Here are some facts about the city of Liverpool.
- Liverpool is the 4th largest city in Britain and was once one of the world’s largest ports.
- It is situated at the mouth of the River Mersey, in north west England.
- The city is home to more top selling musicians and rock groups than any other, including the Beatles. The Beatles played at the city’s famous Cavern Club almost 300 times before being discovered.
- Liverpool’s famous attractions include the Albert Dock, the UK’s oldest Chinatown, St. George’s Hall, the Walker Art Gallery and a Beatles-themed museum.
- The 6 metre tall Liver Birds, on top of the Royal Liver building, are the symbols of Liverpool. According to legend, if the two birds face each other the city will crumble.
- The world’s first passenger railway line was built in 1830, from Liverpool to nearby Manchester. A local member of Parliament was killed soon after, in the first ever railway accident.
- Liverpool is the home of two of the top football clubs in Britain, Everton FC and Liverpool FC. The Liverpool FC anthem is You’ll Never Walk Alone, a song which was also recorded by local group Gerry and the Pacemakers.
- The city has two cathedrals, one situated at each end of Hope Street. The Anglican cathedral is one of the world’s largest religious buildings; it has the world’s heaviest bells and its tower is more than 100 metres high.
- People from Liverpool are often known as ‘scousers’. Scouse was originally a stew made from beef, potatoes, cabbage and carrots and eaten by poor people during the 1800s.
- Liverpool was the first city in the world to have a lending library, a school of tropical medicine and an American consul. It was the first UK city to have a school for the blind.
- Liverpool has a thriving film industry and over 140 films were made there in 2012. In movies, the city has doubled for Paris, Venice and Moscow.
