Liverpool

Liverpool has retained a gritty sense of identity. If any city could be born again - it would be Liverpool. The European Capital of Culture in 2008, it's been a remarkable turnaround. Once a major force of the empire, Liverpool has been through rough economic times with high levels of unemployment. But resilience is inbuilt in Scousers (residents of Liverpool) and the city has been awash with redevelopment in the last few years, its heritage buildings getting a huge makeover. In fact, Liverpool has so many heritage buildings that the waterfront and docks have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. That means just a wander through its ...

Liverpool has retained a gritty sense of identity. If any city could be born again - it would be Liverpool. The European Capital of Culture in 2008, it's been a remarkable turnaround. Once a major force of the empire, Liverpool has been through rough economic times with high levels of unemployment. But resilience is inbuilt in Scousers (residents of Liverpool) and the city has been awash with redevelopment in the last few years, its heritage buildings getting a huge makeover. In fact, Liverpool has so many heritage buildings that the waterfront and docks have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. That means just a wander through its streets, especially around the docks, is a great way to discover the city. Also here you'll find a decent slice of Liverpool's cultural offerings which include outstanding museums and galleries. And of course the Beatles may be long gone, but the echoes of the "fab four" reverberate loudly around the city streets. A tour is the best way to relive anything "touched" by the former band, including Penny Lane, Strawberry Field and the Cavern Club.

About the Expert

Alan Murphy is coauthor of Lonely Planet's Britain, Scotland, India and North India. He has been writing and updating travel guidebooks for the past eight years.