I Love Liverpool Almost as Much as Kanye West Loves Himself


Last night, a few friends and I were having drinks at Road Trip in Shoreditch. At the table next to us sat four Englishmen, far drunker than I—but that’s beside the point. We struck up a conversation about “Why we came to the U.K.,” and other arbitrary question—mind you, all of this was before we started talking drunken politics. One question stuck out to me in particular: “What is an American city comparable to London?” London, to me, is like a cleaner New York City.
            The pace of the city is faster than what I’m used to. If you’re not walking quickly then you’re making room for those who are. Everyone is walking towards something: the bus, the tube, their destination; nobody’s just standing around. Very different from Denton. From a strictly aesthetic standpoint, London is beautiful: the scenery, people, fashion, and culture. There is so much history in th landmarks of the city (and so many landmarks, too) Buckingham and Kensington Palaces, Green and Hyde Parks, Shoreditch, Covent Grove, and Oxford Street; all strikingly different, but share the same underlying history.
Now that I've ventured to other major cities in the U.K., I'm better able to discover the paces and different "essences"-- for lack of a better term that each city offers. Each city in the U.K. has a specific history behind it, and with that comes a range of different characteristics: fashion, people, politics, and culture. For example, London is more of an amalgamation of culture because it's got such an expansive system of transportation, therefore it's easier to import and export people and their cultures, ideas, and advancements. London is extremely racially diverse, too. In the Camden area, where we're staying, everyone walks with purpose; there is no tarrying. The people are dressed less casually because it's got a fairly large business environment. The street wear is less BOHO and more city-chic-- designer retail and fashion forward clothing. 


Shoreditch, a small-town known to be full hipsters. In Shoreditch the culture is almost completely opposite from Camden. Instead of opulence, the streets are full of shops that have found a "new purpose". From the moment I stepped off the train, the city screamed "repurposed"; it's vintage clothing stores, unique restaurants, and one of a kind shops make Shoreditch a city incomparable to any other. 

On the opposite side of the spectrum from London is Liverpool. Liverpool is full many different pieces of history. From the docks to music to counterculture, Liverpool's story is chapters long. The style of the city is the most casual of the three. The pace of Liverpool is more everyday-- people are more concerned about where they are I the moment as opposed to where they're going. Liverpool was my favorite city I've visited while in the U.K. the food, live music, upbeat environment, and friendly demeanor of the city made me feel not only welcomed, but invited back. 

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