Birmingham has NOTHING on Liverpool in terms of culture, art, history, architecture etc. Liverpool was the European Capital of Culture in 2008 and has had billions spent on it. I love the museums (all of which are free :D ), the docks, the nightlife (although the 'kids' wont get to experience that ;)), the music...oh just about everything. It will be an incredible trip I just wasn't sure if they were expecting a lot more from it. It isn't like a Disney vacation and I suppose some of this stems from the fact that the UK is on the European continent but doesn't really feel 'European'.