Liverpool

Liverpool is a busy port city and a metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It lies on the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary, close to the Irish Sea, about 178 miles northwest of London. In 2024, the city had a population of over 508,000 people and serves as the center of the Liverpool City Region, home to more than 1.5 million people.

The city was established in 1207 and grew important in the late 1600s when its port took part in the Atlantic slave trade and brought in cotton for nearby mills. Liverpool became a key player in the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s, home to the first inter-city railway and other innovative structures. It was named a city in 1880. After a decline in the mid-20th century, Liverpool saw a revival when it was chosen as the European Capital of Culture in 2008.

Today, Liverpool’s economy includes tourism, culture, maritime trade, healthcare, and many other areas. The city is famous for its music, especially the Beatles, and for its two famous football teams, Everton and Liverpool. It also has many museums, galleries, and beautiful parks. People from Liverpool are often called Scousers, after the local dish of the same name. The city has a rich mix of cultures, including the UK’s oldest black community and Europe’s oldest Chinese community.

Toponymy

The name Liverpool comes from old words meaning "thick water" and "pool or creek." It was first written down around the year 1190. Some people think the name might also come from a word meaning "eel pool" because there were many eels in the nearby water. The word describing people from Liverpool, "Liverpudlian," was first used in 1833.

History

Main articles: History of Liverpool and Timeline of Liverpool

Liverpool began as farmland in the Middle Ages, growing into a small town of farmers, fishermen, and traders. A natural harbor helped ships, and the town had its own castle. However, growth slowed until the late 1600s and early 1700s.

Liverpool became an important port in the mid-to-late 1700s, especially involved in trade across the Atlantic. King John established Liverpool as a borough in 1207, designing its original streets. The town grew slowly through the 1600s but sped up in the 1700s with new docks and trade from places like the West Indies.

The 19th century saw Liverpool become a global economic center. It had the first intercity rail link in 1830 and grew quickly, especially with Irish migrants during the Great Famine. The city was very important during the American Civil War, helping the South with supplies and ships.

Liverpool faced challenges in the 20th century, including the two World Wars, economic downturns, and changes in shipping. Despite this, it remained culturally influential, especially with the music of the Beatles. The city underwent much rebuilding after the wars and continued to change throughout the 1900s.

In the 21st century, Liverpool has focused on regeneration and tourism. Major developments like the Paradise Project and Liverpool ONE have reshaped the city center. The city continues to grow and attract visitors from around the world.

Liverpool has been a place of many inventions and innovations. It saw the first railway tunnels, the first passenger helicopter service, and many important social and medical advancements. The city also pioneered developments in transportation, healthcare, and the arts.

Government

See also: Merseyside and Liverpool City Region

Liverpool is a city managed by local government. It is a metropolitan borough with city status, part of Merseyside and the Liverpool City Region. These areas each have their own local government jobs.

Liverpool City Council is in charge of the city. It works like a Unitary Authority. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region make big decisions about things like transport and development for Liverpool and the nearby areas. The Combined Authority handles duties given to it by the national government.

Liverpool used to be managed by Merseyside County Council from 1974 to 1986. Some services still work at the county level, but most city services are now handled by Liverpool City Council. The city elects five members of Parliament to Westminster, all from the Labour Party as of the 2024 election.

Liverpool City Council

City Council Leader and Cabinet

Liverpool City Council has 85 councillors who are elected every four years by people living in the city. They make choices about local services.

The party that wins the most seats leads the council. The leader of that party becomes the Leader of the City Council and heads a Cabinet of 9 councillors.

Councillor Liam Robinson is the current Leader, from the Labour Party, which won most seats in the 2023 election. He also serves on the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region's cabinet.

The council’s work is checked by many committees. A management team helps carry out decisions.

Liverpool City Council elections

Every four years, 85 councillors are elected from 64 local areas called wards.

