- Jan-Peter van Tijk
I wish I'd found InterNations sooner: It would have made my first few month as an expat in London much less overwhelming.
Life in Liverpool
Culture and Leisure
Liverpool was previously bestowed the title of European Capital of Culture for good reason. Expats living in Liverpool will be spoilt for choice when it comes to museums, art galleries, and music venues. Putting the city firmly on the international culture map is the Tate Liverpool gallery, which stands proudly on the city’s Albert Docks. The Docks themselves are testament to Liverpool’s maritime past, and mark the starting point of the UNESCO World Heritage waterfront. Expatriates will also be pleasantly surprised by the amount of parks and green spaces that can be found throughout the city.
Arguably, the most well-known point about Liverpool is that it was where the Beatles started. The city is proud of this musical heritage, and the Beatles Story – the only purely Beatles museum in the world – can be found in the city. A two hour bus trip, the Magical Mystery Tour, takes fans around the city’s many Beatles landmarks, such as Strawberry Field and Penny Lane. The world-famous Cavern Club is where the Beatles played nearly 300 times, and it is still a great venue if you want to hear live music – at any day of the week.
Education in Liverpool
Liverpool enjoys a very international community thanks to the large universities that reside there. Most notable is the University of Liverpool, which is the oldest and highest-ranked of the city’s higher education institutions. Liverpool John Moores and Liverpool Hope are the other universities. The student population of over 50,000 brings with it a cultural wealth and diversity that makes life in Liverpool vibrant.
Education opportunities for students coming from abroad are mainly focused on foundation courses, of which there are many. The University of Liverpool’s International College runs undergrad preparation courses for international students. Elsewhere, there is the foundation school, Broadgreen International School, which specializes in technology subjects, and offers an International Baccalaureate program, along with a small variety of vocational courses. In addition, like in any city, primary and secondary school rankings vary greatly throughout the area. For the most up-to-date school report findings, visit Ofsted.
Transportation in Liverpool
Getting around the city is made simple thanks to an effective local transportation system comprising the Merseyrail, plenty of local bus routes, and black cabs that can be flagged down anywhere in the city. Most city locals avoid driving into the city center to evade rush-hour traffic and costly parking. Liverpool Airport is always in process of expansion, and there are direct flights to many European cities. For a wider choice of international flights, Manchester International Airport is less than an hour away and easily accessible by National Express coaches.
The country’s capital, London, is 197 miles (318 km) away, and trains there take just over two hours. The city’s iconic Mersey Ferries continue to operate between the city and the Wirral, and further afield to Belfast, Dublin and Isle of Man –there’s no better way to take in the magnificent views of the city’s famous waterfront. Though cycling is possible in the city, it is not popular, and as such, cycling routes are not as established as they are in some other major cities.
See all upcoming events for expats in Liverpool
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- Jan-Peter van Tijk
I wish I'd found InterNations sooner: It would have made my first few month as an expat in London much less overwhelming.
- Therese Yeboah
For me, the InterNations events are the best part. I attend almost every get-together and always get to know lots of friendly fellow expats.
