Forget London's West End or the Edinburgh and Glastonbury festivals, this year's cultural highlights are all happening in the city of Liverpool.

The coming 12 months, when the city enjoys its tenure as the European Capital of Culture, represents the climax of Liverpool's regeneration from shoddy port and the butt of many a cruel joke to one of the top choices for a weekend break, not only for people in the north of England but also for European travellers in general.

Fortunately, the John Lennon Airport, named after one of the city's most famous sons, is well equipped to cope with such a boom in demand, with dozens of cheap flights arriving each and every day and frequent buses waiting to tax passengers into the city centre in under 15 minutes.

While Liverpool boasts being the perfect city to stroll around, and deservedly so, easily the best way to get your bearings is to wrap up warm and head to the waterfront to take the legendary ferry across the Mersey.

On board the regular services, local commuters mingle amiably with giddy tourists taking photos of a skyline almost as iconic as that of Manhattan while singing the now-immortal Gerry and the Pacemakers song.

Once back on dry land, visitors are greeted with a city still very much in the middle of a facelift.

The streets surrounding Lime Street Station are more often than not being subjected to some sort of construction project these days, though planning officials have wisely made sure that all the top sites are in tip-top condition for the millions of expected new tourists in 2008.

The neo-classical St George's Hall, for example, looks magnificent after its clean-up operation, while the façade of the nearby William Brown Street, which is home to the Walker Art Gallery, Central Library and the fascinating World Museum is just as breath-taking.

When it comes to art, however, it is the Tate down on Albert Docks that has recently stolen the thunder of its older rivals and serves as proof that London isn't the cultural be-all and end-all of the UK.

One thing London cannot claim as its own is the Beatles.

No trip to Liverpool would be complete without a trip to the Cavern Club or the Beatles Story museum, also down by the docks, while for the more dedicated fans, regular tours depart from the concert venue to take in name-checked landmarks such as Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields.

As well as the injection of culture, the city has also got its act together when it comes to looking after its visitors.

Gone are the days of shabby bed and breakfasts, replaced by chic, contemporary hotels overlooking the cleaned-up waterfront, while the likes of Hope Street and Steel Street boast restaurants and bars that wouldn't look out of place in any of the world's top cities.

Though 2008 may come and go, Liverpool has laid the foundations to allow it to be one of Europe's tourist hot-spots for many years to come.