Linking Liverpool’s two cathedrals, Hope Street is a showcase of the city’s creative spirit — from its historic concert halls and theatres to its world-famous pub and vibrant street life.
00:00With the cathedral at either end, Hope Street is the heartbeat of Liverpool's cultural quarter.
00:05It's a place that links the city's past and present, a street lined with art, architecture and a sense of optimism that lives up to its name.
00:12Liverpool Cathedral stands proudly at one end.
00:15Designed by Giles Gilbert Scott, who was just 22 at the time, it's withstood two world wars and countless transformations.
00:22Scott, also the creator of the iconic red telephone box, which is why you can find one inside the building,
00:27as the UK's largest cathedral, it boasts soaring gothic arches, intricate stained glass and breathtaking views across the city's skyline,
00:34as well as being an important part of it.
00:37Celebrated for hosting world-class art installations from the likes of Anish Kapoor and Luke Jerram's Museum of the Moon and Gaia,
00:43the cathedral blends its spiritual heritage with vibrant contemporary creativity.
00:48Now, have these suitcases just arrived or are they waiting to leave?
00:51The sculpture, A Case History, has become one of Hope Street's best-loved landmarks.
00:58Artist John King's work was installed in 1998.
01:00It's made up of concrete suitcases, each tagged with the names of people and institutions that shaped the city,
01:07and specifically from the area, from social reformers and conductors to musicians and writers.
01:11It's a permanent reminder of Liverpool's long history and the stories it carries.
01:16Now, music plays a huge role here too.
01:18The Liverpool Philharmonic Hall is home to the award-winning Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra,
01:23the UK's oldest continuing professional symphony orchestra.
01:27The origins of their concert series date back to the formation of the Concert Society by a group of Liverpool music lovers in 1840.
01:34They provide free music education and instrumental tuition to some of the city's most disadvantaged communities.
01:40Thousands of young people participate in the Youth Company and associated ensembles.
01:45Attend concerts or take part in Harmony Programme.
01:47And no visit is complete without a stop at the Philharmonic dining rooms, the Phil, where the decor is as famous as the gents' toilets.
01:56They've even had Paul McCartney play there.
01:58The Grade 1 listed building is the pinnacle of the Gin Palace form of pub.
02:02The highly ornate interior reflects the status, wealth and ambition of Robert Kane, who sought to create public houses of great beauty.
02:10At the other end of the street stands the striking Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, affectionately known as Paddy's Wigwam.
02:17A modern masterpiece that completes this remarkable route of faith, art and hope.
02:22The Catholic Cathedral, which sits at the opposite end of Hope Street to its Anglican counterpart, was designed by Sir Frederick Gibbett and built between 1962 and 67.
02:31The cathedral was built over a crypt, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, which was intended to be part of a grand classical style building that began in the 1930s before financial constraints and the outbreak of the Second World War led to construction being halted.
02:47It was awarded Grade 1 listed status in June 2025 due to the cathedral's significance as an international example of progressive Roman Catholic architecture during the mid-20th century.
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