Mersey Ferries

For me, the Mersey Ferries are as iconic to Liverpool as the red double-​decker buses are to London. A day trip with young nephews in tow would just not have been complete without going for a river cruise on them.
As part of the WWI commemorations, one of the ferries (Snowdrop) had been painted in eye-​catching ‘dazzle’ patterns by British pop artist Sir Peter Blake. It will stay this way for two years, but I really hope they decide to keep it looking like this indefinitely.
Dazzle camouflage works not to conceal a ship but to baffle those looking through their binoculars or periscopes — it made it difficult for the enemy to estimate a target’s range, speed and direction.
History aside, we bought our tickets for a round trip (stopping off at Spaceport en route). The cruise (lasting approximately 50 minutes) is definitely the best way to see Liverpool’s waterfront whilst listening to on-​board commentary about the Mersey, city and its surroundings.
It departs on the hour from Liverpool Pier Head terminal and calls at both Seacombe and Woodside Ferry Terminal.
Tip: you’ll hear extracts from ‘Ferry Cross The Mersey’ by Gerry & The Pacemakers — it will stay in your head for days.

Ok to do as a one off, ferry could do with more comfortable seating, commentary was good and audible, trip took about 50 minutes, would not recommend

i can remember as a kid over 50 years ago the mersey was full of ferries comming and going about it seemed every half hour or so we used to bunk on for a trip to new brighton now imm comming home to take my grand children on a trip and it seems by all reports they dont go to new brighton or wallasey anymore and that old queen the royal iris is lying
rotting away in a dock in london why? lets get back to the old liverpool and do away with the façade allso what about the famous raymond tugs nobody never ever writes about them yet when i was a kid there seemed more of them than any other boat on the water
heres a question who can remember the peanuts & brown sugar
long live the stan waters cafes

What with all the construction taking place down at the docks I didn’t see the ticket office, but why would the office be hundreds of feet away?
So there I was, at the dock side and the crowd is swelling towards the Royal Daffodil and I ask a crew man where to get a ticket, he tells me ‘Pay when you’re back’ and allows me to board.
In and upstairs I go, to the front as we all board. There’s food and drink available onboard, but I’m here for the trip and experience.
What fun, what sights, what a bunch of lovely scousers…
Come and enjoy!

Life goes on day after day
Hearts torn in every way
So ferry ‘cross the Mersey
’cause this land’s the place I love
and here I’ll stay
People they rush everywhere
Each with their own secret care
So ferry ‘cross the Mersey
and always take me there
The place I love
People around every corner
They seem to smile and say
We don’t care what your name is boy
We’ll never turn you away
So I’ll continue to say
Here I always will stay
So ferry ‘cross the Mersey
’cause this land’s the place I love
and here I’ll stay
and here I’ll stay
Here I’ll stay
You’d better like this song if you intend to go on the Mersey Ferry as it is piped over the speakers on the Ferry on a loop. There is also a very interesting commentary which tells you about the stunning skyline you can see.
In my opinion the Mersey Ferry is the only way to really see and totally appreciate Liverpool’s iconic waterfront and skyline. As you sail away from it you can truly appreciate the sheer scale and impact of Liverpool’s 3 Graces and the other landmarks on the waterfront. The Mersey Ferry is an excellent place to take photos from and a must for any tourist.
The Ferry can sometimes get a bit chilly but there is an indoor area to sit if this is the case. I’m also told that if you get the Ferry across to work in the morning you are given a free cup of tea to warm you up.

The Ferry is a great alternative to the bus and the train for those of you who want to go to Birkenhead, which isn’t a place I would recommend seeing! However, the Liverpool ferries are stooped in the city’s great heritage, including the classic ‘Ferry Cross the Mersey’ hit from way back when.
It’s a great little journey and it’s no too costly, it’s also surprising how busy the Ferry still gets. Given that it’s much less hassle to hop a bus or a train!
So why not cruise the Mersey’s brown and murky waters over to the treasure of Birkenhead, but hop straight back on and sail back, enjoy the views of Liverpool’s Albert Dock, the Three Graces, the Liver Birds and the fantastic Echo Arena.
Then I would suggest a light lunch or dinner on the Albert Dock at somewhere like Gusto or What’s Cooking, this would be a perfect weekend afternoon out, unless you’re sea sick!

