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?

Hijacking this thread because when I went to Liverpool, I really enjoyed the history side of it but I didn't do anywhere near enough research on places to shop, eat and drink, and i always try and prioritise visiting independent businesses in a new city - i found Manchester really easy for this as you can stumble into 'areas' but i didnt manage it in Liverpool so well.
Does anyone familiar have any recommendations for areas that are full of more local, independent places?

List of towns and cities in England by population - Wikipedia

Not sure if this table is entirely accurate but Liverpool and Manchester are comparable in terms of size and population. Liverpool's city population is around half a million. Difference is Greater Manchester is much bigger than Merseyside.

Bold Street or Lark Lane for independent cafes and restaurants

Also they have never had justice and probably never will.

How a retired senior policeman can give evidence in a coroner's court and then months later give totally different evidence in a criminal trial and no one in authority does or says a thing I will never understand.

RIP the 97 plus all the others who died as a result of the events that day and afterwards. We will never know for sure how many really died when you take into account suicides, deaths due to grief augmented by drink and drugs or dementia.

I hope the survivors and families find peace, they should have had justice, they deserved justice.

Another vote for Hillsborough the truth It isn't an easy read. Phil Scraton has also done some talks about the disaster, they are on YouTube and if you don't have the time to read the book they are about 1 hour.

It was awesome!

I rewatched a bit recently and still thought it was great but was struck by how Joey was portrayed as this wise, extremely clever sex symbol that women couldn't get enough of and lots of the audience including me thought that at the time.

But now I was thinking 'what a leather-trousered wanker' 😃

I'm a Scouser so I'm probably biased, but it's everything about this city - the history, the people, the humour, the culture, the sights. Everywhere you go there's something interesting to learn or something beautiful to look at, most likely both. Coming round Queen Square and being met with grandeur of St George's Hall, the view of the Liver Buildings from St Nicholas, the contrast of the city and the sea birds from Seacombe. Incomparable.

On top of this there's always something to do which isn't the case in nearby Manchester for example where I find I run out of stuff to get on with really quickly, especially round the Arndale and Market Street area. To be fair, it could be because I'm too familiar with the area while not being familiar enough because as another example I couldn't imagine getting bored with Euston Road in London.

Trust the Mancs to highjack a thread about Liverpool.

I'm thinking of the posts Nellie could have made on MN.

"My husband has been having an affair for years with a TART but I let him in and out of the home and my bed and would never divorce because of the Catholic shame.

I can't permanently get rid of any of my adult children who use this place like an f-ing hotel and most rarely contribute financially but drain the life out of me with their dramas. And they're supposedly in their 20s but honestly, most look they're 40 at least which makes me feel ancient.

My shitty home ' mobile' telephone only works if I pull the antenna out the whole way and stand in certain parts of the house on days when the wind is blowing in the right direction.

AND my elderly Dad lives next door and I literally do everything for him including cleaning his house and cooking every meal and the ungrateful old bastard just keeps shouting "where's me pudding".

AIBU to fuck them all off? "

It's a great city partly because of it being a port so there is a sense of adventure and travel.
I read a really great article suggesting that Liverpool has more in common with New York than London and I agree with this.
The friendliness is legendary.

I think the openness of the area behind the Liver Building/Three Graces gives a splendour not seen in a lot of other cities, definitely not Manchester (and I love Manchester). It seems bigger because of the different areas, so the ferry terminal, Albert Docks, Liverpool one , Cavern club area etc. We saw the Terracotta warriors exhibition there.

My husband who is in his fifties used to go to the football on a Saturdays in the 80's with his dad and remembers the "watch your car mister" kids near the ground.

@TorroFerney

I do believe I was one of those kids 😉

I think the city looks impressive when you come out of Lime St station and that big building (St George's?) is there in front of you.

I've got involved in some church stuff in Liverpool and the people are so much more friendly. I only have to say I'm coming up and people will meet me for coffee. Abs I went to an event the other week and two friends were waiting for me. That never happens where I live!

You need to educate yourself.

I imagine South Yorkshire Police don’t like it mentioned too often.

I agree - I’m a typical Scouse mix - dad Irish mums family Welsh! It has a strong political and trades union history. Also some of the oldest black and Chinese communities in Europe

its history is fascinating and architecture beautiful

football and music also important and predates the 60s

It’s the passion and tenacity for justice from the Liverpudlians that kept it in the public consciousness. And it’s a good job it did, or the full truth would never have come out.

I think the city looks impressive when you come out of Lime St station

It is when you compare to the sights that greet you when you come out of Manchester Piccadilly

I don’t come from Liverpool but lived near it for many years and used to go shopping there. I found Liverpudlians consistently more friendly than people in other cities and so helpful. If you asked one of them for directions they not only knew the answer (increasingly rare in places like London) but would actually take you there, even if it meant going out of their way. Plus they have a great sense of humour that used to crack me up regularly.

I don’t come from Liverpool but lived near it for many years and used to go shopping there. I found Liverpudlians consistently more friendly than people in other cities and so helpful. If you asked one of them for directions they not only knew the answer (increasingly rare in places like London) but would actually take you there, even if it meant going out of their way. Plus they have a great sense of humour that used to crack me up regularly.

I don’t come from Liverpool but lived near it for many years and used to go shopping there. I found Liverpudlians consistently more friendly than people in other cities and so helpful. If you asked one of them for directions they not only knew the answer (increasingly rare in places like London) but would actually take you there, even if it meant going out of their way. Plus they have a great sense of humour that used to crack me up regularly.

I went to Liverpool for a weekend and liked it so much I moved there 2 months later.
It’s an incredible city filled with amazing people and so much history!
I don’t live there now but close by, I still love to visit regularly.

Totally. You really feel you’ve arrived in Liverpool, in Manchester it’s like you’ve been smuggled in through the back door.

This is the most important post on this thread in my opinion. No family in Liverpool was untouched by Hillsborough. People need to educate themselves regarding the actual truth, the lies, the deceit, the coverup, the perjury. The list goes on. It should never be forgotten.

Yep