Located on England's north west coast, Liverpool has a storied past, a legendary musical heritage, more listed buildings than any city outside of London, and a booming arts and culture scene. Whether you're looking at its connections to the slave trade or exploring its later incarnations as a site of shipbuilding, exporting and emigration, its history revolves around the docks. The waterfront was granted UNESCO World Heritage Status in 2004 and since then Liverpool has undergone major regeneration, even away from the water. These days, Liverpool is a great destination for art, music, culture, shopping, eating and drinking and offers as dynamic an experience as any other major city in the UK.
Albert Dock forms the heart and soul of Liverpool. Home to the Maritime Museum, as well as plenty of shops, restaurants, cafes and bars, you can easily while away an afternoon - or even a few days -here. The docks play host to a regular schedule of exciting programming, from a pirate festival to comedy nights, folk music and heritage tours that explore lesser known histories. This is also where you'll find the International Slavery Museum, which is the only museum in the world dedicated to the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Entry is free and the in-depth exploration of this terrible period of history is rendered absolutely essential by the many stimulating exhibits.
Also found down at the docks is the Beatles' Story, which takes visitors on a tour through the Fab Four's lives and history, with incredible recreations of some of the most significant locations that played a part in their story and success, including The Casbah Club, The Cavern Club and Abbey Road Studios. Of course, you can still go and visit the actual Cavern Club, the brick vaulted cellar venue where the band first cut their teeth. These days it has a great collection of 1960s memorabilia and hosts cover bands throughout the week. And if you still want more of the Fab Four then take a trip down to Penny Lane on the Magical Mystery Tour which departs from Albert Dock and takes you through Liverpool to see all the sights related to The Beatles, from their childhood homes to Strawberry Fields.
The cities cultural significance doesn't begin and end with The Beatles however, as the city has plenty of art galleries and museums to visit. The Tate is one of the premier art galleries in the country and has a regular rotation of visiting exhibitions as well as a fascinating permanent collection. If you want more art, then Walker Art Galley hosts displays that cover everything from Degas to Hockney, with its collection beginning in the 12th century. But of course, it wouldn't be a trip here without a trip to Anfield, home to Liverpool's biggest football club since 1892, when Liverpool FC was first founded. Whether you're visiting the city for a football match, a night on the town, a cultural tour or a Beatles pilgrimage, simply wandering the streets of this imposing and impressive city with its heritage listed buildings, buzzing bars, and welcoming restaurants is a must.