Liverpool, England, United Kingdom

Few destinations wear their souls as outwardly as Liverpool, an alluringly energetic city of humor, individuality, grit and history, whose inhabitants are known as much for their fierce sporting loyalties as for their warmth and wit. At its heart is its industrial past; what were once grimy warehouses have been reimagined as chic flats and a huge array of hip bars, restaurants and hotels for every taste and budget.Of course, it is also a city of music, not just of the Beatles but of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, a litany of teen pop bands and, for more refined tastes, the UK’s oldest professional symphony orchestra, the Liverpool Philharmonic. In the handily compact center you’ll find independent book, fashion and interiors stores, especially around the RopeWalks area. There are places of musical legend and cultural merit as well, such as The Tate Liverpool, just one of the many galleries, museums and creative spaces worth exploring around the docks. This is also where old and new collide—the fascinating, historical Museum of Liverpool and the bold architectural center RIBA North are both examples of this ever-changing city’s adaptable and admirable existence.