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?

Yes, I know - my dad worked for White Star, as did other family members. A lot of my family in Liverpool were in the Merchant and Royal Navy throughout the 20th Century. White Star and their head office failed to ensure there were enough lifeboats to save their paying passengers and crew - rumoured that Ismay thought they would spoil the look of the deck line. The vast majority of the crew were from Southampton, where Titanic sailed from - they don’t have a Titanic hotel… Carpathia was built on Tyneside, by the people of Tyneside and then sailed between Liverpool and Boston for a time - I wonder if Boston claim it as their own too? I was born, brought up and lived in Liverpool for a long time and still visit family. The emphasis on the Titanic is a fairly recent thing - the hotel, exhibitions, etc, certainly not when I was growing up and lived there. My dad and grandad’s (who was a sailor when Titanic sunk) generation of seafarers never tried to claim the Titanic as a “Liverpool” ship and my family there now roll their eyes at the idea. I know people who have visited Liverpool believing the Titanic was built and sailed from there - news to the people of Belfast and their relatives who did build and launch the ship. The captain was from Hanley, Stoke on Trent - they haven’t built a Titanic hotel…

@pipkinsatlunchtime
I'm sure if Southampton wanted to build a Titanic Hotel and musuem there is nothing to stop it and it would be a great tourist attraction
If we only had museums and galleries on places where artefacts originated then we wouldn't have a 'British' Musuem stuffed full of things which aren't British.

As a born and bred Scouser you must realise that Liverpool has chosen to regenerate in part around arts, culture, tourism and industrial heritage, and it's done a great job of it.
Given the strong connections to the Titanic it's not an unreasonable thing to do

Went to Liverpool a couple years ago, in the run up to the Eurovision contest, and it was absolutely buzzing. I was blown away by the architecture, the docks, the history. It has a great soul--so much more than the likes of Manchester or Leeds. Fab city and could easily see myself living there.

I visited for the first time last year and absolutely loved it as a city. Really felt at home there. Loved the docks and the three graces and had the best taxi driver who took me and 2 ds round the past the new Everton stadium and loads of football tales to tell which they loved. Also loved the ferry trip. Would like to do a Beatles tour next time and explore further afield.