Visiting Liverpool or born and bred, a trip on The Mersey Ferry is a must. I remember my first trip during a summer holiday — my dad must have been clutching at straws to keep my brother and I busy!
Not much has changed since then although it seemed to be a much bigger voyage way back when! The speakers have improved though with a detailed commentary to provide history and interest to the voyage and sights although all I remember as a kid was that song plying on as if on a loop!
The weather was unfortunatley just the same so try and pick a day that’s fair as the wind and rain can make the difference to a good journey unless you’re after a real sea-​faring trip

If you’ve convinced somebody to take a trip to Liverpool instead of, say, the New Forest Owl Sanctuary in Ringwood, I’d recommend dragging them on a ferry ‘cross the Mersey, unless they get sick easily or have a deadly fear of the Kraken.
A cynic would point out that the actual trip seems an awful lot like aimless meandering but there’s something about looking back at the city and noticing all you can see is one long stretch of famous landmarks that fills Scousers with pride. I feel sorry for Birkenhead, forced to admire us from across the water while all we have to look at is them.
The ferry tour isn’t perfect. It tends to travel a bit far downriver to places that still look dull from miles away and Gerry and the Pacemakers begin to grate after the fifteenth playing. However, the narration is very interesting and there’s something about being on a boat that breaks up the mundanity of life. Good old boats.

Damn Gerry and the Pacemakers with their song «Feeeerry ‘cross the Meeeersey» (I’ve been driven insane with someone singing that song on loop.) However, if you’re a tourist I would suggest getting a ferry across the Mersey at least once as you get a great view of the city from the water and it’s fab, lots of photo opportunities!
To be honest, I wouldn’t bother getting off at the other side, we got off at some industrial estate by accident which was Not fun in any way shape or form (like falling into some dilapidated 70s timewarp) Although we did see that rusty sub.
There is a voice over commentary about the buildings along the coast but if the weather is particularly blustery it just sounds like the captain is gurgling water over the tanoid. The wind can be pretty biting so I’d wrap up (I know, I’m not your mum), but the sights from inside the boat just aren’t the same so just do yourself a favour and go when the weather is nice, I implore you.

The Mersey River is the body of water that separates the Wirral Peninsula from the mainland, more specifically from the city of Liverpool.
Most people who cross the Mersey River cross by car, bus, or train. However, you can also cross by ferry on board The River Explorer. Ferries have been shuttling passengers across the river for hundreds of years.
A ticket from The Mersey Ferry takes you from Pier Head (Liverpool) to Woodside (Birkenhead), then to Seascombe (Wallasey.) The ferry departs every hour, and you can get off and back on at any of the three ports.
While on board one of the Mersey Ferry’s boats, you will hear audio commentary about the history of the ferry line, and about Liverpool itself.
It does cost considerably more for a ferry ride than it does for ticket from Liverpool to the Wirral, riding the ferry can be fun, especially if you’re visiting Liverpool for the first time.
I’ve been twice: once a tourist myself, and once while playing tour guide for two of my cousins, after I moved to Liverpool. I thought it was a lot of fun.

There is no better way to experience Liverpool than from the deck of the famous Mersey Ferry. You will learn about the city and the region’s fascinating history, see the spectacular sights and discover its unique character.
The cruise can be combined with a visit to Spaceport — a space visitor attraction at Seacombe terminal or with the U-​boat story — a real German World War II submarine at Woodside Terminal. The ferry has got to be the best way to see Liverpool waterfront, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Opening times are 10am-​3pm on weekdays and 10am-​6pm on weekends. It costs £6.20 for an adult and £3.95 for a child which is fairly reasonable for the views and services you are getting.

It was truly exciting to travel on this historic ferry and to hear the excellent commentary during the journey. Places of interest are pointed out along the route, making the experience full and interesting. If the weather is good you can sit out on deck or inside if raining or too cold. Fantastic opportunities for photography and the sight from the Mersey of magnificent Liverpool is quite breathtaking. There’s disabled access throughout the vessel and for getting on and off.
Seacombe Café, at the ferry terminal at Wallasey, opposite Liverpool, is friendly with a reasonable range of inexpensive range of snacks and light hot meals. The very helpful staff will also make sandwiches to order. They also offer children’s parties and other treats for special occasions. Next to the café is a children’s play area so it can be a bit noisy at times! There’s also a small shop for souvenirs and interesting small gifts. Just around the corner from Spaceport which doesn’t have its own café, so this is the best place to have some refreshments if going there after the ferry crossing.

