Cosmopolitan Liverpool is a vibrant cultural hotspot perhaps most famed as the home of The Beatles. Once considered one of the world’s most important shipping hubs, today’s Liverpool is a very different but still-thriving city offering good job opportunities, plentiful amenities and a lower-than-average cost of living. 

With an exceptionally rich history, Liverpool boasts some of England’s most impressive architecture, with numerous landmark buildings dotted around the City Centre and along the iconic waterfront. Indeed, the area of Liverpool stretching from the Albert Dock and Pier Head through to the St George’s Quarter was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2004, putting the city alongside the likes of Stonehenge, the Taj Mahal and the Grand Canyon.
 

Living in Liverpool

Despite Liverpool’s status as a thriving city with a lot to offer, property remains relatively affordable when compared to many other UK cities, with a diverse range of housing to suit most budgets.

Culture vultures wanting to be at the heart of the action will be drawn to areas around the City Centre, which has undergone a huge transformation in recent years and attracted millions of pounds worth of investment.

For families, Aintree is a popular residential area known for its world-famous racecourse and offering pleasant residential streets, green spaces and a variety of schools, along with good links to the rest of the city. For value, it’s hard to beat Anfield, which is also home to Liverpool FC.

Head further out to The Wirral and you’ll find some of Liverpool’s most desirable properties. Coastal towns like West Kirby and Hoylake remain within easy reach of the city, while also offering a wide range of amenities in their own right.
 

Property and rental prices

According to the UK House Price Index, the average property in Liverpool will set you back £148,324 as of December 2020.

Although prices have risen considerably over the last few years and are up by around £20,000 from the beginning of 2020, they remain lower than many other prominent UK cities. Expect to pay in the region of £160,000 for a typical 3-bedroom semi-detached property, or upwards of £200,000 for a 4-bed detached house. Meanwhile, 2 or 3-bedroom terraced properties can be bought for as little as £30,000, but be prepared to pay over £70,000 for a home in good condition.

For those renting, you should expect to pay £500-£600 a month for a 2-bedroom terrace, or around £750 PCM for a 3-bedroom semi-detached home. As with most cities, prices vary considerably according to the location and type of property. It’s possible to pay as little as £350 per month for a studio flat, or up to £5,000 PCM for a large detached home in a desirable area.
 

Location and transport 

Liverpool is very well connected, with good road links to other areas of the North West and fast Merseyrail trains taking you throughout the city and beyond. Lime Street station offers direct services to many UK cities, including frequent trains to Manchester, Birmingham and London via the West Coast mainline.

For travel to the rest of the UK and Europe, there’s also Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which is home to a variety of airlines including EasyJet and Ryanair.

Liverpool’s location also puts you in close reach of the coast and some beautiful beaches, while the Lancashire countryside is just a short drive away. 
 

Shopping, culture and nightlife

Take your pick from an exceptional range of shopping, cultural and nightlife destinations, including a virtually unrivalled number of museums and art galleries. The Tate Liverpool, Merseyside Maritime Museum and The Walker Art Gallery can all be found in the city centre, or head to The Beatles Story and immerse yourself in the history of the world’s most renowned pop band.

Given Liverpool’s rich entertainment heritage, you won’t be surprised to learn that Liverpool has a thriving nightlife, with an extensive array of bars, restaurants, pubs and music venues. Follow in the footsteps of The Beatles at the Cavern Club, or take in a performance at the renowned Liverpool Playhouse, Royal Court or Empire.

Of course, Liverpool is also known for sporting prowess, with Anfield (Liverpool FC), Goodison Park (Everton) and Aintree Racecourse (home of the Grand National) all being found within the city.
 

Work and education

While Liverpool’s glory days as a shipping centre are long gone, it remains one of the North West’s most important business centres. Many jobs are found in administration, healthcare and consultancy services, while a wide variety of financial institutions including Barclays, JPMorgan and the Royal Bank of Scotland are major employers in the city.

Liverpool has a number of primary schools rated as ‘outstanding’ by OFSTED, including St John’s Catholic Primary School, The Beacon Church of England Primary School, and Liscard Primary School in nearby Wallasey. For secondary age pupils, Weatherhead High School, The Studio School Liverpool and the North Liverpool Academy are all rated as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding.’

The city is also home to the highly regarded University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Hope University, along with The City of Liverpool College and the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

More on the blog:  Why Liverpool is great for students
 

Why move to Liverpool?

Liverpool is a thriving city offering unrivalled cultural diversity, good work opportunities and access to world-class educational establishments. Add in below-average property prices and affordable living costs and it’s easy to see why Liverpool is a great place to live. If you find yourself relocating to Liverpool and in need of storage during the move, do not hesitate to get in touch our friendly advisers are on hand to help.  We're located just off Flint Street in the Baltic Triangle area.