Cities, towns and villages from across the UK go head to head every year to be on the “cool” list. After weighing up everything from food, community, and access to the great outdoors, experts settle on the top 10 “coolest postcodes” in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

This year, the Times added my favourite city on its list — Liverpool. They specifically highlighted the L1 postcode, which I called home for four years. The publication branded the postcode as the coolest place to live for “modern-day mop tops” and highlighted how Hollywood stars including Paul Mescal and Barry Keoghan have been immersing themselves in the city as they film their Beatles biopic.

They summarised: “This L1 pocket neatly edges into the vibey Baltic Triangle, a historical area that’s now an engine room of converted warehouses, food markets and venues such as Camp and Furnace — which has hosted everyone from Mogwai to Martha Wainwright — as well as grassroots spaces like Arts Bar Baltic, a creative hub café-bar hybrid.”

I certainly know all about the Batlic Triangle, as I enjoyed living in a flat right in the heart of the creative pocket of the city from 2018 to 2022. And, I very much know its appeal.

By the time the weekend came, the Baltic Triangle would come to life as people from across the city and afar flocked to enjoy its bars, nightclubs, cafes and art spaces. There’s always something going on and something to do.

Street art

The whole area is filled with art that bring the city streets to life. From the Beatles to the iconic Liver bird wings and a whole skatepark dedicated to ever-changing artwork, it has filled the Batlic Triangle with colour. You can simply wander the streets taking in the outdoor museum of creativity.

Food

You won’t go hungry in Liverpool and certainly not in the Baltic Triangle. At it’s heart is the Baltic Market, which is a huge food market selling everything from burritos to pizza and Tha. The lineup of traders changes often, so you won’t get bored.

Nightlife

The area is busy by day but when nighttime comes, it really ramps up. The industrial buildings turn into huge event spaces, from club nights to gigs and is the birthplace of Bongo’s Bingo. There really is something for everyone, from Irish bar Punch Tarmey’s, Boxpark, Camp and Furnace and local brewery Love Lane.

Creativity

Even if you are just passing by the Baltic Triangle, you can become inspired by all the creative events happening. The annual Sound City music festival has been held in its venues, while Arts Bar Baltic hosts regular Books In Bars events where you can pick up your latest read. 92 Degrees Coffee and Ditto Coffee are on hand for a caffeine fix, while there are workspaces and meeting rooms at Baltic Creative where you can knuckle down.