A liverpool lad and yet at 38 only just took the ferry across the Mersey, it was worth the wait, good commentary provides a history of the river and the city. Value for money and a good 50 minute trip. You need the weather though the wind whistles up the front of the ferry

If you are visiting Liverpool you really have to go and have a trip on the famous Mersey Ferry. The ferries provide a link between Liverpool and the Wirral, calling at Pier Head in Liverpool and Seacombe (where you can visit Spaceport) and Woodside on the Wirral. They also run river explorer cruises which start at Pier Head and travel along the Mersey for a way before calling at Seacombe and Woodside on the Wirral. Commentary is given on these tours detailing the history of the buildings you can see and the history of the mersey and the ferries themselves. A single trip on the River Explorer cruise costs £2.70 adult and £1.55 child, and returns cost £5.30 and £2.95 respectively.

The ferries are a unique part of Liverpool’s history but at the moment they are suffering slightly from Liverpool’s regeneration. Your ticket has to be bought from a little portacabin and then you have to walk through a mass of building work to get to the ferry terminal. This is all due to the new canal opening which will mean that it will look fantastic when it;s all finished but for now it’s a bit of an eyesore!
However once you get on the ferry then you’ll have a great time, the wind in your hair, that fantastic waterfront, it really can’t be beaten!

Who can come to Liverpool and feel like they’ve made the most of their time without a trip on the famous ferry? An absolute must for all! You can take a trip for a very reasonable price and there is a lot to learn, even for us Scousers. There is a running commentary and interesting facts at various points on board. The Liverpool skyline is stunning and you can take great pictures when on board the ferry. Would definitely recommend to everyone as it really does cater for everyone.

The famous ‘ferry across the mersey’. Can’t visit Liverpool without having a ride on a ferry. You can simply pay for a trip to the Wirral and back or you can pay for a ‘cruise’. The latter is just a bit of a longer journey. You also get a recorded commentory pointed out some of the cities landmarks etc. You will also get to hear the Gerry and the Pacemakers singing #Ferry across the Mersey — not live of course but on a recording.
On nice days it is great to go upstairs on the deck. If it is raining you have a choice to go inside the ferry below. It is a bit warmer in here and there is adequate seating. If you do go on deck be careful with the children as it can get them choppy.

You can get a few places on this, you can get food and drink on it and toilets are avalible, the Mersey Ferries have been going for years and years, they are one of the best things in the great city of Liverpool, the city would never be the same without them.

And where better to start your tour of the city’s maritime heritage than the famous Merseyside Maritime Museum?
The influence at times the domination, of the River Mersey on the growth of the region is unique. From the days when monks used to row their boats across the river (forerunners of the world-​famous Mersey Ferries) to the growth of the Port of Liverpool into one of Europe’s busiest and most successful cargo-​handling ports, Merseyside has a truly fascinating maritime heritage.
The world famous Albert Dock renovated during the 1980s
And its undoubted influence is set to continue with the ambitious development of the Mersey Waterfront Regional Park, an exciting scheme which will harness yet more opportunities for the growth of the local economy through further economic investment — much of it in leisure and tourism.
The Pier Head and its notable Three Graces, consisting of The Royal Liver Building, the Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building have won the Government’s nomination as a World Heritage Centre. The Pier Head has been shaped by the city’s past and new developments promise to maintain its status into the future.
For something a little different, beneath the Cunard Building you’ll find Underwater Street — a fun and hands-​on learning experience for kids of all ages.
AND THE MARITIME AREA!!!

The Mersey Ferry is a ferry between Liverpool and the Wirral. Ferries have been used on this route since at least the 9 centuries ago, and continue to be popular for the local people and the visitors and until the establishment of the Mersey Railway in 1886, the ferries were the only means of crossing the Mersey river.
The company offers different experiences, Manchester Ship Canal Cruises, River Explore Cruises and other special cruises, and also direct cruises between Pier Head, Seacombe and Woodside.
Ferry Cross the Mersey is a name of a song and a film, recorded by Gerry and The Pacemakers, in the late 1964.
Also, Franky Goes To Hollywood, recorded a cover of this song, in the single Relax.