The bottom end leads into the area surrounding Clayton Square, which is part of the main retail district of central Liverpool.

Liverpool Central, a major hub of the Merseyrail rapid transit/commuter rail network, can also be accessed via an entrance on Bold Street next to The Lyceum, a post office which was Europe's first lending library.

They used to measure the rope from the top of Bold Street to the bottom because at over 300 metres it was the standard length needed for sailing ships.

[1] It was laid out for residences around 1780 and named after Jonas Bold, a noted sugar trader and banker.

Although there had been port-related industrial activity in the area, with roperies occupying the site of what is now Bold Street to supply the sailing ships, this intensified along with a demand for residential properties so that the merchants could be located close to their business interests.