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?

You're welcome threewheeler

Our flat was above the gay bar on Stanley St. - had an absolutely massive old door and a lot of stairs to climb. Bit of a challenge after a night out! Also had a few lively nights on Mathew Street!
I was working in George Henry Lee then, good old fashioned 'Are You Being Served?'. So sad to see it's gone from the centre now.
The inside of that building on the top floors was like stepping back in time.

Even now, it's still one of my favourite jobs.

I live in Manchester and think Liverpool is special to visit due to the docks, The Beatles and other musicians.

I think there was a definite "them and us" sentiment around in the 80s with Derek Hatton being a prominent politician in the media then.

Grew up in Leeds/York, Uni in Liverpool and live just outside Manchester.
Manchester is just sprawling and despite living here > 30 years cannot find my way around it. Shopping’s ok but the museums and art galleries aren’t as interesting as those in Liverpool. It’s grimy and a bit up itself tbh. Too cool for school if you will.
In Liverpool it feels like you’re in a proper international city especially by the river. The architecture is amazing and periodically you can visit some of the buildings closed off to the public like St George’s hall. Some great suburbs too although like everywhere there’s deprivation.
With Manchester it’s like it all revolves round footy teams. In Liverpool it’s the same but then you’ve got the cultural stuff like the Beatles plus slave and maritime trade. The wealth was unbelievable back in the day and some areas like Penny lane/ Toxteth are just great to wander round.

Bristol is on a river. The city's name is derived from Brig stowe, which means "place of the bridge".
Bristol has a different type of fame. More for engineering than for its music. Isambard Kingdom Brunel (Clifton Suspension Bridge, The Floating Harbour, railway stations and line to London), Concorde was built in Bristol and Samuel Plimsoll for the Plimsoll line which prevents ships being overloaded.

Coming from a bland little commuter town in Essex, I’ve always envied scousers. I’d love to have such a strong regional identity. I have never met a Liverpudlian I didn’t like. I’ve also never met a geordie I didn’t like. I love the Liverpool accent as well. My favourite accents are Liverpool and posh Edinburgh. The lady who works in my local Sainsbury’s has a strong Liverpool accent and I can’t wait for her to speak! Her colleague is a gay Brazilian guy, and hearing the two of them in conversation is hilarious - camp Brazilian and refined Scouse. Music to my ears!

The Beatles were a global phenomenon. In fact, they are one of the few things this island has produced since WW2 that is known everywhere. That said, I do think Manchester has produced the best music - Joy Division, Stone Roses, the Smiths, Happy Mondays, etc.

I disagree and agree.

There's few places in Manchester youd take tourists too if Mancs are honest about it - apart from the Footie Grounds. It has a great night life but during the day I just don't think it has that vibe. Not when Liverpool is just an hour on the train and Chester isn't far off.

Manchester definitely does have that too cool for school vibe. Liverpool has very very friendly people.

Ironically I actually generally prefer Manchester but as a place to live rather than a place to visit if that makes sure.

Agree with this @User135644

"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."

First time I went to Liverpool it felt like going home to Glasgow. There's that same feeling of the people having creating the city from the river, with the ebb and flow of trade and people and the influences that brings. It's a place with a strong sense of character.

@RedToothBrush agree that once you’ve done the science museum, art gallery, Whitworth, people’s museum etc that’s it. My kids are older now so there may be more. Agree that the nightlife/eating out is great but public transport is so bad we rarely do it now. Saying that we don’t live right in Manc but a 20 min train journey in.
Even as a place to live, Liverpool has some nice suburbs like Formby/Crosby that aren’t as expensive as Chorlton/Didsbury and added attraction of being kind of coastal.

Liverpool waterfront is beautiful. Ditto lots of the city centre buildings and parks. Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield appear very grimy/gritty in comparison; Newcastle has a very similar feel to Liverpool.

I think because it's risen from the ashes and everybody likes an underdog success story. It was such a major city for so many years but when the docks closed in the 70's and under Thatcher Liverpool went boom to bust and until the early 90's there were high levels of deprivation, extremely high unemployment- up to 50% in the inner city, riots, heroin culture, etc. During the 80's right wing tabloids absolutely trashed Liverpool's reputation further. But when it became capital of culture in 2008, the targeted attack on Liverpool from the media switched from negative to positive, tourism increased dramatically and has increased year on year. There are still some ignorant, mostly older generation tabloid readers who think it is full of thieves (the crime rate is far from the highest and the thieving Scouse stereotype has been long debunked).

The tourism boom didn't stop after the year of Capital of Culture, and it has become an increasingly popular tourist destination and there are many reasons why. All cities have a great arts culture like Liverpool, but Liverpool is the only city with two premier league football teams, Liverpool being the most popular team in America and a worldwide fan base. It is one of the only cities with two cathedrals, one of which being the largest in Britain. It has the second most museums in a city after London, most of which are free. The second most filmed city after London, amazing architecture and skyline, and of course because The Beatles still are the most influential band of all time.

History, music, amazing mostly very straightforward people who have endured A LOT, especially under Thatcher and at the hands of the right wing media and yet still maintain their warmth.

Plus brilliant buildings and a very strong sense of identity - I grew up in Newcastle and have always preferred the Liverpool sense of humour as it's more similar to where I grew up compared to Manchester which thinks a heck of a lot of itself these days....yes, I know Manchester has great people, buildings etc, I personally just like the atmosphere in Liverpool better. (Mind you, I also think Bristol is pretty iconic as west country cities go - another port city with a long and interesting history.)

It absolutely IS iconic.

As a proud Scouser, I'm biased.

To see the beautiful waterfront buildings is a real treat. Imagine all the thousands of people who saw those buildings as their first/last view of the city.

Liverpool & Newcastle have a very similar vibe & both have friendly locals. 🙂

That's the one that gets me..... you don't dare snitch on anyone. Also, god forbid anyone who has lost the rose tinted specs ever calling out the truth.

Like mentioning Heysel ?

A 15 min train ride north to Waterloo/Crosby. Home to Sir Anthony Gormley's Another Place on the beach, amongst many lovely bars and restaurants. Or stay in town and go to the Georgian Quarter, where the Cathedrsks (we have 2) and the uni is. Enjoy!

Of course Liverpool is afflicted with the problems that most cities face, but we're a city built in by immigrants.

Enjoy this www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/edl-laughed-liverpool-benny-hill-13133627.amp

Better video

They subsequently took refuge in a left luggage booth at the station with the shutter pulled down. Hard knocks eh

@Foxblue Bold Street is good - I LOVE Panoramic 34 - just down from The Liver Building you have to be let in by the concierge - 34 floors up with views across the Mersey - great for an afternoon coffee or cocktail

went on my first date with my now DH in Keith’s!

😂 I bloody loved Bread! We lived about 5 minutes away from the street they filmed in. I loved watching to see if I could see anyone I knew in the background.

My great great Grandfather built the street where Bread was filmed - and tiled the Childwall clock!

I hated Bread as is fed into the 'feckless dole scrounging scum' - I had a friend called Boswell - lovely man, single parent - he got a job working with The Unemployed Centre - the headline in the local press ' Boswell get a job'

blimey excuse all the many errors I have had wine

It was like that in the 80s and 90s, not anymore though. EU money that built up the Albert Dock and then because we got Capital of Culture in 2008 meant Liverpool One being built, the rest of the docks being done up, Pier Head being refurbished, M&S bank Arena (or the Echo Arena as it's still known locally), BT Convention Centre, and all the hotels that have been built and are still being built. We've had a massive amount of money pumped in to us in the last 30 years.

Yes but we had The Garden Festival in the 80's which was lovely