Anyone interested in researching any part of Liverpool's history will find this place an invaluable resource. Housing the City's extensive archive, it also contains a number of the records needed for tracing your family tree, including the Census and Parish Church records for the Liverpool Area.

Located on the fourth floor of the main library building, right in the beautiful Civic Centre area, the reading room is unusually spacious, with a large number of film-readers (most of the records are on micro-film), so you do not normally need to book a machine before you go. There are lots of maps and other aids on display, and I found the staff to be amazingly helpful and friendly - they clearly find working here a joy.

If you want to access the original records, you'll need to enter a separate area where a CARN (Country Library Archive Network) ticket is required (bring photo ID and proof of address, eg a driving licence) - otherwise, you're fine. There are also the usual lockers for putting your belongings. The only downer is that the lavatory is back down on the ground floor, so go on your way in!