Get your sparkly spandex ready because Liverpool has been chosen to host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest!

After a tight race with Glasgow, BBC and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced on Friday that Liverpool will welcome the world-famous song contest to its legendary city in May 2023, with Britain hosting on behalf of Ukraine.

According to VisitBritain, alongside its hosting duties, Liverpool will look to reflect Ukrainian culture, music and communities as well as celebrate the diverse offerings of British music and creativity.

Whilst Liverpool will be pulling out all the stops for Eurovision 2023, there’s so much more to discover in the UNESCO City of Music that gave us The Beatles.

Liverpool’s real magic though lies in its much smaller charms: its one-of-a-kind restaurants, secret tours, vibrant street art and outdoorsy adventures.

To celebrate the city’s big win, here’s a roundup of some of the not to be missed experiences in Liverpool:

Explore the Historic Albert Dock

The Albert Dock at Tate Liverpool’s changing displays come from the Tate Collection of British art, from 1500 to the present day, plus cutting-edge contemporary pieces from around the world. Make sure you stop for a coffee in the colourful cafe designed by pop artist Sir Peter Blake.

Until 4 June 2023, Tate Liverpool will be showcasing Dark Waters, an immersive showing of JMW Turner’s paintings accompanied by a bespoke soundscape by musician Lamin Fofana.

The Liverpool docks are also the ideal place to discover the city’s seafaring past. The Merseyside Maritime Museum – home to ship models and several incredible exhibitions, including Titanic and Liverpool: the untold story, which explores Liverpool’s role in the Titanic story. Afterwards, travel back in time with a ride on the dock’s Victorian Carousel and grab a bite to eat at one of the many café’s, restaurants and bars to choose from.

Return to the origins of The Beatles

Visit the birthplace of Beatles music at the infamous Cavern Club. Here you can enjoy live music, food and drinks while perusing an explosion of Beatles memorabilia.

The Cavern Club, Liverpool (VisitBritain)

Also not to be missed is The Beatles Story, the world’s largest permanent museum telling the story of the lives and times of The Beatles. Then there’s the Beatles’ childhood homes, Penny Lane and the iconic site immortalised by John Lennon, Strawberry Field. Or, get an even more close up Beatles experience with Brit Music Tours.

Alternatively, broaden your musical horizons by exploring the British Music Experience, the UK’s only museum dedicated to pop music, which tells the story of British sounds through memorabilia, costumes and performances from some of the music world’s best-known faces, including The Beatles, David Bowie, Oasis and Adele.

Catch a ferry across the Mersey

See the city’s main sights than from the Mersey River Ferry. Journey along the river as part of a 50-minute cruise to see Liverpool’s spectacular skyline in all its glory.

Maritime Albert Dock on Liverpool waterfront (VisitBritain/Rod Edwards)

With commentary revealing the captivating history of the city’s waterfront, you can also access the U-boat story at Woodside to find out what life was like for a submariner during the Second World War.

Explore the Baltic Triangle

Liverpool’s creative and digital quarter, Baltic Triangle has attracted plenty of independent stores, unique restaurants and bars, community spaces and live music venues, making it an idyllic spot to grab some lunch.

The street food haven Baltic Market is home to numerous traders selling everything from twists on American classics to mezze platters, Neapolitan pizzas and award-winning British pies.

Neapolitan pizza at the Baltic Market (VisitBritain)

Take a Guided Tour

Liverpudlians are renowned for their warmth and wit, which makes their guided tours all-the-more engaging. City Unscripted will match you up with a local person, who’ll reveal the sights, restaurants and street art you’d never spot from a guidebook.

The city has plenty of unusual walking tours, from ghost-hunting jaunts with Shiverpool to craft beer crawls with Liverpool Brewery Tours and pirate-themed fun with Treasure Hunt Liverpool.

But for something more energetic, try a Liverbirds 5km run: you’ll clock up the miles on a jogging tour of the city, stopping for history snippets and photos along the way.

If you fancy something faster, join a bike trip with Liverpool Cycle Tours, or zoom through the docks at Liverpool Watersports Centre. As well as regular powerboats, board the Wheelyboat for a wheelchair accessible experience.

Featured image: Beatle sculpure and Three Graces (VisitBritain/Quintin Lake)