THE Red Arrows will fly-over Liverpool on Bank Holiday Monday as part of celebrations for The Three Queens visit.

Tens of thousands of people will line both sides of the Mersey on Monday to watch Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2 return together as part of celebrations for Cunard's 175th anniversary in the company's spiritual home, Liverpool.

Wirral Globe:

Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2 visit Merseyside this weekend 

When QE2 arrived in the Mersey for the first time in 1990 more than a million spectators turned out to welcome her.

With more than 600,000 expected to watch this weekend’s spectacle it promises to be very special indeed.

The liners will meet at the mouth of the river near New Brighton and begin their passage down towards the Three Graces on Liverpool’s waterfront.

The Red Arrows fly-past is due to take place at 1.50pm that afternoon.

Wirral Globe:

The Red Arrows will take to the skies for Three Queens visit on Monday afternoon

Prior to the ships' arrival there will be a host of entertainment on Liverpool waterfront.

Its iconic Liver, Cunard and Port of Liverpool Buildings will become the canvas for the state-of-the-art 3D Amazing Graces art projection.

Wirral Globe:

Liver and Cunard buildings will become canvas for Amazing Graces light show. Picture: Paul Heaps

Described as a '30-minute visual feast' by its producer, the Colour Project, the show will be beamed onto the historic buildings at 10pm on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.

It explores the spirit of Liverpool and is a celebration of the city's culture and heritage along with its Cunard links.

Wirral Globe:

Cunard buildings will become part of the canvas for Amazing Graces light show this weekend. Picture: Paul Heaps

The schedule for the Bank Holiday weekend is as follows:

Saturday, May 23: 10pm - Amazing Graces - state-of-the-art projections on the Three Graces exploring the spirit of Liverpool.

Sunday, May 24: 9am - Queen Mary 2 arrives and berths at Liverpool Cruise Line Terminal

10pm - Amazing Graces projections 10.30pm - Firework display

Monday, May 25: 10.45am - Queen Mary 2 leaves the berth to greet her two sisters at Brazil Buoy (on the river between Crosby Beach and New Brighton)

12pm-2pm: Three Queens meet and sail in formation south towards the Liverpool Echo Arena, and then north along the River Mersey.

2.10pm: Queen Mary 2 will depart and Queen Elizabeth will take up berth at Cruise Terminal, while the Queen Victoria will remain mid river.

10pm: Amazing projections 10.30pm: Firework display, after which the Queen Elizabeth leaves the city and Queen Victoria berths at the Cruise Terminal.

Tuesday, May 26: 4.30pm - A special musical sail-away performance to say goodbye to Queen Victoria.

5pm: Queen Victoria sails out of the city. Queen Mary 2 will then return to the cruise terminal on July 4 to recreate the voyage of the first Cunard ship, Britannia, from Liverpool to New York.

Their arrival will be best seen from the promenade in front of Woodside Ferry Terminal and New Brighton Promenade areas, or along the promenade in between. But where is the best place to view the once-in-a-lifetime spectacle?

Their arrival will be best seen from the promenade in front of Woodside Ferry Terminal and New Brighton Promenade areas, or along the promenade in between.

Marine Point in New Brighton is planning everything from flag festivals and themed ice creams to swing choirs performing throughout the weekend.

Community arts project MAP has teamed up with community groups and businesses to create a flag festival along the New Brighton promenade that will extend all the way to Seacombe.

 


 

A giant screen will be set up at Fort Perch Rock to watch all the Three Queens action over the weekend.

Birkenhead Priory will welcome visitors on all three days from 10am until 5pm offering a spectacular aerial view.

Wirral Globe:

St Mary’s Tower 

Trips up its historic St Mary’s Tower will be running from 10.30am–4pm on Saturday and Sunday and on Monday from 10.30am–4pm.

For all enquires contact Kathy Heywood on 0151 652 4177 or facebook.com/birkenheadpriory

You can watch The Three Queens as they approach Liverpool Bay and the River Mersey from the Dome of Home roof webcam, which is uploaded every 30 seconds.

You can also marvel at the procession from Port Sunlight River Park, which has a viewing platform even higher than that of the tower at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.

There will be a viewing day there from 10am-3pm, including a chance to find out more about the park.

The prospect of seeing all three majestic liners on the Mersey at the same time, for the first time, is likely to see the large volume of tourists that would already be in New Brighton on a holiday weekend swell to even greater numbers.

Wirral Council has plans to ensure safe and efficient passage in and out of the borough for visitors and minimal disruption for local residents and businesses on May 25.

They includes provision of a free Park & Ride service at the Dips in New Brighton, with parking for around 6,000 vehicles and buses running from there both to the resort centre and to Seacombe.

Vehicles will being signposted towards the ‘Park & Ride’ facility from junction One of the M53.

The main A554 road from Woodside to Harrison Drive in New Brighton will be re-designated a 'Blue Route' for the whole of Monday.

It means there will be no stopping or on-street parking permitted along this entire stretch of carriageway, except in dedicated parking bays. Roads leading down to the promenade will be marked as residents' parking only.

Other public car parking places in the area will be open as usual, with the exception of bays on Marine Promenade, which will be dedicated parking for Blue Badge holders only on Monday.

Parking spaces outside Wallasey Town Hall which will be reserved for staff and volunteer stewarding the event.

Fort Perch Rock car park will also be closed as it will be used as a gathering place and vantage point for pedestrians that day.

For more information visit visitwirral.com/three-queens

Details of the whole Three Queens event and Cunard’s 175 anniversary celebrations are on www.onemagnificentcity.com