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Liverpool is a major city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. The city is built across a ridge of hills rising up to a height of around 230 feet above sea-level at Everton Hill. Liverpool is run by one of five councils within the Metropolitan county of Merseyside, and is one of England's important cities and its fifth most populous - 441,477 in 2002. Residents of Liverpool are referred to as Liverpudlians and nicknamed "Scousers", in relation to the local meal known as 'scouse', a form of stew. The word scouse has also become synonymous with the Liverpool accent and dialect.
During the late 19th century, Liverpool reached the height of its power and was the "second Port of the Empire", It controlled one seventh of all the world's shipping and handled more goods than any British city outside London. In the Nineteenth century and early Twentieth century it was thought of as a 'world city', rather than British provincial. In the late 20th century, towards the 1980's, the decline of the Port of Liverpool as a source of employment and the later contraction of manufacturing industry in the city region badly affected the city's economy. However, the city's economy has grown strongly and faster than the national average since the mid nineties. Today the city has been undergoing a general economic and civic revival since then, which was kick started by the regeneration of the city's Queen's Square. In 2007, the city will be celebrating its 800th anniversary, and in 2008, will hold the European Capital of Culture title.
Liverpool Airport is an airport serving this English city of Liverpool. It was formerly known as Speke Airport and RAF Speke. Its located close to the estuary of the River Mersey some 7.5 miles south-east of the centre of Liverpool. Liverpool Airport is one of Europe's fastest developing airports, with its annual passenger have risen from 875,000 in 1998 to 4.9 million in the twelve months to November 2006. With plans in the pipeline for building new hotels near the airport, it aims at removing any shortage of Liverpool hotels. This airport is one of northern England's most popular air hubs, processing close to two million passengers annually and flying to destinations across Europe and the UK. The single terminal building is equipped with four bureaux de change, ATMs, video arcade, children's play area, and a tourist information centre. The Liverpool Airport information desk is located on the ground floor of the terminal building.
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