Vacation in Liverpool - A City Guide By Maria W.

Introduction

Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in the North West of
England. Liverpool is one of England's core cities, situated along the
eastern side of the Mersey Estuary, with the city centre located about
5 miles inland from the Irish Sea. Liverpool has a varied topography
being built across a ridge of hills rising up to a height of around 70
metres above sea-level at Everton Hill.

History

In 1190 the place was known as 'Liuerpul', meaning a pool or creek with
muddy water. Other origins of the name have been suggested, including
'elverpool', a reference to the large number of eels in the Mersey. The
origins of the city date back from August 1207 when patent letters were
issued by King John advertising the establishment of a the new borough
of Liverpool, and inviting settlers to come and take up holdings. In
the 18th century, as trade from the West Indies grew on top of that
from Ireland and Europe, Liverpool began to grow.

The first wet dock in Britain was built in Liverpool in 1715. Liverpool
expanded significantly in the 19th century and a number of major
buildings were constructed. In the 1960s Liverpool became a centre of
youth culture. The city produced the distinctive Merseybeat sound, and,
most famously, The Beatles. In recent years, the city has emphasised
its cultural attractions, winning the accolade of European City of
Culture for 2008.

Place of interest

The infrastructure of Liverpool contains over 2,500 listed buildings.
It is the inheritance of high-minded public spirit since the later 18th
century, largely with Dissenter impetus, that has resulted in more
public sculptures created than in any UK city besides Westminster in
London.

The Anglican Cathedral has the longest nave, largest organ and heaviest
and highest peal of bells in the world.

Architects well represented in Liverpool:

o Giles Gilbert Scott,

o Peter Ellis,

o Harvey Lonsdale Elmes, and

o John Foster

Sir Edwin Lutyens is represented by the completed crypt of his
projected Metropolitan Cathedral, which was built to a simpler design
by Frederick Gibberd.

Some of the famous places to visit are:

o Albert Dock

o Bluecoat Arts Centre

o Cast Iron Shore

o Cunard Building

o Lime Street Station

o Royal Liver Building

o Oriel Chambers design by Peter Ellis.

o The Philharmonic Dining Rooms

o Pier Head

o Quiggins

o St George's Hall

o The Beatles Story

o Town-Hall

o Williamson's tunnels

Museums & Art Galleries

Liverpool has some greatest museum and art galleries. Bluecoat
Arts Centre, Merseyside Maritime Museum, Museum of Liverpool Life, the
Beatles Story, and Walker Art Gallery are some of them. Besides museum
and art galleries Liverpool possesses some famous theatres. They
represent Liverpool and its culture, and also a good tourist attraction
in Liverpool. Among all the theaters Empire, Everyman, Neptune,
Philharmonic Hall, The Playhouse, Royal Court, Unity are big names to
mention about.

Shopping

Pedestrian shopping areas with boutiques, specialty shops, and
department stores include Church Street, Lord Street, Bold Street,
Whitechapel, and Paradise Street. On the river, Albert Dock also houses
a collection of small shops. For shopping centers Cavern Walks on
Mathew Street, the heart of Beatleland, or Quiggins Centre.

To buy that special piece of Beatles memorabilia, wander through the
Beatles Shop, or the Heritage Shop.

For a huge selection of British crafts, famous places are Bluecoat
Display Centre, with its gallery of metal, ceramics, glass, jewelry,
and wood pieces by some 350 British craftspeople.

Frank Green's is where one can find prints by this famous local artist
who has been capturing the Liverpool scene on canvas since the 1960s.
These art works includes city secular buildings, churches, and street
life.

Food & Drink

For such a world-famous city, Liverpool has yet to host a world-class
restaurant. Listed are the best non-hotel restaurants it has to offer:
60 Hope St., Bar Italia, Far East, Shangri-La, Simply Heathcote's, Tate
Café.