In the 2023 election, the Labour Party won 61 seats, the Liberal Democrats won 15, the Green Party won three, Liverpool Community Independents won three, and the Liberal Party won three. The Conservative Party had no seats. Only about a quarter of eligible voters participated.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region

Paula Barker, MP for Liverpool Wavertree

Ian Byrne, MP for Liverpool West Derby

Dan Carden, MP for Liverpool Walton

Maria Eagle, MP for Liverpool Garston

Kim Johnson, MP for Liverpool Riverside

Liverpool used to support the Conservative Party, but in recent years it has mainly supported Labour. The city faced difficult times, including during a period of strikes known as the Winter of Discontent.

City Council criticism and improvement

Liverpool City Council started improving its work to use money better and attract more business. In 2021, a government report found problems, and the council had to make big changes. By the 2023 elections, the number of wards doubled, and the number of councillors reduced. The role of elected city mayor was removed, returning to the Leader and Cabinet style.

Liam Robinson became Leader after the 2023 election. A panel was created to help plan the city’s future.

In February 2008, Liverpool City Council was rated the worst in the country, mainly because of poor money management. By April 2024, it ranked near the bottom.

Lord Mayor of Liverpool

Not to be confused with elected Mayor of the Liverpool City Region See below.

The Lord Mayor of Liverpool is a ceremonial role. Councillors choose the Lord Mayor each year to represent the city, support charities, and chair council meetings.

Mayor of the Liverpool City Region

Liverpool is part of the Liverpool City Region. The Mayor of the Liverpool City Region is elected every four years by people living in the six boroughs. The Mayor leads the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, which makes big decisions about transport, development, and other important issues. The current Mayor is Steve Rotheram.

Parliamentary constituencies and MPs

See also: List of Parliamentary constituencies on Merseyside

Liverpool has five areas that elect members of Parliament: Liverpool Garston, Liverpool Riverside, Liverpool Walton, Liverpool Wavertree, and Liverpool West Derby. In the last election, all were won by Labour and represented by Maria Eagle, Kim Johnson, Dan Carden, Paula Barker, and Ian Byrne respectively.

Geography

Liverpool is a beautiful city known for its splendid setting. It is found at 53°24′0″N 2°59′0″W / 53.40000°N 2.98333°W / 53.40000; -2.98333, which is 176 miles (283 kilometres) north-west of London. The city is built on sandstone hills that rise to about 230 feet (70 m) above sea level.

Liverpool has a temperate maritime climate, meaning its summers are mild and winters are cool. The city gets rainfall throughout the year, with some months being wetter than others. Snow sometimes falls in winter, but heavy snow is rare.

Climate

Main article: Climate of Liverpool

Liverpool has mild summers and cool winters, with rain spread evenly through the year. The city has recorded temperatures from −17.6 °C (0.3 °F) to 34.5 °C (94.1 °F). Snow usually falls between November and March but can sometimes occur outside these months. Rain is common, though heavy rainfall is rare.

Human

Suburbs and districts

See also: Category:Areas of Liverpool

Liverpool has many suburbs and districts, including:

• Aigburth
• Allerton
• Anfield
• Belle Vale
• Broadgreen
• Canning
• Childwall
• Chinatown
• City Centre
• Clubmoor
• Croxteth
• Dingle
• Dovecot
• Edge Hill
• Everton
• Fairfield
• Fazakerley
• Garston
• Gateacre
• Gillmoss
• Grassendale
• Hunt's Cross
• Kensington
• Kirkdale
• Knotty Ash
• Mossley Hill
• Netherley
• Norris Green
• Oglet
• Old Swan
• Orrell Park
• St Michael's Hamlet
• Speke
• Stoneycroft
• Toxteth
• Tuebrook
• Vauxhall
• Walton
• Wavertree
• West Derby
• Woolton

Liverpool is part of a green belt area that helps protect nearby countryside and prevent cities from growing too close together. This green belt includes small green spaces within the city, such as areas in Fazakerley, Croxteth Hall, and Netherley. The green belt was first created in 1983 and covers 530 hectares (5.3 km²; 2.0 mi²) in Liverpool.

