Culture of Liverpool

The culture of Liverpool goes back as far back as 1715 when Thomas Steers built the world’s first commercial dock (Old Dock) paving the way for Liverpool to become one of the world’s greatest seaports and was a contributing factor in the Industrial Revolution that began shortly after, bringing culture from all over the world. Examples include the Blue Funnel Line that brought the first Chinese community to Europe, to a million Irish people passing through to the New World at the Port of Liverpool. The city is widely known for having the strongest Irish heritage and culture of any UK city and has the highest concentration of Irish pubs per capita, making it the second-highest globally.

Liverpool was named the European Capital of Culture in 2008. Since 2015, Liverpool has been a UNESCO City of Music and Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City held the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site from 2012 to 2021.

Liverpool's musical culture has become popular worldwide and has also become popular among numerous football clubs in the UK. You Will Never Walk Alone from Merseybeat band Gerry and the Pacemakers is the anthem for Liverpool F.C., Borussia Dortmund and Glasgow Celtic. The Beatles' hit single Hey Jude is the anthem for Brentford F.C., Manchester City F.C. and Arsenal F.C.. Other clubs have adopted the song as a pre-match and during the match terrace anthem. Another Beatles hit single, Yellow Submarine is Villarreal CF's football anthem. Supporters of England national football adopted, as their football anthem, Three Lions by the Liverpool rock band The Lightning Seeds, which became a cultural phenomenon in England. Ian Broudie's song is the first song in history with the same performing line-up to top the UK singles chart on four separate occasions.

Liverpool's culture in athletics goes back as far as 1865, when John Hulley, Gymnasiarch of Liverpool was the founder of the British Olympic movement

Liverpool is known for its cultural scene, encompassing a vibrant music heritage and a thriving arts and theatre scene from its Black African and Irish communities, all rooted in its maritime past. Many Sea shanty songs refer to Liverpool and musician Stan Hugill to when Cunard Yanks brought Rock and roll to Liverpool.

The Mersey Ferry’s are an integral part of Liverpool culture, serving as a vital transport link and a symbol of the city region's identity for over 800 years beginning in 1150, connecting communities and attracting visitors, made famous in the 1960s with the Gerry and the Pacemakers hit single Ferry Cross the Mersey.

The Beatles exemplified changing culture dynamics, not only in music, but in fashion and lifestyle. Over half century after their emergence, they continue to have a worldwide cultural impact.