world in one city

World In One City

Liverpool is a huge cultural melting pot, consisting of lots of different nationalities, from Black African to Irish and Chinese, many of whom came to Liverpool during its heyday as a major port. Visit Liverpool today, and your trip will be enriched by the contributions of its multicultural population and its various communities.

The influx began in the 18th century, when trade from the West Indies, Ireland and mainland Europe coupled with close links with the Atlantic Slave Trade powered Liverpool’s expansion and brought different people from around the world to the city to create their very own, individual Liverpool communities. 

By the early 19th century, 40% of the world's trade passed through Liverpool's docks, contributing to Liverpool's continued rise as a major port city and its colourful cultural mix. Its population today is drawn from a wide range of peoples and cultures. Their descendants mostly come from Ireland, but the city is also home to the oldest Black African community in the country and the oldest Chinese community in Europe.

The different Liverpool communities and the city’s population continued to expand rapidly, especially during the 1840s when Liverpool’s Irish community was increased by Irish migrants who began arriving by the hundreds of thousands as a result of the Great Famine. During the first part of the 20th century, Liverpool was also drawing immigrants from across Europe and the Indian subcontinent.

Today, the city clearly benefits from its multicultural communities. VisitLiverpool particularly recommends the city’s numerous Irish pubs, but there are Chinese arts and culture workshops, Samba parades, African dance and music sessions, Caribbean restaurants and endless events held across the city by Liverpool’s different communities. These include Polish community centre gatherings aimed at giving Liverpudlians and visitors the chance to learn about Polish culture, from watching Polish films to tasting Polish food, and exhibitions about the Indians who started coming to Liverpool in 1947 when India gained independence from Britain.