Inspired by the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, we travelled by train to England in March. Combining ESC host city Liverpool with the industrial heritage of Manchester. Manchester to Liverpool was also the first steam railway line ever. A perfect pretext to travel to The North.

After checking in at The Edwardian, we took a tram to MediaCity UK and IWM North. 

The Imperial War Museum North or IWM North is a museum dedicated to exploring the impact of modern conflicts on people and society. The museum is part of the Imperial War Museums (IWM) group, which includes four other locations throughout the United Kingdom.

IWM North is located in a distinctive building designed by architect Daniel Libeskind. The building’s unique shape was inspired by the idea of a globe shattered by conflict, with shards of metal and glass representing the different regions of the world. 

The museum’s exhibitions explore a range of themes related to modern conflict, including the causes and consequences of war, the experiences of individuals and communities affected by conflict, and the role of technology and innovation in modern warfare.

Some of the museum’s notable exhibits include a large collection of military vehicles and equipment, a recreated World War I trench system, and displays on conflicts such as the Holocaust, the Gulf War, and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions and events throughout the year.

So?

Putted bluntly? We were disappointed. We did not see the recreated trenches. For seasoned, perhaps blasé (war) museum visitors, we felt IWM North merely felt like a surplus venue for the main Imperial War Museum in London we visited quite a few years ago. 

Surely, it’s not uninteresting. It’s a good thing it also shows other conflicts than the two world wars. But we weren’t impressed. 

Liverpool & Manchester 2023

1. BEHIND THE SCENES | Gustaph and ‘Because Of You’ to represent Belgium at 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool.
2. REVIEW | Avanti West Coast Lounge London Euston station.
3. REVIEW | London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street on Avanti West Coast’s pride train.
4. LIVERPOOL | 2023 Eurovision Song Contest venues & locations: arena, fan village, EuroClub, EUROfansCLUB.
5. A visit to the Museum of Liverpool.
6. LIVERPOOL | Merseyside Maritime Museum ft. Piermaster’s House, Border Force National Museum and International Slavery Museum.
7. LIVERPOOL | Western Approaches / Liverpool War Museum.
8. REVIEW | Radisson Red Liverpool.
9. Discovering Liverpool.
10. Liverpool to Manchester on the very first – 1830 – railway line.