A victory parade is set to take place in the city this Sunday to celebrate the performance of one of the city’s biggest clubs, Liverpool Football Club. The Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson had already invited the club to take part in a victory parade in preparation for the potential outcome of the season. However, following Liverpool FC’s Wembley win, this has been extended to include the FA Cup and the parade will take place regardless of how the team fares in the Premier League and Champions League final.
The club has officially accepted the offer so it’s all systems go for the parade taking place on Sunday 29th May at 4pm – the day after the Reds play Real Madrid in the Champions League final on May 28. This is the only time all players are available due to the majority of them traveling on international duty to represent their respective countries immediately after this date. And it’s not just about the men’s team. The victory parade will also include Liverpool FC Women who clinched the FA Women’s Championship trophy last month.
Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson, said: “Lifting the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup and the FA Women’s Championship trophy is an incredible achievement that deserves to be acknowledged and we have everything crossed that they won’t be the only trophies they are lifting on the day! Whatever the outcome of the end of the season and the Champions League Final, Liverpool FC and Liverpool FC Women have already done us proud, and we will give both teams the homecoming celebration they deserve.”
Here’s what you need to know about the Liverpool FC victory parade
When will the victory parade take place?
Sunday 29th May, starting at 4pm and setting off from Allerton Maze.
Which way will the parade go through Liverpool?
The 13.5km victory route, the same as the 2019 parade, will start at Allerton Maze in the south of the city. It will then travel north bound on Queens Drive towards the Fiveways roundabout (in Childwall) and on to the Rocket flyover. The bus will travel along Mill Bank, West Derby Road, Islington, Leeds Street, The Strand and then finish at Blundell Street.
The date of the victory parade falls on the anniversary of the Heysel Stadium disaster, so will this be marked too?
As the date of the victory parade falls on the anniversary of the Heysel Stadium disaster, throughout the morning of the anniversary Liverpool Football Club, supported by Liverpool City Council, will pay tribute to the 39 supporters who lost their lives on that day.
Where is the best place to watch the victory parade?
If you live near or can get to the parade route outside the city centre, this might be your best option because it’s going to get incredibly busy the closer you get to Liverpool city centre. Liverpool City Region transport bosses have asked anyone, where possible, to walk to the parade and, if not, plan your journey in advance. However, if you fancy a spot overlooking the parade from above there are a few rooftop bars are hosting Liverpool FC victory parade events.
One Fine Day on Old Hall Street is a stone’s throw away from the main action, close enough to be part of the atmosphere but tucked away from the crowds. The bar is hosting a pre-parade celebration, soundtracked by a DJ playing all the favourite Liverpool anthems. There will also be face painting and a craft area to make banners for the kids and adults, and drinks to enjoy inside or take away.
Likewise, Liberté on Brunswick Street is looking like a popular spot to get a view of the parade. Proving to be a hit and selling out tickets in 24 hours, Liberté has teamed up with Meet Argentinean Restaurant to offer a final release of tickets. For £25 per person, you can enjoy the parade with front row seats and a bottle of Peroni on arrival
Are there road closures?
Yes. The Strand will be closed northbound on May 29 from Leeds Street / Old Hall Street junction to Blundell Street junction from 7am and will reopen when it’s safe to do so after the parade. The southbound lane will be closed from approximately 1pm – please be aware this may be earlier if there are crowd safety concerns. There will be rolling road closures in place around the bus itself as it travels through the city, and West Derby Road city bound will be closed from Sheil Road at 4pm until the conclusion of the parade in this area.
How will trains be affected?
Merseyrail has amended its train timetable, which will run throughout the day with the regular Sunday 30-minute frequency (a 15-minute service will run between Moorfields and Southport stations after 10:00), strengthened to six cars wherever possible. In addition, Northern line trains will only call at Moorfields in the city centre and Wirral line trains will only call at Liverpool Central in the city centre. Lime Street low level, James Street, Green Lane, Bromborough Rake and Capenhurst stations will be closed all day to manage passenger numbers. Northern services will be limited so check timetables before travelling and there will be no TransPennine Express services due to planned industrial action.
James Street and Lime St low level stations will be closed from 16:00 tomorrow and all day Sunday 29 May. There are other closures and service changes in place for the @LFCVictoryParade. Check before you travel here: https://t.co/9MNQnPXG3u pic.twitter.com/8CuLTgjl1w
— Merseyrail (@merseyrail) May 27, 2022
How will buses be affected?
Bus services in and out of the city centre, and those that cross the parade route, will be disrupted by road closures and diversions. Cross River buses will be operating as normal, but Liverpool ONE and Queen Square bus stations might have to temporarily close as the parade passes.
For more information, check their websites and Twitter for up-to-date info:
www.arrivabus.co.uk (@arrivanorthwest)
www.stagecoach.co.uk (@stagecoachMCSL)
Will the tunnel be open?
The Birkenhead to Liverpool lanes of the Queensway (Birkenhead) Tunnel will be temporarily closed between 12 and 9pm, so traffic will not be able to travel into Liverpool City Centre using Queensway (although traffic travelling towards Wirral can use Queensway as normal throughout the day). This could change depending on the day, as traffic will be monitored throughout. The Kingsway (Wallasey) Tunnel will operate as normal but is expected to be busy.
How can I find out where the bus is?
The official social media channels of LFC (@LFCHELP), Culture Liverpool (@CultureLpool) and Liverpool City Council (@LpoolCouncil) will all have live updates to keep you in the loop.
How do I watch the parade from home?
If you are unable to attend the parade you can also watch it live across LFC’s official Twitter, Facebook and YouTube channels. You can also watch live coverage of the parade on LFCTV Sky channel 425 Virgin Media channel 544 or on LFCTV GO. Coverage will begin at 3.45pm.