Liverpool introduces a tourist tax from 2025

From June 2025, Liverpool will join the ranks of British cities where tourists are charged an additional fee for staying in hotels. The charge will be £2 (about €2.36 at the current exchange rate) per night and will be automatically added at checkout. The charge is mandatory for all hotels and other establishments offering overnight accommodation.

The initiative was approved by representatives of the hospitality sector following consultation with the Accommodation Business Improvement District (BID), which has 83 members. Over two years, the new charge is expected to bring in around £9.2 million. Roughly two-thirds of that amount will go into a dedicated fund supporting the city's tourism infrastructure.

Supporting the growth of the tourism sector

According to Bill Addy, chief executive of Liverpool BID, introducing the charge should significantly strengthen the city's tourism potential, attract major events, and increase visitor numbers. In designing the charge mechanism, the experience of several European countries, where similar measures are already in place and have proven effective, was taken into account.

Similar initiatives have already been implemented in Manchester. In addition, a tourist tax will also take effect in Edinburgh from 2026 — it will be the first city in Scotland where such a measure applies. Meanwhile, in England, introducing such measures requires going through approval procedures and demonstrating economic justification.

Addy expressed confidence that the Liverpool model would become a successful example for other cities and help turn short-term visits into long-term investment. Marcus Magee, chair of the Liverpool Accommodation BID, called the new measure an important step toward letting hospitality businesses take part in shaping the city's tourism policy.

A symbol of hospitality

Harry Doyle, the Liverpool city councillor responsible for culture and tourism, said the new charge reflects the business community's confidence in the future of the city's tourism industry. He thanked business owners for taking part in the vote and stressed that support for this measure will strengthen the regional economy, create new jobs, and expand the programme of events aimed at attracting visitors.

Liverpool remains one of the UK's major tourism hubs. The city is famous for its port on the River Mersey, a world-class football team, and, of course, being the birthplace of the legendary band The Beatles.