Vis a vis 14 year olds. But when I did the Fabs stuff in Liverpool I really enjoyed some of the pubs that are mentioned as favourite watering holes for the boys in Philip Normans "Shout".

There was one just in Matthew St (I think) called the Grapes and one up at the top of a hill (forgive the geopgraphical ignorance here scouse types..) that was a very ornate beer parlour - think called the Philarmonic?

Both would havea real resonance for anyone who has read the book - I think the Grapes had pictures of the pre fame boys drinking in the same spot as your seat in about 1961?

Also first class boozers in their own right. Beer, Beatles - whats not to like?

At the Albert Dock is brilliant. I'm not much of an art fan, but I reallY enjoyed mooching around in there.

On the Abert dock which is full of the original models of early cruise liners.

Might not sound much but is really interesting when you see them.

http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/

But there are one or two good ideas already up there.

Beatles Stuff: The MMBT will cover most angles I suspect (Mendips, Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields, sundry other Beatle houses) but pub-wise you ought to take in:

Ye Cracke
The Jacaranda (if it's open)
The Grapes

Mathew Street itself has a lot of Beatles stuff to look at although be aware the Cavern is a few yards to the left (right?) of the original.

The Philharmonic is well worth a visit and you MUST go to the Gents while you are there.

Cathedrals - we've got one to spare but you should do both - very different but both quite awesome in their own way, whichever foot you kick with (or even if you kick with neither).

Record shops - sadly fewer decent shops than you would expect but get to Probe (on the edge of the Bluecoat Chambers - well worth a visit in its own right) for some quality obscurities and vinyl, and also Hairy Records on Bold Street (if it's open) for loads of second hand vinyl and a wealth of stories about The Old Days.

Football - Goodison Park and attendant megastore should be on your tour - stadium tours are available but probably need to be booked in advance. I gather there is another football club in the area but wouldn't know too much about that.

Art - The Tate, as already mentioned, and the Maritime Museum, also the Walker Art Gallery (There were some Stu Sutcliffe pictures in there last time I went)

If the weather's nice, get on the Ferry and do the Liverpool/Seacombe/Birkenhead triangle. Great views of the waterfront and some lovely salty sea air.

All the above are Googlable and the websites will give you loads more detail.

If PaddyH spots this thread he'll be able to give you loads more recommendations as well.

Hope this helps - give us a shout if you want/need any more thoughts.

Mike, we discussed this a while back when Ola and his Swedish mates were coming over for a day (or two?). Why not have a look at the discussion we had then for a few ideas?

Also, the 'hop-on, hop-off' bus services are a good way to get to see all the 'tourist' sites. More info here.

It's a lovely, sunny day up here today and the city is buzzing with race-goers. Feels like a great place to be!

and it would involve a short journey outside of the Pool of Life I would recommend a visit to the wonderful Lady Lever Gallery in Port Sunlight.

There's Banksy's cat on the side of a derelict pub up by the Anglican Cathedral. The Cathedral itself is pretty awesome, if only through sheer scale and full of odd bits of art - two Tracey Emin's - one slightly tacky (in my opinion) but the other surprisingly lovely.

There's Anthony Gormley's "Another Place" 15 minutes away by train on the coast at Waterloo / Crosby. Definitely worth taking your camera.

Have lunch at Delifonseca in Stanley Street or somewhere up around Hope Street - almost all the places up there are good.

The Grapes is the only "original" Beatles venue on Mathew Street and definitely worth a look in.

The World Museum next to the Walker Art Gallery is mainly set up for kids but there's always something diverting in there.

The Bluecoats Arts Centre has re-opened and is normally full of bizarre stuff.

FACT is a good arthouse cinema and has a couple of galleries in it for the more conceptual artists of the parish - we've had many a WTF moment in there.

I won't go on - but I could! Hope you get decent weather & hope you enjoy it!

The Ferry?

You can get a round trip with tickets to see the Space thingy on the other bank....

..oh, and Liverpool One's good for shopping if that's your bag.

Museum and Tour is pretty good value if all a bit rushed. They use local actors decked out in wannabe hoolie Barbour quilted coats as guides. All a little bit surreal but ace if you love your football history (Everton/Man U fans may disagree here).

Both clubs have megastores in Liverpool One. Everton's shop is called Everton 2, so the postal address reads Everton 2, Liverpool One...

Smart..............

And the Hard Days Night Hotel. Just mooching around reception is enough but if you get the chance to sneak around the corridors a bit, there's more HJH memorabilia in there than you can shake a stick at.

Warning - love for Beatles music may wane if you're in this particular hotel for 5 days. I think I heard Ticket to Ride and HDN at least 37 times during the stay. The staff must go doolally.

The Crookes at the Masque on Thursday http://www.masque-liverpool.com/event.cfm?eventid=424 - don't know much about them but the wonderful Sensorites are on plus my fave very Word friendly band The Big I Am. Or if your there Saturday there is a 14+ gig at The New Picket but it looks loud!!

Just for the truly awesome scale of the building, (it's the world's 5th largest cathedral). The Duck is worth a spin too,(the lad will definitely enjoy it).

I'm away Tuesday and Wedenesday next week (interviewing some Irish Republican dissidents, which means I probably won't get back through Gardai security), but contact me if you want a tour Thursday/ Friday.

The Victoria Museum and Gallery at the University of LIverpool is well worth a look as is the World Museum and St George's Hall in William Brown Street.

- The city has some great walking tours, I have starred the ones that I think are the best.
Heritage Tour: liverpool08.com
* Historic Slave Tour: 0151 237 3925
* Shiverpool Ghost Tours: 0151 709 2030
Cains Brewery Tours: 0151 709 8734
Red Jack Tours: 07940 144 257

If you are going to come out to Crosby to see the Gormley statues on the beach let me know and I can take you along another walking tour there to

Now, one thing no-one's really touched on, and that I am very qualified to, is the eating:
Porto - Wee Portugese place on Rodney St is an absolute belter.
Eureka - Absolutely brilliant Greek place in Myrtle Grove on edge of Toxteth
The Everyman Bistro - Hope Street, eternally brilliant arty hide out, a known haunt of the Massive Mingle
The Italian Cafe - Bold Street, good food and coffee and a known Du Noyer hang out
Mayur - Gourmet, high end Indian on Duke Street
The Munro - quality gastro pub on Duke Street, on the pricey side
The Hub Alehouse - in Casartelli Building at bottom of Duke Street has a good rep for somewhere just open

Great ideas and my level of anticipation has risen through the roof - thanks for the time and effort put in here. PaddyH thank you for the offer of a tour but we're homeward bound on Wednesday. Very kind offer though.

We're actually staying in the HDN Hotel so won't have to sneak along the corridors to see the memorabilia. I'm going to spend a happy weekend now plotting these things on the map ready for next week.

One further question though - is there a Transport museum at all? My Great Grandad was an Inspector on the Trams way back and I wondered if there was anywhere that chronicled that?

Anyway thanks again everyone and I'll let you know how me and the boy fare when I get back.