Demonyms

Scouser

Since the middle of the last century, people from Liverpool have mostly been called “Scousers.” This name is closely linked to the special way people in Liverpool talk and to a local dish that sailors brought to the city.

Earlier demonyms

Before “Scouser” became common, people from Liverpool had other names, like:

• Liverpoldon (17th century)
• Leeirpooltonian (17th century)
• Liverpolitan (19th century to present)
• Liverpudlian (19th century to present)

Experts say that in the past, people used many different names, but over time “Scouser” became the most popular.

Demography

Main article: Demographics of Liverpool

Population

The city of Liverpool is part of a larger area, but in 2021, the city itself had about 486,100 people. This was a bit more than in 2011. Liverpool is one of the bigger cities in England and has many people living close together.

The number of people in Liverpool has been growing since 2001. The city has a younger population than England overall. There are more families without children now compared to the rest of North West England. More people in Liverpool are employed than in the rest of the region.

Liverpool’s population is becoming more diverse. More people were born outside of England, and more people identify with Asian or Black backgrounds. The city has a strong Irish heritage, with many people having Irish ancestry.

Ethnicity

Liverpool’s population is becoming more multicultural. In 2021, about 77% of people identified as White, while 23% were from other groups. The city has growing numbers of people from Asian, Arab, and mixed backgrounds.

Liverpool is home to the UK’s oldest Black community, with roots going back to the 1730s. The city also has strong Irish, Welsh, Chinese, and African-Caribbean communities. Other groups include Indian, Latin American, Malaysian, and Yemeni people.

Religion

Liverpool has many different religions because of its history as a port city. It has two large cathedrals—one Anglican and one Catholic.

The city has a large Catholic population, mainly due to Irish migration. There are also Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim communities. Liverpool has had a Jewish community since the 1700s and built its first mosque in 1887, which was the first in England. The city has many places of worship for different faiths.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Liverpool

See also: Liverpool city centre § Headquarters and major offices, Category:Companies based in Liverpool, and Category:Manufacturing companies based in Liverpool

Liverpool is a very important city for work and money in England. It helps make up a big part of the North West England's economy, which is the third biggest in the United Kingdom. The city itself creates a lot of jobs, money, and businesses for the area around it.

Many people in Liverpool have jobs in places like hospitals and schools, or selling things in shops. The city is also known for making cars, and it has a big port where lots of ships come and go. Tourism is very important too, with many visitors coming to see places like the Beatles' history. The city also has special areas for science and technology, which are growing and creating new jobs.

Liverpool's port is one of the biggest in the UK, and it handles lots of trade, especially with the United States. The city is also home to many big companies that help with shipping and moving things around the world. With many plans for new buildings and projects, Liverpool is working hard to keep growing and creating more opportunities for its people.

Landmarks

See also: List of tallest buildings and structures in Liverpool and List of public art in Liverpool

Liverpool has many different types of buildings because it has been a busy port city for a long time. You can see styles from the 1500s up to today. Most buildings are from the late 1700s when the city became very important in the British Empire. There are over 2,500 listed buildings in Liverpool, with 27 being very special (Grade I) and 85 being special (Grade II*). Liverpool has lots of statues and many old houses. This rich architecture made Liverpool known as England’s best Victorian city.

In 2004, some parts of Liverpool were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their role in international trade and docking technology. But in 2021, this status was taken away because new buildings like the Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium and Liverpool Waters changed the area too much.

Waterfront and docks

Liverpool’s docks have always been very important for the city. The city built the world’s first enclosed wet dock in 1715, and the first hydraulic lifting cranes. The most famous dock is the Royal Albert Dock, built in 1846. It has the largest group of Grade I listed buildings in Britain. It was one of the most advanced docks in the world when it was built. Today, it has restaurants, shops, hotels, and museums like the Merseyside Maritime Museum, International Slavery Museum, Tate Liverpool, and The Beatles Story. Nearby, Stanley Dock has the Stanley Dock Tobacco Warehouse, once the world’s largest building by area.

