Celebrating 10 Years as the Liverpool City of Culture

Over 10 years ago, Liverpool stood firmly on a world-renowned stage and embraced its well-earned title of European Capital of Culture. Liverpool city of culture transformed the way the world perceived the modern metropolis of art, culture and sport and propelled Liverpool into an instantly recognisable destination.

The decision to bid for the European title was instigated before the turn of the millennium 18 years ago, and foundations were made to start revolutionising the region’s collective ambition. Eight years later after a total of £4 billion of public and private investment, fuelled by cultural activity, Liverpool’s visitor economy had doubled. Liverpool had secured its reputation and began to be increasingly more attractive to overseas visitors with notable spending powers.

During the Liverpool European Capital of Culture, 9.7 million additional visitors were attracted to the spectacle in 2008, constituting 35% of all visits to the city, generating an economic impact of £753.8 million – the highest for any European Capital of Culture to date.

Today, the Liverpool city of culture presents itself as a beacon of excellence amongst major cities competing for recognition of the same calibre – recognised as a top spot for overseas investment, tourism, and overall economic growth. Let’s take a look at how the city has changed since the 2008 Liverpool Capital of Culture, and how Liverpool is going to continue celebrating its place as a UK hotspot.

When Was Capital of Culture Liverpool?

Liverpool was hailed Capital of Culture for the year of 2008, alongside Stavanger in Norway. The Liverpool culture capital has always been known for its cultural offerings, with a fantastic literature, arts, theatre, poetry, and music scene. By becoming the capital of culture, Liverpool’s cultural scene and economy have flourished even further.