Welcome to Liverpool from Liverpool Hope University
Liverpool Waterfront
A guide to Liverpool
Contents
Welcome to Liverpool
Transport/Travel 3-4
Car Rental 4
Local Hotels 5
Personal Safety/Crime Prevention 5-6
Music 7
Theatre 7
Sport 7
Shopping/Dining (city centre) 8
Countryside and Beauty Spots 8
Childwall Area 9
Local Shopping 9
Places of Worship 9-10
Dining out (locally) 11
Working and Living in the UK
Checklist 12
Obtaining a visa/entry clearance 13
National Insurance Numbers 13
Registering with the Police 13
Opening a bank account 13-14
Mortgages 14
National Health Service 14
Registering with a Doctor 15
Registering with a Dentist 15
NHS Prescription Charges 15
Private Healthcare 15
Private Health Insurance 16
Driving in the UK 16
Income Tax 16
Child Benefit 16-17
Double Taxation Treaties 17
Council Tax 17
Utilities (gas/electricity/water supply) 18
Telephone and Internet 18
Post Office 18
Television Licences 18
Satellite Connection 18
Buying/Renting Property 19-20
Education and Childcare 20-23
School Holidays 23
Care for pre-school age children 23-24
Laws and Rules in the UK 24
Criminal Offences 24-25
Environmental Crime 25
Leaving the UK (checklist) 26
Useful Websites (Quick reference) 27
Liverpool Hope University list of useful contacts 28
Liverpool Hope University
International Staff
Welcome to Liverpool
Liverpool was the European Capital of Culture in 2008. It is also a world heritage site with its famous waterfront being UNESCO listed. Liverpool has a rich cultural heritage and has the highest number of museums outside London; traditional and modern art galleries, including the Tate and the recently restored Victorian Palm House in Sefton Park.
Transport and Travel
Childwall is close to the M62 motorway and is well placed for numerous public transport routes including easy access to Liverpool city centre and Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
Buses
Buses in to Liverpool city centre which pass Hope Campus are currently the numbers 86c (via Taggart Avenue) or the numbers 74, 75 and 78 (via Woolton Road). Bus number 81 can be boarded at Childwall Priory Road by the Triangle and takes you directly to Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Please note, bus routes and/or times can be changed from time to time, as well as the cost of fares, so it is best to check current bus routes, times and prices by visiting the Merseytravel website: www.merseystravel.gov.uk. Most local bus journeys cost around £1.50 per single fare but if you wish to use buses regularly, you may benefit from purchasing economy tickets. These range from Saveaway one day tickets, term time tickets and season tickets. Some categories of tickets can be purchased locally from:
· McNaughton’s Newsagent, Woolton Road (next to the Halfway Public House)
· McColl’s Newsagent or the Post Office, both at the Triangle, Taggart Avenue (5 minute’s walk from Hope campus)
Term time and season tickets can be purchased at Merseytravel Information Offices. For more information on, and costs of all types of economy tickets, timetables and details of trains, buses and ferries visit www.merseytravel.gov.uk. .
Taxi Cabs
There are also numerous taxi companies operating in Liverpool. Hackney (or black) cabs can be ordered/pre-booked or flagged down on the road. They are licensed to carry five passengers and contain identification details of the driver(s) authorised to drive each particular cab. There are also private hire taxis which are ordinary, privately owned vehicles licensed to carry passengers. They are not permitted to pick up passengers who try to flag them down and can only be used by way of telephone booking. Hackney cabs are usually more expensive than private hire. Reliable taxi companies include:
Hackney (black) cabs 0151 733 3393
Private Hire 0151 298 1234
Delta Taxis 0151 922 7373
Brittannia 0151 426 3333
Trains
Hope Park is easily accessible from Liverpool’s main railway station, Liverpool Lime Street.
Broadgreen railway station is the nearest (just over one mile) to the Hope Park campus, but there are no direct bus services. Various buses are available from Queens Drive, a short walk away, including the 61, 81 and 81A.
