(Source – pinterest)
Liverpool, a city located in the metropolitan county of Merseyside in North West England, is famous for multiple reasons. The music scene, football teams, culture, friendly faces, maritime history, and so on. All of us know the rock band The Beatles belonged from here. The Hollywood actress Jodie Comer, the two professional football teams, and the nightlife, all these are the breath-taking elements here. When you notice all these elements around you, you’re in Liverpool, my dear friend!
The multi-faceted attributes of the city make it different from other cities. With a population of 9,17,000, the city’s two football teams enjoy a huge fanbase. Delve a little deeper into the city and you will discover a few things that could exhilarate your experience of this gem of a brilliant UK city. During the late 19th and early 20th century, the city was most famous for being a port. Liverpool is on the east side of River Mersey. It became a borough in 1207 and a city in 1880.
In 1889, the city became separate from Lancashire. The number of national museums in Liverpool is very high, except London, of course! A person who will visit there will find all sorts of interesting things to do during the stay. The history, the culture, the visuals around the city, and the museums, all of it is worth going.
Liverpool Attractions:
Not only The Beatles, there are more reasons to be fascinated by the beauty of the city. Several indoor and outdoor attractions can be enjoyed by people. The Formby Squirrel Reserve is right around the corner from Crosby Beach. The “Iron Men” sculptures can be seen famed by Antony Gormley’s. The glittering Albert Dock is home to a variety of great museums and art galleries in Liverpool. It also includes the Tate Liverpool and the Mersey Maritime Museum. Sefton Park is a 235-acre Grade I-listed park with enough for families. The city also has a surplus of free attractions and things to do.
Scouse or Scousers?
One is the name of a dish, while the other is a nickname used for people. So, scouse is the term used for a filling stew made of beef, carrots, onions, and potatoes. It is guessed to be a version of Norweigan Labskaus, that was brought to the city hundreds of years ago by visiting sailors. The delicacy is still served in many pubs and eateries in the city today.
The local people in the city are addressed as Scousers or Liverpudlians. After a long day of strolling in the city, at the end of the day you need to feel satiated, you can always find a good place serving the delicacy. Grab a local scouser with you to have the scouse, how does that sound?
Interesting facts about Liverpool:
Old architecture, British History geeks, and folks interested in culture, if all these elements excite you, then this city is for you. Regardless of being known for its football craze, the city has much more to give away than that. Let’s explore some of the facts:
1. A Hub for Museums:
With a count of 10 museums to visit, a person who is inquisitive by nature will learn a new thing or two over here. You can make a list of museums and keep ticking after completing each one of them. Almost all interests are covered, and all of them are free to enter too. A great place to begin with the museum stroll is the Royal Albert Dock.
2. Cavern Club and The Beatles are inseparable:
Even though the original Cavern Club does not exist, the original arches of the building can be seen. The Fantastic Four grew up in the same area and had started performing some of their very first shows in the city. With a count of over 292 performances at the iconic Cavern Club, the renovated club has Beatles memorabilia and is a remarkable place to listen to music.
3. The Chinese Connection:
Liverpool dons the hat of hosting the oldest Chinatown events. London and Manchester host the biggest Chinatowns in the UK. The Chinese community, for centuries, has trading links with Liverpool city that allured immigrants, sailors, and traders from all over the globe. Another interesting fact about Liverpool City is the arch of Liverpool’s Chinatown. The lavish structure was decked with hundreds of dragons and two magnificent lions.
4. Largest Cathedral in the UK:
74 years was the time taken to build this cathedral. Yes, that’s right! We aren’t joking. At 189 meters long and 101 meters tall at its highest point, it truly is humongous. The Anglican Cathedral holds the title of the largest cathedral in the UK. If you plan to explore the gorgeous Georgian Quarter you will not want to miss this monument. Located on St. James Mount, it is worth the visit.
5. A wet dock:
The best hidden gem is the 300-year-old dock that lies underneath Liverpool ONE. Opened in 1715, the clever design allowed ships to unload cargo without worrying about the tides of the River Mersey estuary. It took 5 years to build and cost three million pounds in today’s monetary calculation. The immense hard work and dedication helped Liverpool become the best trading port on the planet.
6. Jaw-dropping cultural diversity:
According to a study, 51% of Liverpudlians speak a language different from English a home. A whopping 60 different languages are spoken by the residents daily. Back in the 1830s, when the first ship came into the city carrying silk, tea, and cotton, the Chinese community continued to grow for centuries. The Chinatown in Liverpool is still on a roll to date.
7. Outbreak of Tropical Diseases:
Liverpool’s Overseas Trade was founded by Sir Alfred Lewis Jones in November 1898. It resulted in the outbreak of tropical diseases. Sir Alfred donated 350 pounds to establish a School of Tropical Medicine, the first of its kind. It provided cutting-edge research and teaching ever since which included co-relating Malaria and mosquito bites.
8. Liverpool means muddy pool:
Last but not least the most interesting fact is the history of the city’s name. The origin of the name comes from the old English words “lifer” which means muddy or thick water, and pol means pool or creek. Muddy Pool doesn’t sound as trendy as Liverpool. In 1190, the first written record was as Liverpul. Later, according to the Cambridge Dictionary of English place-names, the very first reference was of a pool or a tidal creek, so later it got changed to Liverpool.
Things to Avoid in Liverpool:
1. Being unprepared for the changeable weather:
Liverpool resides on the northwest coast of England along with the Irish Sea. This region of the world is famous for unsettled weather. The Atlantic Ocean can bring windy and rainy days even when it’s sunny. So be prepared to face constant weather changes.
2. Avoid Taxis when exploring:
There isn’t much of a point in taking taxis when you’re in the mood to stroll around the city. Geographically, the city is quite small and we’re sure you do not want to waste your money on taxi fares, do you? For a fact, the walk from Royal Albert Docks to the City Centre is not even a 10-minute one. From there again if you walk for 10 minutes, you’ll be at the University of Liverpool in the Knowledge Quarter.
3. Avoid eating at tourist restaurants:
If you’re a foodie and want some authentic Liverpool taste, head to a local restaurant. Of course, you can eat at a franchise restaurant, but then you will miss out on down-to-earth cafes, neighborhood pubs, and even fine-dine bars.
4. No mocking the Scouse accent:
The Liverpudlian accent is one of the most pronounced in the UK. When talking to a local, you’ll hear a mix of English and Irish. With the waves of immigration that emerged in Liverpool, you might feel the urge to copy the accent when talking to a local. The locals get offended and may roll their eyes, so it is better to avoid this common pitfall.
