Do more in Liverpool whilst your here on business – this autumn boasts a great variety of events and festivals, kicked off on September 18 by the Liverpool Biennial, the largest contemporary visual arts festival in the UK. This year’s Biennial takes the theme Touched, and is at venues across the city from September 18 – November 28 (also includes the John Moores Contemporary Painting Prize, which runs until January 3).

All of our apartments and hotels are centrally located, so getting around Liverpool city centre won’t take long. If you’re down in the one of the Liverpool city centre hotels, you’ll find the MOBOS on your doorstep next month – and if you’re elsewhere, they’re not far away. The MOBOS visit Liverpool this year on their second foray away from London, coming to the Echo Arena at Kings Waterfront on October 20. The best of the UK’s contemporary music scene will rock up for the 15th Music of Black Origin event – call the Echo Arena’s booking line or book via the website for tickets. See contact details below…

2010 also sees the celebration of what would have been John Lennon’s 70th birthday, with a three month-long John Lennon Tribute Season. Events include the John Lennon Songbook at the Philharmonic Hall, and the John Lennon International Poetry Competition, judged by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy. There’s also an exhibition of early Beatles photography at the Beatles Story, Pier Head, and of Astrid Kirchherr’s photos of the band in Hamburg, at the Victoria Museum and Gallery, part of the university, and just a short walk for Roscoe House residents.

Other cultural highlights over the next few months include Opera at the Palm House on October 10, Kim Cattrall in Antony and Cleopatra at the Liverpool Playhouse from October 8 to November 13, the Halloween Ball at the Isla Gladstone Conservatory on October 29 and the Liverpool Irish Festival, celebrating the city’s links with Ireland through a series of bands, talks, walks, drama, literature and sport from October 15 to 31, at venues across the city.

Liverpool Biennial: http://www.biennial.com, 0151 709 7444
Echo Arena: http://www.echoarena.com, 0844 8000 400
John Lennon Tribute Season: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2010/06/11/john-lennon-tribute-season-two-months-of-events-100252-26630774/
Opera at the Palm House: http://www.palmhouse.org.uk, 0151 726 9304
Antony & Cleopatra: http://www.everymanplayhouse.com, 0151 709 4776
Halloween Ball: http://www.theislagladstone.co.uk, 0151 263 0363
Liverpool Irish Festival: http://www.liverpoolirishfestival.com, 07804 286 145