hi dan.
welcome abaord.
i have an 8" too and can see plenty with it. i live in campbelltown tho which is slightly better light pollution wise that liverpool but still light polluted. what you need do is train your eyes. the more you look the more you see, trust me!
you should be able to see (at least as a smudge) the brighter galaxies when theres no moon out. bright nebulas and all the planets to some degree... get yourself a chart and get out there