The Pier Head is famous for three big buildings called the Three Graces: the Royal Liver Building, the Cunard Building, and the Port of Liverpool Building. They show how rich the city was in the late 1800s and early 1900s. People think they make one of the best waterfronts in the world.

Today, many places along Liverpool’s waterfront are being rebuilt. New places include the Museum of Liverpool, the Liverpool Arena, ACC Liverpool, and Exhibition Centre Liverpool. But some plans, like a place called “New Chinatown,” did not happen.

Commercial district and cultural quarter

Liverpool was a big trading port, so many important buildings were built for companies like shipping firms and banks. This created grand civic buildings to make the city proud.

The commercial district is around Castle Street, Dale Street, and Old Hall Street. The oldest building there is the Liverpool Town Hall, built in 1754. It is a beautiful example of Georgian architecture. On Castle Street, there is also the Bank of England Building, built between 1845 and 1848.

The area around William Brown Street is called the city’s ‘Cultural Quarter’ because it has many important buildings like the William Brown Library, Walker Art Gallery, and World Museum Liverpool. The most famous building there is St George’s Hall, a big neo-classical building made between 1840 and 1855.

Other notable landmarks

Liverpool has some old buildings, like Speke Hall, a Tudor house finished in 1598. It is one of the few remaining timber-framed Tudor houses in the north of England. Another old building is the Bluecoat Chambers, built between 1717 and 1718. It was a school before becoming an arts center in 1908.

Liverpool has two big cathedrals. The Anglican Cathedral, built between 1904 and 1978, is the largest in Britain. The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral, built between 1962 and 1967, has a modern design.

In recent years, Liverpool’s city centre has been changing with new developments like Liverpool One, a big project covering 42 acres (17 hectares). New tall buildings include the Unity Buildings and West Tower, Liverpool’s tallest building.

Parks and gardens

Liverpool has many important parks and gardens, more than any other English city except London. The city has ten listed parks and cemeteries, including two Grade I and five Grade II* parks.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Liverpool

Liverpool has many ways to get around and connect with places far away. You can travel by road, rail, air, or sea. Local buses, trains, and ferries help people move around the city. The city’s big port and airport make it easy to travel to many parts of the world.

National and international travel

Roads

Liverpool is in the middle of a big area with many roads and motorways. The city has several major roads nearby, including the M58, M62, and M57 motorways. These roads connect Liverpool to places like Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Hull, Manchester, Leeds, and Bradford.

Railway

Liverpool has a main train station called Liverpool Lime Street. From here, trains go to many cities and towns across England, like London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, and Manchester.

Port

Liverpool’s port is very busy and connects the city to many places around the world by ferry and cruise ships. Ferries go across the Irish Sea to Belfast and the Isle of Man. Big cruise ships stop at Liverpool too, coming from places like Australia, France, Spain, and North America.

Airport

Liverpool John Lennon Airport has flights to many places in the UK and Europe. It works with many airlines to offer many different routes.

Local travel

Railway

Liverpool has a busy train network called Merseyrail. It has three lines that go to places like Southport, Chester, and Wigan. The trains are mostly electric and cover a lot of the city.

Buses

Local buses in Liverpool are managed by Merseytravel. There are two main bus stations in the city, and buses go all over the city and to nearby places. There are also special tour buses for visitors.

Mersey Ferry

The Mersey Ferry goes across the river between Liverpool and the Wirral Peninsula. It’s not just a way to travel but also a popular tour for visitors to see the river and city.

