Groovy Facts

Here are some facts and figures about Liverpool that might surprise you...

• Liverpool is currently celebrating its year as European Capital of Culture.
  
• The population of Liverpool has stabilised after decades of decline and now stands at 436,100. 
  
• Average income in 2006, was £26,800.
  
• Liverpool has the biggest single collection of Grade One listed buildings and more national museums and galleries than any other city outside London.
  
• Liverpool has 2,500 listed buildings and 250 public monuments.
  
•  St George's Hall has undergone an £18 million refurbishment.
  
• The £1 billion Liverpool One development has transformed the city centre with 2 million sq ft of new shops, offices and leisure facilities - Europe's biggest regeneration scheme.
  
• Liverpool has had World Heritage city status conferred on it by UNESCO.
  
• The new 10,600 seat Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool on Kings Waterfront is bringing the world's biggest music stars and high quality conferences to the city, generating an extra £100 million for the local economy every year.
  
• Liverpool John Lennon Airport is Europe's fastest-growing regional airport.
  
• The £15 million Cruise Liner Terminal is bringing big ships back to the River Mersey.
  
• A scheme to regenerate Anfield includes 2,200 new and refurbished houses, an Education Innovation Centre, an internet youth café, health facilities, environmental improvements, a community plaza and community centre and a new stadium for Liverpool FC.
  
• Liverpool has Europe's longest established Chinese community and Europe's largest Chinese Arch which stands 14 metres over the entrance to Chinatown.
  
• Liverpool is the most successful footballing city in England - with 27 League Championships, 5 European Cups, three EUFA cups, 1 cup Winners cup, 12 FA Cups and 6 League Cups.
  
• The Grand National, the most famous steeplechase in the world, takes place at Aintree. 
  
• Merseyside has over 40 golf courses, 7 of championships status. These include the Royal Liverpool which hosted the Open in 2006, and Birkdale which is the venue for the 2008 Open.
  
• Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral is the largest cathedral in Britain and the fifth largest in the world.
  
• The Liver Building is one of the earliest examples of multi-storey reinforced concrete construction in the world.
  
• More than 60 languages are spoken in the city every single day.
  
• The world's first School of School of Tropical Medicine was opened in Liverpool in 1898 and discovered that Malaria could be passed by Mosquito bite. A new £26 million research building has opened.
  
• The city is home to Lime Productions - which produces TV programmes including Hollyoaks.
  
• Liverpool is the most filmed British city outside London.
  
• Sir Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) opened in 1996.
  
• Founded in 1881 with the establishment of University College Liverpool, The University of Liverpool was one of the first civic universities in Britain.
  
• The eight museums and galleries that make up National Museums Liverpool possess the greatest collection of artefacts, paintings, specimens and objects collectively held under single ownership in the country.
  
• Liverpool has gone from having the UK's highest council tax to dropping outside the top 100 of most taxed authorities.