Life in Liverpool
A capital of culture and a city of music. One of the coolest places to live and one of the world’s top 10 cities to visit. Life in Liverpool is whatever you’d like it to be.
City of Culture
Liverpool is a former European Capital of Culture, voted the UK’s most cultural city. It’s the birthplace of the Beatles, home to some of country’s most icon buildings and Europe’s oldest Chinatown, and a place that has history and heritage around every corner.
Liverpool is the city with the largest number of museums and art galleries outside of London, so there’ll always be a new place to visit, some great art to admire, or some fascinating facts to learn.
You might start at the Museum of Liverpool to learn more about the city, before heading over to Albert Docks to see the latest installation at Tate Liverpool. The Walker Art Gallery houses the National Collection of art in the North, but there are also lots of smaller museums and art galleries to explore, with new studio spaces opening up all the time!
Liverpool is built on its maritime roots, and that’s just one of the reasons why we’re a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Waterfront in particular, with the imposing Three Graces overlooking the River Mersey, is an emblem of the city.
The Merseyside Maritime Museum and International Slavery Museum are a great way to learn more about the history of Liverpool and the heritage it embraces today, but a walk along the river is equally as impressive.
Don’t forget to spend time admiring our two iconic Cathedrals either, the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral and the Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King.
Across the Merseyside region, you’ll find 15 different theatres and halls, not to mention all the additional performance spaces. If you want to be entertained, you won’t have far to look.
You might take in a West End show at the second largest theatre in the country – the Liverpool Empire, or laugh your head off during a comedy show at the Royal Court Theatre.
The newly re-built Everyman Theatre – winner of a prestigious architectural award – hosts both local and national touring productions, whilst the Playhouse and the Unity theatres are the places to head to if you’re interested in experimental or forward-thinking plays.
Shopping Desination
As a student in Liverpool, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to shopping. Sure, you might spend a lot of your time just admiring the latest fashion styles through a window, but there’s still plenty of great-value shopping and some amazing buys to be had all across the region.
Liverpool ONE is the place to be, for pretty much anything you need. It’s the flagship, open air shopping district in the city, with over 170 shops, bars and restaurants.
And if that wasn’t enough, it’s the only place you’ll find a Harvey Nichols Beauty Bazaar in the whole country.
A shopping trip to Liverpool isn’t complete without a visit to Bold Street, one of the best shopping streets in the country – according to Lonely Planet.
It offers the best of Liverpool, with loads of independent stores and pop up market stalls to explore.
If you’re after some really great prices, make a short trip out of the city centre to Cheshire Oaks, where you’ll find the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet Mall.
It’s the UK’s largest, and full of bargains from all your favourite high street shops.
The Metquarter is home to all the high-end beauty stores and designer boutiques, and the place to be if you want the latest trends.
Armani, Hugo Boss and Mac are all here, along with plenty of other fashionable shops.
Sport in Liverpool
The passion for sport in Liverpool is almost as strong as our love of music. Football is our biggest sport, where loyalties are split along red and blue lines. But we’re also proud of our rugby teams, our golfing heritage and our world-class water sports.
Anfield and Goodison Park are names that define football in Liverpool, home to Liverpool FC and Everton FC respectively. They’re two of the top teams in the Premiership, just one mile apart.
Take a tour of their stadiums, watch a match there, or get on the field yourself – we’ve got dozens of football pitches all over the region.
One of the country’s most famous horse races calls Liverpool its home. The Grand National. Each spring, Aintree hosts the incredible spectacle.
You could also take in some top-quality racing at Haydock race course too.
From Open Championships to Ryder Cup competitions, Liverpool has 3 incredible Royal Links courses – one after the other – running down the coast.
Perfect your swing at Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool and Wallasey Golf Club.
We’re a city that’s always on the move, with miles of pedestrianised areas for walking and loads of great bike routes all across the region.
And we have close connection with the water too, so why not head down to the Liverpool Watersports Centre and test your sailing, canoeing or wakeboarding skills?
Unwinding and Eating Out
If you need to unwind and grab some food following a busy day studying, Liverpool has got you covered.
You’ll find delicious food wherever you are in Liverpool, from vibrant street carts to Michelin-Starred restaurants. Local delicacies take cuisines from all over the world and make them distinctly Liverpuddlian – deep-fried jam butty anyone?
There are plenty of top-notch places in the Ropewalks district, known for its food and drink. Liverpool also has Europe’s oldest Chinatown, Yuet Ben offers delicious food with a view of the magnificent Chinese Arch, the largest outside China.
Liverpool has a wealth of city parks that will give you a real sense of space. Sefton Park to the south of the city is a relaxing place to spend an afternoon. Nearby Lark Lane is home to an eclectic mix of independent shops and restaurants.
If beaches are your bag, Formby to the north of the city offers an unspoilt stretch of National Trust coastline. Nearby Crosby Beach is home to Antony Gormley’s ‘Another Place’, an installation of 100 life-size statues facing out to sea.
