Sir Paul helps put Liverpool on the tourist map

Though Liverpool is currently undergoing a significant period of renovation in the run up to its year as European Capital of Culture, the greatest draw for Day Trippers to the city remains four men who came to fame over forty years ago.

In recognition of the fact, Visit Britain, in partnership with the Caravan Club, has awarded Liverpool and its most famous living son Sir Paul McCartney the 2007 prize for outstanding contribution to tourism, the tourism industry's equivalent of an Oscar.

According to Hugh Taylor, the chairman of the England marketing advisory board, McCartney has been a driving force behind the number of visitors to Liverpool more than doubling over the past five years.

"For many visitors, the emotional draw is that it is the home of the Beatles, and while Sir Paul modestly describes himself as 'just this kid from Liverpool', his influence on the success of Liverpool's tourism cannot be understated," Mr Taylor said.

Indeed, visitors to the city hoping to get an insight into A Day in the Life of John, Paul, George and Ringo will be welcomed by a modern, vibrant city which is proud of its rich cultural and industrial heritage.

Fans of the band from all over the world are taken around the city on the daily Magical Mystery Tours - which outsell the general sight-seeing tour of Liverpool by a scale of ten to one - while the Beatles Story Exhibition tells the tale of the rise and rise of the band and their links to the city.

As well as showing tourists the childhood homes of the Fab Four - including Ringo's former house which survived John Prescott's demolition plans - it also highlights the locations the band paid homage to in their songs, including Strawberry Fields, Penny Lane, the Cast Iron Shore and Menlove Avenue.

Though the Cavern Club, the venue that propelled to global fame in the early 1960s, was closed in 1973, the New Cavern Club on Matthew Street was constructed to resemble the original as closely as possible, occupying 75 per cent of the original site.

While the venue's most famous performers may have played their last set in 1964, the New Cavern Club continues to be a mainstay of the city's unrivalled live music scene, showcasing local and national acts as well as tribute acts of varying quality.

While money may not be able to buy love, Beatles-related memorabilia is plentiful throughout the city, from small souvenirs to original items owned and worn by the band occasionally available from specialist stores.

Additionally, eclectic and independent shops surround the New Cavern Club, while the renovated Albert Docks, which also celebrate the city's past as a major port and gateway to America, is the location of a host of gift and craft shops.

Given the wealth of attractions for the visitor, for those who need to be "sleeping like a log", Liverpool's hotel scene is undergoing a renaissance as it gears up to welcome visitors for its year as the cultural capital of Europe in 2008, with several international-class hotels being added over the past two years, though, given the warmth and humour of the people of Liverpool, visitors will find even the simplest bed and breakfast a joy to stay in.