Liverpool is a diverse, energetic and exciting place to live and work. With a vibrant city centre and re-invigorated waterfront area the city was thrust into the international spotlight again with the award of European Capital of Culture 2008.

What does Liverpool have to offer?

Culture

Liverpool can lay claim to having the largest number of museums and art galleries in the UK outside of London. The Albert Dock is one of Liverpool’s biggest attraction and home to the Merseyside Maritime Museum, Tate Liverpool and the Beatles Story. Just along the waterfront Pier Head is dominated by a trio of Edwardian buildings known as the Three Graces or more commonly the Liver Buildings.

Frequently referred to as the ‘National Gallery of the North’, the Walker Art Gallery houses over 800 years of art, from pre-Raphaelite art to contemporary British art and sculpture. Also here is FACT, an innovative media centre.

It would rude to forget a certain four-piece skiffle band when talking of Liverpool. Love ‘em of loathe ‘em, these four lads did pretty well for themselves, although the barber shop on Penny Lane – after whom the song was named after – has a lot to answer for. Liverpool makes the most of The Beatles and Matthew Street, home of the Cavern Club, is almost entirely dedicated to the Fab Four with numerous shops selling the band’s memorabilia.

Sports and leisure

Liverpool’s most popular recreational activity, without exception, is football. The city is home to two Premiership football teams, Liverpool and Everton, who ply their trade within half a mile of one another. Liverpool is the most successful football club in English history, whereas Everton… And of course the Grand National is held every year in nearby Aintree.

From a city with such a sporting pedigree, it comes as read that there are a number of leisure clubs and facilities, health and fitness centres, sporting societies, outdoor pursuit’s centres and sports grounds in and around the city.

Things to do…

Nightlife & Eating out

Liverpool’s passion for nightlife is on a par with its passion for football. There is a huge selection of pubs, bars and clubs throughout the city to appeal to every taste imaginable and attracts revellers from across the UK and further afield.

Much of Liverpool’s nightlife is based around the Ropeworks area, Wood Street, Bold Street and Fleet Street, with the action focused on Concert Square. There are also a number of chic designer bars at the Albert Dock including Baby Cream, an offshoot of the legendary nightclub, and the PanAm. Victoria Street, in the business district, is another fast-developing area for bars and nightlife.

The city’s dining out offering continues to grow and diversify. Again the Ropeworks has a good choice, along with the Castle Street area and Hope Street – the latter being the choice for sophisticated diners thanks to two of the finest restaurants in Liverpool that come together, 60 Hope Street and the London Carriage Works.

Elsewhere, many of the city’s bars also do food, the PanAm at Albert Dock being a prime example. As the home of the UK’s oldest Chinese community, Chinese restaurants are found in abundance. Or if none of these tempt you, then grab a cab and take the short trip a little further out of the city centre and head to Lark Lane in Aigburth, with a number of restaurants and wine bars crammed into one street.

Shopping

Liverpool’s city centre has been brought back to life thanks to heavy investment and positioned Liverpool as one of the best shopping centres in the UK. Bold Street, Clayton Square and St John’s Shopping Centre are all within a stone’s throw from one another and house all the usual high street retailers.

However, the completion of Liverpool One has arguably transformed the city’s shopping experience. As one of Europe’s largest retail developments, it is be home to more than 150 stores, including the biggest John Lewis department store in North West England and the city’s first Debenhams.

Elsewhere, the Cavern Walks shopping complex, situated on the famous Mathew Street, is the place where your money won’t stretch quite as far, being home to a number of designer outlets including Vivienne Westwood, Drome and Cricket. Whereas the Albert Dock has a number of shops primarily aimed at the tourist looking for some Liverpool nostalgia and souvenirs.

Making the move

Within the centre of Liverpool, waterfront properties are particularly sought-after. These can be very stylish and offer an appealing city centre lifestyle. Many properties offer good views over the river and are in easy access to the cultural and recreational amenities of the city. Indeed, most of the maritime warehouses and dockland buildings have been converted into extremely impressive, modern and fashionable apartments and penthouses with an equally fancy price tag.

The immediate surrounding boroughs of the city are largely what you would expect from a large conurbation, predominantly blue collar areas made up of terraced houses and flats. However, some of the more desirable districts are in the east of the city centre, such as the suburbs of West Derby, Childwall and Knotty Ash. These offer attractive housing and have good local schools and amenities. A range of terraced, semi-detached and detached houses are seen here.