Hi, I’m Sean Robertson, Deputy Sector Marshal at Mountain Box (Sector 9) on the TT course, and an Ambassador at Liverpool Cruise Terminal. Every year we welcome thousands of bikers through Liverpool on their way to the Isle of Man and I have updated my guide to Liverpool and the embarkation process to help your journey to the Isle of Man go smoothly and safely.
Location
The Liverpool terminal is situated at the Pier Head, next to the Royal Liver Building and the Cruise Terminal. Address is St Nicholas Place, L3 1DL
Access
From M62, M57, M58 follow signs for “Waterfront” not for the commercial freight docks. As you approach the tall waterfront buildings the Royal Liver Building is recognisable by the Liver Birds on top of the towers, head for this building, the access to the ferry check in is off the half roundabout next to this building.
If you’re coming in on the M62 the speed limit reduces to 50 about half a mile from the end (with a very profitable speed camera, next to the “Motorway Ends 1/3rd Mile” overhead sign).
From the M53, go through the Wallasey Tunnel, when leaving at the Liverpool end keep right and follow for the Waterfront – the exit road from the tunnel is a favourite place for the police to do speed checks – 30mph. Once off the tunnel approach road and onto Scotland Road you'll be turning right at the next lights. Then carry straight on until the road veers to the left after the 3rd set of lights, get into the right-hand lane and turn right at the Liver Building.
From the A41 through Cheshire head for the Birkenhead tunnel. (Rock Ferry Bypass now has 50mph average speed cameras) As you approach the tunnel entrance get into the left-hand lane, the tunnel is 2 miles long, but towards the end there is a left turn, take this and when you emerge from the tunnel you’ll be directly opposite the Liver Building. Go straight ahead at the lights leaving the tunnel, then get into the right lane as you turn right at the next lights.
For both tunnels, motorbikes are free, there is a dedicated motorbike lane at the toll booths, Cars are £1.80, and you pay in cash or use a contactless card at the booths (Birkenhead/Wallasey end only - both directions).
From the M56 follow signs for the Mersey Gateway Bridge, this is a toll bridge, it is free for motorbikes but if you’re in a car or van you need to pay (£2 for cars), there are no toll booths you need to log onto
Merseyflow and pay your toll, you have until midnight the day after you cross the bridge, but you can log on and pay in advance and the toll will be taken when you cross.
Security
As with any large city, Liverpool has its share of crime, although statistically, and despite the stereotypes, it has one of the lowest levels of vehicle crime of any large UK city. However, if yours is the bike that gets stolen statistics are meaningless. Opportunistic and organised thieves will always help themselves to easy pickings and thousands of bikers who don’t know the area are an all too easy target.
There are very few incidents near the terminal itself, probably due to amount of people around, but bikes have been stolen from outside hotels, especially away from the city centre. If you are staying overnight make sure your bike is locked up away from the road.
Never leave your bike or belongings unattended. If you need to head off for food or the shops and cannot leave someone looking after your bike put it one of the nearby car parks. A few pounds are a small price to pay for peace of mind.
These three are open and staffed 24/7.
- Liverpool Waters - Princes Dock - along from the Crown Plaza Hotel.
- Q Park - Liverpool One - enter/exit via The Strand
- Capital Building - enter/exit via Rumford Place behind the Mercure Atlantic Tower Hotel.
Terminal
The passenger terminal is on the floating stage, and marshalling area for bikes/cars has no facilities apart from the check-in booth. There is normally a burger van there during the TT. Toilets are in the passenger terminal on the floating stage, or in the hotels over the road - Crown Plaza or Mercure Atlantic Tower.
Check-In (Bikes and Cars)
Once through the pair of check-in booths you’ll be directed round to the holding area, then down the grey bridge onto the floating stage. As you ride down the bridge to the stage your boarding pass will be collected so keep it handy, from that point the stage becomes a secure location so anyone not travelling will not be able to go down there, nor will you be allowed back up. Once on the stage you’ll be parked up in rows to wait your turn to board the ship. Bikes are sorted into “skinny” and “fat”, it’s not a comment on your waist, just whether you’ve got panniers fitted or not. Bikes normally go on first, then foot passengers, with cars put on last. If you’re on a bike and put onto the mezzanine deck, you’ll be first on but last off as the cars must be moved from the bow before you can move (you'll be given a wrist band to remind you and asked to remain seated until called to disembark)
Once on board the Manannan the deck crew will secure your bike to the railings on the deck, this is done by rope over the bike and around the foot peg, they'll put some cloth under the rope to protect your paintwork but if you want more protection take a bit of foam.
