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Liverpool City

Liverpool waterfront

Liverpool is a major city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. Built across a ridge of hills rising up to a height of around 230 feet (70 metres) above sea-level at Everton Hill, the city's urban area runs directly into Bootle and Crosby in Sefton to the north, and Huyton and Prescot in Knowsley to the east. It faces Wallasey and Birkenhead across the River Mersey to the west. Liverpool is governed by one of five councils within the Metropolitan county of Merseyside, and is one of England's core cities and its fifth most populous - 441,477 in 2002, with 816,000 in the Liverpool Urban Area, which includes suburbs on the Liverpool side of the Mersey but not those on the Wirral.

In the late 19th century, Liverpool reached the zenith of its power and was the "second Port of  the Empire", It controlled one seventh of the world's shipping and handled more goods than any British city outside London. Liverpool in the late Nineteenth century and early Twentieth century was thought of as a 'world city', rather than British provincial. During the late 20th century, towards the 1980s, the decline of the Port of Liverpool as a source of employment and the later contraction of manufacturing industry in the city region badly affected the city's economy. However, the city's economy has grown strongly and faster than the national average since the mid nineties. The city has been undergoing a general economic and civic revival since then, which was kick started by the regeneration of the city's Queen's Square. In 2007, the city will be celebrating its 800th anniversary, and in 2008, will hold the European Capital of Culture title. In 2004 Liverpool was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Construction of a new cruise liner terminal at the Pier Head, will allow the world's largest vessels to visit the city, which the QE2 intends to do as part of Liverpool's birthday celebrations at the end of this year.

Liverpool is associated with a variety of sports, most notably football, but also a number of others.

Liverpool has two Premier League football clubs: Everton F.C. at Goodison Park and Liverpool F.C. at Anfield. Both teams have enjoyed a considerable amount of success, with Liverpool the most successful team in English football, having won a record 18 League titles, five European Cups, and seven FA Cups; whilst Everton, who have been present in the top professional league longer than any other club (and with the exception of Arsenal have the longest unbroken spell in the top flight of English football) have won nine league titles, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup once and the FA Cup five times.

Liverpool is internationally known as a cultural centre, with a particularly rich history in popular music, performing and visual arts. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra performs in its own home, the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, and Liverpool has a strong history of performing arts which is reflected in the theatres in the city.

Liverpool has long had a reputation in the visual arts. Painter George Stubbs was born in the city in 1724. Pre-Raphaelites are among the important paintings in the Walker Art Gallery. Sudley House contains another major collection of pre 20th century art. Liverpool has more galleries and national museums than any city apart from London. The Tate Liverpool gallery houses the modern art collection of the Tate in the north of England.

Empire Everyman Liverpool Playhouse Neptune Liverpool Philharmonic Hall Royal Court More about Liverpool