Life on Liverpool street that is “probably as close to an ideal location as you can get”
14:01, 18 Jan 2026Updated 14:02, 18 Jan 2026
It is one of the most sought after streets in the city(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
While most of the surrounding streets have seen rapid change over the years, Percy Street has become one of the most sought after locations in the city with one of its residents describing it as “probably as close to an ideal location as you can get.”
Reportedly described by the famous German-British historian Nikolaus Pevsner as “probably” the “finest street in the north of England”, the homes along Percy Street were built in the 19th century and is today one of the many idyllic residential streets that surround the many bars and restaurants in the Georgian Quarter.
Vincent O’Neill, 80, is only the fourth resident to have lived in his home on Percy Street since it was built.
He told the ECHO: “It’s probably as close to an ideal location as you can get. You can walk to a wide range of bars and restaurants serving to a very high standard, within five or 10 minutes. We’re above the city so we get plenty of fresh air up here and we are excluded from the through traffic.”
During the 52 years he’s lived on the street, he witnessed one of the most historic nights the city has seen, as he the Toxteth riots unfold outside his window.
One resident recalls being able to see the Toxteth Riots take place outside of his window(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
He said: “Quoting the words of W Butler Yeats when he was talking about the uprisings in Ireland where I’m from, he said ‘a terrible beauty is born’ and that’s what I said when I saw the riots. I knew things would never be the same again.”
Another resident, Lynne Harrison, 61, had already become very familiar with the street before moving 35 years ago, having been a regular in nearby Peter Kavanagh’s. She said: “My best friends had Peter Kavanagh’s at the time, so I was always up here anyway, but back then I just went out in town all the time. Back then, this street had a lot of students, David Gray used to live across the road.”
After moving in in the late 1980s, she said the street instantly felt like home having made close friends with her neighbours over the years. She said: “I love it here, I do love my home and until I can’t get up these stairs, I’m always going to be here.”
Homes on the street were built in the 19th century (Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
She added: “For me it’s the best place in the world, I’ve been away and done a lot of travelling and I’ve always just wanted to be at home, and this is my home. I’m so grateful, because of what it was like when I moved in, people were like ‘oh my god it’s terrible’. Now I live in a luxury apartment in the Georgian Quarter.”
Living on the top floor of the property, near the start of the street, Lynne explained how every window provides another view of some of the city’s most well-loved landmarks. She said: “I live on the top floor here, so out of my bedroom window, I’ve got the beautiful St Brides Church that’s always lit up of a night, it’s gorgeous. Out of my living room window I’ve got the back of the cathedral. I’ve got an amazing elm [tree], which when I came was just a little sapling and now we’re having murder trying to keep it maintained.”
While it is the beauty of the street that has attracted most residents, Rob Clark, 43, who lives with his wife and daughter has said one of the things he has loved most about his eight years living on Percy Street has been his neighbours.
St Bride’s church lies at the start of the street(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Specifically, Rob pointed out how he has been impressed by the residents’ reaction to nearby communities. He said: “One of the things that I’m happiest about this street, is that there’s no sort of nimbyism, the welcoming feel extends to everyone, which is kind in essence of what Liverpool is about.”
He added: “Liverpool’s a city built on migration and welcoming to different groups of people and long may that continue, and it’s nice to be in this little sort of enclave of being welcoming, cosmopolitan and outward looking.”
As he reflects on his time living on Percy Street, he recalled one particularly heartwarming moment he shared with his 86-year-old neighbour, Fred, who lives just across the road from him. He said: “Fred rides his bike everywhere and he has a little collection of them sometimes just outside on the steps and so he saw me trying and failing to put my daughter’s bike together over Christmas, so he just came out and worked his magic on it for free.”