Cycling and scooters

A system for renting scooters and electric bikes operates in Liverpool, making it easy to get around the city. There are also national cycling routes that go through Liverpool.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Liverpool

Liverpool is a key cultural center in the United Kingdom, with music, performing arts, museums, art galleries, literature, and nightlife. In 2008, the city was named European Capital of Culture, hosting many cultural events such as Go Superlambananas! and La Princesse. Liverpool has hosted Europe's largest music and poetry event, the Welsh national Eisteddfod, three times.

Music

Main articles: Music of Liverpool and Beat music

Liverpool is famous worldwide for music. It is known as the "World Capital City of Pop," with musicians from the city producing 58 number-one singles. The city is best known as the birthplace of the Beatles and was central to the Beat Music movement in the 1960s, leading to the British Invasion. Other famous musicians from Liverpool include Billy J. Kramer, Cilla Black, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and the Searchers. The city is also home to the oldest surviving professional symphony orchestra in the UK, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

Liverpool hosts many music festivals, including Africa Oyé and Brazilica. The Liverpool Arena, opened in 2008, is a major venue that has hosted world-famous acts. In 2023, Liverpool hosted the Eurovision Song Contest at the Liverpool Arena.

Visual arts

Liverpool has more galleries and national museums than any other UK city besides London. The Tate Liverpool gallery features modern art, and the Walker Art Gallery has a large collection of Pre-Raphaelite art. The Liverpool Biennial art festival runs each year from mid-September to late November.

Literature

Felicia Hemans was born in Liverpool in 1793. Many famous authors have visited the city, including Daniel Defoe, Charles Dickens, and Herman Melville. The city has also produced notable writers like George Garrett, James Hanley, and Beryl Bainbridge.

Performing arts

Liverpool has a strong tradition of performing arts, with many theatre festivals such as the Liverpool Shakespeare Festival. The city has produced famous actors and actresses, including Arthur Askey, Kim Cattrall, and Jodie Comer.

Nightlife

Liverpool has a lively nightlife, with many bars, pubs, nightclubs, and music venues. The busiest nights are Friday and Saturday, with millions of people visiting the city center. Popular nightlife areas include Ropewalks, Cavern Quarter, and Baltic Triangle.

Education

See also: List of schools in Liverpool

Liverpool offers many schools for children, including ones linked to different religions such as the Church of England, Jewish, and Roman Catholic traditions. There are also secular schools available. One of the oldest and most famous schools is The Liverpool Blue Coat School, which started in 1708 and is still very successful today.

Liverpool is also home to three universities: the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, and Liverpool Hope University. These universities offer many different subjects for students to study.

The University of Liverpool began in 1881 and was the first to teach subjects like biochemistry and architecture.

Liverpool Hope University became a university in 2005 and is special because it brings together different Christian traditions.

Liverpool John Moores University became a university in 1992 and is named after a kind man who helped start it. The city also has a college for older students to keep learning, called City of Liverpool College.

Sport

Football

Liverpool is one of the most successful football cities in England, home to two top teams in the Premier League. Everton F.C. was founded in 1878 and was one of the twelve founding members of the Football League. It plays at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Liverpool F.C. was founded in 1892 and plays at Anfield. Together, these clubs have won many titles, including English league titles, FA Cups, and European trophies.

The two clubs compete in the Merseyside derby, known for its strong rivalry. Families in the city often support both teams. Liverpool F.C. holds the record for the most European Cup titles by an English or British club, with six wins.

Liverpool has played at Anfield since 1892. The stadium has been rebuilt many times since then. The Spion Kop stand is famous for its fans' songs and celebrations. Anfield can hold 54,000 spectators and is a well-known landmark.

After leaving Anfield in 1892, Everton moved to Goodison Park. The stadium opened in 1892 and hosted matches in the 1966 FIFA World Cup. It now holds nearly 40,000 spectators. Everton has recently moved to a new stadium at Everton Stadium by the River Mersey, which will be ready for the 2025/26 season. It will hold over 50,000 people and may host games in the UEFA Euro 2028. Everton also has a training center at Finch Farm. The Everton Women's Team plays in the Women's Super League and now uses Goodison Park.

