UK - Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool

Glasgow

The name comes from the Gaelic ‘dear green city’, given its greenery. The language Gaelic and the culture of kilts and bagpipes survived to this day, despite the English invading it and banning them for many years.

Known as the 2^nd biggest commercial city in UK after London. Got its wealth from trading tobacco in the 17^th century, as American traders could reach Glasgow almost 10 days faster than other ports of UK, like London on the East, and therefore grew tobacco in Glasgow.

The merchants who grew tobacco became so famous that the old town is called Merchant city here, and all the roads leading up to it are named after the merchants as well. They had direct access to the king of England and the central square of the city is called George square, named of the English king, and not someone from Scottland.

The merchants had a very dark side though, as they employed slaves and child labour.

City also got its wealth from the shipbuilding industry, which followed the tobacco export business. At one point, 1 in 5 ships worldwide were made here.

Apart from the financial success, Glasgow is also famous for some writers. Walter Scott and Robert Burns some of them. Walter Scott was responsible for giving the city its romantic appeal, moving it away from its barbaric tones. Robert Burns has a day after him, Jan 25, when people eat Haggis and drink whiskey.

Haggis is the number 1 national dish, and the 2^nd is tikka masala. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not an Indian dish that went to London, it didn’t even originate in India or introduced first in London. It was introduced to the city of Glasgow by a Pakistani chef.

St Mungus is the patron saint of the city. He standardized metrics here as a foot until then was the size of the kings foot. Trade picked up after the standardization of these metrics like feet and yard. City rivalry remained though, and Celtics and Rangers are the 2 football clubs that continue their rivalry today.

 

Manchester

Known as the birthplace of the industrial revolution. Though the steam engine wasn’t invented here, the city gave the first passenger train and the first canals that brought about the industrial revolution.

The city is also known for giving the world the weekend as it was progressive with worker wages and gave them the Sunday to visit church.

Emily Pankers is the most famous woman here, with statues in the center of the city as she fought for womens rights. She was responsible for giving women the power to vote, though when it was first introduced, there were limitations such that only women over 30 and those married could vote.

Midland hotel is the most famous hotel here where the royal family reside when they visit Manchester. It’s also known for hosting the Beckhams and the place where Rolls and Royce first met. During the world war, Hitler said he would make this his house once Germany beat England. For this purpose, the hotel survived the bombing.

Football clubs here are responsible for introducing club football to the world, mostly the success Man United had. They own the Old Trafford stadium. Man City on the other hand, rent the stadium from the city council by paying 7m a year for it. Etihad pay another 7m just to have their name on the stadium.

Sinclair pub is one of the oldest pubs in the world, established in 1500. It’s located in the center of the city but was moved twice over the years. Molly the waitress is the one with the picture outside the pub, and she’s known to throw cold water on people who don’t leave the pub when it’s closed.

 

Liverpool 

Was once the biggest port on the West and again notorious for it’s involvement in slave trade. Also had a shipbuilding industry like Glasgow and one of the builders owned Titanic. The ship never docked in Liverpool, but over a 100 locals worked there, including the famous musicians who continued playing while the ship sank.

Today the city makes its money from tourism and the film industry. Movies like the new Batman and shows like The Crown were filmed here.

Cavern is one of the most famous pubs, known to have hosted The Beatles some 190 times. Even today, aspiring musicians play here, and the one playing when I visited was pretty good.

City gets its name from the muddy waters that flowed into the city. Liver the word for Muddy and Pool for water. The symbol of the city is a fictitious bird called the Liver bird. Was recreated from the Eagles that were used during the monarchy and was forgotten for about 50 years and therefore while recreating, people just used their imagination and came up with this bird.