Liverpool

Come for The Beatles, stay for the galleries. Poor Liverpool can’t seem to shake its hard-knock, working class reputation. Its main claim to fame and tourist-magnet is that the original boy band – The Beatles – are from there, but Liverpool has so much more to offer. It’s got the most galleries and museums outside of London, for a start, and has undergone a tranformation greater than Cinderella’s.

Tick the Beatles Story museum off your list first, buy some kitschy memorabilia, then head to some of Liverpool’s lesser known but, dare we say, more impressive museums and galleries. Not to be missed are northern England’s best art gallery, the Walker; Liverpool’s oldest museum which explores all things natural history, science and technology – the World Museum; and the hard-hitting and enlightening International Slavery Museum.

Visit the Liverpool Cathedral then head west through the swanky Ropewalks area to begin to appreciate Liverpool’s make-over. Continue through to Albert Docks to complete the picture of modern-day Liverpool.

There is a lively bar and nightlife scene thanks to the active student crowd in the city, so once you’ve made your obligatory visit to the Cavern Club you can head out to find something more happening and cutting-edge.