As the epicentre of Beatles lore, Liverpool’s cultural pull is formidable and its grandiose architecture, sublime pubs and gregarious character only add to the city’s allure. Once a thriving home to industry and trade, wealth poured into the port city during the height of the British Empire and though a post-war decline was inevitable, the billion-pound regeneration around Liverpool’s waterfront now forms a slick blend of classic and cutting edge design. The sleek Scandi lines of the Hope Street Hotel signalled one of the first examples of this, while more recently, the repurposing of spectacular existing sites like The Municipal have shown a respect for Liverpool’s heritage while still moving with the times.