Liverpool is a vibrant and exciting City, steeped in history and culture and with a personality of it’s own. There are a wealth of fascinating things to do and see whilst you visit and te Merchant Living team are always happy to offer recommendations if you need any. Check out the other information pages on this site or our Welcome Pack in the Apartments for our thoughts on what to do during your stay but in the meantime, here’s some lessor known facts about the City itself.
Things you may not know about Liverpool
• Merchant Living is Liverpool’s only 5 star accommodation provider
• Liverpool is European Capital of Culture 2008 and will host a year long programme of events celebrating culture
• Liverpool has more listed buildings than any other city in the UK outside London - We city has 2,500 listed buildings and 250 public monuments
• Liverpool is the only English city outside London with a collection of national museums and galleries
• Liverpool is the birthplace of the Beatles with an estimated 600,000 people visiting Liverpool each year to celebrate the fact. • The clock faces on the Liver Building are the biggest in the country, 2'6" bigger than Big Ben (…and you get a perfect view from many of the Merchant Quarters apartments!)
• According to the Guinness Book of Records, Liverpool is the World Capital of Pop - more Liverpool artists have had a number one hit than any other town or city. 56 no 1's to date!
• Liverpool was designated a World Heritage City by UNESCO in July 2004, placing the city’s famous Waterfront alongside Stonehenge and the Great Wall of China as one of the world’s most cherished places
• Liverpool is the 6th most visited UK city for international visitors
• Liverpool is home to the Grand National, the most famous steeplechase in the world, which is watched by 600 million people worldwide each year
• Liverpool has two cathedrals, Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, designed by a catholic, is the largest Anglican cathedral in Europe and the Metropolitan (catholic) Cathedral, [nicknamed Paddy’s wigwam due to its tepee shape], was designed by an Anglican
• Liverpool Football Club is the most successful club in the history of British football, having won 18 league championships, 5 European Cups, 3 UEFA Cups, 7 FA Cups and 7 league cups
• Liverpool is the most filmed-in British city outside London
• Liverpool is home to the oldest Chinese and African communities in Europe, and the city's Chinatown boasts the largest Chinese arch outside mainland China.
• The world's first public health officer Dr William Henry Duncan began work in Liverpool in 1841. (and Dr Duncan’s is now the name of a fine Liverpool hostelry!)
• Football nets were invented by John Alexander Brodie, Liverpool's municipal engineer, in 1892.
• Meccano model trains and the Dinky Toy were invented by Frank Hornby of Liverpool.
• The world's first School of Tropical Medicine was opened in 1898 and was successful in discovering that Malaria could be passed on by the bite of the Mosquito.
• Merseyside is the Golfing Capital of England. There are over 40 courses, 7 of which are leading championship venues, with Royal Liverpool playing host to the Open Championship 2006 and Royal Birkdale in 2008.
• The Calder Stones (in Calderstones Park) in South Liverpool are older than Stonehenge.
• Princes Park in Liverpool and Birkenhead Park in Wirral were used as the models for New York's Central Park.
• Merseyside has 120km of picturesque coastline, 107km of which is internationally important for nature conservation, stretching from Southport to Wirral.
