Liverpool: Goodbye football, hello culture
Posted Thursday, January 17, 2008, 9:08 PM by Lonely Planet
The eyes of the world are now on the northern British city of Liverpool. A crowd of over 30,000 people gathered last weekend outside the city's stately St George's Hall, despite chilly January temperatures, to witness the opening ceremony - featuring prodigal son Ringo Starr in a rooftop gig - that inaugurated Liverpool's reign as the European Capital of Culture.
With 350 formal events, 70 per cent of which are free, the cultural programme aims to boost the city's international standing after years of negative publicity and urban decay. Highlights for the year include Gustav Klimt at Tate Liverpool from May 30 to August 1; and the Liverpool Sound concert on June 1, featuring Sir Paul McCartney.
Liverpool has also undergone a major structural facelift since winning the UK nomination for Capital of Culture in 2003 with around 4.5 billion GBP subsequently pumped into the city's infrastructure.
But, while headline-grabbing events and a slew of new chic boutique hotel openings across the city are expected to boost the city's tourism by over 2m visitors a year, locals maintain that the birthplace of the Beatles is finally getting the credit it always deserved as a hub for creative talent.
"The European Capital of Culture is all about reminding the world that Liverpool is doing now what it has always done and will continue to do as a vibrant cultural city," proclaimed Deputy Chair of the Liverpool Culture Company, Phil Redmond as the opening fireworks lit up the night sky.
The crowd roared their approval. Liverpool hasn't looked so confident since a certain Fab Four first put the city on the map some 40 years ago.
- David Atkinson is a travel writer and Lonely Planet author based in England's Northwest;
Labels: Europe, Festivals and events
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3 Comments:
David, Thanks for the update on Liverpool. I'm coming from America to see Paul in concert in June, marking only my second visit to Liverpool. And you're right, Liverpool SHOULD feel confident. It has provided something fabulous to the world that rivals any other city. Can't wait to visit that wonderful part of the world again. (Hope we can find a hotel.)
Thanks for your comment, Clay. If you're feeling flushed, then the Hope Street Hotel for the face of newly chic Liverpool, or the Hard Days Night hotel -- it opens Feb 1st round the corner from the original Cavern Club.
Cheers, David
I'm about to go abroad to travel throughout Europe with three friends for a month and Liverpool is at the top of my list of places to see. I'm so excited to see that the city is garnering attention and praise and I am fully confident that it will be a stop to remember on this upcoming vacation. Thanks for all the informative postings and such. It's all been really helpful as we gathered all our information.
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