My Mersey Magical Tour

A challenge for the most experienced travel agent let alone a weary mother trawling the internet. But the answer is closer than you think, a mere 90-minutes drive from the West Midlands in fact – Liverpool.

Now calm down, calm down and let's dispel all of those stereotypical images of Scousers and Liverpool. The fact that the Merseyside gem was crowned European Capital of Culture must show how much Liverpool now has to offer and how cosmopolitan it has become.

From the rock and goal – Beatles and football – to the Tate gallery to the stunning architecture of Europe's largest Anglican cathedral, a trip to Liverpool is quite a Magical Mystery Tour.

But would it please, please two young children – and could the trip be done on a budget? Quite simply, yes.

Our first success was in picking a nice central hotel, The Jurys Inn is next to the trendy Albert Dock and – to the delight of my children – next to the Wheel of Liverpool. A bonus being that a Ticket to Ride the 60m high wheel is half price for hotel guests.

Rooms at Jurys Inn start from £49 including breakfast based on two sharing. There is also an excellent restaurant in the hotel which overlooks Kings Waterfront. We took advantage of the hearty buffet breakfast knowing it was only a short hop over to the Albert Dock.

This is a group of listed Victorian buildings transformed 25 years ago to home to a host of restaurants and bars. We enjoyed an authentic Italian lunch at the stylish Gusto restaurant. The atmospheric dock building feels open and airy but maintains the feel of a vibrant Italian restaurant. The chefs were on show preparing the food for the restaurant which was incredibly busy for a lunchtime - but one taste of the food and it was clear why.

The dock also houses the Merseyside Maritime Museum, Beatles Story and Tate Liverpool. And, Do You Want to Know a Secret – The Tate, like the museum, is FREE.

No trip to Liverpool – not even as a Daytripper – would be complete without investigating the birth of The Beatles. Liverpool remains fiercely proud of its famous sons and the Fab Four draw some two million visitors every year. Now, I wasn't around in the Swinging Sixties let alone my children so I wasn't convinced the Beatles attractions would be Fab Four them – but it is surprising how engrained the band's songs are in modern times and we were soon singing along.

The Beatles Story is more than a museum. It is filled to capacity with memorabilia and visitors follow the story of the band at their own pace through headsets. This and the colour of the museum, particularly in areas such as the Yellow Submarine era, kept the children interested throughout. There is also the new exhibition, Elvis and Us ,at The Mersey Ferries Pier Head terminal which also has the Fab4D Experience and Hidden Gallery exhibition of Beatles images.

One way to retrace the Long and Winding Road into the history of The Beatles in Liverpool is to Get a ticket to ride the Magical Mystery Tour, based in Albert Dock. The two-hour trip visits the homes where the Beatles grew up, the inspiration for many of their songs such as Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields and the venues for their early gigs – finishing up at the Cavern Club of course where you can Twist and Shout to your heart's content. Entry is free Monday – Wednesday and children are allowed in before 8.30pm.

The tour guide is full of interesting anecdotes – everyone in Liverpool has some link to The Beatles – and there are plenty of chances for photo opportunities.

There are two obsessions for Scousers – The Beatles and football – and tourists can get a flavour of both with a new initiative entitled Rock n Goal. One ticket combines a visit to the Beatles Story and a tour of Liverpool FC's legendary home, Anfield Stadium. The tour takes in the changing rooms, Press facilities, The Kop and a pitchside talk giving a real behind the scenes insight. It also includes entry to the museum. Visitors should also try out the new Boot Room restaurant which is far removed from a pie and Bovril usually favoured at the footy.

Next to Albert Dock is the new £72 million Museum of Liverpool. Having opened in July 2011, it is the largest newly-built national museum in Britain for more than a century and offers a very modern, colourful, hands-on look at the past and popular culture which truly engages the children – and their mums. Many hours can easily be passed in this attraction and – Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da – it is free.

Families can also save the pennies with a visit to the magnificent Anglican cathedral which claims to have the world's highest Gothic arches at 33 metres and Britain's largest organ with 10,267 pipes. This cathedral, and the smaller but equally impressive Catholic cathedral, stand out as towering landmarks across the city.

rt hourly and a return ticket, at £17.50 for two adults and two children, lets you break the 50-minute journey at any of the three terminals.

Shopaholics can get more than their fix in the city and in particular at Liverpool One, a £1 billion retail and leisure complex. So if you are looking for an exciting and cultural break, that won't break the bank but will entertain the whole family then Let It Be Liverpool. Personally, I can't wait to Get Back.

LIVERPOOL By Diane Davies

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