My children are football mad and their choice of club they follow is Liverpool. For me it’s a unanimous decision to also be a Liverpool fan. For Christmas my daughter requested a holiday to England and my youngest son asked to go to a match at Anfield. Me? I wanted a nice hotel with a spa and my older son was happy with any or all three requests.
I found tickets for a Liverpool Legends match and checked in for an overnight stay at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool. I have been recently to visit the Titanic attraction in Belfast and the structure is very unique and it is the same in Liverpool. This area is minutes from the city centre and far enough away from it also, so you have the best of both – the buzz and the quiet.
The 30-minute flight from Dublin is ideal for young kids. A £6 bus ride from John Lennon Airport took us to the city centre (longer than the flight!), followed by a quick black cab ride to the Titanic Hotel Liverpool on Stanley Dock. The grand building, warm lighting and buzzing atmosphere set the tone – especially when my son spotted Rafa Benitez! Within minutes, we were chatting, getting a signed jersey and getting a photo with this Liverpool legend. A perfect start!
We drop our bags and head off to the ‘Liverpool Legends Match’ match. We wander through estates, following the crowds of red jerseys and finally get to the stadium. My son is mesmerised by it all and we get to our seats, three rows form the front with no hassle at all. Liverpool and Chelsea put on a great match with Steven Gerrard playing a full 90 minute match and Peter Crouch scoring two goals for Liverpool. Great memories for us all.
After the match we venture back to the hotel to relax and officially check in. I order a bespoke cocktail and we have drinks in the lounge, listening to a local singer, strumming his guitar. The outside area overlooks the dockside and people are chatting and drinking cocktails in the balmy nighttime air (it was 17 degrees during the day when we were there)
We take the lift to the third floor, and as we step into the corridor, it’s like stepping back in time – straight onto the Titanic. The lighting is dim, the atmosphere subdued and all you see are room doors, creating an eerily brilliant effect. The reception manager tells us that each floor represents a section of the Titanic, with the lower levels getting progressively darker to reflect the original ship’s steerage class.
Our superior dockside room is perfect for the four of us, with a spacious layout. The split-level design features a double bed and a king-size bed, the décor exudes warmth with its stone-effect walls, inspired by the docks. The bathroom is huge, stocked with luxurious ESPA products, and the towels actually wrap around your whole body. They also have interconnecting rooms available for larger families or groups.
To top it off, we even have our own bar! After sinking into the comfiest beds, we wake up refreshed and head downstairs for an impressive buffet breakfast, overlooking the waterside. The space is generous, catering perfectly to both international and local guests.
They also have the most stunning spa – Maya Blue Wellness. Nestled under the red brick arches, this is a hidden underground sanctuary. In this underground retreat, they have a unique thermal suite and ten treatment rooms offering an extensive menu of ESPA treatments (my favourite beauty products) After a day walking around Liverpool, why not ‘treat your feet’ to a luxury foot bath, indulge in an experience shower, or soak in the hydrotherapy pool and have a snooze in the serene relaxation area featuring plush beds, a bean bag lounge and a tranquil tea garden!
This hotel is ideal for a mother-daughter shopping and spa getaway or a father-son football trip. While our visit was short, you could easily spend three days exploring the city’s eclectic shops, soaking up the Beatles’ vibe on Mathew Street, or simply unwinding at the Titanic Hotel, absorbed in the dockside’s nostalgic charm.
Travel facts
Flights from Dublin to Liverpool return start from as little as €30 (more expensive if Liverpool matches are on)
A family room at the Titanic Hotel Liverpool with a sofa bed for 2 adults and 2 children under 12, midweek – Sunday to Thursday, from £180, subject to availability.
Article published in the Irish Daily Mail April 5th 2025