Rugby league

Rugby league is popular in Northern England but did not become a big professional sport in Liverpool at first. The city's first professional team, Liverpool City, only played in the 1906–07 season. Later, Liverpool Stanley played from 1934 to 1968. Interest in rugby league grew again in the 2010s, with games at Anfield. Everton's new stadium will host a match in the 2025 Ashes.

Boxing

Main article: Boxing in Liverpool

Liverpool has a long history of boxing and many successful boxers come from the city, such as Nel Tarleton, Alan Rudkin, John Conteh, and Tony Bellew. Amateur boxing is very popular, with many clubs in the city. Liverpool has had athletes compete in the Olympic Games, including David Price, who won medals. Boxing events are usually held at the Echo Arena and Liverpool Olympia.

Horse racing

Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool is famous for hosting the Randox Grand National every April. This long and challenging race attracts horse owners and riders from all over the world. The race has many exciting stories, such as the surprise winner Foinavon in 1967 and the great horse Red Rum in the 1970s.

Golf

The Royal Liverpool Golf Club in nearby Hoylake has hosted important golf tournaments, including The Open Championship, most recently in 2023. It also hosted the Walker Cup in 1983.

Athletics

Wavertree Sports Park is home to the Liverpool Harriers athletics club. The club has produced athletes like Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who won a gold medal at the 2019 World Championships in the heptathlon.

Swimming

Liverpool has produced swimmers who have competed in the Olympic Games, such as Steve Parry, who won a bronze medal in the 200m butterfly at the 2004 Athens Olympics. The city has a modern aquatics center at Wavertree Sports Park.

Cricket

Liverpool is an important place for cricket in the region, with many clubs playing in the Liverpool and District Cricket Competition. Sefton Park and Liverpool are among the founding members of the league.

Tennis

Since 2014, Liverpool Cricket Club has hosted the annual Tradition-ICAP Liverpool International tennis tournament, featuring famous players like Novak Djokovic and Caroline Wozniacki.

Basketball

Professional basketball began in Liverpool in 2007 with Everton Tigers, later called Mersey Tigers. The team played in the top British league but faced financial problems and left in 2013.

Baseball

Liverpool is one of three cities in the UK that still play British baseball. The Liverpool Trojans are the oldest baseball club in the country.

Cycling

The 2014 Tour of Britain started in Liverpool, with riders racing through the city center.

Media

Liverpool has one daily newspaper called the Echo, published by Reach plc. There is also an online news outlet named Southport Reporter that covers the city and nearby areas.

Liverpool has its own local television station called Liverpool TV. The ITV region for Liverpool is ITV Granada, and the BBC also has a newsroom in the city.

The city is home to the TV production company Lime Pictures, which makes shows like the soap opera Hollyoaks. There are several local radio stations, including BBC Radio Merseyside and Hits Radio Liverpool.

Notable people

Main articles: List of people from Merseyside and List of bands and artists from Merseyside

Liverpool has been home to many famous people and talented musicians over the years. You can find more names and stories in the lists of people and artists from the area.

International links

Liverpool has special connections with many cities around the world. These include Surabaya, Indonesia; Birmingham, Alabama, United States; Cologne, Germany; and Dublin, Ireland, among others.

The city also has friendly ties with places like Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée, France; Halifax, Canada; and Havana, Cuba. Many countries have representatives, called consulates, in Liverpool to help with matters between nations.

Freedom of the City

The following people, military units, and organizations have received the Freedom of the City of Liverpool.

Individuals

• List of Freemen of the City of Liverpool.

Military units

Organisations and groups

• The Pain Relief Foundation: 3 March 2010.
• War Widows Association (Merseyside Branch): 1 December 2014.
• The Whitechapel Centre: 5 October 2016.
• The Parachute Regiment Association (Liverpool Branch): 24 October 2021.
• The Royal Signals Association (Liverpool Branch): 26 November 2021.