Merseyside’s growth has been largely driven by the bustling port of the city of Liverpool. Though the Liverpool City Centre is the central business district of Merseyside, the county is one of the more urban ones, with  5 metropolitan district and at least one major town centre and outlying suburbs in each. Liverpool and the rest of Merseyside is reputed to have friendly residents (not to mention enthusiastic football fans), and generally has good schools and good transport links by rail, bus, road, and even ferry. For nightlife and entertainment, head to one of the cities, but don’t miss the smaller towns to the north of Liverpool or on the coast for a family-friendly spot that doesn’t sacrifice having good connections.