On behalf of the local organising committee, I would like to welcome you to ECTS 2023 to be held in Liverpool, in association with the Bone Research Society (BRS).
Liverpool is a wonderful cosmopolitan European city with a rich maritime heritage and links to every corner of the globe because of its long history as a major international port. We have a top-class waterside conference centre, and you will have many opportunities to explore our city.
Liverpool is a UNESCO city of music, which has quite rightly been recognised as the “World Capital of Pop” by the Guinness Book of Records. Everyone knows about the Beatles, the biggest pop music band ever but there is much more to enjoy on the Liverpool music scene, as the city has an interesting and diverse musical history. The award winning Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, at 183 years old, is the UK’s oldest continuing professional symphony orchestra. This year the Eurovision song contest will be staged in Liverpool, on behalf of Ukraine, and there will be a month of musical events leading up to the final. Liverpool has a large number of music venues, clubs, pubs, societies and festivals with a diversity of artistic output. Make sure you enjoy some music, whatever your taste, when you visit!
Liverpool has an exciting and diverse food and drink scene, as would be expected from a great port city, which is influenced by flavours from across the globe. The usual name for inhabitants of Liverpool, Scousers, is derived from the local dish, scouse, a hearty stew of either lamb or beef with potatoes, carrots and onions. Scouse, or lobscouse, was introduced to Liverpool by sailors from Northern Europe. When you explore the city, you will find that Bold Street has a wonderful collection of independent restaurants with international food and lots of vegetarian and vegan options. These include Mexican, Greek, Italian, Lebanese, Turkish, American and more. Liverpool’s Chinatown, with its famous arch, is home to the oldest Chinese community in Europe. It is bustling with Chinese restaurants of different styles. Fine dining with locally sourced menus can be found at the Art School Restaurant, the Panoramic 34, Roski, Wreckfish Bistro, Lerpwl and others. There are outstanding Indian restaurants, including my favourite, Mowgli.
Liverpool is a city of impressive architecture and amazing collections of art. National Museums Liverpool comprises several museums and art galleries in and around Liverpool, which have free admission. They include The Walker Art Gallery, which houses the greatest art collections in England outside London. The Royal Albert Dock, built in 1846, is located near to the ACC Conference Centre and is the largest single collection of Grade I listed buildings in the UK. The Albert Dock is home to the Maritime Museum and Tate Gallery and for those with more modern tastes, the Beatles Museum. Nearby is the British Music Experience, housed in the Cunard Building, one of the magnificent waterfront buildings that make up the Three Graces. Liverpool is not just home to two football stadia, it also has two monumental cathedrals. The neo-Gothic Anglican Cathedral, which is the largest cathedral and religious building in Britain, and the contrasting modern-style Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral. Both cathedrals have stained glass windows, which give remarkable qualities to the interior light.
Make sure you take some time to experience the art and architecture of this remarkable city on your visit!