The city of Liverpool has a great deal to offer visitors, with a rich history as a commercial port, the Beatles, a lively arts scene and excellent bars and clubs.

Liverpool's inhabitants have garnered an unfair reputation for tastelessness and lack of culture, but the city is home to some of the UK's finest architecture and one of only four Tate Galleries in Britain.

The city was once at the heart of Britain's slave trade and many of its more imposing buildings were financed through slavery. From 1700, Liverpool grew rapidly from a small trading village to a huge port, with tonnes of goods passing through every day.

When slavery was abolished in 1807, Liverpool became a centre for immigration, with people arriving from abroad and setting sail from the port for new lives in Australia and America. The city boomed during the industrial revolution and played a key role during World War II, during which it was heavily bombed.

Because of its history Liverpool has its own distinct culture that has been created by the many people that have both arrived in and moved through the city. Situated on the River Mersey, Liverpool has a total population of around half a million, but has a vibrancy and energy that belie its size.

The city witnessed a period of decline during the latter half of the twentieth century, with the closure of many of its docks, but it has been named as the European Capital of Culture for 2008 and is seeing its economy strengthen again.

Liverpool is synonymous with the Beatles and the Merseybest sound of the 1960s. The famous Cavern where the Fab Four started their careers is still a live music venue, there are a number of companies running bus tours along a Beatles theme and The Beatles Story museum, which charts the history of the group.

Key tourist sites in the city include the imposing neo-Gothic Anglican Cathedral and the 1960s Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral, known affectionately as 'Paddy's WigWam' because of its distinctive design.

The waterfront and docks were declared a world heritage site by Unesco in 2004 and include the iconic Liver Building, the Port of Liverpool building and the Cunard Building. The built environment of the city is home to more than 2,500 listed buildings in total.

Liverpool has a number of excellent theatres, producing a varied programme of old favourites and new writing, while its two football clubs Liverpool FC and Everton FC are two of the UK's top teams.

The revamped Albert Dock is now a fashionable part of town, with designer shops, trendy bars, the interesting Merseyside Maritime Museum and the Tate Liverpool.

Liverpudlians, or Scousers, tend to be warm, friendly and witty, and the city is home to a large collection of pubs and bars, from traditional drinking holes to exclusive upscale venues. The city is also renowned for its club scene and is home to legendary nightclub Cream.

Accommodation is varied and relatively inexpensive, with Liverpool hotels dotted around the city and surrounding area, and taxi fares are among the cheapest in the UK. Restaurants cover everything from traditional British cooking to excellent Chinese and Indian restaurants and most things in between.

Liverpool is at its wettest between July and January, with relatively cold winters and warmer summers. The city now has John Lennon International Airport catering to overseas visitors and good road, bus and rail links with the rest of the UK.

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