Life on the 'incredible' street with some of the best views in the city

Neill Fozard has enjoyed waking up every day to one of the best views in the city since the 1970s. When the 77-year-old first moved into his home in Gambier Terrace on the edge of Liverpool city centre, Liverpool Cathedral was still being built.

Neil has had the luxury of looking out at the cathedral every day since then, and he has seen many changes during that time. Liverpool Cathedral is arguably one of the most stunning buildings in the city. The grand building that stands over 300 feet tall is one of the world’s tallest non-spired churches and dominates Liverpool’s skyline.

Gambier Terrace, a Grade II* listed street, dating back to the 1830s, is one of the many jewels in the crown of Liverpool's Georgian Quarter. Originally home to some of Liverpool's most wealthy families, the street boasts stunning views overlooking the cathedral.

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Neill told the ECHO: “There are only two houses on this row that are only privately owned now, I’ve been here about 40 years, it’s changed a lot since I moved in. When we moved in in the mid 70s it was a red light area, you had prostitutes working down the terrace, so it wasn’t very fashionable to buy a property here which made it cheaper for us, otherwise we couldn’t have afforded it.

“So yeah it has changed a lot. Gradually the girls were pushed along towards the university area. The art college used to own a couple of the houses and there was a family planning clinic in the early 70s, and the far end [house] used to be the Merchant Navy Hotel, all of that has gone now and it’s residential, so in a sense there is less of a mix here now.

“The buildings are incredible, they have all the traditional features, it’s definitely one of the reasons I love living here. I just love being in the city, it’s funny I went walking in Formby yesterday and I walked into Formby and thought ‘I couldn’t live here.’ That view of the cathedral is incredible, the first floor window has a balcony and you can look at it from there.

“When we moved in, the cathedral was still being built, we’ve seen so much change over the years. This house is probably the least converted of all the lot, we still have the original kitchens underneath. There have been some alternations. It takes a bit of heating however.”

Standing in Gambier Terrace you can see exactly why Neill fell in love with the area all those years ago. The views of Liverpool Cathedral are extraordinary.

In recent years Gambier Terrace has seen lots of new faces, including younger people and even some students. Tom Crighton, 25, from Liverpool, moved to the area two years ago after finishing university, but he already agrees that the street is one of the best places to live in the city and is in awe of its incredible views.

He said: “It's nice but it’s quite expensive, especially being young, I’ve only just finished uni. It's quite quiet here but you’re also in town, just without the busyness of the city centre. And it's a nice view to come out to and see this [the cathedral].

“I’m in the basement but in the winter you can see it [the cathedral] from my window, the trees are too big to see it in the summer though. I’ve lived here almost two years, everyone is friendly. It's a bit of community on the road.

“Most of them are flats now. My landlord bought our building and next door for around £40,000 back in the 90s, he said. And now they’re worth so much more, probably millions, they’re huge.”

One woman, Inas Hussain, 22, who is a student in Liverpool and moved in earlier this year, is lucky enough to have the view of the cathedral from her bedroom window. Inas said: “My bedroom faces the cathedral so that is literally my view.

“Then I come out the door and see that, it’s amazing. There are a lot of young people around here. Before we moved in we didn’t even know it was available for students, we found it and were like ‘oh my god.’

"Three or four of the houses are student accommodation I think. There is a proper mix of people here - young professionals, older people and students.”