Radio City Tower in Liverpool

Radio City Tower serves as both a radio transmission tower and observation tower in the heart of Liverpool city centre, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding city. Also known as St Johns Beacon, the tower is among the tallest free-standing structures in the United Kingdom.

Not only does it offer wonderful views of Liverpool with visibility ranging for miles, but it's also located in the heart of St Johns Shopping Centre. This means you can grab a bite to eat or go shopping for a souvenir or gift after catching that photo opportunity that will be sure to light up your social media feeds.

Radio City Tower in Liverpool - one of the highlights of 10 Best Things to Do in Liverpool and 10 Best Things to Do in Liverpool in Winter (Read all about Liverpool here)

History of Radio City Tower

Radio City Tower was known as St Johns Beacon from its opening in 1969 up until its rechristening in 1999. Originally, it housed a luxurious 5-star revolving restaurant on the top floor. The restaurant went through several incarnations before closing in the early 1980s, and the tower itself lay derelict for years before Radio City purchased it in 1998.

The company spent £5 million to refurbish the structure, and today, it houses 2 local radio stations and fields an observation deck accessible to the public for a small fee. It's a popular visitor attraction for photo opportunities.

photo by Robin Pollard (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified

What to know before visiting Radio City Tower

Radio City Tower is a functioning office structure hosting 2 major radio stations for the city, so much of the tower is not open to the public. To get the full 360-degree panoramic view, it's necessary to skirt the offices of the radio stations, but the view is breathtaking and well worth the trip.

Lifts onsite allow for access by people with disabilities, and the facility is considered wheelchair friendly. The tower rises 138 metres high, with the viewing gallery at about 120 metres. Most visitors spend around 25 minutes in the observation area, and visibility can sometimes reach as far as Blackpool, Snowdonia and the Lake District.

Open: Daily from 10.15 am to 5.15 pm

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