Home of the Beatles, a rich nautical history and arguably the most successful football team in the UK - although the punters at Old Trafford might differ - Liverpool is a city on the up in preparation for its status as European Capital of Culture next year. New skyscrapers tower over the recently developed docklands area where there are a selection of new hotels overlooking the famous River Mersey.
ABTN stayed in the recently opened Malmaison located in Princes Dock. Boasting five air-conditioned meeting rooms and internet connection in every room, the business traveller is well catered for. A superb brasserie offers beautiful surroundings with views across the dock and there is a great selection on the menu, including the traditional Liverpool dish ”Scouse” - a meat stew with either lamb or beef that can come with sea biscuit - and the service from the friendly staff is impeccable.
Liverpool's skyline includes two very distinct cathedrals. The Anglican, located on St.James' Mount, is the largest cathedral in the UK and the world's highest gothic arches. The phenomenal structure is a huge 188m (619 feet) in length and covers a floor area of nearly 10,000sq m (100,000 sq ft).
A ten minute stroll takes the visitor to the Metropolitan Roman Catholic Cathedral - another must-see in the city and a polar opposite to its Anglican cousin just down the road. Its modern wigwam design suggests nothing of the history of the building whose construction began in the early 20th century, although scratch beneath the surface and the central crypt reveals a glimpse of what might have been.
When work began at the Anglican site on Hope Street in 1904, Sir Edwin Lutyens was instructed to build its bigger, bolder Catholic match at the opposite end of the road. Lutyens entertained elaborate plans (pictured right) for ”a great space - a spiritual sanctity for those cold and destitute,”* whose centrepiece would be a vast central dome of 51m in diameter and with an internal height of 91m, beneath which would sit a high altar 4m above the nave floor and a remarkable 53 smaller altars throughout the building.
Construction of the crypt continued until the start of World War II when all building was called to a halt, after which constraints on the national economy forced a drastically more modest redesign to Lutyens' original plan. In 1960 the challenge was given for a project that would take no more than five years and cost no more than one million and the winning entry from Sir Frederick Gibberd was completed as the building of today in 1967.
Naturally for a city that is so proud of its Beatles offspring it named the airport Liverpool John Lennon, music is at the centre of Liverpool as well as its nightlife. Mathew Street is home to The Cavern, where there is live music every night and throughout the day at the weekend, as well as the Wall of Fame where Liverpool shows off the each and every golden disc its residents past and present have amassed during the years.
Beatles fans will be in their element as there are a host of activities and events taking place throughout the year, such as band-focussed tours of the city and the annual Beatles Week Festival in August. But for those wanting to escape the tourist trap, then a short walk to the impressive Albert Dock area of the city, whose funky bars and restaurants along the waterside offer a great evening out and good celebrity spotting!
Another key attraction for tourists and a passion for locals is sport. The famous Grand National takes place at Aintree Racecourse every year and is a must-attend event. Win or lose, the surroundings are fabulous since the ambitious redevelopment programme including the building of two new grandstands and updated conference facilities.
Scousers love their football and passionately support one of their city's three teams - the reds or blues on the city side of the river, or Tranmere Rovers, who compete at Prenton Park on the Wirral - yet banter between fans is, for the most part, amicable.
Overall, a visit to Liverpool on business or pleasure will always be complemented by the renowned ”scouse” humour. Whether it be at one of the three football grounds soaking up the atmosphere, in the evening at one of the many places to eat, drink and be merry, or just a strolling around the city centre, locals are friendly, honest and never slow with a cheeky quip.
Key Travel Facts:
Virgin Trains have regular daily services from London to Liverpool Lime Street with a journey time of 3 hours.
VLM offers services from London City to Liverpool John Lennon Airport. EasyJet connects 17 European destinations from its Liverpool hub, while Ryanair offers a link to several Irish destinations and a host of other European cities.
North America is connected to Liverpool through Globespan, offering a daily summer service to JFK & a weekly flight to Toronto.
*Liverpoolmetrocathedral.org.uk