Education

Primary education is available in various forms supported by the state
including Secular, Church of England, Islamic, Jewish and Roman
Catholic. Currently no specific Islamic secondary education is provided.

Liverpool has three universities:

o The University of Liverpool

o Liverpool John Moores University

o Liverpool Hope University

It also has a university college, Edge Hill College of Higher
Education. Liverpool John Moores University is one of the polytechnics
given university status in 1992 and is named after the owner of the
Littlewoods retail group. The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine was
founded to address some of the problems created by trade; today it
continues as a post graduate school and is one of only two institutions
on world that house the de facto standard anti-venom repository.

The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, which was set up by Sir
Paul McCartney in 1996, is famous for training the artistes and
technicians.

Sports

In sporting terms, it boasts two internationally known football clubs,
Everton F.C. and Liverpool FC. Liverpool Football Club (often known
simply as Liverpool), an English football club based in the North-West
of England, are the current champions of Europe (2004-2005) and the
most successful English football team.

Liverpool has won five European Cups, and 18 Football League titles on
top of being the English club to have won the most number of UEFA Cups,
European Supercups and English League Cups.

Liverpool Football Club is not to be confused with Liverpool (Rugby)
Football Club, which was formed in 1858 and is now known as Liverpool
St. Helens.

Hotels & Accommodation

The dedicated team at SleepUK can assist and advise on all your
Liverpool hotel requirements. Online and offline access to Liverpool's
accommodation network ensures travelers will be offered the best
possible deal at the time of your visit whether you require luxury
hotels in Liverpool or budget hotels in Liverpool.

Hotels in all categories are opening in Liverpool all the time,
reflecting the city's renewed prosperity and popularity as a
short-break destination.

Or travelers may choose one of the fine hotels in Wirral, the
attractive peninsula between the River Mersey and the River Dee. As
well as some fine hotels, Wirral also boast large areas of National
Trust land, country parks and spectacular coastal scenery. To the north
of Liverpool, in the graceful resort of Southport, famed for the
splendour of its Victorian shopping arcades and promenade, there's a
great choice of hotels to suit every visitor.

Accommodation in the area frequently sells out so be sure to guarantee
your stay by booking online today. Some other hotels, listed here, vary
from affordable to luxury hotels -Hanover Hotel, Park Lodge, The Suites
Hotel, Regent Maritime Hotel,
The Dolby Hotel,
Radisson SAS
Liverpool, Hope
Street Hotel,Aachen
Hotel, Campanile
Hotel Liverpool, The
Feathers Hotel, Thistle
Liverpool, Days
Serviced Apartments Liverpool, Liverpool City Centre
Premier Travel Inn, The Sir Thomas Hotel,
Throstles Nest Hotel.

Tours and Sightseeing

Organised tours in Liverpool have variety in their theme and according
to the theme the contents also changes. The most widely chosen tours
are based on Sports or on The Beatles. These tours contains place of
interests, famous buildings, museums etc. Cavern City Tours is
the most comprehensive tour operator in the city.

Transport

There are three tunnels under the River Mersey: one railway tunnel, the
Mersey Railway Tunnel, and two road tunnels, Queensway Tunnel and
Kingsway Tunnel. There is also the Mersey Ferry, made famous by the
song Ferry Cross the Mersey by Gerry and the Pacemakers. In fact the
song is now played on the ferryboats themselves every time they prepare
to dock at Liverpool.

Speke Airport was renamed Liverpool
John Lennon Airport, in honour of the late Beatle John Lennon.

Liverpool has a train system called Merseyrail, the sections in the
city centre are mostly underground. The lines terminate at Southport,
Ormskirk, Kirkby, Hunts Cross, Ellesmere Port, West Kirby, New Brighton
and Chester.

Biography

Name: Maria Williams
Occupation: Traveller
Website: http://www.sleepuk.com
Biography: Maria writes for Sleep UK - providers of discounted hotels to make your stay in the UK as comfortable as possible.

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