Liverpool is variously recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the most successful footballing city in England, a cultural powerhouse, one of the best places in the world for a night out and a UNESCO City of Music – but these only begin to tell the story.

The waterfront is the city’s heart both geographically and spiritually, and it’s here that the Vitality Netball World Cup will take place. And if you want to explore outside of the Vitality Netball World Cup, you’re in the perfect spot. We’ve outlined some of the main things here, and for everything else check visitliverpool.com

Culture

Liverpool has more museums and galleries than any other UK city region outside of London, attracting leading international exhibitions and telling stories in the most evocative manner.

The distinctive Museum of Liverpool sits on the city’s famous waterfront, in between the Three Graces and the Albert Dock. Other museums include World Museum Liverpool, Walker Art Gallery, International Slavery Museum, Merseyside Maritime Museum, Lady Lever Art Gallery and Sudley House – all of which are open seven days a week with free admission.

Just along the waterfront in the Albert Dock is Tate Liverpool, the home of the national collection of modern and contemporary art in the north of England and the UK’s most visited gallery of its kind outside London. It is home to works by Picasso, Warhol and Mondrian amongst many others.

Music

A key part of Liverpool’s appeal is of course The Beatles, who hailed from the city. Visiting fans are more than catered for by attractions such as the interactive, immersive Beatles Story and the Magical Mystery Tour which takes them around childhood homes and the sites which inspired the songs such as Penny Lane and Strawberry Field.

It’s not just about the fab four though, the British Music Experience tells the story of UK music since the 1950s with a massive range of exhibits including instruments, costumes and memorabilia from the most famous names in pop and rock.

Then for live music, there are dozens of top venues bringing all kinds of acts to the city, from mainstream to every iteration of the underground. Check out the listings for M&S Bank Arena Liverpool (formerly known as Echo Arena), which is in the same venue as the Vitality Netball World Cup and has played host to names such as Beyonce, Paul McCartney and Elton John in recent years.

Nightlife

When Rough Guides came to write their worldwide travel bucket list recently, they placed a night out in Liverpool as third on the list – wedged in between a visit to Grand Canyon and a walk along the Great Wall of China.

It’s easy to see why – Liverpool is famed as a place for revelry, running the full gamut from boundary-pushing cocktail bars to the finest traditional pubs and warehouse clubs staging nights which attract people from around the UK. There are many excellent areas, but perhaps start in the Ropewalks district, where Seel Street, Bold Street and Duke Street come alive at night.

Sport

Liverpool is known across the world for its sporting prowess – the two Premier League teams of Everton and Liverpool are two of the oldest and most storied in the game, and together make Liverpool the most successful footballing city in England. Then there is the Grand National, the world’s most famous horse race watched by more than 600 million people each year. Our golf courses include two venues for The Open, Royal Liverpool and Royal Birkdale, as well as several other championship venues.

So, the Vitality Netball World Cup will fit right in, coming to a city where sport is at the heart of everyday life.