Foot Passengers
If you’re travelling on foot its easier to get a taxi from Lime Street Station or you can walk from James Street (Wirral Line) or Moorfields (Northern and Wirral Lines) Merseyrail stations. You should head for the grey bridge linking the car check-in area to the floating stage, there is a pedestrian walkway on the left side of the bridge which takes you to the passenger lounge and check in. On your return journey, you’ll disembark over the car deck and after baggage reclaim on the stage, walk up Gate 3 (very steep at low tide) which brings you out opposite the cruise terminal (take care as you head from here towards the taxi rank as you’ll be crossing the exit route for bikes and cars)
Food
McDonalds* and KFC are on the Strand and are 24/7, but if you are here during the day, consider heading to the Baltic Triangle area. Thursday to Sunday I recommend the Baltic Market at Cains Brewery on Stanhope Street. A good place during the day is Brasco Lounge near to Liverpool Museum on the waterfront, just a few minutes’ walk from the terminal. If you want something more substantial head to Liverpool One or Castle Street.
* warning - a few bikes have been stolen in the past from McDonalds - don’t leave your bike unattended there!
Nearest Services and Facilities
Chemist - Boots, Church Street, L1 1DA
Tesco - Strand L2 0PP - Daily 6am to 11pm
Tesco - Old Hall Street L3 9RQ - Daily 6am to 11pm (also Sainsburys opposite)
Cashpoints - at the above supermarkets
Hotels - many in the city centre, the nearest are:
Crown Plaza (opposite the terminal)
Mercure Atlantic Tower
Malmaison
Ibis (opposite Albert Dock)
Jury’s Inn (Kings Dock)
Shops - the open air Liverpool One Shopping area with 170+ shops is opposite the Albert Dock. Shops are open Mon to Fri 9:30am to 8pm; Sat 9am to 7pm; Sun 11am to 5pm
Fuel
Nearest petrol stations are:
Costco - Cardholders only - Waterloo Road L3 7HY - Store hours
BP - Great Howard Street L3 7AT - 7am to 10pm
BP - Sefton Street L8 6UD - 7am to 10pm
Shell - Scotland Road L5 5AQ - 24 hours
Shell - Derby Road L20 1AD - 24 hours
Shell - Edge Lane L7 9LD - 24 hours
Cruise Terminal
The cruise terminal is next to the Isle of Man terminal, and the ships berth on the same floating stage. Take care when cruise ships are in port, passengers are mostly American or continental European, who won’t be used to hundreds of bikes going past on the “wrong” side of the road. The larger ships can carry over 3,000 passengers and we can have up to 40 coaches heading to the terminal from shore excursions, plus hundreds of passengers walking back into the terminal especially in the late afternoon when our busy time is between 3pm and 6pm.
During cruise ship operations the section of Princes Parade adjacent to the cruise terminal is closed to traffic and pedestrians, but there is an alternative road around the back of the terminal
During TT 2019, the following ships are scheduled:
Events
The following events are happening in Liverpool during the TT period:
- 25th to 26th May – Rock n Roll Marathon – see Website for road closures
- 31st May – Castle Street Food & Drink Festival – local road closures near to the town hall
- 31st May to 2nd June – Bordeaux Wine Festival – no road closures for this but the site is adjacent to the ferry terminal – so it will be busy with pedestrians.
- 1st to 2nd June – Mersey River Festival – see Website for road closures and be aware of the waterfront area near to the ferry terminal being very busy with pedestrians
Going Home
When disembarking from Manannan on the way home you’ll leave the stage via the shorter of the bridges, this can be VERY steep at low tide (1 in 4), so take care. When you get to the top and into St Nicholas Place lots of bikes will pull over to group together, so it can get very congested here, especially with taxis and cruise ship traffic, if you are going to wait to group up, try riding around the back of the cruise terminal where there is much more space on Princes Parade.
From St Nicholas Place you’ll come to the first set of traffic lights.
- For the M62 or Wallasey Tunnel and M53. Turn left then get into the middle or right lane to head up Leeds Street then follow the signs to the motorway or tunnel.
- For the Birkenhead tunnel (A41) go straight ahead (between the Mercure hotel and church) this road leads to the tunnel entrance
- For the M57 or M58, turn left and head north for 4 miles until you get to Seaforth and then follow the signs for the motorways.
- NOTE if you are used to leaving the terminal and going straight up Chapel St and over the flyover to head for the M62, don't, the flyover is closed awaiting demolition. Go via Leeds St above.
I hope the information above has been useful. If you spot anything that needs correcting, amending or adding to, please leave a comment and I'll get it updated.
Ride safely. Look after yourself, your bike and belongings and have a great TT
13/04/2019 – Version 1 uploaded