Air Travel
Liverpool John Lennon Airport is approximately 15 minutes, by car, from Hope University or 25 minutes on the bus. There are a number of domestic and international flights operating from the airport throughout the year although some are seasonal. For more information visit www.liverpool.com
Forty five minute’s drive from Liverpool is the much larger airport at Manchester, offering a wider range of destinations and greater choice of flights. For more information, please visit www.manchesterairport.co.uk
When booking flights, you may wish to visit price comparison sites on the internet to ensure you are achieving the best price on airfares. Such sites include: www.flightline.co.uk, www.travelsupermarket.com, www.cheapflights.co.uk
Car Rental
There are numerous car rental companies mainly based at Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Reputable companies include:
· Arnold Clark Car and Van Rental
104 St. Anne Street
Liverpool L3 3EB
Tel: 0151 291 1811
www.arnoldclarkrental.com
· Europcar
Arrivals Hall
John Lennon Airport
Liverpool L24 8QQ
Tel: 0151 448 1652
www.europcar.co.uk
· Avis Rentacar
John Lennon Airport
South Terminal
Liverpool L24 4SY
www.avis.co.uk
Tolls
If you need to pass through the Mersey Tunnel on your travels to work there is a toll charge. These charges vary depending on the vehicle you own and if you have a fast tag the charges will be slightly less. For more information on the tolls, as they are subject to change please visit http://www.merseytunnels.co.uk/nossl/html/fees.php
Local Hotels
Liverpool has an abundance of city centre hotels ranging from budget to five stars. To check out listings and availability visit: www.yell.com or www.booking.com. There are also a number of hotels in and around the suburbs. Those closest to Hope Campus include the following but the Personnel Department can provide details of further guest houses if required (Please ring 0151 291 3189 for details)
The Childwall Abbey Hotel
Childwall Abbey road
Liverpool L16 5EY
Tel: 0151 722 5293
www.marstonsinns.co.uk
e-mail:
The Premier Inn
Roby Road
Huyton
Liverpool L36 4HD
Tel: 0870 990 6596
www.premierinn.com
There are also two hotels very close to Liverpool John Lennon Airport:
Express by Holiday Inn
Speke Hall Avenue
Liverpool L24 1UX
Tel; 0871 423 4876
www.hiexpress.co.uk
Crowne Plaza
Speke Aerodrome
Speke Boulevard
Liverpool L24 8QD
Tel: 0871 423 4876
www.crowneplaza.com
Personal Safety/Crime Prevention
Liverpool is no different than any other major city in terms of personal safety. Better to be safe than sorry, so always be aware of potential threats to yourself and your property.
Personal Safety
· Try to keep on busy and well lit main roads when out walking, especially in the dark.
· Do not display items of great value (jewellery, camera, mobile phone).
· Do not carry large amounts of cash or important documents such as your passport unless it is absolutely necessary.
· Always keep your handbag firmly closed or your wallet in a pocket at the front of your clothing.
· When withdrawing money from cash machines, ensure nobody is standing too close to you and when keying in your pin number, shield the number pad with your hand.
Property Safety
· Always make sure your windows and doors are locked when leaving your property and activate the burglar alarm if you have one.
· Never leave house/cars keys on a table near to the front door as it has been known for thieves to hook them through the letter box using a hook and cane.
· Do not leave large amounts of cash in your home.
· Never keep your pin number together with your debit/credit card.
· If any ‘officials’ knock at your front door (such as gas/electricity meter readers) always ask to see identification before you let them into your home.
· When leaving your vehicle, always ensure all windows are closed and doors are locked and do not leave any personal items (such as handbag, briefcase, laptop) on show. If you must leave items in the vehicle, then lock them in the boot but never leave anything of any value in the car overnight.
In the unlikely event you become a victim of crime, you should contact Merseyside Police: Dial 999 in an emergency or 709 6010 to report any non-emergency type crime.
Music
Liverpool is home to the Beatles whose success secured the city’s place in the history of pop music. The Beatles Story Visitor Centre is situated at the Albert Dock and is a favourite amongst tourists. There are also dedicated tours around Liverpool which highlight significant locations in the Beatles’ history.
The Echo Arena is a state of the art 11,000 seated stadium situated at the Kings Dock overlooking the River Mersey. It has been host to the European MTV Music Awards, huge sporting events, the world firefighter games and world class artists such as Diana Ross, Elton John and Tom Jones. During June and July, the Arena hosts the annual summer pops when a variety of top class acts perform.
Throughout the summer, there are numerous musical events in Liverpool City Centre including the Matthew Street Music Festival, Brouhaha International Street Festival to rival Notting Hill, and the Liverpool Irish Festival.
