U-Boat Story

The U boat story is an interesting place to visit especially if you enjoy learning about WW2. It was fascinating to look at the artefacts that were found inside the U boat after it was raised from the sea bed, where it had lay for over 40 years. There are books, uniforms, records and playing cards as well as loads more to look at. It is all extremely well preserved too. The actual U boat itself wasn’t exactly what I had expected. I thought we would be able to walk through it and experience what it might have felt like to be inside but instead it as been cut into quarters and you look though glass panels to see its interior.

It has to be said, Merseytravel have some great attractions and a great transport network that’s pulled a lot of trade through the city for all the right reasons.
That said, the U boat story certainly doesn’t disappoint! Although it has received criticism for cutting on of the remaining German U Boats in half for the sake of showing it to the public, it’s a fantastic interactive adventure for all the family to learn about how the Nazi’s commandeered their warfare against the English!
Being a Merseytravel attraction you can be sure that there are great transport links to and from this attraction, and there is also a family ticket option that allows you to visit the U boat, Spaceport, The Beatles Museum and catch the Ferry across the Mersey. Great for a family day out if you’re a traveller that’s new to the area!

Located at Woodside ferry terminal is a German U-​Boat, sunk in 1945, it had remained on the sea bed for nearly half a century when, in 1993, it was salvaged (reportedly by treasure hunters) and its story retold. The U boat is divided into four sections which came as a surprise to me when I first visited and actually provoked an initial disappointment; I had thought that visitors could wander through the depths of the sub and truly imagine life on board, obviously, as I discovered the history behind the vessel: its purpose; its attack by depth chargers; its sinking and wreckage, I began to appreciate much more the quality and quantity of what had been preserved, and there is a good deal. What’s more, the story is fascinating and told in a way that is easily accessible and appealing to everybody; there are informative interactive exhibitions and audiovisual displays which engage with young and older visitors, and guided tours are available too; the guides are very knowledgeable and always invite questions. U-​Boat story is a remarkable concept and, to my knowledge, a very unique exhibition, at least in the North West, and it provides a rare glimpse into life under the sea during World War II; fascinating.

At U-​boat Story, you will be able to look into the U-​boat in four sections with glass viewing partitions, view its amazing interior and discover its surprisingly well preserved artefacts including a rare Enigma machine.
Through the exhibition’s interactive and audiovisual exhibits, you can gain a unique insight into life on board a submarine during wartime and enduring the mystery of U-​534.
U-​boat Story is a fascinating look back into history. Guided tours are available daily. More details can be found on their website or by giving them a call.
A variety of U-​boat and wartime related gifts can be purchased in the souvenir shop. A new waterfront café called ‘Home’ is located at Woodside where you can enjoy quality food and drinks while you enjoy the stunning views.
This exhibition normally tends to attract more of the older generation or those with an interest in war history.

I keep meaning to take my dad to this.
U-​534 was used for training and weather reporting during the war.
The exhibition feels pretty realistic (although of course I never lived through the war). Onboard the real German U-​boat there is original film archive and interactive displays and you can listen to interviews with the crew who served on U-​534. You can also see how the U-​534 was recovered. The interactive exhibits let you get involved in decoding an Enigma message, identifying ships and marine animals by listening to them or making a model submarine dive and surface smoothly.