Why does Liverpool have such an iconic status?

[TigerOnTour]

Why do people rave about Liverpool? I feel like it's seen as more 'individual' than other cities, but why is this? It shares lots of characteristics with other big cities like Manchester, Leeds, Cardiff, Birmingham and Bristol but they don't have the same status. Is it just the Beatles?

The music industry back in the day was world leading. The port was a major port in the whole world. The city is on the river, unlike most. It has an underground railway, and both road and rail tunnels under the river.
So much history that it’s ridiculous.

I live in Manchester and disagree that Liverpool is seen as special. Its a great city but no more iconic than Manchester.

The football team as well as the Beatles put it on the map.

I live in the North West and agree with this.

It's so much more interesting and unique to walk around than manc or Leeds I'd say (not been to the others), so much history with the port and music.

I think it’s the attitude of the people, they see themselves as Scouse first and English second. I think a bit of “you against us” attitude from the riots in the 80s and events such as Hillsborough really strengthened that feeling.

It’s a small city but has such a rich culture and is a bubble for fashion, language and so many other things.

I recommend everyone to go for a weekend, the city feels alive to me and there’s always new bars, restaurants and things to do.

I lived there for years and absolutely loved it!

I didn’t think it was especially. I think more of Manchester as it was ‘the place’ in the 90s. I’ve only been to either place once as I live in London. Obviously I appreciate it has an interesting history and has more of an obvious personality than say, Birmingham.

Agree with Dusty, so much history!
I worked in a big shop in the centre for years.
Can honestly say (my own personal opinion so not scientific) I've never worked with or met such warm, supportive genuine people in such a high concentration in any of the other cities I've lived in. Hard to explain but there's a character to the place that makes it special.
We lived there as kids and I went back as an adult because I missed it. Often wish I hadn't left!
(Disclaimer: I know there are lovely people everywhere, not just in Liverpool)

I'm a southerner and personally I don't think of Liverpool as more "iconic" than Manchester or Leeds.

I went on a short city break to Liverpool and found it fascinating going to the museums about the history of it, and reading about the factors that influenced it, from the natural environment making the right conditions for harbour, the development of the wet dock, the way that increased the shipping and how that influenced migration, slave trade, industrialisation, all sorts of things, how that had impacts on the development of the city, the war , the later music and sports industries etc. It was really interesting. I'm sure other cities are also interesting, but I did find that fascinating, how such seemingly small things ended up having big effects on the way it developed. And I'm sure that the people also then develop a pride in the city and its history as well, which they cretes memories, communities etc, and it kind of spirals from there.

Read a history book.

Liverpool is fairly important to the UK as a whole and how the country is today.

That's probably why it's iconic...

I’m Northern and worked in Liverpool for a time. The people there have a much stronger sense of their identity than most people who live in big cities - most Scousers have strong links to Ireland, the Catholic Church is a big influence and many can trace their ancestors back to the dockers who had their own culture and way of life. You see a little bit of that now in the way Scouse girls take pride in dressing up for nights out etc. Plus they are linked by shared events which give them a sense of identity, such as Hillsborough (most people know someone who died or was there - it’s hard to appreciate the impact of Hillsborough if you’re not familiar with Liverpool, and even today you can’t give away a copy of the Sun in the city) and the fact that they voted Remain is a source of pride to many too.

The music scene was huge - obviously the Beatles, but lots of other acts too such as Gerry and the Pacemakers and Cilla Black - the Cavern Club launched hundreds of careers, and again because the Beatles were such regulars there in the 60s before they went to Germany, and Liverpool’s size meant that the CC was a main venue for a night out so most teenagers/people in their 20s in that period who were going for a night out got to see them - so they feel collective ownership of the Beatles in a way that, for example, Londoners can’t feel about the Rolling Stones.

It's because of the TV series Bread 😁

That TART Lilo Lil!! I'll swing her round by the tits!

Lighthearted response of course, I just wanted to mention Bread 😄

I think the docks add an edge of excitement mysticism to Liverpool; traditional where people first set foot in to UK from Ireland.

The Beatles are one of the foundation stones of postwar Britain. I don’t think their cultural, historical, musical and economic importance can ever be overestimated.

I don't know about status. Manchester is pretty dominant in the North and tends to get a lot of the investment. ITV and BBC in the North West are based in Manchester/Salford, for example, not Liverpool. Manchester has the bigger airport/universities/skyscrapers etc etc.

Liverpool doesn't necessarily feel like an English city. Its got a Glasgow/Dublin type feel to it. But there's a fierce civic pride there and people tend to be switched on politically and don't take shit.

I don’t think it is, Manchester has a bigger role in pop culture over the last 30 odd years - from Happy Mondays Oasis days and Man U being the biggest club on the planet

I'm just going to get the popcorn and watch the manc vs scouse bunfight.

Well I'm way down on the South coast, so feel I am impartial.

Off the top of my head, Liverpool for The Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Cilla, Ken Dodd, Jimmy Tarbuck. Oh and the Liver Birds! Manchester for Corrie, Oasis, Peter Kay and fab university (I didn't go but have heard good things about it).

Both cities have huge and successful football clubs. Umm can't think of anything else off the top of my head (for either city before I get shot down! Happy to be educated) ☺️

OMG I forgot the Stone Roses and The Smiths! 😱

For a long time though it was seen as a bit of a no go area though and it's still a extremely deprived in many parts although I guess the same goes-- for most cities-- the capital of culture in 2008 poured money into it and hugely raised its status. It has the music, football and the docks. I think it's seen as quirky and interesting generally though rather than better as such.

Kay is from Farnworth, you can't count him.

I don't disagree that "Madchester" has a massive significance to UK music in the last 30 years, but the Liverpool music scene was 30 years earlier.

But what do I know. I'm a Londoner who has settled t'other side of the Pennines.

Read about the history of this port

Some parts have Unesco status

Suggest, go & visit

Liverpool doesn't necessarily feel like an English city. Its got a Glasgow/Dublin type feel to it. But there's a fierce civic pride there and people tend to be switched on politically and don't take shit.

I think this is it in a nutshell.

I’m a proud Mancunian but we can’t claim our musical heritage is the same as Liverpool’s. The Beatles invented pop as we know it and every act since has been influenced or inspired by them. The four of them were geniuses but Liverpool itself, with Mersey Beat and the Cavern Club, enabled them to flourish in a way they might not have in a different city.