For more information visit http://www.visitliverpool.com/whats-on/dont-miss or www.visitliverpool.com
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO)
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the oldest concert giving organisations in the world. The Orchestra gives over 60 concerts from September to June and its Principal Conductor is currently Vasily Petrenko, who, in March 2009, received an Honorary Doctorate from Liverpool Hope University. The Philharmonic Hall is situated on Hope Street in the Georgian Quarter of Liverpool City Centre and hosts pop as well as classical concerts throughout the year. Further information can be obtained by visiting www.liverpoolphil.com
Theatre
Liverpool is also host to an array of well-known theatre, which perform numerous plays all year round. There is usually a selection of plays for all the family this includes Pantomime, true life stories and a selection of well known and loved plays such as Macbeth and The Lion King. To find out more about where you can go and what is on visit http://www.liverpooltheatres.com/.
Sport
As well as having two Premiership football clubs: Liverpool F.C. and Everton F.C., Merseyside also has some world class golf courses, such as the Royal Birkdale in Southport and the Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, Wirral. There are also numerous municipal (council owned) golf courses such as Allerton, Childwall and Bowring Park as well as private members courses such as Woolton. In addition, Liverpool hosts the most watched sporting event in the world: The Grand National horse race at Aintree which usually takes place on the weekend before Easter. Merseyside also has a second dual purpose racecourse at Haydock, St. Helens. A forty five minute journey by car, will take you to the Roman City of Chester with its 2000 year old history as well as the oldest horse racing course in the U.K. For more information on Chester you can visit www.visitchester.com
Liverpool Hope University International Tennis Tournament
Each summer (usually the third week in June), Calderstones Park is host to the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament which is the largest exhibition event in Europe with ATP players, WTA players and the popular legends who are part of the tournament programme. Previous participants have included: Bjorn Borg, Pat Cash, Ille Nastase, Manshour Bahrami, Martina Navratilova and Goran Ivanisevic. For more information please visit www.liverpooltennis.co.uk
City Centre Shopping
In 2008, a £1 billion regeneration of Liverpool City Centre led to the opening of one of the largest retail and leisure complexes in the UK. Liverpool One, as it is known, houses some of the worlds most famous fashion brands such as Ted Baker, Karen Millen, Dune, Flannels and Fred Perry. In addition, John Lewis and Debenhams also have department stores there. Another popular shopping hub is the Met Quarter, also in the city centre, where you can find a range of designer shops selling Armani, Prada, Gucci and Hugo Boss. Opening hours vary, depending on the store, but core hours are between 10.00a.m and 5.30 p.m.
Dining out in Liverpool City Centre
Liverpool One boasts a wealth of renowned restaurants and bars such as Wagamama, Barburrito, Yo Sushi, Café Rouge, Pret-a-Manger, Red Hot and Starbucks as well as an eighteen screen cinema. The wider city centre, including the Albert Dock, has numerous wine bars, clubs and restaurants offering a varied selection of English and continental cuisine. For more information you can visit www.liverpool-one.com and www.metquarter.com or www.sugarvine.com
The Albert Dock
The Albert Dock is situated at the world famous Liverpool waterfront and is the largest group of grade 1 listed buildings in the U.K. It houses many award winning visitor attractions such as Tate Liverpool, the Beatle’s Story, the International Slavery Museum and the Maritime Museum as well as a host of restaurants, bars and shops.
Countryside and Coastal Beauty Spots
Merseyside has numerous breathtaking landscapes from rugged walks on Thurstaston Common, Wirral, to the sandy beaches at Formby and Southport. Popular tourist attractions include Knowsley Safari Park which is a 550 acre park offering a five mile safari drive along roads lined with exotic animals. It is only one of five safari parks in the U.K. and welcomes around 500,000 visitors a year. The National Wildflower Centre is set in a Victorian park about ten minutes drive from Hope. The emphasis is on creative conservation and putting wild flowers back in Britain. It has a children’s play area, exhibitions and dining facilities. For more information visit
www.nwc.org.uk. Also worth a visit, is Speke Hall, one of the most famous Tudor mansions in Britain. Situated in South Liverpool, its present form dates from
1490 – 1612 but there is mention of it in the Domesday survey of 1086. As well as the historic hall, there are extensive gardens and a restaurant. For more information, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-spekehall
A little further afield, and only 2 hours drive away, you can visit the Lake District, Snowdonia and the Peak District National Parks:
The Lake District
The Lake District is England’s largest National Park and includes Scafell Pike – its highest mountain, Wastwater is its deepest lake, and there are also thriving communities like Keswick and Bowness-on-Windermere. For more information you can visit www.lake-district.gov.uk