales, craft beers and brilliantly priced cocktails, and stay for what many consider the best pub music in Liverpool.
Address: 34 Pilgrim St. Liverpool L1 9HB.
Opening Hours: 7 days a week from 12pm to late.
The Philharmonic Dining Rooms – Iconic Grade I Listed Pub on Hope Street
Often referred to simply as ‘The Phil’ this is certainly one of the most famous pubs in the UK and claims to be ‘the most ornate pub in England’ as it was designed by local architect Walter Thomas and built in the style of a gentlemen’s club between 1898 and 1900.
Now, The Phil is a Grade I listed building renowned for its lavish Victorian interior with its five floors of ornate art décor to its famous (protected and considered a significant architectural feature) gent’s toilets. Note: I’ve not actually seen these toilets for myself, being female, but I’m pretty sure that’s not a claim that many pubs can make!
The Phil is also part of the city’s musical history as The Liverpool Philharmonic Hall is just across the road, making this iconic pub a favourite with concert-goers and performers as Buddy Holly has performed here and more recently Paul McCartney. It was said to be one of John Lennon’s favourite bars.
Address: 36 Hope Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 9BX
Opening Hours: Monday to Thurs: 11 am – 11 pm.
Friday and Saturday: 11 am – 12 am. Sunday: 11 am – 10:30 pm
Peter Kavanagh’s – Famous Historic Pub on Egerton Street
Built in 1844, this Grade II listed pub is one of Liverpool’s most distinctive. It first became a licensed ‘beer house’ in 1854 and has been known by many names over the years.
Now affectionately known as ‘PK’s to the locals, in 1978 the pub was renamed in honour of a former landlord, Peter Kavanagh (1897 to 1950). It has also been called ‘probably the most bonkers pub in Liverpool’ for its quirky retro memorabilia like old radios, musical instruments, and curiosities often linked to local folklore, making it one of the city’s most talked-about pubs!
Address: 2-6 Egerton St. Liverpool L8 7LY.
Opening Hours: Sunday to Friday: 12pm – 12am. Saturday: 12pm – 1am.
The White Hart – Cosy Georgian Quarter Pub on Hope Street
Also on historic Hope Street and in the heart of the city’s Georgian Quarter, opened in 2024 after a major refurbishment of a former townhouse, The White Hart is a already a beloved addition to Liverpool’s vibrant pub scene.
Inside, you’ll find a Dickensian-style interior full of nooks, crannies and cosy snugs, with roaring fires. The pub’s layout invites you to explore and find your favourite corner whether that’s beside the fire, in one of its quieter seating areas, or the outdoor beer garden when the weather’s fine.
With its classic pub feel, great pub food, (bar snacks and delicious pies!) excellent drinks and fantastic atmosphere, The White Hart is a worthy new addition to a Liverpool pub crawl.
Address: 23 Hope Street, Liverpool. L7 7AZ
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 12am-12pm.
The Vines (The Big House) – Ornate Edwardian Pub on Lime Street
The Vines is another architectural gem in Liverpool, built in stunning and exuberant baroque style by the architect Walter Thomas, who also designed The Phil. It’s located on Lime Street just a two minute walk from Lime Street Station.
The Vines is nicknamed ‘The Big House’ and stands where Albert B. Vines first opened a pub in 1867. Rebuilt in 1907 and sensitively restored in 1936 after decades of neglect, the current ‘wonder of the pub world’ is also known as one of the city’s finest surviving Edwardian pubs.
It features a magnificent vintage stained glass dome that illuminates the interior with light, gold plasterwork, carved woodwork, restored 1907 original floor tiles, and a grand mahogany bar that reflects Liverpool’s brewing heritage.
Address: 81 Lime St. Liverpool. L1 1JQ
Opening Hours: Mon – Thurs 12pm – 1am. Friday 12pm – 2am.
Saturday: 11am – 2am. Sunday: 11am – 1am.
MY LIVERPOOL PUB CRAWL MAP
USE MY INTERACTIVE GOOGLE MAP TO USE AS YOUR PUB CRAWL GUIDE
Why a Liverpool Pub Crawl is a Great Idea
A Liverpool pub crawl is a great idea not only because Liverpool’s pub scene is legendary, it’s also a cultural experience!
It’s a cultural experience that incorporates a fun self-guided Liverpool adventure with a mix of beautifully preserved Victorian and Edwardian interiors, quirky locals and their favourite pubs, historic buildings, classic English charm, and unforgettable atmospheres.
These pubs aren’t just places to drink because they’re social hubs with character, stories, and community spirit.
From ornate showpieces like The Philharmonic to snug traditional pubs steeped in history, there’s something for everyone.
And the city’s walkable layout means you can easily hop from one iconic stop to the next for a daytime or evening adventure.
I’ve listed my historic guide to many of the best pubs in Liverpool for a Liverpool pub crawl by assuming that, like me, you might arrive and depart by train into and from Lime Street Station. I’ve used this assumption to list the pubs starting at Thomas Rigby’s – one of the oldest pubs in Liverpool – to the legendary Cavern Club – then across the city and looping back – to The Vines at Lime Street Station.
But you can of course choose to do this pub crawl and visit as many pubs you wish in the order that suits you best – see my Google Map above for the route. Cheers!
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Is Liverpool on your UK travel wish list?
Do you fancy fitting in my Liverpool pub crawl?
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