LIVERPOOL CITY TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Moonlit Stones: A Gothic Walk Through Liverpool’s St James’ Necropolis
A roughly 90-minute promenade and storytelling tour through St James' Cemetery Gardens that examines Liverpool’s history, folklore and Victorian public health.
Moonlit Stones: A Gothic Walk Through Liverpool’s St James’ Necropolis.
St James' Cemetery Gardens — Liverpool’s old necropolis and a garden of gravestones — provides a Gothic setting for Shiverpool’s Secret Garden & Cemetery Shivers Tour: promenade street theatre and expert storytelling that threads together ghosts, ghoulish fables, history, heritage and the darker chapters of the city’s past.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
St James' Cemetery Gardens — the former Necropolis
Explore the converted necropolis of St James, a contrast of squalor and splendor where headstones and garden paths create a deeply Gothic atmosphere central to the tour.
Promenade street theatre and expert storytelling
Shiverpool’s award-winning guiding transforms the route into a spine-tingling Gothic odyssey of folklore, storytellers and theatrical narrative woven through the cemetery landscape.
History, public health and attitudes to death
The tour dissects Liverpool’s grim Victorian public-health chapters while exploring changing attitudes to death and the pioneers who shaped the city’s social history.
What the day feels like
What the Walk Feels Like
Expect an intimate, theatrical stroll through layered time and place: story-led stops among tombs and garden paths, a mix of dark humour and historical detail, and moments that draw out hope as much as horror in the cemetery’s quiet presence.
THE SETTING
St James' Cemetery Gardens — the former Necropolis
Explore the converted necropolis of St James, a contrast of squalor and splendor where headstones and garden paths create a deeply Gothic atmosphere central to the tour.
THE PERFORMANCE
Promenade street theatre and expert storytelling
Shiverpool’s award-winning guiding transforms the route into a spine-tingling Gothic odyssey of folklore, storytellers and theatrical narrative woven through the cemetery landscape.
THE THEMES
History, public health and attitudes to death
The tour dissects Liverpool’s grim Victorian public-health chapters while exploring changing attitudes to death and the pioneers who shaped the city’s social history.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this walk suits and who should take caution.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The tour lasts about 90 minutes and may extend up to 120 minutes depending on group size and pace; meet in Liverpool and arrive 10 minutes before the start.
Bring your own torch and wear Wellington boots or protective grippy footwear—sections of the cemetery are unlit and can be muddy and slippery in autumn and winter.
There is a ZERO alcohol policy before and during the tour and a strict no-smoking rule that includes vapes and e-cigarettes.
The tour starts outside The Philharmonic Pub on Hope Street and finishes at the Anglican Cathedral on Upper Duke Street; please follow operator instructions at meeting point.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Secret Garden & Cemetery Shivers Tour?
The tour lasts about 90 minutes but may extend up to 120 minutes depending on group size and pace.
Where do we meet the group?
The start location is outside The Philharmonic Pub on Hope Street; arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled departure.
What should I bring with me?
Bring your own torch and wear Wellington boots or protective grippy footwear because the cemetery is very dark in autumn and winter and can be muddy and slippery.
Can I bring my dog?
Only guide dogs are permitted on the show; other animals cannot be accommodated.
Are there rules about alcohol or smoking?
The operator enforces a ZERO alcohol policy before and during the tour and has a strict NO SMOKING policy that includes vapes and e-cigarettes.
I'm booking as a hen or stag group — is that allowed?
Hen and stag parties should get in touch with the operator directly before booking so the group’s Shiverpool experience can be planned.