111 places in Liverpool that you shouldn't miss - Peter De Figueiredo

Liverpool's unique history as an international port and a cultural melting pot has given it a character all its own. The city has produced music that conquered the world and is home to more historic buildings than any other British metropolis outside London. It features two magnificent cathedrals and many world famous museums. But beyond its renowned exterior is a labyrinth of places hidden and unknown.

This deliciously offbeat guidebook will lead you to a different Liverpool: down tunnels, up skyscrapers, and into secret bars, speciality shops, and disused factories. You will see Balenciaga trainers and football trophies, rolling bridges and disappearing statues, Liver Birds and suitcases, extravagant cakes and cast-iron churches. Explore Britain's first mosque. Wander a roof garden of wild flowers, where different species bloom each month of the year. Marvel at the world's most expensive book or largest brick building (27 million bricks!). Relax in a hip tea bar with over 50 varieties of tea (loose leaf, naturally); or visit a place where you can drink Dandelion and Burdock with your fish and chips. Think you know Liverpool?

Think again! Whether you're a first-time tourist, a repeat visitor, or a longtime local, prepare to be charmed and surprised by 111 eccentric and unusual places you'd never expect to find in the city best known for football and the Fab Four.