About Liverpool
About Liverpool
About Liverpool
Liverpool, as the maritime capital of
Britain, has a reputation as an unglamorous working-class town, and it is
tragedy deserted dockside area reflects the hardships wrought by the economic
change of the 1980s. Yet mo Liverpool can boast of world-class theatres, a
symphony orchestra, a variety of restaurants and thriving nightly. Liverpool is a world city of international
renown, with its instantly recognizable waterfront, unique accent and famous
sons and daughters. Based in the heart of Northwest England, Liverpool is also
Britain's favourite day trip destination according to the national tourist
board.
Liverpool, with its famous waterfront on the River
Mersey, is a great shipping port and industrial center. King John launched it
on its road to glory when he granted it a charter in 1207. Before that, it had
been a tiny 12th-century fishing village, but it quickly became a
port for shipping men and materials to Ireland. In the 18th century,
it grew to prominence because of the sugar, spice, and tobacco trade with the
Americans. By the time Victoria came to the throne, Liverpool had become
Britain’s biggest commercial seaport.
As
the birthplace of the Beatles, Liverpool has long been a popular tourist
attraction. But the Beatle heritage is the character of the «Scouse» people
than in such workaday landmarks as Strawberry Fields and the «Eleanor Indeed»,
the fabled Cavern Club, where the Beatles honed their craft, has been razed.
The real secret of the Beatles dockside melting pot ensured a continual influx
of less-than-proper music and attitudes from overseas. Visitors who simply must
get the official version of events are directed to the city-sponsored Beatle
exhibit and Dock. The Albert Dock itself is widely considered Britain’s most
successful large-scale tourist renovation.
Recent refurbishing of the Albert Dock, the
establishment of a Maritime Museum, and the conversion of warehouses into
little stores similar to those in Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco have made
this an up-and-coming area once again, with many attractions for visitors.
Liverpudlians are proud of their city, with its new hotels, two cathedrals,
shopping and entertainment complexes, and parks. And of course, whether they
are fans of the Fab Four or not, most visitors to Liverpool want to see where
Beatlemania began.
European Capital
of Culture - what does it mean?
From 2005, there will be a new European
Capital of Culture every year. This is a revival of
the well-known City of Culture programme, which benefited Glasgow so much back
in 1990.Far from being just another title; it is an ideal opportunity to
celebrate the cultural accomplishments of Europe's great cities and to involve
the community as a whole in that celebration. It is also an opportunity for
further development. Glasgow experienced substantial economic and social
benefits during its period as the City of Culture, both strengthening and
promoting its own impressive regeneration. In 2008, the European Capital of
Culture will be in the UK and Liverpool is one of the cities bidding for the
title. Competition will be fierce, but the title is very much worth the battle,
and Liverpool's claim is a very strong one indeed. Our bid team has the support
of not just the City Council but also many cultural and business leaders. When
the people of Liverpool get behind the bid too, we can and will be the European
Capital of Culture in 2008.The benefits of winning the title are quite
tangible. It will do so much more than simply throw the spotlight on all of the
city's cultural and artistic achievements. The world already knows about the
Beatles and our famous football teams. The title will enable us to tell a more
complete story, encompassing everything from the Tate in Liverpool to the many
events of the Liverpool festivals. Specific benefits to the city will also
include local and regional regeneration, increased tourism, greater business
activity and an overall increase in cultural activities. Just as importantly,
the title will remind everyone in the region - and indeed the country - that
Liverpool is very much a city to be proud of. Competition is now under
way and the Government will publish a shortlist of candidates in the last
quarter of 2002, with the final UK nomination decided in spring of 2003.At that
point, the winning city will be able to start using the title European Capital
of Culture 2008 and to start preparing in earnest for its year of tenure.
Liverpool culture
A range of
theatres offer first class productions to rival London's West End and many
tourists just come to Liverpool for its exciting nightlife. The city center has
a wide choice of cafes, bars, pubs and clubs. Mathew Street, the home of the
Cavern Club, still attracts thousands of Beatles fans from all over the world.
The city is alive with musicians, poets, writers, artists, painters, sculptors,
designers and architects - further enhancing its image as a European city of
culture. Liverpool is bidding to be the European Capital of Culture
in 2008. Liverpool
is also a serious sporting city. Liverpool and Everton football clubs are
renowned the world over. Liverpool is also home to the world's most famous
horse race, the Grand National at Aintree.
Liverpool is
also famed for its monumental architecture, which includes the gold-domed town
hall and the large in England. A combination of high and low culture is
evolving at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, founded and fu
McCartney.
Architecture in Liverpool
Liverpool’s
most important building architecturally is St George’s Hall, situated
on St George’s Plateau on the world-famous Lime Street. Described as the finest
Greco-Roman building in Europe, St George’s Hall was designed by 24 years-old
Harvey Lonsdale Elms. Elms didn’t live to see his masterpiece completed. His
friend and mentor, C.R. Cockerell, was brought into finish the building. Today,
St George’s Hall serves as a home for music festivals and the
Assize Courts. The grandeur of St George’s Hall rewards the visitor arriving
from Lime Street Station with a remarkable first impression of the city.
Liverpool retains a large part of its Georgian heritage.
Although a considerable amount has been lost this century, the city has more
Georgian buildings than Bath. Many of those remaining have been sensitively
restored. This can be seen in the Rodney Street area, created by wealthy
merchants at the end of the 18th century. The extensive network of
streets and squares between the city’s two cathedrals is home to both the
University of Liverpool and the John Moore’s University. This area still
captures the elegance of an earlier era.
The Arts in Liverpool
If the Arts is your passion, there are three important
buildings side by side on William Brown Street: The Walker Art Gallery,
acknowledged as housing one of the best collections of European art outside
London; William Brown Library; Liverpool
Classical
music lovers will find the home o the renowned Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Orchestra at the Philharmonic Hall, Hope Street.
Along the street is the much-loved theatre repertory
company, the Everyman Theatre. On the subject of theatres, sample a
little theatre history by visiting the Playhouse (Williamson Square),
Britain’s longest established repertory theatre. Three other theatres in the
city are well worth a visit: The Royal Court (Roe Street), The
Neptune (Hanover Street) and The Empire (Lime Street).
Wildlife, Walks & Parks in Wirral
There are hundreds of acres of woodland and heath to be
explored in Wirral. Why not start visiting Bidston Hill, Heswall Dales Local
Nature Reserve, and Wirral Country Park (which includes the 12 mile
footpath known as the Wirral Way starting at West Kirby)?
For something slightly different, try Hilbre Island Local
Nature Reserve off West Kirby. Access to the Island is restricted by tides,
which cut it off from the shore twice a day. Hilbre provides an ideal spot to
see a wealth o wading and migratory birds, as well as famous dinosaur
footprint.
There are some outstanding walks around the coastline of
the peninsula. The North Wirral Coastal Park stretches over 4
miles along the coast with the Irish Sea. You can also fill your lungs with sea
air on the various beaches in Wirral.
Of particular interest is the Red Rocks at Hoylake, one of
the finest beaches in the area. Or stroll along the pleasant beachside
promenades at New Brighton and West Kirby, where there is also
the sunning Marine Lake (left).
For more formal facilities, visit Birkenhead Park, the
first municipal park in the world and the forerunner and model for Central Park
in New York City.
Or spend some time at Ness Botanic Gardens, the
Internationally renowned Botanic Garden with extensive displays of seasonal
flowers, shrubs and trees, including Rhododendrons and Azaleas. Wonderful Rock,
Terrace, Rose and Water gardens.
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