Greater Liverpool Vacations, England, UK

Introduction
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in the North West of England. Liverpool is one of England's core cities, situated along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary, with the city centre located about 5 miles inland from the Irish Sea. Liverpool has a varied topography being built across a ridge of hills rising up to a height of around 70 metres above sea-level at Everton Hill.

History
In 1190 the place was known as 'Liuerpul', meaning a pool or creek with muddy water. Other origins of the name have been suggested, including 'elverpool', a reference to the large number of eels in the Mersey. The origins of the city date back from August 1207 when patent letters were issued by King John advertising the establishment of a the new borough of Liverpool, and inviting settlers to come and take up holdings. In the 18th century, as trade from the West Indies grew on top of that from Ireland and Europe, Liverpool began to grow.

The first wet dock in Britain was built in Liverpool in 1715. Liverpool expanded significantly in the 19th century and a number of major buildings were constructed. In the 1960s Liverpool became a centre of youth culture. The city produced the distinctive Merseybeat sound, and, most famously, The Beatles. In recent years, the city has emphasised its cultural attractions, winning the accolade of European City of Culture for 2008.

Place of interest
The infrastructure of Liverpool contains over 2,500 listed buildings. It is the inheritance of high-minded public spirit since the later 18th century, largely with Dissenter impetus, that has resulted in more public sculptures created than in any UK city besides Westminster in London.

The Anglican Cathedral has the longest nave, largest organ and heaviest and highest peal of bells in the world.

Architects well represented in Liverpool:

" Giles Gilbert Scott, " Peter Ellis, " Harvey Lonsdale Elmes, and " John Foster

Sir Edwin Lutyens is represented by the completed crypt of his projected Metropolitan Cathedral, which was built to a simpler design by Frederick Gibberd.

Some of the famous places to visit are:
" Albert Dock " Bluecoat Arts Centre " Cast Iron Shore " Cunard Building " Lime Street Station " Royal Liver Building " Oriel Chambers design by Peter Ellis. " The Philharmonic Dining Rooms " Pier Head " Quiggins " St George's Hall " The Beatles Story " Town-Hall " Williamson's tunnels

Museums & Art Galleries
Liverpool has some greatest museum and art galleries. Bluecoat Arts Centre, Merseyside Maritime Museum, Museum of Liverpool Life, the Beatles Story, and Walker Art Gallery are some of them. Besides museum and art galleries Liverpool possesses some famous theatres. They represent Liverpool and its culture, and also a good tourist attraction in Liverpool. Among all the theaters Empire, Everyman, Neptune, Philharmonic Hall, The Playhouse, Royal Court, Unity are big names to mention about.

Shopping
Pedestrian shopping areas with boutiques, specialty shops, and department stores include Church Street, Lord Street, Bold Street, Whitechapel, and Paradise Street. On the river, Albert Dock also houses a collection of small shops. For shopping centers Cavern Walks on Mathew Street, the heart of Beatleland, or Quiggins Centre.

To buy that special piece of Beatles memorabilia, wander through the Beatles Shop, or the Heritage Shop. For a huge selection of British crafts, famous places are Bluecoat Display Centre, with its gallery of metal, ceramics, glass, jewelry, and wood pieces by some 350 British craftspeople.

Frank Green's is where one can find prints by this famous local artist who has been capturing the Liverpool scene on canvas since the 1960s. These art works includes city secular buildings, churches, and street life.

Food & Drink
For such a world-famous city, Liverpool has yet to host a world-class restaurant. Listed are the best non-hotel restaurants it has to offer: 60 Hope St., Bar Italia, Far East, Shangri-La, Simply Heathcote's, Tate Café.

Education
Primary education is available in various forms supported by the state including Secular, Church of England, Islamic, Jewish and Roman Catholic. Currently no specific Islamic secondary education is provided.

Liverpool has three universities:

" The University of Liverpool " Liverpool John Moores University " Liverpool Hope University

It also has a university college, Edge Hill College of Higher Education. Liverpool John Moores University is one of the polytechnics given university status in 1992 and is named after the owner of the Littlewoods retail group. The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine was founded to address some of the problems created by trade; today it continues as a post graduate school and is one of only two institutions on world that house the de facto standard anti-venom repository.

The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, which was set up by Sir Paul McCartney in 1996, is famous for training the artistes and technicians.

Sports
In sporting terms, it boasts two internationally known football clubs, Everton F.C. and Liverpool FC. Liverpool Football Club (often known simply as Liverpool), an English football club based in the North-West of England, are the current champions of Europe (2004-2005) and the most successful English football team. Liverpool has won five European Cups, and 18 Football League titles on top of being the English club to have won the most number of UEFA Cups, European Supercups and English League Cups.

Liverpool Football Club is not to be confused with Liverpool (Rugby) Football Club, which was formed in 1858 and is now known as Liverpool St. Helens.

Hotels & Accommodation
The dedicated team at SleepUK can assist and advise on all your Liverpool hotel requirements. Online and offline access to Liverpool's accommodation network ensures travelers will be offered the best possible deal at the time of your visit whether you require luxury hotels in Liverpool or budget hotels in Liverpool.

Hotels in all categories are opening in Liverpool all the time, reflecting the city's renewed prosperity and popularity as a short-break destination.

Or travelers may choose one of the fine hotels in Wirral, the attractive peninsula between the River Mersey and the River Dee. As well as some fine hotels, Wirral also boast large areas of National Trust land, country parks and spectacular coastal scenery. To the north of Liverpool, in the graceful resort of Southport, famed for the splendour of its Victorian shopping arcades and promenade, there's a great choice of hotels to suit every visitor.

Accommodation in the area frequently sells out so be sure to guarantee your stay by booking online today. Some other hotels, listed here, vary from affordable to luxury hotels - Hanover Hotel, Park Lodge, The Suites Hotel, Regent Maritime Hotel, The Dolby Hotel, Radisson SAS Liverpool, Hope Street Hotel, Aachen Hotel, Campanile Hotel Liverpool, The Feathers Hotel, Thistle Liverpool, Days Serviced Apartments Liverpool, Liverpool City Centre Premier Travel Inn, The Sir Thomas Hotel, Throstles Nest Hotel.

Tours and Sightseeing
Organised tours in Liverpool have variety in their theme and according to the theme the contents also changes. The most widely chosen tours are based on Sports or on The Beatles. These tours contains place of interests, famous buildings, museums etc. Cavern City Tours is the most comprehensive tour operator in the city.

Transport
There are three tunnels under the River Mersey: one railway tunnel, the Mersey Railway Tunnel, and two road tunnels, Queensway Tunnel and Kingsway Tunnel. There is also the Mersey Ferry, made famous by the song Ferry Cross the Mersey by Gerry and the Pacemakers. In fact the song is now played on the ferryboats themselves every time they prepare to dock at Liverpool.

Speke Airport was renamed Liverpool John Lennon Airport, in honour of the late Beatle John Lennon.

Liverpool has a train system called Merseyrail, the sections in the city centre are mostly underground. The lines terminate at Southport, Ormskirk, Kirkby, Hunts Cross, Ellesmere Port, West Kirby, New Brighton and Chester.

About the Author:

Maria is with Sleep UK - providers of discounted hotels to

make your stay in the UK as comfortable as possible.

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