Liverpool

Situated on the north bank of the River Mersey, Liverpool began its development from a small riverside village in 1700 and became one of the UK’s major trading cities that rose to prominence during the 17th and 18th centuries. Built on the back of a booming economy, Liverpool boasts many impressive sites including the Albert Dock, the Liver Building, the Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building; the latter was built with ostentatious displays of wealth as a sign to those entering the city via the Mersey that Liverpool was a magnificent city and a great place to do business. But what makes Liverpool so unique is its people: Liverpudlians, like the city itself, are a bold and brash bunch that are fiercely proud of their regional identity. Typified by an instantly recognisable accent, true Liverpudlians speak ‘Scouse’, a dialect distinct from its North Yorkshire neighbours that’s recognised and imitated the world over. The city’s most famous sons are undoubtedly The Beatles and the city attracts many visitors who come to follow the trail of the Fab Four from their humble beginnings to international stardom as the world’s first super band. And it’s impossible to talk about Liverpool without talking about football; divided in to two camps – either the blue of Everton or the red of Liverpool, both teams play in England’s top Premiership league and, male or female, young or old, it seems like the entire city is passionate about the sport. The red half of the city had extra reason to celebrate in 2005 when Liverpool were crowned champions of Europe after overturning a 3-0 deficit to beat AC Milan on penalties in the Champions League Final in a spectacular game that’s still fondly talked about around the city’s bars. This incredible melting pot has earned Liverpool the accolade of being crowned Europe’s capital of culture for 2008, an event for which the city is already planning its celebrations.