Anfield

Tour the stadium, visit the museum, buy the kit

For supporters of the Reds, Anfield is Liverpool’s third cathedral, Bill Shankly is God, and Stephen Gerrard is the Keeper of the Relics. You enter the hallowed ground through the Shankly Gates, commemorating the legendary manager (or the Paisley Gates, named after his successor); you are greeted by the Shankly statue (“He Made the People Happy”), and in the museum you can see Gerrard’s collection of football shirts, trophies, and memorabilia sanctified by their associations with the world’s great players or his team’s victories. The display is accompanied by a video of Gerrard, team captain from 2003 to 2015, talking about his treasures. Even if you are not a football fan, a visit to Anfield is essential to understanding a vital part of the city’s psychology. And it’s not just a local thing: there are millions of supporters all over the world.

Anfield opened for football in 1884. Confusingly, it was first used by Everton FC, but after a rent dispute, the Everton club went to Goodison Park, and in 1892, Liverpool FC was founded, with Anfield as its base. Today the stadium is huge, with seating for more than 50,000. Stadium tours include going behind the scenes; you can even book a VIP experience and meet some of the players; or you can just turn up and visit the Liverpool FC Story, an absorbing interactive museum showcasing the club, its famous players, and its greatest moments, enlivened by videos and the sounds of roaring crowds singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Among the exhibits are silverware including all five European trophies; a mock-up of the infamous Kop, rebuilt as an all-seater in 1994; and a painting by Adrian Henri commemorating the tragic Hillsborough disaster. There’s a photo booth where you can have your picture taken with a choice of nine different backgrounds; afterwards, you can eat at the Boot Room Sports Cafe; and of course, there is a vast shop with an enormous range of kit.

Address Liverpool FC, Anfield Road, Liverpool L4 0TH, +44 1512606677, www.liverpoolfc.com | Getting there Bus 917 from St John’s Lane (match days only); bus 26 or 27 from Liverpool One bus station; bus 17 from Queen Square bus station | Hours Museum and tours (advance booking for tours essential) 10am – 3pm | Tip Across the street, at 199 Oakfield Road, is Home Baked, a community-run co-operative bakery and café selling delicious freshly made bread and cakes.